The lemon (Citrus limon) originally comes from the subtropical to tropical climate zones of South Asia and has been cultivated for many millennia, especially in India and China. The tree came to the Mediterranean region around 1000 years ago through Arab traders and became native there too.
Where should a lemon tree be placed?
The ideal location for a lemon tree is an outdoor spot in full sun, protected from rain and wind during the growing season. In winter the plant needs a bright, cool room with temperatures between 5 and 10 °C.
Sun, sun and more sun
Due to this origin, it is not at all surprising that a lemon tree basically cannot have enough sunshine. During the growing season, the plant needs a location in full sun, preferably protected from rain and wind - preferably outdoors. Even in a very bright place in the apartment, it can still be too dark for the tree because the light is heavily filtered through the windows, which are usually double-glazed. What appears bright to humans means dark night to a lemon tree and it will react to this by throwing up its leaves. In winter, however, the lemon needs a bright but cool location with temperatures between five and a maximum of 10 °C.
Tips & Tricks
When overwintering a lemon tree, remember that the warmer the ambient temperature, the brighter it needs to be. If you overwinter in a heated living room, you should definitely install a plant lamp (€33.00 on Amazon).