Thanks to its fast growth, a lemon tree is not that difficult to cultivate. If there is already an adult plant, you can simply propagate it using cuttings - although strictly speaking it is not a lemon tree cutting at all, but rather a cutting.
How do I grow a lemon tree from a cutting?
To grow a lemon tree from a cutting, choose a half-ripe shoot (10-15 cm long) from a he althy mother plant, cut it diagonally, dip the cut in rooting powder and plant it in potting soil. Place the pot in a bright, sheltered place and keep the humidity high.
Choose a suitable mother plant
However, before you start propagating your lemon tree, you should first choose a suitable tree. In principle, you can get cuttings from any lemon, but you won't always enjoy them. Like any breeder, you should select for good and bad characteristics, i.e. H. A lemon tree with poor characteristics - no or few flowers and fruits, rather poor growth - is not suitable for taking cuttings. As a rule, the cutting will have the same characteristics as the mother plant; after all, both plants are genetically identical.
Choosing the cuttings
The best time to get cuttings is when the annual topiary is due in spring anyway. In this way you kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, because you definitely have to prune the lemon tree. In addition, spring and the beginning of the growing season are best suited for propagating cuttings - after all, the plants are now preparing to grow and thrive. Growing the little tree should be quite easy. And this is what perfect lemon tree cuttings should look like:
- It is a half-ripe (i.e. half-woody) shoot from the previous year.
- about 10 to 15 centimeters long
- with several buds and one or two small leaves
Cut the desired cuttings at a slight angle - an inclined cut makes it easier for the plant to absorb water later - and ensure that no residue or stubs remain on the mother plant. Dip the interface of the cutting into a rooting powder (€9.00 on Amazon) and then simply plant it in a small pot with potting soil. It is best to place the pot on the windowsill in a bright and protected place (no drafts!). You can also put a transparent plastic bag over it, which ensures high humidity and therefore better rooting.
Tips & Tricks
It's better not to put such a young lemon tree outside yet, because it is still very sensitive and needs a lot of loving care.
