"Saxman" wrote
Get it outside in the sun asap, keep it watered but never let it
remain wet, never use a water tray. Water with rainwater if possible,
feed every other watering and flush through on the other watering so
as not to get a salts build up in the pot. I'm watering (flooding)
mine twice a week now. Bring it back in at the first forecast of
frost in your area.

Thanks for the information. My lemon tree has lost leaves on the stems
that have fruit on them, but is thriving and growing elsewhere.

Not too sure what you mean by 'flush through' and 'flooding' though. I
thought too much water caused leaf loss?

If you constantly water a plant with fertilizer there will be a buildup of
unused salts in the soil so what I do is flood the pot every other watering
so that the water passes right through and washes out any unused salts. This
will not overwater the plant as any excess just drains out of the pot and
onto the ground, it being summer they can take more water. It's in the cold
winter you have to be very careful with watering.
Never use a water tray with citrus either summer or winter as water lying at
the roots will cause the problems you describe, and worse.
I might add, I use Ericaceous compost with added small bark chippings,
Orchid compost type*, to aid drainage.
* If you use grit it makes the pots even heavier.


Others state that drying out of compost is good. It's confusing as to
how one can give citrus ideal care.

Yes, you do let the compost dry out a bit between watering, but too dry and
you will get leaf loss too. In the summer the compost ours are in always has
some moisture in it, in the winter I do let it almost dry out between
waterings.


Is this care right?

Keep indoors in winter and feed with winter feed when required.
Keep outside in summer and water weekly.
Feed with summer feed fortnightly.
Hose down in summer occasionally.
Prune in spring.

If it's in a sunny S.facing position then it will probably need two
waterings a week in summer when it's hot, like now here.
I also tend to pinch mine out as they grow instead of a major prune once a
year but must admit I usually have to get the pruners out to fit them in our
greenhouse come winter. :-)

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK