"Lar" wrote in message
...
Ed wrote:
Hello,

I live in northeastern Pennsylvania. Two years ago, I took a lemon
seed (from a store-bought lemon), stuck it in a pot with regular
potting soil, and now I have a 3-foot tall, skinny lemon tree with
nice, fragrant leaves and some thorns. My problem is: I don't know
how to take care of it from here.

Should it be cut back? How tall will this thing grow? During the
spring and summer, I leave it in an east-facing window all day, and
turn it once a day. It has never been outdoors. It grows rapidly in
the summer, and stops growing during the fall/winter. What is the best
way to take care of my "baby"? This tree has become my pride and joy,
since I never expected it to germinate, let alone grow into a tree!

Here is a photo: http://home.epix.net/~tommonger/LemonTree.jpg

Thanks!
-Tom in Scranton, PA USA


You probably will never get an edible fruit. What is growing will be the
root stock used for the parent tree.


No, what is growing is the grafted stock, the tissue that produces the
leaves and flowers and fruit. It may have problems as it is not grafted on
to a selected root stock. So it might (just for example) be larger or
smaller than the tree that bore the fruit or it could be susceptible to root
rot. OTOH it may be fine.

If you want it to prosper it will need much more light at least. The reason
it is so tall and thin with no branches is lack of light. Perhaps you could
buy it one of those grow-lights that substitute for sunlight, especially for
the winter. Consider if it can go outside in summer. I don't know the
climate at Scranton but citrus like it warm and sunny.

How big it grows depends on the genetics of the parent and the conditions.
Citrus on full-size root stock can grow about10-12ft high, and as wide, in
good conditions but in a tub that is not happening. If you can get it good
light then give it some citrus food (a specially blended fertiliser, any
garden shop should have this) in spring and midsummer and pot it on to a tub
as it will outgrow the small pot quickly. There is no point in feeding it
if it isn't getting enough light.

Once you have it growing strongly you can prune its top (take the top 1/3 to
1/2) to encourage it to bush out which will make it a more attractive plant
and allow you to have more flowers and fruit (well maybe) before it hits the
ceiling. If you succeed that far you will have joined the select few who
are able to enjoy the aroma of citrus flowers indoors. The decadent
aristocrats of Europe used to do this so it must be good. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangery

The way that you have started is not the recommended one and it ain't going
to be easy but have fun and good luck.

David