How to Grow a Lemon Tree Indoors for Delicious Citrus Year-Round

There's nothing quite like the flavor of a fresh lemon—especially when it's homegrown. And while nurturing this plant from seed to harvest may seem like a daunting task, you don't need a huge yard or a sprawling orchard to grow one. Instead, you can grow a lemon tree indoors in a container.

Growing a lemon tree from home has many perks, most notably that you can enjoy its fresh fruit all year, even during colder weather. Acclimating these trees to indoors does take a bit of extra work; however, the results are absolutely worth it—like fresh lemonade from your very own tree! Here, experts give us their tips for planting, propagating, and more.

Varieties That You Can Grow Indoors 

There are many varieties of lemon to choose from. However, only two types are particularly well-suited to growing indoors. 

Meyer

This hybrid is a bit sweeter than a regular lemon, making it a nice choice for lemonade and other culinary applications. "Meyer lemons are popular for growing indoors because they don't need to get too large to produce a good amount of lemons," says Samantha Sergeant, a certified arborist and fruit tree specialist at Fruitstitute. "These trees can do well in a pot. Also, their flowers smell amazing!"

Ponderosa

For an indoor tree that provides larger fruit than the Meyer, look no further than the Ponderosa lemon. The tree itself is small enough to grow in a container, but it can produce hefty fruits that weigh a pound or two. 

Care Requirements

In Italy, years ago, lemons were grown indoors in "limonaias," or "lemon houses," which provided all the conditions necessary for these citrus trees to thrive. You can aim for the same results in your home, but first, you must know what a lemon tree needs.

Temperature

Start by adjusting your home's thermostat to mimic what the lemon tree would expect if it were in a natural setting. "Lemons need a temperature drop of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit between day and night to flourish," says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota. "Typically, 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day is ideal."

Lighting

Lemon trees love full sun and will happily take all that they can get. While they can manage with partial shade, full sun really is best, so look to place your tree in the sunniest window you have—probably a south-facing one if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. "They need direct sunlight for at least part of the day," Irish-Hanson adds. "Bright light is best for good fruit production."

A little bit of housekeeping can help your indoor lemon tree as well. "Make sure to clean the leaves to remove dust so the plants can optimize photosynthesis," she says. "Also, make sure the windows are clean, so lots of sunlight can come through."

Soil and Water

Think about the taste of lemons—what is it that gives them that tangy flavor? Well, they're acidic. The soil of your lemon tree needs acidity, too.

"Lemons do best with slightly acidic soil, so use a fertilizer specifically for acid-loving plants," says Irish-Hanson. She recommends using the fertilizer at half-strength and applying it when the trees are actively growing, typically from spring to fall.

Citrus trees like soil that isn't very dense—loamy is better, and possibly even a little sandy. "It needs to be well-draining while holding onto moisture," says Irish-Hanson. Let the soil dry out about two inches down, then water thoroughly. 

Humidity

Your lemon tree expects somewhat humid conditions, which isn't necessarily what you have in your home. "Humidity can be an issue, particularly in colder climates," says Irish-Hanson. "The hot, dry, forced air can drastically decrease the humidity in the home. Citrus typically grows best between 30 to 60 percent humidity." She recommends investing in a humidifier, which will help overall.

Pruning 

Lemon trees are evergreen, so you can prune them anytime after fruiting. The main goals are to remove unneeded suckers and to create airflow into the middle of the tree. Any dead or damaged branches can also be removed. As your tree matures, you can also prune for shape if needed.

Propagating 

It's possible to grow lemon trees from seed, but you may have less control over their genetics. A faster and more reliable method is to plant from a cutting.

To do this, find an actively growing but slightly matured shoot on a lemon tree and cut a small section just below the leaf. Add rooting hormone to the cut to encourage growth. Then, place the cutting in a container with general potting soil, where it will hopefully take root. 

However, for most home gardeners who are just interested in growing a lemon tree or two in their living room, purchasing a young, potted tree is likely the most convenient option. Then, all you'll need to do is transfer it to a slightly larger pot as it grows. 

Harvesting 

If you want to obtain lemons from your indoor trees—and certainly you do!—then it will take bit of extra effort since you don't have any bees or other insects around. "It requires the added work and technique of hand pollination," says Sergeant. "The homeowner must 'be the bee' and use a small brush to pollinate the flowers."

It takes six months for citrus to ripen from pollination to picking, so these fruits are generally considered a winter crop. Once the lemon is totally ripe and no signs of green remain around the edges, a gentle twisting motion will remove the fruit from the tree without damaging any branches. 

While you might not be harvesting large quantities of lemons from an indoor tree, you can still enjoy its beauty year-round—and there's nothing like the incredible taste of a lemon you grew yourself.