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nursecec

Meyer lemon tree and artificial light

20 years ago

I purchased my Meyer lemon last spring and it has been doing fantastically. It started with blossoms, advanced to producing fruit--she has about 20 lemons the largest 2.5 inches, has grown new branches and leaves, has reflowered and tiny new lemons starting. BUT it is getting close to bring it indoors for the cooler months here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. I want to make sure it gets enough light (problematic) and want to consider artificial lights. Does anyone know what kind I should get--incandescent, flourescent or??? How long should the light be one each day. I don't really have a window with good direct light but the plant might get about 6-8 hours of indirect light on a good day. I want my plant t have as easy a transition as possible so that those gorgeous little lemons will grow and turn yellow. This is so fun.

Comments (8)

  • 20 years ago

    I kept my Meyer lemon outdoors year round and brought it indoors only if frost threatened. Doing it this way helped my tree retain its leaves, a critical requirement for an evergreen plant.

  • 20 years ago

    Nurse, how cold does it get there in winter? If not under 32, (for more than a few hours) you might be able to keep your citrus outside..Wish I could do that..It'd be great keeping citrus outside w/o worry about WLD.
    If you have to bring indoors, use 1 cool and 1 warm white flourescent light..Toni

  • 20 years ago

    What about those grow lights that come with the 150 full spectrum bulbs?

  • 20 years ago

    Ordinary fluorescent lamps have sufficient spectrum that a plant needs.

    Full spectrum has a wider spectrum but there's typically not much difference in growth between that and a regular fluorescent because the plant doesn't utilize the entire spectrum for growth. Full spectrum might be useful for an artist needing light to paint by.

    Grow lights have another kind of spectrum that encourages plants to flower. You might not want that kind of light if you're trying to encourage your plant to grow more foliage.

    So many kinds of lights to choose from! One light that I definitely recommend not getting is incandescent. Good luck!

  • 20 years ago

    I use grow lux on mine when needed,and it incourages growth & also blooming.I use them in my house as well as in both greenhouses only if needed.I just watch my foliage and if needed extra light then I use them on my citrus.They are 2 footers suspended on chains that I can control their height.***Suzanne

  • 20 years ago

    Suzanne, is the Grow Lux a plant bulb? I have some type of gro light in the back plant room, that I turn on as soon as the sun sets..I don't have any additional lighting in the gh, but you've given me an idea..Perhaps, if everything is fine next summer, I'll get dh to add some and place on a timer..even though, the plants in my gh get a lot more light than those placed in the house.
    Whether or not citrus go dormant in winter is confrontional. I believe they go through a semi-dormant period, but will still send out new growth, flowers and fruit. If given the right conditions. Those in my house slow down even though they're in south and east windows, and under lights. But my limes have been giving me problems, they won't bloom anytime of yr..Any suggestions?

  • 20 years ago

    Toni...your probably not going to like this, but FEED them. My lime trees are fed 4 times a year as are all my citrus.I do agree that the citrus go through a semi- dormant peroid and will still grow through the winter, this is why I feed.I'm always picking fruit like lemons & limes in February & March. And they need that extra supplement to grow properly.Last time I fed all was October 1st,and I'll feed again January 1st.I know that everyone has their own schedules and their own ways,but you asked and I replied.My citrus get anywhere from 1 1/2Cups to 2 cups a feeding dug into the soil.Then I water well.I also Miracid them 2 times a year.And my limes, I get 2 good flushes of fruit yearly.And the tree's are loaded.***Suzanne P.S. they are hungry tree's.

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