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Meyer lemon in pots

I am in Zone 5b, Chicago area. I bought my husband a small Meyer Lemon for Father’s Day. The plan is to keep it in a pot to be able to bring it indoors for the winter.


It is about 10” tall and the same wide. The main trunk diameter is about the thickness of a pencil. The decorative plastic pot it was sold in is about 7” across and almost that much deep. It has flowers on it and one lemon about ¾” . I chose the one I did based on it having a more uniform branching structure: almost all the others the nursery had (about 20) were very lopsided in their pots.


I have never grown citrus (unless you count the plants I seem to keep starting from grapefruit seeds, LOL).


Is there a FAQ somewhere on growing citrus in pots? I can’t figure out how to find any FAQs in the new redesigned Houzz site.


Will a plant of this size be happy in a pot of that size for now? Or should I plan on potting up soon?

I have a 2 year old fig I grow in a large foam pot. I chose foam to make it easier to haul in and out. Do Meyer lemons have a preference?


I would welcome any other tips you can give me. Thanks!

Comments (2)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I would say you are doing okay. Wait for it to start new growth then begin a regular fertilization with a good citrus fertilizer, 3 to 4 times per year. Meyers are very heavy feeders; and do best with an NPK ratio of 3-1-2 with Mg, Ca, Zn, and iron. Don't over water; but don't let it get too dry. Meyers in container are a bit finicky; over water them, they will drop leaves; let them get too dry and then water, they will drop leaves; significantly change the light conditions, they will drop leaves. Good luck. Oh, and you have come to the right place; there are a lot of smart/experienced people here who will help you. You only have to post a photo and describe your problem.

    linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked johnmerr
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Growing citrus can be quite challenging at times and a lot of people have bad experiences with Meyers. I nearly killed mine twice, but both times were avoidable. Here is a really quick summary of important items to keep in mind:

    1) the pot must have drainage holes, the more the better

    2) the soil should be free draining and never soggy

    3) do you have a water softener?

    4) Meyers need plenty of fertilizer

    5) give the tree as much sun as you can

    You don’t NEED to use a certain type of pot or potting soil, but you do NEED to adjust for your specific set of conditions. I had much success growing in a terra-cotta pot (not much drainage) in a heavy soil, I just closely monitored watering. That is until a family member was being helpful and watered it everyday. Root rot happened quick.

    Beware of tap water, it can cause problems if the mineral content is high or you have chlorine. A water softener will kill a plant too. I use only rain water after salt build up in the soil, but most people just flush the soil with distilled water or rain water.

    As long as you keep an eye on watering/drainage, fertilize regularly (a lot of us use foliagepro for container plants), and give the tree lots of light, you can create a routine that works with your trees’s environment. Feel free to ask questions. Enjoy the lemons

    linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked Alanna Migliacci