There may be various reasons why the lemon tree does not bloom. The three main points relate to age , location , environmental conditions and care as well as origin (generative or vegetative breeding).
Due to the logical structure of the guide, it is easy to proceed according to the principle of exclusion in order to find out what is decisive for the failure to flower. If the cause is not found in old age or in the circumstances that can be actively influenced, the only possible reason is actually the origin. After all of these points have been explained in detail, experienced and courageous hobby gardeners can look forward to an extra tip on the Verdelli process, which can support flowering.
It’s a question of age
Perhaps the (self-grown) lemon tree is not blooming because it is still too young. You shouldn’t expect him to throw flowers or even fruits around before the age of eight or nine. Sometimes it can take up to 15 years before the tree shows its most beautiful side. Here is a somewhat more precise explanation: As with most living things, there is also a point in time for the lemon tree to “reach sexual maturity”. This moment essentially depends on a sufficient size of the root system and well-developed foliage.
Location, environmental conditions and care
As with any plant, blooming is an enormous effort for the lemon tree. He needs the best conditions to be able to develop. A lack of energy is a common reason for a lack of lemon blossom. Through
- a wrong location,
- poor environmental conditions and / or
- inappropriate care
the tree does not produce enough sugar. Sometimes it also lacks the necessary nutrients for a rich bloom, in addition or as an alternative. The hobby gardener must therefore check carefully whether he has taken all measures (correctly). Potential errors abound:
Too little light
Does the lemon tree get enough light? Often it is not enough to put the plant in a closed room behind a window pane all year round. It’s nice and warm there, but the glass absorbs too much of the sun’s rays. Artificial lighting cannot cover the light energy requirement either. The lemon tree wants to stand outside in the fresh air, preferably in the blazing sun, to feel at home (subtropics, Mediterranean region). If you visualize the home of the plant, it is not surprising that it is used to spending many hours in direct sunlight.
Here are the most important points about the light requirements of the lemon tree:
- sunny, warm and sheltered place outdoors from April to November
- direct sunlight for many hours with as little shade as possible
If these criteria are met, the tree receives sufficient light for photosynthesis. The sugar, which is then formed as energy, supports the flowering.
Too Much Water
When it comes to light, lemon trees are very demanding. The situation is very different with regard to the water supply. The plants require very little liquid.
If the lemon tree is too damp, you water too often or too much. It is possible that the soil is not permeable, and that too needs to be checked. In all of the cases mentioned, the moisture builds up and makes it impossible for the plant to bloom.
Too much / too little fertilizer
Too much, too little or wrong fertilizer can also be the reason why the lemon tree does not bloom.
Incorrect overwintering
If the lemon tree loses its leaves in its winter quarters, it can be difficult to flower in the coming year. The loss of the green elements restricts the growth of the plant and thus also that of the flowers.
In order to prevent the leaves from falling off the tree, the hobby gardener must ensure that the conditions in the winter quarter are 100 percent species-appropriate:
- bright, but not garish
- 6 hours of light (daylight or plant lamp)
- cool temperatures (around 5 ° C, max. 8 ° C)
- pour once (after that no more)
- do not use fertilizer
- Keep roots frost-free
origin
Is the lemon tree that you have grown yourself ripe for flowering and are the environmental conditions and care measures right? Then there is really only one reason why it does not bloom: The core from which the tree was grown was probably sterile (sterile). Then the plant is unfortunately not able to develop flowers at all, neither now nor later.
A few more details about the possibilities of origin:
Generative reproduction
The term “generative” is the technical term for sexual reproduction. The lemon tree is grown by yourself. A lemon kernel serves as the base. This is taken from a lemon fruit. Conventional lemons from the supermarket often contain seeds that come from hybrid (crossed) parent plants. Such specimens are usually sterile. Therefore, when growing a lemon tree, you should definitely use seeds that come from the fruits of a grafted plant. Even then, it cannot be completely ruled out that the growing tree will never bloom, but the probability decreases significantly.
Vegetative propagation
With vegetative propagation one forms cuttings. There are two options to choose from:
- plant directly
- Bring it into the grafted plant as a noble twig
If you want to refine a lemon tree, a sturdy root support (such as Citrus aurantium or Poncirus trifoliata) is connected to the edible veins. The latter is a branch of an older lemon that has blossomed (several times) in the past. Basically, vegetative reproduction creates a “clone” of the mother plant. The use of a vines (from a fruit-bearing plant) ensures that the new lemon tree will bloom and bear fruit in the near future.
Verdelli trial
The so-called Verdelli process is a traditional method of promoting the flowering of the lemon tree. This is how it works:
Step 1: Do not water the lemon tree in summer for about four weeks.
Step 2: Then water and fertilize the plant very intensively several times.
This results in an above-average late bloom and a richer harvest for the next year. Smaller lemon trees that can be taken out of the pot should be immersed in water during the Verdelli process until the root ball is completely soaked with the liquid. The same act is repeated on the day after that.
