Lisbon Lemon Tree

Lisbon Lemon Tree Care

Citrus Limon 'Lisbon Lemon'

What is the plant

Growing Lisbon Lemons at home is an easy process, as this variety is perhaps the most resilient and fast-growing of them all. If your climate allows, these trees can be grown outside. For the rest of the world, they're also surprisingly easy to keep as indoor plants!

Lisbon Lemon trees are among the most popular lemon varieties in garden centers and plant shops. With another variety called the 'Eureka Lemon,' Lisbon Lemons are also commonly seen in grocery shops, typically labeled as just 'Lemon.'

The Lisbon Lemon tree can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) tall, and they are known to be hardy, flavorful, and fast-growing. The lemons of this tree are sweet and tart, with a thin, textured rind and a strong, citrusy scent. Their skin is easy to peel and zest, which is why it is so popular. Something unique about this Lemon is that the fruit grows inside the tree canopy. This keeps the Lemons safe from rain and wind, resulting in smoother and more delicate fruits.

As their name suggests, the plant is native to Lisbon, Portugal. Despite its European origin, the Lisbon Lemon is particularly popular in the USA and Australia, where it's among the most cultivated varieties for commercial growing ever since it was introduced in 1950.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

10°C - 18°C

Hardiness zone

9 - 12

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
If you've got a newly purchased, young plant, you'll need to water it frequently to keep the soil slightly moist. Don't keep the soil waterlogged and soaked because this causes root rot! Check the soil every other day and water when it feels dry. You can also use a moisture probe to test if the soil is dry.

For older trees, you can reduce watering slightly to allow the top 2 inches (5 cm) of potting soil to dry before you water again. When watering, do it thoroughly until water runs through the drainage holes, and pour the excess water out from the saucer! Using room-temperature water is also helpful to prevent temperature stress on the roots.
Pruning
Indoor Lemon trees require little to no pruning. If your indoor plant produces fruit, it's best to prune after harvesting. Otherwise, you risk harming your yield. For indoor dwarf varieties, the only pruning needed is to remove dead leaves and branches growing in 'unwanted' directions, such as across from other branches, way out of shape of the tree, or too low on the trunk.
Fertilizer
Lisbon Lemons are vigorous growers and need enough nutrients to support their growth. From March to October, feed your Lemon tree with a specific Lemon (or Citrus) plant food. You may also opt for an NPK ratio of 8-8-8 if you cannot find a particular Citrus fertilizer. Feed the plant every 6-8 weeks at half the recommended strength on the packaging to prevent nutrient burn.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
When you grow your Lisbon Lemon tree indoors, a grow light is always recommended. These plants need sunlight daily, at least 8 hours of full sun. In indoor environments, the light from outside is filtered and much less bright when compared to outdoors.

Thus, place your Lisbon Lemon in a south-facing window with full sun exposure year-round, or add an artificial grow light to keep the plant healthy and lush. During the winter months, a grow light is needed regardless.
Soil
Lemon trees like well-drained and acidic soil types. The roots need access to plenty of oxygen, so adding amendments like chunky perlite, orchid bark, grit, and vermiculite can be helpful to boost the drainage of standard potting soil. The stores often have soils for citruses, so those might include all these things.
Propagation
You may propagate your Lisbon Lemon through stem cuttings. Take a 6-8 inch (15-20 cm) cutting from a healthy, mature branch full of leaves. The cutting shouldn't have flowers. Pinch the lowest two sets of leaves from the branch and pop them in a nursery pot filled with potting soil.

Keep the pot in a warm and bright spot but out of direct sun because it can scorch the leaves. The soil must remain slightly moist but not soggy. Also, allow the top layer to dry before lightly watering again. Within a few weeks, roots should grow, and new leaves will begin to emerge!

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Temperature
Despite being more hardy to cold and frost than other Lemon varieties, the Lisbon Lemon doesn't tolerate extended periods of cool weather. In their ideal environment, the temperature should never exceed 50°F (10°C). If you expose it to cold below 30°F (-1°C), it will perish.

In indoor conditions, it is vital to keep this Lemon Tree out of cold drafts, radiators, air vents, and other cold, heat, or dry air-emitting units. Their environment should be kept stable, with minimal temperature fluctuations. Keep the temperature between 65 and 75°F (18-24°C) year-round.
Container
For indoor Lemon growing, we recommend choosing a dwarf variety of the Lisbon Lemon. These plants will remain relatively small, making it easier to keep them in pots and your space!

You can plant your Lisbon Lemon tree in a lifelong container 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter. However, if you grow a small baby plant in this large pot, it is at high risk of overwatering. We recommend slowly increasing your plant's pot size until you reach 20 inches (50 cm). The tree will need to be repotted every year or two, so check on the roots every spring and repot to a larger pot when needed. Scale up your container with 2 inches (5 cm) each repot. Your planter of choice must have drainage holes in the bottom!
Fun fact
Did you know Lemon trees, including the Lisbon Lemon, produce mature fruit year-round? You'll find the most flowers and fruits on your Lemon tree during the Winter months, but when given the right environment, you can enjoy fresh lemons anytime!