Ponderosa Lemon Tree

Ponderosa Lemon Tree Care

Ponderosa Lemon

Other names: Skierniewice Lemon

What is the plant

The ponderosa lemon (Citrus x pyriformis), also called Skierniewice lemon, is a citrus hybrid of a pomelo and a citron. It is not the same as the 'Yuma Ponderosa' lemon-pomelo hybrid used as citrus rootstock. Ponderosa lemon trees are slow growing but reach a height of 12 to 24 feet (3.7 to 7.3 m) at maturity. The leaves are long, evergreen, glossy, and citron-like, being ovate elliptic in shape and lemon scented. They have medium-thick branches with many spines. New growth is purple-tinged, as are the flowers. Ponderosa lemon also has larger than average citrus flowers, and bears fruit throughout the year. When grown as an ornamental, it requires pruning to control the shape, and may be trained as a bush or tree.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

9 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Keep the tree watered but not overly. A container grown citrus may need to be watered one to two times a day in hot regions. Allow the top 1 inch (5 cm.) of soil to dry during the fall and winter seasons.
Pruning
Additional Ponderosa lemon tree care is related to pruning. Prune the tree in the early spring prior to any budding. Using clean, sharp shears, remove any crossing branches. The goal is to create a strong, yet open canopy that allows for air circulation. Snip the canopy tips back several inches (9-10 cm.) to control the overall height and any growth that is seen on the trunk below the lowest branches. Also, remove any damaged or dead limbs year round.
Fertilizer
Feed the tree with a citrus liquid fertilizer twice each month during the growing season. At dormancy, cut back to once a month in the fall and winter.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
As a citrus variety, Lemon Trees require full to partial sun, which means about 4 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. For indoor growth, simply place them in front of a South-facing or sunny window.
Soil
Although lemon trees can grow in nearly any soil with good drainage, they grow best in loamy or sandy loam soils. Trees planted in salty, heavy clay and high caliche soils suffer problematic and declined growth. Lemons also prefer soil pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5.
Temperature
The best temperature for lemon trees is between 77 and 86 degrees, and the higher side of this range will also aid the trees in photosynthesis. Lemon trees like full sun, growing often in USDA zones 9 to 11, and they also require good soil drainage and need regular water during their growing season.