Making lemon tree fertilizer yourself is quite easy if you have the right knowledge. Because even simple home remedies are enough to provide the lemon with the nutrients it needs. Interested hobby gardeners can find out what is important when it comes to production in the following instructions.
Lemon Tree Fertilizer
In order to grow and produce many fruits, the lemon tree needs various nutrients. In the main it concerns:
- nitrogen
- potassium
- phosphorus
Commercial complete fertilizers for citrus and other Mediterranean plants contain these three substances in a ratio of three to four parts nitrogen, two parts potassium and one part phosphorus. Tomato fertilizer is an alternative to citrus fertilizer because it has a similar ratio of nutrients.
In addition to the components mentioned, lemon trees also need other minerals and trace elements. This includes:
- boron
- iron
- copper
- magnesium
- manganese
- molybdenum
- zinc
notice: Neither the ratio nor the total trace elements can simply be created using your own compilations. It is therefore not enough to just produce or use a fertilizer. Instead, various (home) remedies should be used alternately to cover the nutrient requirements of the lemon.
lemon leaves and peel
It is very easy to make your own fertilizer from the lemon’s own plant parts. In nature, the leaves and fruits of the lemon tree fall off and rot on the tree disc. As a result, the plant regains important nutrients. When cultivating in pots or tubs, however, not enough fallen plant parts often end up or are removed to prevent mold from forming on the substrate surface. However, making a fertilizer from the plant parts does not require much effort. The following applications are possible:
- crumble dried leaves and work into the soil
- Grate the lemon peel, let it dry and also put it on the substrate or work it in
- When repotting and changing the soil, put parts of the leaves and shells on the bottom of the pot and on the substrate
Coffee and tea as lemon tree fertilizer
Coffee grounds and tea can be wonderful fertilizers for the lemon tree. They contain the three main nutrients needed and have an acidifying effect on the pH of the soil. In addition, both tea and coffee grounds are available in almost every household and can be easily used.
Coffee grounds are dried on the ground or mixed under the substrate when repotting. When used on earth, a maximum of one dose should be given monthly. Administration directly into the substrate can be done during repotting.
Green and black tea are suitable both as a tea set and as a tea infusion to fertilize the lemon tree. Tea infusion is added directly to the irrigation water and administered once a week during growth. A dosage of about one cup is sufficient. Tea grounds release nutrients more slowly, so they need to be used less often. It is enough to spread the contents of a tea bag on the earth once a month.
nutrient-rich water
Another possibility of fertilization is found in nutrient-rich water. This also occurs more frequently in the household and garden, because it involves:
- the cooking water of potatoes and other vegetables
- aquarium water
- pond water
With water from the aquarium or garden pond, however, it is important that it has not been treated with medication for fish and other aquatic life or chemicals. Otherwise, the lemon tree could be damaged. The water does not require any preparation for fertilization, it is simply used to water the plant.
vegetable brew
An ideal fertilizer for the lemon tree and other plants is plant brew. Stinging nettles and comfrey are particularly suitable for this brew, as they not only contain numerous nutrients, but these are also present in a favorable ratio. In addition, it is very easy to make the fertilizer yourself. The following instructions show step by step what is necessary for this:
1. The leaves and stalks of comfrey or nettle are cut into small pieces and placed in a jar or other sealable container. A mason jar, for example, is ideal. It is important to fill or stuff the plant parts as tightly as possible.
2. The vessel is filled with water and sealed. In order to be able to use the brew as quickly as possible, it is placed in a sunny and warm place after sealing. As a result, the nutrients from nettle or comfrey pass into the water in a shorter time and the solution begins to ferment.
3. The brew can be used after twelve hours at the earliest. It is better, however, to use it as a fertilizer for the lemon tree after two days. If you don't want to wait that long, after eight hours in the sun, you can let the vegetable brew simmer for about 30 minutes on a low heat. The plant parts are left in the liquid during cooking.
4.After fermentation, the brew can be used directly as fertilizer. After simmering, it should first cool down. In any case, it is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:1 and thus fertilizes the plant when watering. A monthly dose of the plant brew is sufficient.
blood and blood meal
Fertilizing with blood or blood meal is always recommended when the lemon tree shows signs of iron deficiency. This is a yellowish to brownish discoloration of the leaves, while the leaf veins remain green. The deficiency is very easy to recognize due to its characteristic appearance.
Blood and blood meal contain a large amount of iron and can therefore remedy the deficiency relatively quickly. For blood meal, one to three teaspoons per week is sufficient. For fresh or frozen blood, the amount may be doubled. Both fertilizers are applied directly to the substrate and the plant is then watered.
If the fruits of the lemon are consumed, blood meal or blood should come from reliable and harmless sources. Suitable suppliers in the case of fresh or frozen blood are, for example, butchers but also barf shops for dogs and cats. Blood meal can be found, among other things, as a fertilizer in specialist shops.
algae
Algae and so-called algae lime or kelp flour contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals. However, they also have a basic pH. Therefore, they are only optimal fertilizers when the substrate becomes too acidic. So before they are used for nutrient supply, the pH value of the soil should be determined.
horn shavings, compost and stable manure
Manure, horn shavings and compost can be used individually or in combination as fertilizer for the lemon. Since the nutrients are released comparatively slowly, the organic materials are suitable as long-term fertilizers. Therefore, it makes sense to add them to the substrate directly when repotting. However, they can also be given to earth. In any case, the following points must be observed:
- the compost should already be well rotted
- the horn shavings must be finely chopped
- Farmyard manure should be from a reliable source and should not contain any residual medication if the lemons are intended for consumption
- mix the fertilizer well with the substrate when repotting
horn shavings
notice: Two parts each of manure and compost and one part horn shavings are used to create the combination.