Marianne's Response
Why is my Lemon tree growing weird?
I live in Michigan, so I have a potted lemon tree. Over the winter I’ve been keeping him under a sun lamp and he’s been doing… interestingly. He recently sprouted this tiny branch and grew leaves the size of my hand, he usually grows leafs 1-2 inches big. I’m worried that it’s straining the lemon tree to have such big leaves, but I don’t want to cut leaves he needs. I’ve been giving him fertilizer and stuff, and keeping him watered, but why does he look so scraggly?
Posted by Isabelle Fleszar on May 6, 2019
Marianne's Response
Perhaps it is the type of light, the type of fertilizer and the amount you use. Lemon trees should go a bit dormant in the winter when you bring it indoors. A sun lamp, plus "fertilizer and stuff" can be confusing the tree so that it thinks it is summer. Try letting your lemon tree enjoy life on the patio this summer with natural light. I would not remove the very large leaves unless the tree starts sprouting new growth with leaves of average size. When you do move the tree back indoors instead of using a heat lamp use a "grow light" or cool fluorescent light source. One application of fertilizer in the spring using a type made for citrus plants is all a potted tree needs. Enjoy your interesting tree - plants will always surprise us. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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