I dropped my dwarf Meyer lemon tree and the pot broke. See how I transplanted it into a new pot and some basic plant care.
After owning a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree for two years now, I was pretty sure I should repot it. However, I was hesitant because it was doing well, and I hated to upset the apple cart.
Repotting a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree
However, once while I was moving it from the sink to the plant stand I dropped it! Now I had no choice but to repot.
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I purchased a pot a little larger than the original at Home Depot.
I wanted something that was lightweight, the right size, and one with really good drainage. This one has several nice drainage holes and some feet to raise the pot. However, it also had this saucer attached to it which, although looks nice, may cause problems with water buildup. So, I removed it and replaced it with an inexpensive plastic saucer that was a little wider than the pot.
This way I can see if there is any standing water, which you don’t want. Everything I’ve read about dwarf Meyer lemon trees, and have experienced with most plants, is that they hate wet feet.
Upon removing the tree from the original pot, I noticed that the root ball looked pretty good. The roots weren’t winding round the ball and had good color and it wasn’t overly dry.
I removed any loose planting material before setting the tree into its new pot. Put some potting soil in the new pot first. Maybe about 1/4-1/3 full.
Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree Soil
The grower recommends using a coarse well-draining soil mix. I ended up using a good standard potting soil and mixed it with perlite
Set the tree in the pot and continue filling with soil. Make sure that you leave some room at the top. About 1.5 inches with the crown roots just above the soil line. Then give it a good watering.
Watering a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree Indoors
I like to put mine in the sink. One day this won’t be feasible. Then I’ll have to take it to the shower or add a larger draining pot underneath. I use a high nitrogen fertilizer, usually Miracid
,Once it has finished draining move it (don’t drop it) to its normal location. Mine is in the dining room now that the nights are colder. I have a full-spectrum bulb
After dropping this pot I decided it was getting too big and too heavy for me to water at the sink so I made a rolling plant stand out of a small cart. Now I can easily roll it to the kitchen sink.
You can see I have a few lemons that will be ready to harvest soon. They typically take about 9 months to fully ripen. Just like a human child. I don’t mind because I really enjoy their beauty on the tree.
Still, you can see it is already starting to put on new growth.
It’s also flowering and boy do the blossoms smell great.
For more information about growing Dwarf Meyer Lemon Trees in containers check out Four Winds Growers.
P.S. I really adore growing this dwarf Meyer lemon tree at home but I’ve also made a few great recipes with the yummy lemons it produces. One is a tasty Meyer Lemon Cake with a Candied Peel Topping and another, a simple Meyer Lemon Sauce that works great on salmon. Of course, it works well with anything you would normally use a standard lemon. They are pretty much the same except that the Meyer Lemon is slightly sweeter.
Alicia Smith says
June 15, 2019 at 8:32 pmHi Patti,
I bought a dwarf myer lemon plant last year and kept it on my patio during the summer. I brought it in the house over the winter (I live in Kansas City, Mo) and managed to keep it alive. I have one lemon that is about 7 or months old now, still green, but it is a large one. All the other blossoms fall off after a week or so. I have done well keeping the pest down except periodically a see a centipede, not sure how to rid myself of them. I know I need to replant in larger pot and prune, but I am afraid if I do I will lose the one lemon I have. Should I replant or wait? Leave inside or move outside since it is summer now?
Thanks for your help,
Alicia
Patti Estep says
June 16, 2019 at 9:40 amAlicia, My lemons seem to be ripe around 9 months. I would wait to re-pot. However, I don’t think it would hurt to prune it now. This is the time of year where it will start to put on new growth. I’m getting ready to move mine outside for the summer. I also think that would be a good idea. Just make sure that you slowly introduce it to the outside by starting in a shady protected area and increasing the light daily if you can. Also, be sure that it drains really well as you never know when or how much it will rain. The last thing this plant likes is sitting in water. Finally, if you haven’t tried a fertilizer I’d try Miracid. This may help and as it is the growing season now is a good time to feed the plant.
Geneva Johnson says
October 22, 2017 at 5:42 pmI have a Meyer lemon tree that is not doing well because of our hotter than usual summer and tons of rain. My lemons are bright yellow but only about the size of a fifty cent piece. The leaves are curling which makes it look like it needs water but we had about 2-3 inches of rain this morning and it was already very wet from rains earlier in the week. There are also no new blooms on it. I live about 100 miles North of Houston TX and we hardly get winter weather. It is October 22 and I feel if I don’t repot I will lose my tree. Help please
Patti Estep says
October 22, 2017 at 7:06 pmHi Geneva,
I would try to move the pot out of the rain and let it dry out a bit if you can. I found that too much water really hurt my tree. Another thing I would suggest is after it dries out try fertilizing the plant with Miracid. You can find it at any nursery. Dilute it a bit and that may also give the plant a boost. Hope that helps!
meyerslemontreegrower says
November 28, 2016 at 2:40 amif you are in Los Angeles or the Souther California area you can get meyers Lemon trees from http://paradisenursery.com/product/meyers-improved-lemon-trees/
Antoinette says
December 2, 2015 at 9:22 pmI have a lemon tree that is too large to bring indoors. What can I do to protect it from the winter?
Patti says
December 3, 2015 at 6:01 amAntoinette,
I really don’t know enough to accurately help in this case. I would guess that would depend on where you live. I don’t think citrus tree would survive where I live. I suggest you try fourwindsgrowers.com which is where my lemon came from. They have a lot of good information on their site.
kim pinnix says
November 10, 2015 at 9:42 amHi Patti,
I was wondering if you use anything to keep pests away from the lemon tree? Mine had some white bugs on it & I wanted something natural to spray on it. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Patti says
November 10, 2015 at 10:41 amHi Kim,
Sounds like you have white fly. I have be fortunate enough so far to be pest free. I would try insecticidal soap. It is natural and known for helping with white flies. You can buy it at any garden center, big box store, probably at the hardware store. Make sure you spray under the leaves.
Maria Soyoso-Capuder says
June 19, 2017 at 8:24 amI have the same issue with our dwarf Meyer lemon tree,we just had our backyard screen and still seeing some leaves that’s probably eaten by bug.Tried the homemade Insecticide found in some bloggers w/c “Dishwasher soap and Water,and spray it all over leaves -didn’t help at all.
Other issue,Patti-do you have ang recommendations in how to keep the tree hold up?Due to its fruits the three itself is bending down,I’m worried it might not hold to the weights of its fruits anymore.
Thanks Patti for posting this.Keep it up!
Patti Estep says
June 19, 2017 at 8:36 amHi Maria,
It’s always something, right? I hope you can get your dwarf Meyer back into shape. Regarding the weight issue. The only thing I can think of is to get a stake and tie it to the main trunk. My plant came with one and it really helps. The branches will still get heavy but so far it hasn’t been to much of an issue.
Thanks for your wonderful comment and have a great week!
Patti
Carole West @ Garden Up Green says
November 10, 2015 at 6:38 amI’m so jealous, I tried an indoor lemon tree once and it didn’t work out. Think it was lack of light even though I had them near the window. Our home is rather shaded so I don’t bother much with indoor plants. However we plan to sell in the spring so perhaps in the future I can try again. Pinning for later. This is an excellent tutorial on repotting. Thanks a Bunch!
Patti says
November 10, 2015 at 6:50 amThanks Carole. I know what you mean about lighting. I use a full spectrum light on several indoor plants but, I always say the next house will have more light and more sun in the yard.
Mona Wilkerson says
April 16, 2017 at 2:00 pmHi Patti, thanks for your helpful tips on repotting a Meyer Lemon Tree. I have had my lemon tree for fours years and I repotted it right after I purchased it. The first year the tree produced 24 lemons and the second year 32 lemons but it appears that tree may be stressed out. It is time to purchase a new pot along with potting soil.
Thanks,
Mona