i have a dwarf lemon tree that lives in our house in colorado. i am wondering how much water i need to be giving it and how often? as of now, i am giving it a 1/2 gallon of water one time a week. is this way to little or about right?
The proper method of irrigating a containerized citrus tree is: when you water the tree, water the tree well, so that approximately 10 percent of the water applied applied to the surface of the soil drains out the holes at the container's bottom. If you continually add small amounts of water, so that very little, or no water, drains out the bottom, soluble salts from the irrigation water and the applied nutrients builds up with each irrigation. Soluble salts is a common problem, especially with new growers. Soluble salts can kill container citrus trees. Many people that apply small volumes of water to container trees do so out of fear of over watering the tree and causing damage or death to the tree. Certainly, the number one important ingredient to insure a successful, and long lived citrus tree is EXCELLENT "SOIL" DRAINAGE. Excellent drainage is achieved by growing the tree in the proper growth medium, not by the restriction of applied water. Actually, the more water, (thus more nutrients), that passes through the tree's roots and is released through the transpiration system of the leaves, the better the tree's growth, the healthier the tree, and the larger is the crop. I also grow Citrus in Colorado 131 different varieties of citrus, three in the ground and 128 in containers. Welcome to the club.
