When Should I Bring My Lemon Tree Indoors?
The nights are getting cooler. Your lemon tree is still outside. And you’re wondering whether it’s time to bring it in.
This sounds as if it should have a simple answer. Bring it inside before frost, right?
But the best time to bring in a lemon tree depends on where it’s going for the winter. A lemon tree headed for a warm living room needs different treatment from one going somewhere cool.
So before you look at the weather forecast, decide where your lemon tree will spend the winter.
And before we get into places to put your lemon, you might be wondering how much cold it can take. If you’ve seen advice saying that lemon trees tolerate below-freezing temperatures, it’s true: They can take quite a bit of cold. But a potted lemon tree is more cold-sensitive than one growing in the ground because the roots are exposed to greater temperature swings. I aim to keep my potted lemons at least slightly above freezing. Why risk them when I’m going to all the trouble of growing them?
If Your Lemon Tree Is Coming Into the House
Here I’m moving one of my potted lemon trees into protection for the winter.
Don’t wait too long.
A lemon tree growing outdoors in autumn is in cool, humid conditions. A centrally heated house is warm and dry. Move the tree directly from one to the other and it might respond with a leaf-dropping tantrum.
Meyer lemon trees are especially well known for this. I’ve had nearly naked Meyer lemon trees in my kitchen. It’s alarming. But they usually grow new leaves.
You can reduce leaf drop by bringing the tree indoors before there’s a big difference between the conditions outside and inside. If the furnace is already running regularly and the air in the house is dry, the transition is more abrupt.
You don’t need to rush the tree indoors after the first cool night. But if its winter home will be a warm room, moving it earlier is often better than leaving it outdoors as long as possible.
Before bringing it in, inspect it for pests. A strong spray of water can dislodge spider mites and other unwanted stowaways. Pay particular attention to the undersides of the leaves. Your lemon tree is welcome in the house; its entourage is not.
If It’s Going Somewhere Cool and Bright
A cool greenhouse kept just above freezing is an excellent place to overwinter a potted lemon tree.
A cool sunroom, porch, greenhouse or bright basement window can be an excellent place to overwinter a lemon tree.
In this situation, there’s less urgency to move the tree early because the change in temperature and humidity isn’t as dramatic. You can leave it outdoors while the weather is mild, then move it into shelter before temperatures get too cold.
If It’s Going Into a Cold, Dark Garage
Yes, a lemon tree can spend the winter in a dark garage if the garage is cold enough. This is not textbook horticulture, but it’s worked for me many times.
Lemon trees are evergreen and don’t go dormant in the same way that fig trees do. But when conditions are cold, they stop growing. If your garage remains just above freezing and the tree isn’t growing, it will tolerate very little light.
The cold is the important part. A warm, dark garage gives you the worst combination: enough warmth to encourage growth, without enough light to support it.
For this sort of cold storage, leave the tree outdoors through cool autumn weather so its growth slows naturally. A brief, light frost usually won’t harm the tree. But don’t push your luck—move it into protection before the pot freezes.
Don’t Forget Water
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Wherever your lemon tree spends the winter, its water needs will change.
A lemon tree growing in a warm, bright room uses more water than one sitting in a cold garage. In cool conditions, let the potting mix become drier between waterings. Cold, wet soil is an excellent way to kill roots.
A simple watering schedule would make life easier. But there’s no reliable rule that says to water every X number of days. Here’s what works for lemons: Check the soil and the weight of the pot. If the mix is still moist at the top, it’s probably wetter farther down. Wait. Water according to the conditions and how actively the plant is growing.
So, When Should You Bring It In?
Here’s the short version:
Warm house: Bring it in earlier, before the difference in temperature and humidity becomes extreme.
Cool, bright space: Leave it out through mild weather, but move it before damaging cold.
Cold, dark space: Let cool weather slow the tree, then move it before the pot or fruit freezes.
When should you bring in your lemon tree? The ideal time depends on the outdoor temperature. But it also depends on the indoor conditions where you’ll be putting it.
Time the move to give your lemon an easy transition into its winter home.
Find a Winter Setup That Fits Your Lemon Tree—and Your Home
You don’t need a greenhouse or a perfect south-facing window to grow lemons in a cold climate. In my lemon class, I look at practical ways to overwinter potted citrus, prevent common problems, and choose an approach that fits your space. The live, two-part camp takes place every September.