Meyer lemon is a lemon-mandarin cross with thin skin and sweet, fragrant, less acidic juice, and a naturally compact tree. (Citrus x meyeri)
Shop this plant: Meyer Lemon Tree 7 Gal – Miami-Dade
Quick Care Summary
- Sun: Full sun, at least 8 hours a day.
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.
- Watering: Water new trees 2-3 times a week for the first month, then weekly in dry spells for the first year.
Sun
Full sun, at least 8 hours a day.
Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. In alkaline South Florida soils, plant on a mound and feed minor elements regularly. Never plant in low, wet spots.
Watering
Water new trees 2-3 times a week for the first month, then weekly in dry spells for the first year. Established trees need deep watering every 1-2 weeks in the dry season. Keep water off the trunk.
Fertilizer Schedule for South Florida
Use a citrus fertilizer with minor elements (such as 8-2-10 with magnesium) 4-6 times a year for young trees from February through October, and 3-4 times a year for mature trees. Supplement with a nutritional spray of zinc, manganese and iron on alkaline soils. Avoid feeding from November through January.
Pruning
Citrus need little pruning. Remove suckers below the graft, dead wood and crossing branches after the main harvest. Skirt branches 1-2 ft off the ground to reduce pests and disease.
Cold Protection
Meyer is one of the hardier citrus, handling brief dips to about 24°F once established.
Container vs. In-Ground
Citrus adapt well to 15-25 gallon containers with a fast-draining citrus mix. Container trees need more frequent feeding and watering but are easy to move indoors on freeze nights.
Spacing
Plant 12-15 ft from other trees and at least 10 ft from buildings.
Flowering and Fruiting Timeline
Blooms mainly in spring with smaller flushes; main crop November-March.
Harvest
Pick when fruit are deep yellow-orange and slightly soft. Fruit hold on the tree for weeks.
Common Pests and Diseases
Start with organic, low-impact fixes: good airflow, clean-up of fallen fruit and leaves, and soaps or oils before anything stronger. Always follow label directions.
Citrus greening (HLB)
How to identify: Blotchy, asymmetrical yellow mottling on leaves, lopsided bitter fruit and twig dieback. Spread by the Asian citrus psyllid.
Organic-first treatment: There is no cure. Keep the tree well fed with minor elements, control psyllids with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap on new flushes, and remove severely declining trees.
Citrus leafminer
How to identify: Silvery, winding trails in new leaves, which curl and distort.
Organic-first treatment: Mostly cosmetic on mature trees; spray horticultural oil or spinosad on new flush of young trees.
Scale and mealybugs
How to identify: Small bumps or white cottony clusters on stems and leaf undersides, often with sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
Organic-first treatment: Prune heavily infested twigs, spray horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and control the ants that farm them.
Citrus canker and greasy spot
How to identify: Raised corky lesions or greasy dark blotches on leaves.
Organic-first treatment: Rake up fallen leaves, keep trees fed, and use copper fungicide in summer.
FAQ
Is Meyer lemon good in a pot? Yes, it is one of the best citrus for containers.
Can citrus be shipped to me? Citrus plants can only be shipped within Florida due to state citrus regulations.
Related Reading
- Cold-Hardy Fruit Trees for Florida Freezes (and How to Protect Tender Ones)
- Citrus Greening in Florida: Signs and What to Do
- Why Too Much Fertilizer Can Hurt Your Fruit Tree More Than None
Ready to grow your own? Get the Meyer Lemon here.
