Citrus fruit isn’t just grown in tropical habitats any longer. The newer varieties of “dwarf” fruit trees make them ideal for home and greenhouse growth. No hydroponic garden is complete without at least one dwarf lemon tree, or another dwarf citrus. In spite of being tropic in origin, dwarf lemon trees do not need to be kept in extremely high temperatures. They do need a great deal of light. Drip irrigation hydroponic systems are great for lemon trees. The method of starting your tree will determine whether or not it bears fruit, and even then it will take much longer than most crops.

The greenhouse temperature that is ideal for dwarf lemon trees is between fifty-five and sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit. People turning the heat up, thinking tropic equaled hot have lost many trees. Your dwarf lemon trees do not need a great deal of heat, but they thrive on light, at least sixteen full hours of full-spectrum light is required daily. This will require a visit to a hydroponic supply shop to purchase gro lights.

Lemon trees need an acidic environment for optimum growth. It is best to visit a hydroponic supply place such as Advanced Nutrients for a pre-formulated hydroponic nutrient solution. Having the correct proportion of nutrients is essential for your lemon tree. The roots of your lemon tree need to be allowed to dry out between feedings. For this reason, you need to implement a system of drip irrigation that allows you to provide nutrition on a regular schedule, rather than continuously. This is a good time to mention the growing medium you should use. Trees need support, so you will need to use some growing medium such as a peat and vermiculite mixture. Provide pebbles or some other drainage method at the bottom of your container to allow for adequate drainage.

Before you embark on growing your dwarf lemon tree, you will need to decide whether you want to grow it simply for its ornamental value or if you want to grow a crop that provides fruit. Starting your tree from seed will show it growing and thriving, but will make it unlikely to produce fruit. If edible lemons are your goal, it is better to start your tree from a clipping. Even then, it may take as long as fifteen years before it fruits. If eventual fruit is your goal, you may consider adding bumblebees or honeybees to your greenhouse to help facilitate pollination.

Now that you know the sweet deal on dwarf lemon trees, consider adding one or more to your hydroponic garden. Provide your new plant with plenty of light and the required hydroponic nutrient and you will quickly see it grow and thrive. A final note to mention on helping your dwarf lemon tree grow fuller. Once it begins growing and reaches twelve inches in height, prune it back to approximately six inches. Then do this a second time when it again grows to a foot tall. This pruning will enable your dwarf lemon tree to spread out and become fuller.

Hydroponics is easy to set up when you're a hobbyist, but if you have aspirations of becoming a master grower, you owe it to yourself to read the best hydroponics newsletter on the web.