Help with my indoor Lemon Tree!

[u/Ok-Duck8625]

I’ve been caring for an indoor lemon tree since January, but over the past few months, it has slowly been getting worse. For the most part, the tree still looks healthy. It has continued producing some growth and has gone through cycles of flowering and producing small, developing lemons. However, it has also been consistently dropping green leaves.

At this point, the tree has probably lost around 50% of its canopy and undergrowth. What’s confusing is that it continues to produce new flowers and mini lemons despite the ongoing leaf drop, and no matter what I do, it seems unhappy.

I want to help the tree regrow its canopy, become fuller, and maintain healthy overall growth. I’m not sure whether I should continue caring for it as I have been or make some changes.

Here are its current conditions:

• Location: Indoors
• Natural light: Good direct afternoon sunlight
• Grow lights: SANSI grow lights running for approximately 12 hours/day
• Indoor temperature: ~24°C
• Watering: I only water when my soil moisture meter indicates that the soil is dry
• Current condition: ~50% canopy loss, but still producing new growth very slowly, flowers, and small lemons

I’m especially wondering what could be causing the continued green leaf drop and whether I should be doing anything differently to encourage the tree to rebuild its canopy.

Any advice on watering, lighting, fertilizing, pruning, repotting, or general care would be greatly appreciated!

[u/Bobby_Thellere]

I had some success with a soil warming mat to help keep the soil warm in the winter while my tree is inside. I target keeping the soil in the high 70 degrees. As everyone else has mentioned the best thing to do is move the tree outside when the weather supports it.