To make an ideal citrus potting mix, mix 5 parts conifer bark fines, 1 part perlite, 1 part peat moss, coir, or aged compost, additives for acidity, and optional slow-release fertilizer. If you prefer to buy, choose a commercial potting mix that is slightly acidic with excellent drainage and aeration. Add your homemade potting mix to fill about 1/3 of the pot (depending on the size of pot you’re using) Pôças et al. ( 2020) reported an exhaustive list of different K c–VI relationships valid for a variety of crops and advocated their advantages and limitations based on a SWOT analysis. If on the one hand, the authors showed the performance of different K c–VI relationships based on the comparisons between estimated and measured ET c reported in various studies, which were characterized by root mean square errors (RMSE) ranging between 0.40 and 0.72 mm d −1 or root mean square differences (RMSD) ranging between 0.50 and 1.00 mm d −1. On the other hand, they stated that the examined approaches have a local validity and also that complementary methodology may be required to adjust for the actual field conditions. Moreover, most of these studies were related to herbaceous crops that uniformly cover the soil surface, while only a few investigations have been carried out on sparse vegetation; for these cases, experimental research is still necessary to verify the reliability of the K c values suggested in the literature, especially for sparse tree crops such as citrus orchards, characterized by the presence of active ground weeds that can temporarily spread over the soil surface (Saitta et al. 2020). Citrus orchards are extensively diffused in the Mediterranean regions and have an important role in the economy of these areas. Usually, weeds will germinate from the seed immediately after wetting the soil surface due to the occurrence of rainfall or surface irrigation events. The presence of weeds, even if temporary, can contribute to the reduction of water and nutrients in the root zone, limiting crop availability and penalizing crop yield (Singh et al. 2022). The knowledge of the contribution of weed transpiration to the spatio-temporal variability of water depletion is crucial to improving the performance of water balance models and optimizing irrigation water management (Zimdahl 2018). These nutrients are best organically from sources like compost, manure, mulch, bone meal, etc. I personally like slow-release organic fertilizers for my lemon trees. DIY Soil Mix for Lemon Trees The ideal soil for growing healthy, productive lemon trees has several essential qualities: Soil Type

Kljun N, Calanca P, Rotach MW, Schmid HP (2015) A simple two-dimensional parameterisation for flux footprint prediction (FFP). Geosci Model Dev 8:3695–3713. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-8-3695-2015 The ideal citrus tree soil should be nutrient-rich to provide essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, and manganese. The goal for a citrus tree’s potting soil is to have a rich, well-draining, loamy soil, with a pH of 6.0-7.0. While this can seem like a lot of garden-jargon, it’s much simpler than it seems. Let’s break it down.

Gontia NK, Tiwari KN (2010) Estimation of crop coefficient and evapotranspiration of wheat ( Triticum aestivum) in an irrigation command using remote sensing and GIS. Water Resour Manag 24:1399–1414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-009-9505-3 Remember that the best soil for citrus trees is one that’s lightweight, well-drained, and contains inorganic material. Citrus trees need similar soil as cactus, succulents, and palms, so it is okay to plant your citrus in a potting mix designed for these plant species. Iron is involved in some photosynthetic and respiratory enzyme systems. It acts as a catalyst in the production of chlorophyll.

The individual ingredients may initially add up to cost more than a couple of bags of commercial potting mix, but you can make a huge batch. And, best of all, you can adjust the recipe to be optimal for your situation. If your citrus trees leaves are green, then they likely don’t need much fertilizer (although it’s still a good idea to provide a supplemental 1-2 inches of compost in the spring). So what makes a “good” potting soil? This can differ from person to person, and certainly from plant to plant. For me, it means I can water the tree thoroughly (within reason) without it getting waterlogged. I want it to provide the best environment possible for a healthy root system, so the tree can absorb the water and nutrients it needs.

Funding

Heilman JL, Heilman WE, Moore DG (1982) Evaluating the crop coefficient using spectral reflectance. Agron J 74:967–971. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1982 To loosen the soil, mix dehydrated cow manure, garden compost or peat moss (up to 1/3 concentration) into your pile of topsoil. Make sure the peat moss you get is either baled sphagnum or granular peat. You can also add our Coco-Fiber Potting Medium or 2 or more inches of organic material and work in evenly with the existing soil. There are a limited number of potting soils that are explicitly marketed for citrus trees. However, there are many soil products on the market that are intended for cactus, palms, and succulents. Nash JE, Sutcliffe JV (1970) River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I — a discussion of principles. J Hydrol 10(3):282–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(70)90255-6 Higher cost: While Espoma’s organic potting mix is of higher quality, it can be expensive. However, if you only need a small amount of soil for your potted citrus trees, the extra few dollars is likely worth it.