Although often regarded as a flavor-enhancing ingredient, the lemon is so much more. And if growing your own lemon tree is on your to-do list, this article will help you mark it as done.

But its benefits are not tied only to its internal consumption. You can use lemon juice, combined with some vinegar and water as an efficient chemical-free cleaning product.

From spring cleaning, at-home beauty pampering rituals, tasty cakes, and flavorful salad dressings, lemon is a versatile fruit that you shouldn't miss from your stocks.

Homemade Lemon-Based Beauty Treatments

What better way to spend your quarantine time than by pampering yourself? Let's look at the silver lining of these hard times: now we have more time for at-home SPA days.

When working from the comfort of your own home, you do your job while still taking care of yourself by applying a DIY hair or face mask—and lemon can be a nutritious key ingredient in your all-natural beauty routine.

You can either combine it with other items from your pantry, such as different oils, honey, or even yogurt to harness its benefits. Some say it works wonders for treating acne-prone skin, age spots, and psoriasis. However, it should be used in moderation as it is very acidic and can easily irritate the epidermis.

For example, you can combine some clay powder, a few teaspoons of Greek yogurt, and a squeeze of lemon juice and you got yourself an affordable remedy for oily skin.

If your skin is more on the sensitive side, you can skip adding lemon to your DIY face treatments. Instead, use lemon juice to add natural-looking highlights to your hair. This is a wonderful idea if you want to avoid bleaching your hair with harsh chemicals but would still fancy a sunkissed-like hairstyle. The best news is that it can also help you fight dandruff and flaky scalp. Isn't that great?

What If You Could Grow Your Own Lemon Tree?

Be it for a decadent citrusy cake or as a natural remedy to ward off illness, you need more lemons in your life—and you can start growing your own at home.

Growing your own lemon tree, it's easier than you think. Now, there are a couple of different methods to follow. You can either buy a plant or grow one from a seed.

If you settle for the first option, you need to inspect the hedge before closing the deal. Check its leaves on both sides and try to identify any signs of disease. Next, examine the trunk and the stems and look for unusual spots. If the foliage looks healthy after your thorough evaluation, you can welcome your new little bushy friend into your home.

The harder part is keeping your plant alive and healthy. You want to make sure that it gets the right amount of sunlight and water, mimicking its natural habitat as much as possible.

The ideal temperature for a fruit-bearing lemon tree is 50 to 70 °F (ca. 21 °C). If you keep it in an environment in which temperature doesn't drop below 41 to 44 °F (ca. 7 °C), it should be safe.

Place it at a south-facing window and ensure that it gets at least eight hours of natural light. Last, but not least, water it 2-3 times a week and you will be a happy lemon tree owner for a long time.

Here's How To Grow Your Lemon Tree From A Seed

Things get a little complicated if you opt for planting a seed. It takes longer, but the satisfaction of growing the tree yourself is heart-warming.

The first thing you'll need for this process is an organic lemon. Take out the seeds and wash them thoroughly, removing any fruit residue from them.

Fill a pot with wet soil and plant your seeds with the pointy end facing downwards. Cover the pot with a transparent sheet of plastic to trap warmth and moisture and place your soon-to-be lemon trees in a sunny, warm place inside your house.

While waiting for the young seedlings to make their way into the world, don't let the soil dry. And that's it. Now all you have to do is wait.

Are you excited to plant your own lemon tree?