Decorative mandarin. Mandarin belongs to the Rutaceae family

Tangerine trees take root in city apartments easier than lemon or orange trees. They do not fade when the room temperature drops to +14, and can produce up to 70 juicy and sweet fruits per year. Citruses purify and disinfect the air, protecting apartment residents from colds and viral diseases, delight the eye with a thick dark green crown and delicate white flowers that smell much better than any air freshener.

Mandarin buying rules

On the Internet or in specialized nurseries, already mature fruiting trees are sold, which it is enough to bring home, water and feed. Formed citruses will cost a lot, so it's easier to grow your own tangerine from a sprout or seed.

The first option is less troublesome, but when buying a young tree, you should ask the sellers for a certificate. Some traders pass off calamondins as tangerines, which smell like citrus and bear fruit, but orange fruits are completely tasteless. They cheat mostly in markets or supermarkets, because nurseries value their reputation, but even when visiting a specialized center, you should ask the employees for documents.

Land preparation

Citrus fruits do not tolerate acidic soils, which contain peat. The soil for growing tangerines should be light and nutritious, breathable and retain moisture. To prepare the right soil for young trees, 4 ingredients must be mixed:

leaf and turf soil in equal proportions;
coarse-grained river sand, which must be disinfected;
humus obtained from cow dung.

The last ingredient can be replaced with compost, which contains no less nutrients. When the tangerine is 3-4 years old, oily clay is added to the soil, which will retain moisture and protect root system from drying out.

In a pot or tub designed for citrus, pour a drainage layer 3-5 cm thick. Expanded clay, small pebbles or clay shards will do. Use large pebbles that better allow air to pass through and prevent water from stagnating at the bottom.

Do I need to transplant mandarin

Every year, a citrus tree is moved from a smaller pot to a larger one, because the growing tree needs more space. A four-year-old mandarin is recommended to be transplanted directly into a wooden tub, where it will live and bear fruit for the next 2-3 years.

Repot the plant better in springwhen the citrus wakes up and actively develops. First, a small dig is made to check the condition of the root system. If the tangerine is tightly braided with an earthen ball, it is transplanted. If not, change upper layer soil and leave in an old pot until next year.

How to transplant citrus without injuring it?

Moisten the earth around the edges so that it better lags behind the walls of the pot.
Tap the container lightly with a spatula or hand. This makes it easier to separate the roots with soil from the clay or wooden walls.
Take the tangerine by the trunk and remove it with the ground. It is not necessary to peel off the old soil from the plant so as not to damage it.
Prepare a new pot in advance with drainage and a layer of earth. Put a tangerine in it, cover it with soil on top.
Tamp the soil, but not hard. Drizzle over citrus and put in the sun.

When replanting a tree, you cannot completely cover the root collar with earth. Its upper part should remain on the surface for the citrus to take root faster.

Reference: The mandarin root collar is a line separating the trunk and skeletal roots. At this point, the tree has a small seal, which is half-sprinkled with earth.

Lighting

Mandarins need sunlight. The more, the healthier the tree and the juicier the fruit. Adult citruses are placed next to west or east windows. Pots with young trees are placed on the northern windowsill.

Plants do well next to southern windows if they have blinds or translucent curtains that diffuse light. It is undesirable for citrus leaves to be exposed to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet light burns the crown of tangerines and dries the earth.

In summer, citrus fruits are useful to take out on the balcony or leave in the garden. The tub is placed under tall, spreading trees that will scatter and soften the light. Plants that are in the apartment by the window should be protected from the sun at noon, and opened in the evening, closer to 4–5 o'clock.

In winter, tangerines must be supplemented with phytolamps. The duration of daylight hours is 8-12 hours, no less, otherwise the citrus weakens, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The tree takes a long and difficult time to recover, spending a lot of energy and nutrients, and some specimens cannot cope with the shock and die.

Tip: When using special lamps, the citrus tub needs to be rotated from time to time around its own axis so that all sides of the plant receive approximately the same amount of light.

Temperature and humidity

In the spring, the first buds appear on a tangerine tree, and it is important that the temperature in the room does not drop below + 20-25 degrees. When the thermometer drops to + 17–15, the citrus becomes covered with barren flowers, which smell good, but do not yield a harvest.

In winter, the plant is transferred to a cool room. The temperature in the room is reduced gradually; due to a sharp cold snap, the tree can shed its leaves. The room should be at first +18, after +16-14, and some gardeners lower it to +10. Why keep citrus cool? So that the tangerine has time to rest and gain strength. After a short winter vacation, more buds bloom on the tree, and the fruits become juicier and sweeter.

It is necessary to prepare the tangerine for hibernation after harvest. In mid-January, the temperature in the room begins to gradually increase so that the citrus "wakes up" and has time to prepare for spring flowering.

The tangerine tree loves warmth and moisture, so in the heat it needs to be sprayed with a spray bottle twice or three times a day. In summer, a bucket or bowl of water is left next to the plant to prevent the air from drying out. In winter, it is advised to install special humidifiers or ionizers. If the tangerine tub is located near a radiator or radiator, cover the heating device with a damp towel.

The room in which the citrus stands is regularly ventilated. But the tree is moved away from the window, because the tangerine does not tolerate drafts.

Watering citrus

When the soil in the tangerine tub dries up, spider mites may appear on the plant. The soil should always be slightly damp, but not wet, so in summer the tree is watered daily, and in winter it is reduced to 2-3 times a week.

Try the soil with your finger, and if it feels crumbly and too dry, add a little water. Look into the pallet before watering. Accumulated liquid indicates that there is too much water for the tree to absorb. Watering must be stopped before the pan dries out, otherwise the root system will begin to rot or a fungus will appear.

Use only cleaned thawed or rainwater... The liquid is allowed to stand for 3-4 days in a large saucepan or plastic bucket and then passed through a kitchen filter. You cannot water the tangerine with water just from the tap, because heavy impurities and salts settle in the soil, oppressing the plant.

The volumes of liquid depend on the size of the tree and the air temperature. The hotter the room, the more moisture evaporates. If 0.5–1 l is enough for a small tangerine, then an adult tree will need three or four.

Water must be heated up to + 35-40 degrees. How to check liquid temperature without a thermometer? Put your finger in it. It should be nice, but not hot.

Pour water over the root, being careful not to get the droplets on the leaves and trunk. Moisten the crown separately from the spray so that the liquid is evenly distributed. During the flowering period, make sure that no water gets on the buds. If a few droplets fall on green or ripe fruits, it's okay.

It is better to water the tree in the morning. Water helps the plant wake up and starts metabolic processes.

Fertilizer

In winter, the tangerine does not need feeding, but from April to September-October, when the buds bloom and the fruits ripen, the tree needs to be fertilized. Apply nutrients twice a month. Buy complex fertilizers containing:

phosphorus;
nitrogen;
potassium.

You can find suitable fertilizers in flower shops... Recommend to stay at:

Uniflor-bud during the flowering period;
Kemira Suite;
Uniflor-growth during fruit ripening.

Mineral fertilizers alternate with organic ones. Natural nutrient solutions are prepared from cow dung or poultry manure. Part of the dry matter is diluted in 10-12 parts of water, infused for 2-4 days, and then added in small portions.

Moisten the soil before fertilization. Using chemicals it is important to follow the instructions. If you increase the dosage, you can burn the roots of the tangerine or poison the tree. Citrus leaves are also treated with a weak solution. Mineral fertilizers should not get on the fruit.

In the spring, before flowering, the tree is pruned. Remove dry and thin branches, pluck off yellowed leaves. Garden shears should be sharpened and disinfected before pruning. Treat the cuts with wood resin so that they tighten faster.

It is easy to form an oval crown in a mandarin. It is enough to pinch the tops of the branches and cut off the excess shoots that are not capable of bearing fruit, and only pull nutrients from the tree.

When the plant blooms for the first time, only 10-15 buds need to be left. The rest are carefully cut so that they do not deplete the young tree. The older the tangerine gets, the more ovaries you can leave.

Install one or more wooden supports in the tub, to which branches with fruits are tied. Large fruits are attracted to the ground and the tangerine can break or split into several pieces.

Citrus should be bathed monthly. Cover the pot and the ground plastic wrap and take the plant to the bath. The leaves are first moistened and then soaped. You can gently rub them with a soft cloth to remove dust and cobwebs. Enable weak pressure and wash off the lather. Water should be room temperature or a little warmer.

It remains to blot the leaves and branches with a dry towel. Let the tangerine stand in the bathroom until it dries completely, and then you can return it to its old place and remove the film.

Taking care of a citrus tree is no more difficult than caring for an apple tree in the garden or an orchid growing on a windowsill. A lot of light, a little water and fertilizer - and the tangerine will stretch out, covered with dark green leaves and delicate buds. In summer, citrus will delight you with a rich aroma, and in winter it will thank you with sweet and useful fruitsassociated with the New Year and magic.

Video: how to grow a tangerine from a bone

In the collection of florists, the tangerine tree is increasingly found, caring for it at home is not particularly difficult if you follow the rules.

These are miniature citrus fruits that have a flavorful and attractive appearance... The bright orange fruits are especially decorative, for the sake of which this plant is purchased.

You can buy a tangerine tree ready-made in flower shops or try to grow it yourself.

When buying a finished tree, you should pay attention to whether it is really a mandarin. The fact is that sellers often offer calamondins instead. They are similar to tangerine, but do not have a pronounced citrus aroma and taste.

That is why lovers prefer to grow a tangerine on their own from a stone or purchase a seedling in the nursery.

IN indoor conditions the following species grow most successfully:

Clementine is a hybrid, in the second year it yields, and an adult specimen - up to 50 fruits per year.
Murcott - sweet fruit, compact.
Shiva Mikan is fast-growing, compact, with small fruits.
Vasya - hybrids up to 80 cm tall, the fruits ripen in the second year.

If you decide to try to grow a tangerine tree yourself, then it will certainly thank you beautiful view and aroma.

How to grow a tangerine from a bone

Tangerine seeds sprout quite well, but they must be fresh and ripe to plant. The fruit is ripe.

We remove the bones.
We disinfect them. This is done so that mold does not appear.
The seeds can be soaked in water with the addition of epin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
We take pre-prepared nutrient soil.
The bone is placed at a depth of 1 cm. It is not worth deepening much, otherwise the sprout will need more strength to break through to the surface.

Seedlings of a tangerine tree appear in about 2 weeks. It is better to determine the location of the tree in advance - it does not like when it is moved.

Tangerine tree care

Proper care is a guarantee that the plant will live at home for several years.

Priming

Suitable for all-purpose earth or especially for citrus fruits. As soon as several true leaves appear on the sprout, it should be transplanted onto permanent place... The substrate should be light, consisting of leafy earth, turf, humus, sand. Peat and clay soil will not work for tangerine. It is imperative to remember about drainage - expanded clay, broken shards, large brick chips.

Where to place the tangerine tree pot

A tangerine tree needs bright light in a room. However, care must be taken that the direct rays of the sun do not burn it. This is especially dangerous for seedlings and young trees, as their foliage is tender and susceptible to burns. In a dark place, the tangerine will develop poorly and even lose some of its foliage. It will be even more difficult for him to bloom and get fruits. Best windows for him: east, west, southeast, southwest. At noon, the tree is covered with a thin curtain, or it must be installed so that the light is always uniform, diffused, but without direct sun. On the south side, they are placed next to the window. The north window is not suitable for a mandarin. In winter or in a dark room, it is permissible to illuminate the plant with lamps. The most economical and at the same time brightest are LED. Ordinary fluorescent and flora lamps are also suitable.

Watering

Moisture intake should be regular and even. The tangerine tree will tolerate drought, but it can shed some of its foliage. Excessive bay, especially in winter, can cause the death of a tree or the appearance of fungal diseases, which also leads to loss of foliage, decorative look, and with further non-compliance with the watering regime, the plant dies.

The need for watering is determined by the size of the container, air temperature, season, air permeability of the earth - the rate of moisture evaporation. It is convenient to dip your finger into the ground to determine your water requirement. In a small pot, the need for fluid intake is determined by weight.

It is better to water in the summer in the evening, in the winter in the morning.

Negatively affects the plant low humidity air, so the tangerine tree is useful to spray. Do this carefully during flowering. Drop of water on the buds can cause them to rot and fall off.

Temperature

Mandarin grows well at normal room temperature. During flowering best mode - 18-20 degrees. In winter, the tangerine tree goes into a dormant period, the most comfortable temperature at this time is 5-10 degrees. It helps to gain strength and tie flower buds.

Fertilizers for mandarin

Top dressing is applied during the period of growth, flowering and fruiting. Fertilizers for citrus fruits, potassium humate are suitable. They are fed every 2 weeks in the summer. In winter, during the dormant period, fertilizers are not given, the plant is not able to fully assimilate nutrients at this time, which will adversely affect its development.

Fertilizers are applied after watering, preferably the next day, diluting in the recommended dose and not exceeding it.

An excess of fertilizer is much more harmful than a small deficiency. Excessive feeding inhibits growth and development, can cause leaf fall and the appearance of diseases.

Formation

In nature, mandarin grows freely, but at home it should be formed. This is done not only for beauty, but also full fruiting. A neat tree is obtained by controlling the growth of shoots, they are periodically pinched at the level of 5-6 leaves. Strong, fatty, fast growing shoots can slow down bud formation and are also removed. The branches growing inside the tree are also removed.

Reproduction

Mandarin is propagated by seeds, layering. Adult specimens that are well formed are propagated by air layers. You can try propagation by cuttings by placing them in water.

To achieve a harvest, trees are grafted. This is done in the spring, in May-April. You will need the following:

The rootstock is the tree itself to be grafted onto.
A graft is a sprout from a healthy, fruiting plant.

At a height of about 7 cm, a sharp T-shaped incision is made, which it is advisable to disinfect. The bark is slightly pushed back, and the resulting incision is placed in the scion. After that, this place must be treated with garden varnish.

Some gardeners prefer to simply tie it with a thick cloth. Next, the plant is placed in a greenhouse or a plastic bag is put on it. It will take about a month to germinate.

Transfer

A young plant is transplanted once a year, after the root system is completely encircled by an earthen ball. The pot is taken in a diameter of 6 centimeters wider than the previous one.

When the tree reaches the age of 7 years, the transplant is already done every two years, since its growth is no longer so fast.

Can't be planted right away young plant into a large container, this will slow down growth and can lead to decay of the root system, since moisture evaporates from a large pot for a long time and the soil becomes acidic.

The transplant is carried out in spring and not during flowering in order to avoid bud fall. After transplanting, top dressing is resumed in a month - the new soil contains all the necessary nutrients.

Diseases, problems in growing

A tangerine tree gets sick if the rules for caring for it are not followed.

Yellow leaves:

The bay.
Lack of nutrients.
Oversupply of fertilizers.
The appearance of pests: spider mites, aphids.

Shedding foliage:

Excessive drought.
Draft.
The bay.
Permutation.
Transplant errors.
Lack of lighting for a long time.
Dormant period - sometimes in winter the plant can remove some of the leaves.

It is important to monitor the humidity of the air. Mandarin won't like being near central heating radiators.

Sometimes pests can attack the plant:

Spider mite.
Mealybug.

First aid is to wash the plant with a warm shower using laundry soap. It can hold back reproduction of pests, but will not completely destroy them, therefore special preparations are used.

From aphids, worms - Aktar. From spider mites - Fitoverm. Actellic is an effective and powerful agent, but it is not recommended for indoor use.

If you see small jumping insects on the surface of the soil, these are puffs that appear when the soil is waterlogged. The first steps are to dry the soil, perhaps this measure will get rid of them completely. Additionally, drugs Grom 2, Aktara can help. Also, when pouring and using home remedies for fertilizing above the pot, mushroom gnats - sciarids. For them, the same drugs are used as for sugars.

In general, the tangerine case is quite easy to care for and is a good addition to the interior. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the climate, freshens the air and releases aromatic substances.

Citrus fruits, including tangerines, contain a lot of vitamin C. You can try growing them yourself. The tangerine bonsai is a wonderful ornamental plant that brings bright colors and pleasant aroma to the house. It is known that the smell of this fruit not only improves mood and invigorates, but also relieves headaches. An evergreen citrus tree can maintain its flowering period for most of the year and bear fruit even at home.

It is not difficult to become the owner of a wonderful indoor tangerine. Moreover, you can even grow a tangerine in a pot yourself, from a bone.

Planting stages

It should be noted right away that there is a simpler option. You can buy a ready-made seedling in a specialized store and plant it immediately in the ground. You can even buy already fruiting adult plant, which will only need to be placed on the windowsill, providing it home care.

But for those who are not looking for easy ways, you can plant and grow an indoor tangerine on your own at home.

Step 1. Materials

The seeds of the fruit of this fruit are required. It is better to take at least a dozen, since no one has canceled natural selection yet. Not all seeds will be able to sprout, not all sprouts will be able to break through the soil. To get suitable seeds, you need to take a ripe fruit: the larger and juicier, the better.

Step 2. Seed preparation

Experienced gardeners know that any seed requires a preparatory period before planting in the ground. For some time, the mandarin seeds must be left in a humid place. Perfect option - wrap them in a cloth and leave them in a moist environment. After a couple of days, the seeds will be ready for planting: small sprouts will appear on the seeds.

Step 3. Landing in the ground

Usually indoor tangerines are able to grow in the most ordinary soil, but it is worthwhile to approach the choice of soil for a plant responsibly. First, a layer of small stones or expanded clay is laid out on the bottom of the flower pot to drain the soil. Next, the rest of the soil is laid out, where the sprouted bones are placed. They need to be placed not too deep, but not at the very surface of the soil. The ideal planting depth is 5 to 7 cm.

Unless you need to water it, but not too abundantly and very carefully. In less than a month, young shoots will begin to peek out of the soil.

Even if the experiment fails, do not be discouraged: it does not always work out as planned. You can always try planting a tangerine at home again using previous experience.

Care of young seedlings

At the very beginning, it is important to take proper care of young shoots. The pot with the plant must be placed correctly, finding the most appropriate place. Indoor tangerine loves good lighting, and in dark places it begins to wither and may die. However, direct sunlight in large quantities can burn young shoots. Until the stems of the tangerine tree are sufficiently strong, it is better to remove them from the risk zone. The task is not entirely simple - the container with sprouts must be constantly illuminated and reliably protected from direct sun.

The tangerine tree must be exposed to direct sunlight, without which it cannot grow and develop normally.

Immediately after the first shoots appear, it is important to feed the young citrus plant. The algorithm of action does not differ significantly from feeding an adult plant.

Adult plant care

When growing a tangerine at home, it is important to understand that the plant is adapted for hot countries, where droughts often occur. Therefore, excessive watering will be detrimental to the plant. When indoor tangerine is watered too often, it begins to shed its leaves. But it is also not worth rushing from one extreme to another.

Humidity

An ornamental mandarin variety is still not a cactus; at home, it requires regular irrigation.

A tangerine grown at home, in addition to watering, requires care and nutrition. It is about plant feeding.

It is necessary to feed the plants, because frequent watering washes out organic and mineral substances. Understanding this is critical in growing tangerines at home. At different times of the year, tangerines behave differently, which affects the amount and frequency of nutrition required.

It is especially important to feed the indoor shrub in the spring, when the mandarin is making its main growth.

The frequency of feeding should not exceed twice a week. Fertilizer must be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions for use. Otherwise, you can seriously harm the plant: instead of the necessary minerals and organic matter, homemade mandarin can get poison. Mixtures for fertilizing and feeding indoor plants are sold in stores, both specialized and in large hypermarkets. When choosing a top dressing, it is advisable to focus on fertilizers for citrus fruits.

Tangerine home tree requires feeding in much to a greater extentthan his garden cousins. The soil in a pot, in contrast to open ground, is not able to regenerate organic and mineral substances eroded during irrigation. A garden tangerine doesn't need to be fed as often, but home tree care is another matter entirely.

Although the tangerine tree is not a capricious and difficult plant to care for, it is still worthwhile to put in extra effort in addition to watering and feeding. Let's say a few more words about how to care for ornamental tangerines so that the tree always delights the eye with its beauty.

Transfer

As the tree grows, the indoor tangerine must be transplanted. While the bush is growing, it is advisable to renew the "place of registration" every year. After the plant reaches the age of seven, the expansion of its living space is required once every two years.

In order for the tree to bear fruit well, it is better to remove excess ovaries at the flowering stage.

The more potential fruits grow, the more energy and nutrients the tree will spend on growing. In order not to deplete the mandarin tree, it is advisable to leave only a part of its flowers, the strongest ovaries. Although the “harvest” will be less, more micronutrients will be invested in each fruit. Therefore, the fruits will be larger, tasty and juicy. The indoor tangerine is an ornamental plant, not a garden one. Therefore, the health of the tree should always be a priority.

When the ovaries form into small fruits, it is advisable to tie the tree crowns to a support. As tangerines grow and get heavier, they risk breaking the fragile ornamental stems of the tree. Without additional assistance the shrubbery may suffer. Broken branches can lead to serious tree disease.

Diseases and pests

When growing a tangerine, you cannot provide it with proper home care without protecting the plant from pests.

Types of indoor trees

There are several varieties of the tangerine tree. Some of them fit perfectly into the culture of home ornamental plants.

Unshiu

The most popular is the Unshiu mandarin tree variety, a variety of Japanese mandarin trees. The height of an adult plant rarely reaches 1.5 m. Indoor tangerine Unshiu is more tolerant of cold than others and extremely fruitful.

Dwarf form

The dwarf or, as it is also called, the mountain tangerine, Kovano-Vasya, is also popular. This variety of the Vasya group, which at home is capable of reaching a meter in height, although usually the plant growth stops within the range from 40 cm to 80 cm.

Clementine

You can also highlight the room Clementine. This is a mandarin crossed with an orange. Differs in bright and sweet fruits decorative mandarin varieties of Murcott, which translates as "honey". The early ripening variety begins to bear fruit in the summer, in contrast to the aforementioned varieties.

Other varieties

A small tangerine Shiva Mikan tree, like Murcott, is early variety with small fruits.

But despite the fact that the mentioned varieties of mandarin trees are specially bred decorative varieties, even an ordinary garden tangerine remains quite short at home, regardless of care.

Whichever variety you choose in the end, the result will be a spectacular decorative tree from beautiful flowers and bright, fragrant fruits.

Conclusion

Since ancient times, tangerines have been used as decorative domestic trees by noble and wealthy families, growing them in greenhouses or winter gardensbecause the flower of both garden and home tangerines exuded a wonderful aroma. Today mandarin is available at home. Growing a tree is pretty easy. Care also does not require special efforts. But this noble tangerine dwarf tree in any interior will look spectacular and stylish, giving the surrounding space more positive and colorful. Therefore, even if you had doubts about whether to associate with a citrus tree or give preference to another ornamental plant, discard them. Home trees will invariably delight their owners by bringing juicy fruits, delicate aroma and great mood.

Exotic plants can be a real home decoration. Of course, it is not at all easy to grow them on your own from seeds, but you can buy an already grown seedling of such a tree or flower and just organize proper balanced care for it. So, homemade citrus fruits are very popular among amateurs: tangerines and oranges, as well as laurels, etc. And it is not so difficult to grow them in an ordinary apartment. Today we will talk about how to care for your homemade tangerine in a pot.

So, the indoor tangerine is a representative of the rut family, evergreenthat grows successfully in greenhouses and various winter gardens. Although this tree can reach a fairly large size, it is quite possible to grow it on a windowsill. In addition, on sale now you can find dwarf and undersized tangerines, the height of which does not exceed sixty centimeters - one meter.

How to care for tangerines at home?

Optimal lighting

In order for this exotic tree to feel good, the readers of Popular About Health need to organize correct lighting - good enough, but with a minimum amount of direct sunlight. If the plant feels a lack of light, it may practically not bloom, and with a strong deficit of lighting, its leaves will become pale, the shoots will begin to stretch and weaken. So it is best to place the pot with the plant on the windowsill of the eastern or southeastern window; when growing on the south side, it is advisable to arrange shading for the pet from the direct rays of the sun. In the hot season, it is quite possible to take the tree out into the street, but it is worth gradually accustoming it to open space.

In cold weather, it is extremely important to place a pot of tangerine in the most illuminated place, and it is even better to arrange additional lighting for it.

Optimum temperature performance

It is best to grow indoor tangerines in the summer at temperatures between twenty and twenty-five degrees. At the budding stage, as well as during the flowering period, it is advisable to slightly lower the temperature of the content - up to twenty degrees or even slightly lower. At higher temperatures, the tree may shed flowers or buds. In cold weather, in order to organize a period of small rest for the pet, it is worth lowering the temperature of the content to five to ten degrees. If the tree has the opportunity to rest during the winter, it will bloom and bear fruit much better.

How to properly water a homemade tangerine?

Indoor tangerines at home are quite resistant to a lack of life-giving moisture. They successfully tolerate a lack of watering, and in severe drought, they can only drop leaves. Quite often, such plants suffer from excessive moisture, which can lead to the development of fungal diseases.

So it is worth watering the tree only after the soil in the pot dries up somewhat. It is advisable to carry out this manipulation in the morning. During the period when the temperature drops (in winter), watering is reduced, performing it only to maintain life.

Humidity

For all their drought resistance, indoor tangerines do not like dry air very much. Therefore, they should be systematically sprayed. With a lack of moisture environment plants can be affected by spider mites. But during the flowering period, it is extremely important to ensure that water droplets do not fall on the mandarin flowers.

Top dressing

In order for exotic trees to look attractive and stay healthy, it is imperative to feed them. After all, the soil in the pot is depleted pretty quickly. For top dressing, it is worth using soluble fertilizers, they can be used for irrigation and for spraying, but in the second case, the concentration should be very weak. From fertilizers, you can use any complex mixtures that contain the main particles, needed by plants, they are represented by phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.

Top dressing of tangerines is carried out, starting in March and ending in September, once every two weeks. IN autumn time it is worth carrying out such manipulations less often - once a month.
Experienced florists it is also recommended to organize feeding for indoor tangerines organic fertilizers... In this case, it is necessary to dilute well-infused cow dung, adhering to a ratio of 1:10.

Transfer

Young trees need to be replanted annually, and adults - with an interval of two years. For transplanting, it is best to purchase a special soil designed for citrus fruits. It is advisable to move the plant into a pot, the diameter of which is no more than five centimeters larger than the previous one. The organization of a sufficiently good drainage layer in the new tank is also extremely important.

Best time for a mandarin transplant - early spring, when the active growing season is just beginning. A couple of days before this procedure, it is worth abandoning the use of fertilizers. Top dressing is not carried out for two weeks after transplantation. At the end of this procedure, you need to water the tree, and after half an hour add soil (if necessary) and water again.

Additional Information

In order to get a lush tree in a pot in a home flower garden, indoor tangerine needs to pinch twigs. It is also worth periodically removing dried leaves, elongated twigs and excess flowers. For every fifteen leaves, no more than one ovary should be left. And when fruiting, branches must be tied to a support so that they do not break.

Indoor tangerine among the abundance of plants, according to many florists, takes a special place. Decorative bush pleases with a cheerful and bright color of fruits and leaves. Leaves are leathery and wide. It is believed that a light and delicate scent can help relieve headaches, relieve anxiety, irritation, give a feeling of vigor and improve mood. How to grow a tangerine tree related to citrus plants, find out further.

How to grow a tangerine at home

If you are planning to grow a tangerine tree in your home, check out two ways to solve this problem. In farms, citrus fruit trees are obtained by grafting. If you want to enjoy juicy tangerines, you can perform this procedure yourself. At home, you can prepare seeds and grow a tangerine tree from them, remembering to follow all the rules of care. The most in a simple way is the purchase of a ready-made seedling.

Buying a ready-made seedling

Having decided to grow a homemade tangerine at home, buy a ready-made seedling in a specialized online store of horticultural crops or a fruit nursery. Plants are often sold that have a closed root system, i.e. immediately in an earthen coma or in a pot packed in a bag. In the first case, a mandatory transfer to a container will be required. If you are looking for a more economical option, then it is best to use the second method, i.e. growing a citrus tree from the seed of a ripe fruit.

Growing a tangerine from a bone

This way of growing an ornamental citrus tree in your home can bring some moral pleasure. Although, this will take an order of magnitude longer than buying and transplanting a ready-made seedling. For germination, you will need to select several seeds from juicy, sweet and ripe fruits to increase your chances of success. Pre-soak the selected seeds in warm water... To do this, place them between 2-3 layers of cheesecloth and place them on a saucer.

As the gauze dries, remember to moisturize it for several days until the bones swell. If you cannot wait for several days, then try soaking ordinary seeds in water for 2-3 hours, adding a few drops of "Epin" to it, which is a growth stimulant. As soon as the first shoots hatch, you can plant the bush in the ground. In general, competently prepare the seeds of this exotic plant any beginner florist can.

Land for a tangerine tree

Prepare a pot or regular seedling box, and fill it with a layer of soil to transplant any seeds that have hatched. Despite the fact that the indoor tangerine is unpretentious in relation to the soil, experts still strongly recommend that you take this moment seriously. It is best to use a mixture of:

1 piece of leafy land;
3 parts of turf soil;
1 part rotted cow dung;
clay;
sand.

How to properly plant a tangerine in a pot

To grow ornamental tangerines, do not use peat, which often turns sour, dries quickly and does not have any special nutritional properties. This component is available in almost all those mixtures that can be bought in specialized stores. Don't forget about the drainage layer. Put expanded clay or small ordinary stones on the bottom of a dry container, and then fill the pot with a composition of the above components. Then place the swollen bones in the ground to a depth of 5-7 cm. The seed pot should be placed in a well-lit area.

Soil drainage

To form a lush and bright bush, you will need to pay attention to the drainage of the container in which it will grow. As already mentioned, put crushed stone, small pebbles of expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, but if you do not have any of the above at hand, then use shards of ceramic dishes. Be sure to flush the drainage thoroughly before planting the tangerine and laying the soil. In general, it is necessary so that excess liquid from the soil is discharged into the sump. Thanks to this, effective prevention stagnation of fluid and root rot.

Where to place an escaping flower pot

Caring for a tangerine at home requires a competent approach, of particular importance is the location of the tree, which will delight you with its beautiful leaves and flowers. The period of flowering and growth activity will depend on the conditions created. Houseplant bright and good lighting is necessary. When daylight hours get shorter, add artificial light. Do not make an abrupt transition, because the plant can shed its young leaves.

How to care for a tangerine tree

An actively growing and beautiful mandarin tree is the result of systematic and proper care. For an indoor ornamental plant, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions with a certain temperature and humidity level. Do not forget about the peculiarities of watering as well, because in difficult situation the bush can shed its foliage to reduce the amount of moisture evaporated from the surface. When the branches begin to bear fruit, they need to be tied to a support. Don't forget about possible pests and disease.

Air temperature and humidity

The best temperature conditions for tangerine seedling the temperature is + 15-18 degrees warm time year and +12 degrees in winter. In hotter weather, the plant begins to bear fruit and bloom worse - the buds and ovaries are poorly formed at this time. It is important to avoid sudden changes in temperature, but in order for the plant to become stronger, it must be hardened, i.e. help him adapt to changes in lighting and temperature regime... To do this, in the spring during the day, briefly take the plant out onto a closed veranda or balcony.

Air humidity is also very important for mandarin. On hot dry days and in winter, when the heating dries up the air in the room, you need to spray frequently ornamental plant - sometimes up to three times a day. You can put a bowl of water on the windowsill or some other humidifier, for example, an imitation of a fountain, waterfall. When the bush begins to bloom, spray carefully to avoid moisture getting on the flowers and buds. It is better to replace this procedure with regular rubbing of the leaves.

Illumination

Without enough light, a decorative indoor mandarin will not grow large. The easiest way is to put a container with a plant on the windowsill of the southern part of the house, but this is fraught with leaf burns. A more acceptable option is the side of the east or south-east windows. If the south side is the only possible choice, then in spring and summer you will have to shade the plant. In winter, the southern window will become the best place for a seedling. When shortening daylight hours, add artificial lighting using special phytolamps.

How to water indoor tangerine

The tree needs regular and frequent watering... In hot weather, water 2-3 times a day. In the winter period of the year, while maintaining good moisture content, 2 watering times per week will be sufficient. It is better to pre-pour water for this procedure into a container, for example, into a bottle, so that it has time to settle and warm up to room temperature.

With a short-term lack of moisture, the tangerine tree will not die, but at the same time it can throw off some of the leaves or all the foliage. Fresh greens will not appear on "bald" places, so try to avoid unexpected leaf fall. Leaves will only appear on new branches. Frequent transfusion of the plant with water will not be beneficial either. this will lead to the appearance of fungal diseases.

How to feed a tangerine tree at home

The entire growing season, i.e. from April to September, the tree needs feeding. Every week it needs to be fertilized with organic or mineral fertilizersthat can be alternated. This is especially necessary for mature trees growing in tight containers, and without replanting and renewing the soil. In one week, the plant can be watered with a solution of liquid mullein, and after a week, it can be treated with a garden complex fertilizer specially designed for citrus trees. Water the soil before feeding.

Mineral mixtures based on phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen

In a specialized garden store, you can buy a ready-made citrus composition. Make sure the solution contains minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen. It is recommended to carry out top dressing in the morning. The temperature of the solution should not be less than +20 degrees. Follow the recommended recipe for the nutrient solution exactly. The rule applies here - it is better not to top up than to pour. Excessive concentration, excess fertilization can lead to burns of the stem or leaves, and even to the death of the plant.

Organic fertilizers

The tangerine tree can be fed with both mineral and organic fertilizers, and it is best to alternate them. You will need cow dung or poultry manure to prepare a natural nutrient formula. Dissolve part of the dry component in 10-12 parts of water, leave the resulting composition for 2 to 4 days, and then add in small portions. Be sure to moisten the soil before this.

Homemade tangerine care rules

To keep your tangerine tree as bright and pleasing to the eye as in a photo of one of the gardening magazines, attach special importance to caring for it. Many of the above rules for a plant seedling apply to a grown tree. Additionally, it is necessary to carry out periodic pruning of branches and pinching of the tops of the shoots. Also, remove any dried twigs, leaves, and sprouts from the tree. Such measures will help to form a compact mandarin with a lush and dense crown. We should not forget about the need for transplantation.

Partial flower removal

In order to avoid unnecessary stress on the tree in the first years of fruiting, it is recommended to pinch the flowers. Leave only a few flowers on the trunk of the tangerine tree. In this way, you can achieve fragrant and large fruits without depleting the plant itself. Let there be only a few beautiful and fragrant flowers on the stem of the plant, but later you will enjoy beautiful and large fruits.

Pinching the tops of the branches

As the tree grows, it is necessary to periodically pinch the tops of the shoots. This is necessary in order for the tree to form a thick and lush crown... When correct formation it will turn into a real decoration of the room. This can be achieved by controlling the growth of the top and shoots, which must be removed from time to time, i.e. pinch. When each new sprout appears, pinch the top while forming 5-6 leaves. It is also necessary to get rid of tops (strong shoots), rapidly growing from the very root.

Removal of stretched branches and dried leaves

Remove elongated twigs, dried leaves in a timely manner so that your exotic tree grows really lush and fruitful. Often they try to grow a homemade tangerine like a bonsai. For this purpose, remove the growing tops of the shoots to the desired length. As a result, your work will not be in vain - you will get tasty fruits with a thin skin that easily separates from the pulp.

Why does mandarin shed its leaves

If the basic rules of care are not followed, the mandarin tree develops diseases. Don't ignore the threat posed by different pests. These include red spider mites, scale insects, citrus whiteflies. Shedding leaves does not always indicate the presence of a disease, because this can also happen during periods of relative rest on cold days.

What to do

If pests have become the reason for the dropping of foliage, then wipe all the leaves of the tree with special solutions. A few procedures will be enough to get rid of all unwanted "guests". Yellow foliage can be a signal that the plant is lacking in minerals. During nitrogen deficiency, yellowing begins with lower leaves... In addition, mandarin can react in this way to the absence the right amount moisture, lack of light. Move the plant to a well-lit area and be sure to water regularly.

Breeding methods of the tangerine tree

The most economical way to get a mandarin seedling is to grow it from seed. This approach will take a lot of your time and patience. If the tree already exists, and you want to get offspring from it, then choose one of the following methods:

Propagation by layers, which are well-formed tree branches. Choose a branch from an adult mandarin with a thickness of 4 mm and a long enough to bend the branch and pin it to the ground. You do not need to separate the branch from the bush, just dig it in with earth. The top will then protrude from the soil surface. Keep the digging site wet. When the cutter has new roots, separate the branch from mother plant.
Reproduction is carried out by cuttings. For this, the so-called air layers are used - the cutting is rooted "in the air". An adult shoot is cut in a circle, cutting off the bark about 1 cm wide, after which the wound is treated, wrapped with sphagnum moss and polyethylene (loosely). The resulting "pupa" needs to be kept wet until roots form - it will take several months.

How to transplant tangerine at home

The plant begins to need a transplant when the container becomes tight. For young tangerines, this procedure should be carried out annually, and for trees from 7 years old - once every two years. Do not replant the plant during flowering, it is better to do this in early spring. New pot should be a few centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. The root collar should not be deepened during transplantation, because the bark may be damaged. The excess kidney is crushed, and then transferred to a new container with drainage and soil.

Pest control

Pest control is of particular importance when caring for a tangerine tree. Citrus fruits are more susceptible to them. This is due to the fact that they have a very attractive scent. More about how to fight:

Aphid. If there are few insects, then wash the stem with leaves with a solution of laundry soap.
Leaves damaged by aphids can be treated with a decoction of wormwood or nettle.
Garlic water is a good remedy for aphids.
To combat spider mites at home, use garlic water, laundry soap, tobacco dust. Create a spray mix based on them.