Rules for growing a tangerine tree. Indoor tangerine: home care for an orchard Mandarin tree flowering

tangerine tree per last years gained particular popularity among amateur gardeners. For its cultivation, not only greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens, but also the most common balconies and window sills in the apartment are suitable.

Peculiarities

room tangerine attracts with its juicy greenery, beautiful flowers and bright sunny fruits. It does not shed its leaves, so it will remain green even in winter. The light aroma of the plant helps relieve headaches, irritability and improves mood. And when the tree blossoms, an even more unusual smell emanates from it. The flowering period can last from spring to autumn. At the same time, growing a tangerine tree at home does not require much effort and skills - even a beginner can properly care for it.

The usual variety of mandarin grows up to 5 meters high. But modern breeders have bred a huge number of special dwarf and undersized plant varieties in the form of small trees or bushes.

The height of an adult plant is no more than one and a half meters, and to maintain beautiful shape less force is required. With the right approach, the tangerine tree in the apartment grows quite quickly and begins to bear fruit.

Varieties for growing at home

Breeders have bred a large number of different varieties of tangerine trees. Among themselves, they differ in the appearance of the crown, foliage, flowers and fruits, as well as in size, fertility and taste. Not all of them are suitable for home growing. Among the many indoor tangerines, it is worth highlighting the most popular types.

"Forged Vasya" is ideal for an apartment. This is a dwarf variety, up to 50 cm high, so you can even grow it on the windowsill. The leaves are dark green in color and shaped like an arrow. hallmark is that the bush does not have to be cut to maintain shape. "Kovano-Vase" begins to bloom actively in spring, and bright orange fruits ripen in autumn. The fruits appear within a year and do not fall off for a long time.
"Unshiu" is an unpretentious variety, it is not difficult to grow it. This variety tolerates low temperatures and lack of sunlight well. In apartment conditions, the height is usually about 80 cm, sometimes up to one and a half meters. The first fruits appear in the third or fourth year. "Unshiu" has lush greenery, blooms beautifully and bears fruit well. Flowering begins in spring, lasts for several months, and fruits ripen by the end of autumn. They are slightly elongated pear-shaped, sweet and contain almost no seeds.

"Forged Vasya"

"Unshiu"

"Pavlovsky" mandarin also performs well when bred at home. The growth of an adult tree does not exceed one meter. Its leaves are similar to an ordinary tangerine - large, shiny, dense. There are many fruits, they are round in shape with a diameter of up to 7 cm, sweetish-tart in taste. The skin is bright orange, thin, easily separated. The flowers of "Pavlovsky" mandarin are large, about 3 cm, and are collected in whole inflorescences. They are white in color, but pinkish in buds. The flowering period begins in April-May, and in September the first fruits can form.
"Clementine"- the most delicious and sweet hybrid. A plant with dense elongated leaves, fragrant flowers and bright flattened fruits. The first tangerines ripen in 1.5-2 years. In an apartment, the harvest is small, about 40-50 fruits per season.
"Shiva Mikan" refers to the early varieties. At home, it is rather an ornamental plant - this variety grows quickly, has a compact size and small fruits weighing no more than 30 grams.
"Marcotte"- translates as "honey". This variety has surprisingly sweet fruits. The plant is small in size, with a neat crown of elongated leaves and with yellow-orange fruits. The skin is smooth and tight, the pulp contains many seeds.

"Pavlovsky"

How to plant?

If you decide to grow a tangerine tree at home, then you can either buy ready-made seedlings in plant growing stores, or germinate from a seed yourself.

The first way is easier and faster. Plant seedlings are sold immediately in a pot or in a packed earthen coma. After purchase, they must be transplanted into a suitable container.

The second way is more economical and interesting. Indoor tangerine can be grown from an ordinary seed of a ripened fruit. It is recommended to germinate several pieces at once, in which case the probability of obtaining the desired result will be higher. Seeds must first be soaked for several days until swelling and sprouts appear. To do this, they are placed in 3-4 layers of wet gauze. Be sure to make sure that the gauze does not dry out, periodically add water.

If there is no desire to wait a long time for germination, then you can use "Epin" - a growth stimulator. It is added to water and left for a couple of hours. After the appearance of the first sprouts, mandarin can be planted in the ground.

Ready-made mixture can be bought at a plant growing store. It is important that the land for seedlings is not acidic - in such an environment, tangerine does not grow. Therefore, the composition of the soil should not contain peat.

You can prepare the soil yourself, suitable option is a mixture:

2/5 of cow humus;
2/5 of the turf and leafy ground;
1/5 of the sand.

As the first container, you can use ordinary cups, pots up to 10 cm in diameter or seedling boxes.

At the bottom of a clean and dry container, it is imperative to lay a layer of drainage from small stones or expanded clay. This will prevent moisture stagnation and root rot.

Prepared soil is poured from above. Sprouted seeds are carefully placed in holes 4-6 cm deep and sprinkled with earth. The soil should be kept moist throughout the entire time, watering should not be forgotten. The container with seeds must be placed in a well-lit place, but not under direct sunlight. Optimum temperature indoors for the period of germination should be +20.25 degrees. The first sprouts appear after about 2-4 weeks. If several shoots sprouted from one bone at once, then the weakest of them then need to be carefully cut off.

Care

So that the tangerine tree pleases with its healthy appearance, shape, beautiful flowering and delicious fruits, it is necessary to provide it comfortable conditions. The most elementary care and care will help to extend and facilitate the plant's life in apartment conditions.

Location and lighting

It is recommended to place a tangerine tree in a well-lit place with diffused light. It is best suited for windows facing south, southwest or southeast. Direct ultraviolet rays in hot weather should be avoided - the plant can get burned, and the soil in the pot will dry out quickly. It is necessary to accustom the plant to ultraviolet in stages: first adhere to partial shade, and only then gradually increase the time spent under direct rays. Mandarin gets used to one-sided lighting, so it is often not recommended to turn it around its own axis. V warm time years, the tree can be taken out to the balcony, terrace or to the street.

The optimal day length for mandarin should be 8-12 hours. With a lack of natural sunlight, the plant will weaken, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off. You can extend his daylight hours with the help of special fitolamps.

Temperature regime

The recommended temperature for citrus trees in the warm season (spring and summer) is +18.20 degrees. During this period, there is an active flowering phase, and higher temperatures will lead to the fall of flowers and leaves. And lower temperatures will slow down growth and will prevent the formation of fruits.

In winter, you need to give the plant a rest and gain strength for the next season. To do this, the temperature in the room must be kept at +10.12 degrees. Otherwise, the subsequent flowering and fruiting can not wait. You can begin to increase the temperature by spring as early as the end of January. The tangerine tree does not tolerate sudden temperature changes, so any change in conditions should be gradual. But at the same time, the tree must be accustomed to natural differences. To do this, it is recommended to take it out for a short time on a closed terrace or balcony during the day - this way the plant hardens and becomes stronger.

Humidity

In the room where the tangerine tree is located, there should always be high level air humidity. To do this, the plant is often sprayed with a spray bottle. During hot weather or heating season it is advisable to do this twice a day. The water must be room temperature.

Irrigation is preferably done in the morning and evening to avoid the midday sun on wet leaves.

If the plant already has flowers, then irrigation must be done very carefully, without falling on the buds. And it is better during this period to simply wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

If the room has a heating radiator, it is recommended to cover it with a wet towel. A water container can be placed next to the tree. The ideal option there will be a humidifier.

Watering

During a period of rapid growth and flowering, it is especially important to properly water a homemade citrus tree. At this time, the soil should not dry out, the procedure is recommended to be done daily. Even a short drought can adversely affect the plant - to save moisture consumption, it will shed its leaves and they will not grow again in this place.

When the plant "winters", you can water it only twice a week. The amount of water should be moderate - excessive soil moisture should not be allowed, this will lead to rotting of the roots, and mold may appear on the surface of the soil. It is recommended to use only settled clean water room temperature. Tap water contains chlorine, so it is not suitable for irrigation.

Whether the soil needs moisture can be checked with a finger - if the earth is dry and loose, then the plant needs to be “drinked”.

You can pour water only on the rhizome - the tree trunk, leaves, and even more so flowers do not tolerate excess moisture.

by the most the right time day is considered morning. It is during this period that the maximum activity of the tangerine tree falls.

Priming

The composition of the soil for a young and adult plant requires a different one.

For a young plant, you need to mix one part of sand with leafy soil, two parts of turf and cow humus.

For an adult plant, a part of leafy soil is taken, three parts of turf and one each of sand and cow humus. And most importantly, greasy clay must be added to the soil for adult citrus trees.

Ready-made mixtures can also be purchased in plant growing stores, but it is worth paying attention to the quality products of a trusted manufacturer.

top dressing

Because of frequent watering all useful material are quickly washed out of the soil, so the first feeding of a citrus tree is done immediately after the appearance of sprouts. And the older the plant, the more it needs to be fertilized. Available from a specialized store ready mix fertilizers. As organic matter, you can also use mullein manure in proportions of 1/10 with water.

It is especially important to feed the tangerine in the spring, when the plant begins to develop intensively. This period lasts until September, fertilizer can be applied once every two weeks. This mode will contribute to the appearance of buds, flowers and ovaries, and ripened fruits will not be bitter. In the cold season, top dressing should be stopped. Like most of all indoor plants, mandarin is recommended to be fertilized in the morning. The tree must first be watered with warm water. The temperature of the nutrient solution should also be at a comfortable room temperature. The composition of the mixture is different, but the content of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen is mandatory for a citrus tree.

The proportions and recipe must be observed, this information is indicated on the packaging. Irrational use of fertilizers can cause burns on the stem, roots and leaves, or, in general, lead to the death of the tree. From folk remedies, gardeners recommend using "fish soup". For cooking, take 100 grams of fish per liter of water. Boil it for 30 minutes, strain, cool and add to the solution of the store-bought mineral mixture.

Trimming and pinching

Often it is not necessary to prune a homemade tangerine, since the formation of a crown in this culture occurs by itself. But pruning and pinching the upper young shoots every 3-4 months will not only contribute to better development branches and leaves, but also accelerate fruiting. The upper shoots should be pinched only after the formation of five leaves.

You can also get rid of all weak and extra branches. If dried leaves and branches appear on the tree, then they must also be carefully cut off. Trimming is recommended with special sharp scissors.

At the first flowering, some of the buds should be removed. This procedure will save young tree and increase productivity not only this year, but also in subsequent years.

Possible problems

Improper care of indoor tangerine causes its diseases. In case of violation of the microclimate in the apartment, irregular moistening, lack or excess of fertilizers, the plant begins to hurt. Consider the most common problems and their causes.

Leaves turn yellow and fall

If this happens rarely and in small numbers, then it is a natural process, especially in older trees. If the leaf fall is intense, then this may indicate insufficient lighting, improper watering or lack of nitrogen in the soil. The reason for this may be a sharp change in the regime (temperature, light). If the plant began to turn yellow after transplantation, then the reason is most likely a violation of technology. Pay attention that the basal neck is not too deep. Too large a pot also causes yellowing.

All these processes need to be reviewed, conditions favorable for the tree should be created, and the plant will begin to recover.

Brown leaves most often indicate improper feeding. It is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizers and strictly adhere to the recipe.
The leaves dry out due to the dry air in the room. It is necessary to spray the tree more often from the sprayer, wipe the leaves with a sponge, cover heating appliances and use a humidifier.
Leaves curl due to excess ultraviolet rays. To solve the problem, the tree needs to be shaded.
Spots of "rust" on the leaves also indicate improper watering. This process needs to be adjusted.
Red spots on the trunk of a tree indicate insufficient drainage, damage to the trunk, or excess fertilizer. For the treatment of already damaged areas, a light solution of vitriol is suitable. After that, the cracks are rubbed with a special garden pitch.
If the bush began to shrink and dry, then the reason for this lies in insufficient feeding. It is necessary to provide mandarin with useful vitamins and minerals.

But even quality care is not enough to avoid some diseases.

Some diseases can also affect the tangerine tree.

Anthracnose causes deformation of the bark, yellowing and falling of the leaves. The affected parts of the tree must be carefully cut and destroyed, and it is recommended to use Fitosporin to process the entire plant.
Scab begins to appear with small transparent spots. In the future, gray "warts" form from them. Bordeaux liquid is used for treatment. She needs to spray the entire bush three times.

Do not exclude such a threat as all kinds of pests.

They are almost invisible, but can cause irreparable harm to the plant.

Spider mite. It manifests itself as a cobweb on the leaves and red dots on the stems. This pest feels good in a dry, hot microclimate. To combat it, you must first clean the tree with a brush, and then pour it with a contrast shower. The soil must be sprinkled with ash and the whole procedure repeated after 10 days. For spraying, a mixture of tobacco dust and laundry soap. A spoonful of dust and a spoonful of rubbed soap are dissolved in water and infused for 5-6 hours. You need to spray the solution 2-3 times a week.

Aphid. With a large amount, you must first thoroughly wash the plant with a solution of laundry soap. For the treatment of damaged leaves, a decoction of wormwood or nettle is suitable. It is recommended to spray the leaves with garlic water. For its preparation, one clove is infused in a glass of water for two days. You need to treat the tree with a solution several times a week.
Shchitovka. Signs of infection are brown bumps and a dried, yellowed bush. First, use a brush to clean the plant from insects. Wash the tree and its location with soapy water. To spray in water, you need to dissolve a little soap, two tablespoons of washing powder and a teaspoon of machine oil. After 3-4 hours after treatment, the plant must be rinsed with water. Repeat the procedure three times a month.
Mealybug. With its appearance, white sticky spots form on the leaves. At the same time, the leaves fall asleep and fall. The best folk remedy is a soap solution. Wipe the tree with it and spray it once a week.

To combat uninvited "guests", you can also use special means (for example, "Fitoverm", "Karbofos" or "Aktellik"). The solution is to wipe the leaves and trunk. To improve the effect, the bush can be packed in polyethylene for a couple of hours. It is important to note that the fruits after such a procedure should not be eaten for at least a week.

As a preventive measure, the treatment of leaves with soapy foam can be considered. At the same time, it should not get into the soil, so it is recommended to cover the pot first.

How to transplant and how often to do it?

As the tangerine tree grows and its root system expands, a transplant into a larger pot is required. A young plant needs to be repotted every year. in early spring before the start of flowering. After reaching 4 years of age, a transplant is needed every 3-4 years.

This culture does not like large containers, therefore new pot you need to choose only a size larger than the previous one.

Mandarin transplantation is carried out by transshipment of the entire earthen clod. To make the tree easier to remove, the soil needs to be watered - this will reduce the adhesion of the soil and the walls of the pot. Then you can lightly tap the pot with your palms so that the clod of earth lags behind it. After that, the plant is carefully removed and transferred to another place. First you need to lay a layer of clean drainage on the bottom of the new pot. The tree is installed and covered with earth. It is not necessary to compact the soil too much. It is important to ensure that the root neck (a small seal between the root and the trunk) is only partially covered with earth. Otherwise, the tree will take root for a long time and start to hurt.

It is easy to learn how to properly care for a tangerine tree at home. You just need to follow the recommendations, and then the plant will please for a long time lush crown, beautiful fragrant flowers and fruits.

For information on how to grow a tangerine tree from a stone at home, see the following video.

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Mandarin - evergreen, which belongs to the Rutov family. The specific Latin name of the mandarin is Citrus reticulate. Like orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, it belongs to the genus Citrus. The life form of this plant is interesting - it can be a shrub and a tree, reaching a height of 5 meters.

Like other representatives of the genus Citrus, mandarin has long been grown in greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens. Despite its size, mandarin at home can be grown on a balcony or on a windowsill. Currently, breeders have bred many varieties of dwarf and undersized tangerines for home cultivation, maximum height which are 0.6-1.1 m. Indoor tangerine may not belong to dwarf varieties, then the plant needs to be severely cut and shaped.

Indoor mandarin is a very effective pot plant. And not only because of the bright, fragrant and appetizing orange fruits that can be stored on it for several months. Sometimes the plant gives pleasure only by its flowering, because the delicate white flowers of the mandarin exude an amazing aroma. In some varieties, flowering begins in spring and can continue throughout the year. Indoor mandarin, grown in the form of bonsai, is a real work of art.

The fruits of indoor mandarin are tied without artificial pollination, usually ripen at the end of the year. Often, indoor tangerine in a pot is bought in a store with fruits already hanging on it. Despite the fact that they are very appetizing, they should not be eaten. Indeed, to achieve such a high decorative effect, plants receive high doses of fertilizers. Leathery and corrugated leaves are beautiful in mandarin.

Popular mandarin varieties for growing at home

Unshiu- Japanese variety, the most unpretentious, begins to bear fruit for 3-4 years, in room conditions grows up to 0.8-1.5 m. It branches well. It blooms profusely in spring, forms fruits in late October-November. Pear-shaped fruits do not have seeds.
Kowano-Wase, Miha-Wase, Miyagawa-Wase- dwarf tangerines of the Vasya group - suitable for growing on a windowsill, height 40-80 cm. Orange-yellow fruits ripen for the first time in the second year of cultivation, abundant flowering. Like all dwarf varieties, they do not need crown formation.
Shiva Mikan- early compact fast-growing variety. Fruits are small, not more than 30 g
Murcot t - the fruits of this compact mandarin variety are very sweet, ripen in summer, taste very sweet, which is why the name of the variety is translated as "honey".
Clementine- a hybrid of mandarin and orange, bears fruit at home in the second year. One adult domestic tree per year produces up to 50 medium flattened orange-red fruits, very fragrant, with a shiny skin. Plants of this variety with numerous seeds are called monrealis.

Mandarin: home care

Tangerine lighting at home

The first step in successfully growing indoor tangerine is choosing a place for the plant and its proper lighting.
Mandarin room, as well as grown in open field, you need good lighting with some direct sunlight. In low light, the plant slows down growth, throws out a small number of flowers or does not bloom at all. With a strong lack of light, the leaves of indoor tangerine become faded, new shoots are elongated, thin and painful in appearance. Therefore, it is better to grow a plant on the eastern, southeastern and southern windows, shading from midday direct rays. In summer, the plant can be taken out to the balcony, gradually accustoming it to the street.
In winter, with a short daylight hours, indoor mandarin should be placed in the most lit place with direct sunlight. But sometimes this is not enough: you need artificial lighting. For this purpose, an ordinary fitolamp is suitable, which can be screwed into a chandelier or table lamp. It is necessary to transfer the plant to supplementary lighting gradually. With a sharp change in the length of daylight hours, it can shed its leaves.

Content temperature

The optimum temperature for indoor tangerine in the summer is + 20-25 ° C. During the period of budding and flowering, so that the flowers do not fall off, it is better to keep the plant at a temperature slightly below + 20 ° C. V winter time to ensure a relative dormant period, tangerines are kept at + 5 -10 ° C. A plant that has rested over the winter will flower and bear fruit better.

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How to water and spray tangerine at home

Room tangerine, like his wild ancestors adapted to withstand dry spells. In a pinch, the plant will shed its leaves to reduce the amount of liquid that evaporates. Frequent problem when growing mandarin at home, this is excessive watering, which leads to the development of fungal diseases.
The amount of water for watering indoor mandarin depends on several factors:
- the size of the plant;
- the size of the container in which the tangerine grows;
- ambient temperature;
- duration of daylight hours and light intensity.
The larger the surface of the leaves of an indoor tangerine, the stronger the evaporation, and the more it needs to be watered. The temperature also affects the rate of evaporation: the higher it is, the more the plant loses moisture. The length of daylight directly affects the amount of moisture that evaporates. Stomata - formations on the underside of terrestrial plants that serve for gas exchange, open during daylight hours.
Watering indoor tangerine should be carried out in the morning, when the plant has activated its vital processes. When the temperature drops, watering is reduced, up to stopping for several days during the period when the temperature in the room is only + 12-15 ° C. In this case, the tangerine is watered with a small amount of water, only to maintain life.
Mandarin at home needs regular spraying of the leaves. Strongly dry air has a bad effect on the plant and is often a prerequisite for its infestation with spider mites. If indoor tangerine blooms, then you need to make sure that water does not fall on its flowers.

How to feed mandarin at home

Complete care for mandarin at home is not possible without additional mineral and organic feeding. The soil in a pot depletes quickly enough and is washed out during watering, and recreational processes practically do not occur in it, unlike the soil in nature.
For top dressing, you can use soluble or dry fertilizers. In the spring, with an increase in daylight hours, top dressing for indoor mandarin is increased. It is in the early spring period that vegetative and generative buds begin to develop intensively, at which time the plant requires additional nutrients.
At home, mandarin is fertilized, like all other indoor plants, that is, in the morning. The ambient temperature should be at least + 18-19 degrees.
Soluble fertilizers are often used for top dressing. They can water the plant, and in a weaker concentration spray its leaves. For feeding indoor tangerine, any complex mineral fertilizer containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium - the main elements necessary for plants.
Dissolve fertilizers in soft or settled water at room temperature. The main thing is not to increase the dose. If the instructions say: 1 cap of the product per 1 liter of water, do not think that 2 caps will make the solution more useful. This will lead to the opposite effect - a chemical burn or toxic poisoning of the plant.
You need to feed mandarin at home during the period of intensive growth (from March to September) 2 times a week. Maybe less often, but not more often.
Dry fertilizers, which are applied to the soil and gradually dissolve, giving the soil trace elements, must be applied even more carefully. Their advantage is that by making them in the spring you can for a long time forget about feeding. However, they can be quickly used by the plant, and it will be difficult to guess about it. The introduction of an additional dose of fertilizer will lead to the above overdose.
Mandarin cultivation also requires organic fertilizers. To do this, you can dilute infused cow dung in the proportion of 1/10. The best option there will be the use of organic fertilizers in combination with mineral fertilizers for soil top dressing.

Additional care for mandarin at home

To form a lush tangerine tree, pinch the tops of its branches.
Caring for a tangerine at home also consists in removing dried leaves or stretched twigs.
On the young flowering plants partially remove the flowers so as not to deplete them and allow several fruits to ripen. For 15-20 leaves of an adult plant, one ovary can be left. The fewer fruits left on the tangerine, the larger they will be.
The fruit-bearing branches of indoor mandarin are tied, tied to a support, otherwise they may break due to the severity of the fruit, and the plant will not have an attractive appearance.

The tangerine tree, in its popularity among flower growers, is only slightly inferior to lemon laurels. And this is not surprising: its bright fruits are pleasing to the eye, and the delicate aroma has a healing effect, improving mood and giving cheerfulness. Tangerine trees decorate window sills for many years - the main thing is to properly care for them. Moreover, it is not so difficult - the mandarin is not capricious.

A tangerine tree can be grown from a seed at home. For this, seeds are selected from the tangerines you like. In order for shoots to appear for sure, it is better to plant at least 10 pieces.

The bones are pre-soaked for several days. For this purpose, they are wrapped in damp gauze and placed in a warm place. The main thing is that the gauze does not dry out. After a few days, the seeds will swell.

As soon as sprouts appear, the seeds can be planted. Stores sell special soil for citrus fruits. But you can make an earthen mixture yourself.

Soil for tangerine trees:

Sod - 3 parts;
Earth -1 part;
Humus -1 part;
Some sand or clay.

Expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the pot, then the prepared soil mixture is poured. Seeds are planted to a depth of 5 cm. The earth is well moistened and the pot is placed in a bright place. But hatched sprouts must be protected from direct sunlight in the first weeks. Otherwise they will dry out.

It is worth knowing that trees grown from seeds themselves will not produce cultivated juicy fruits. In order to get tasty tangerines, a shoot from a cultivated fruit-bearing plant will need to be grafted to the tree.

Video instruction for growing mandarin from the stone

Lighting and location

Mandarin is a southern plant, therefore it loves light and warmth. For him, it is worth choosing windows facing south, southeast, southwest. It is important that the location is well lit.

However, direct sunlight, especially in summer heat, tangerine is not very fond of. They can cause leaf burns. If the tree overheats under the rays, then chlorosis may begin - the plants will begin to wither and lose strength. Therefore, on too sunny days, the south window is covered with a gauze curtain. In the summer, you can take the tree out onto the balcony. In a private house, he is even taken out into the street. However, in this case, the transfer is carried out gradually - first the pot is placed in the shade. When he gets used to the new conditions, he is taken out to the site. If you immediately put the pot under the rays of the sun, the tangerine may start to hurt.

In autumn and winter, mandarin must be artificially illuminated. To do this, lamps are placed on the windowsill and turned on during the day. Without this, the mandarin can start to hurt.

Temperature regime

Mandarin does not like the cold. The optimum air temperature for it in summer is +20 degrees, in winter - + 12-14. Buds and ovaries on a tree appear only at a temperature of + 16-18 degrees. If the room is always colder, then the tangerine will not bloom and the grower will wait in vain for bright fruits.

Humidity

In nature, tangerines live in a humid subtropical climate. Therefore, for a comfortable existence, they must be constantly sprayed with water from a spray bottle. And you have to do this several times a day. In winter, the tree will have to be sprayed more often, since central heating dries out the air a lot. But in no case should you spray the tangerine with cold tap water. It must be warmed up to room temperature.

Additionally, a bowl of water can be placed near the plant. Also, water can be poured into the pan on which the pot with the plant stands. In dry air, the tangerine tree is affected by pests - scale insects and spider mites.

Watering

In summer, the plant is watered often and plentifully. In winter, it is enough to water it 2 times a week. The soil in the pot should not dry out completely - the fact that the time has come for watering is indicated by the drying of the topsoil.

A simple experiment can tell if it's time to water. It is enough to take a pinch of earth in your fingers and squeeze. If it crumbles - it's time to go for a watering can.

Don't use tap water. The chlorine and other compounds contained in it alkalize the earth and cause chlorosis, in which spots appear on the leaves. Does not give a positive result and pre-boiling tap water. Firstly, it complicates care, and secondly, harmful elements still remain in the water. Some growers are advised to use for irrigation hot water provided centrally. It is less chlorinated and has greater softness. First, it must be cooled and defended for 24 hours. However, this procedure is advised to be done with any water for watering a tangerine tree.

In winter, water for irrigation is heated to + 30-35 degrees. Otherwise, you can supercool the roots of the plant and it will wither. In summer, the water naturally heats up during settling.

Extra care

Every month, a mandarin needs to have a bath. At the same time, the earth in a pot must be protected with an impenetrable film. The leaves of the tree are washed with soapy water. This will help protect the plant from pests.

Important: so that soapy water, running down the trunk, does not soak the ground, it is bandaged with a bandage.

Nutrition

Trees need to be fertilized periodically. For the first time in a year it is done in April. Further, until winter, mandarin is fed every two weeks. This is done so that the tree develops well, buds and bears fruit. Summer dressings prevent the bitterness of the fruit. In winter, it is not necessary to feed the plant.

For top dressing, use any complex fertilizers that are sold in stores. There are special top dressings for citrus fruits.

You can enhance fruiting with the help of the so-called fish soup. 200g of small fresh fish are boiled in 2 liters of water for 30 minutes. The strained broth is cooled and added to complex fertilizer.

pruning

Pruning allows not only to shape beautiful crown, but also accelerates the onset of the fruiting period. All weak branches must be removed. The apical shoots are periodically pinched. Then the tree begins to bush, the crown becomes more dense and beautiful.

In young trees in the first years of flowering, it is necessary to pinch off part of the buds. This will keep vitality plants. Otherwise, they can become depleted and bear fruit poorly. The fewer flowers there are, the larger and more beautiful the fruits will be.

Transfer

The plant is transplanted once a year in the first years of life. Then, when the fruiting period begins, the trees are transplanted every 2-3 years. Do this before the plant grows. The ideal time is March. If time is missed, it is better to skip deadlines. A transplant not carried out on time can lead to the fact that the tree will be sick for a long time or even die. If there is room in the pot, sometimes it is enough to replace upper layer soil and drainage.

Pest control

The fact that the mandarin was struck by a tick is indicated by white dots on the underside of the leaves and twisted leaves, in which cobwebs can be seen. To destroy it, you can use garlic tinctures, tobacco dust, laundry soap.

1 tablespoon of dust is infused in a glass of boiling water for 6 hours, then mixed with 10 g of soap. The plant is sprayed with this solution. It is enough to carry out 3 procedures every 6 days.

To prepare garlic tincture, the head of garlic is crushed and insisted in a glass of boiling water for 2 days. Further, they act in exactly the same way.

When the scale insect is damaged, brownish spots-growths appear along the veins on the leaves. They fight with a shield with the help of such a solution:

1 tsp engine oil;
2 tbsp. l washing powder;
40 g of laundry soap;
1 glass of water.

This solution should not fall on the soil. It is applied to leaves and branches. After 4 aces, it is washed off under the shower. The tree is treated 3 times every 6 days.

At good care a tangerine tree will bear first fruits in the third year and will then produce up to 50 tasty and juicy tangerines. It's not that hard to take care of it. The main thing is that it should be regular and constant. And then the tangerine tree will surely reward with beauty and harvest.

Mandarin came to Europe only 170 years ago thanks to the Italian Michel Tekor. The fruit owes its name to the Chinese. They could only be eaten by wealthy dignitaries of China - tangerines.

For indoor plants, tangerines of dwarf species and low-growing varieties are suitable. Consider the types, varieties of tangerines, their varieties and determine the main characteristics and features.

Variety Ivolistny

A low tree with a rounded crown without thorns. Can be grown both outdoors and as indoor plant. In a pot it grows up to 2 m tall and has dark green dense oblong leaves. The plant blooms in spring with white, fragrant flowers, slightly smaller than those of a lemon. Pollination is not required to produce fruits. Fruits grow up to 70 g in weight, almost without seeds. Harvesting is carried out in November. The tree bears fruit from the age of three.

Important! Growing mandarin at home, you need to constantly monitor the humidity of the air. To do this, a dish of water is placed next to the plant, and the crown is sprayed daily. Sufficient lighting is of great importance for normal growth. Therefore, in autumn and winter, trees need artificial lighting. In summer, the plant feels better outdoors.

Wase cultivar group

This group includes the varieties Miho-Wase, Miagawa-Wase, Okotsu-Wase, Novano-Wase, Kowano-Wase.

The variety is considered the ancestor of Japanese dwarf varieties tangerines. Imported from Japan in 1930. This is an evergreen stunted tree that grows no more than 40-50 cm in room conditions. It has a compact crown with abundant thornless foliage that does not need to be shaped. The bark is rough, brown. Shoots are light green at first, and then turn brown. The leaves are green, broadly lanceolate. The flowers are white, have five petals and can be arranged singly or in small inflorescences. In size, they are large up to 4.3 cm in diameter. The pistil peeks out from the stamens fused at the base. The pollen is sterile.
The fruits are bright orange in color, rounded flattened, ripen in early October and have a sweet and sour taste. The pulp is divided into 9-13 segments, contains 30.3 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of the product and does not contain seeds. The peel is smooth, brittle, 0.3 cm thick, it is well separated from the pulp. The tree bears fruit in the first or second year of life and has a high yield. The frost resistance of the variety is high. The plant propagates by grafting and air layering.

The variety was bred in 1923 by Dr. Chiuseburu Tanaka. The height of the tree is the tallest of all Wase varieties, it is characterized by high productivity. It is the most common and well-known of the Wase varieties. Mandarin fruits are relatively large, pitted, have a thin smooth skin. The pulp is juicy, excellent quality. The ripening variety belongs to the early ones. Fruit ripening occurs at the end of September. The fruits keep well.

Clementine Group

The plant is a hybrid of mandarin and king orange from the subspecies of orange. It was created in 1902 by the French priest breeder Clement Rodier (1839–1904). Basically, Clementine trees are tall, but sometimes they are used for growing at home and indoor greenhouses. Consider the main varieties.

Variety Marisol (C. Clementina)

An early variety that originated from a mutation of Clementine Oroval and is ideal for growing in enclosed spaces. This is a fairly tall tree with short branches and dense foliage. Fruit ripening occurs from the end of September. The fruits are quite large, weighing 70-130 g and 5.5-7 cm in diameter. The skin is thin, orange, contains a lot essential oils. The pulp is soft, very juicy, slightly sour, contains 2 seeds. When harvesting, the fruit must be cut off so that the calyx does not remain on the stem.

Variety Nules (C. Clementina)

The variety is obtained as a result of mutations of the variety Fina. It is very popular in Spain. The tree has a medium size and a spherical crown. The branches do not contain thorns. Leaf blades narrow, flowers white color, small, solitary or in small inflorescences. Large-sized fruits weighing 80-130 g. The peel is bright orange with a pink tint, soft, bumpy. The pulp is very juicy, sweet, contains few seeds. To increase the yield, it is recommended to remove small ovaries, leaving no more than three in the group. Fruit ripening occurs from late November to December. The variety does not tolerate low temperatures, so it is often bred indoors.

Rubino variety (C. Clementina)

The medium-sized tree was bred in Italy and belongs to late varieties. It has a dense spherical crown without thorns and a very high yield. Fruits of small sizes weighing up to 80 g with a thin orange-red skin. pulp good quality, juicy, orange color. Fruit ripening occurs from January to February. Tangerines can hang on a tree until early June without losing their taste.

The variety belongs to the "noble" group and is often called royal. It comes from a group of Indo-Chinese or Cambodian mandarins. Some characteristics of this plant allow us to say that it belongs to natural hybrids of mandarin and orange. The fruits have largest size of all known varieties of mandarins. The rind is very thick for a tangerine, bumpy, close to the flesh, but peels well and has a yellow-orange color.

Selected by V. M. Zorin in the 50s of the twentieth century. The trees are pyramidal in shape with medium leaf density. The bark is rough, brown in color, on the branches it has a brown color. The shoots are light green in color, ribbed with a slight presence of thorns. The leaf blade is 12-14 cm long and 5-6 cm wide, dark green in color with pointed edges. Flowers have 5 petals, are located singly or in small inflorescences, 4 cm in diameter. In the middle of the flower there are 19-22 stamens, fused at the base, above which a light yellow pistil rises. The fruits are round-flat, weighing 60-80 g, 4.5-5.8 cm in size.
Tangerines mostly have a rounded flat base, in some cases with a small nipple-shaped outgrowth. The peel is 0.2-0.4 cm thick, slightly rough, well behind the pulp. The pulp of the fruit is orange, juicy, has a sweet and sour taste. It is divided into 9-12 slices with thick films and does not contain seeds. The content of vitamin C is 29 mg per 100 g of product. Harvesting is carried out in the second half of November. The frost resistance of the variety is high.

Selected after crossing the seedlings of the mandarin Unshiu by F. M. Zorin in the 50s of the twentieth century at the Sochi experimental station. The tree has a broad pyramidal crown shape with abundant foliage and a small number of thorns. The bark is rough and brown in color. The shoots at the top are ribbed and have a light green color. The leaves are elongated-oval in shape, large in size 12 x 5 cm, corrugated and form a boat along the main vein. The flowers consist of 5 creamy white petals and 19-21 fused stamens with a rounded pistil that rises above them.
Flowers can be located singly or several in small inflorescences, their size is up to 3 cm in diameter. The pollen is sterile. The fruits are round-flattened or slightly pear-shaped. Their weight is about 70 g, the average size is about 6 cm in diameter and 5 cm high. The peel is orange, slightly rough, 0.2-0.5 cm thick, well separated from the pulp. The pulp is sweet and sour in taste, juicy, divided into 9-12 slices and does not contain seeds. The content of vitamin C is 29 mg per 100 g of the product. The frost resistance of the variety is high.

Abkhaz early mandarin is one of the most common and early varieties. In room conditions, the tree grows small in size with large green leaves. The plant flowers in May and bears fruit in October. The fruits are medium in size, round in shape, have a thick, bumpy, matte yellow-orange skin. The pulp is juicy, sweet with a slight acidity, contains a large number of seeds. The fruits peel easily. The plant is afraid of an excess of moisture, so it is recommended to water as the moisture content of the earthen clod decreases.

The variety comes from the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Refers to early varieties. The crown of the tree has an upright growth with few or no thorns. Tangerines are yellow-orange in color, relatively large, with a thick peel. The pulp is juicy, has a sweet and sour taste.

Important! Enemies for indoor mandarin are spider mite, scale insect, mealybug, fungi and viruses.

Semi-early hybrid variety, bred in 1942 in Florida. Massively grown began in 1964 in Israel, Spain. Variety Nova is ideal for growing in pots.
The tree has a spreading crown of medium size, on which there are no thorns. The leaves are elongated, similar to the Clementine variety. Refers to early varieties. For better fruiting, it is necessary to carry out formative pruning to remove weak fruits. Otherwise, next year's harvest will not be high. Flowers have a very fragrant smell. The fruits are medium in size with a thin skin that fits snugly to the pulp and is poorly peeled. The pulp is juicy, dark orange, sweet, divided into 10-11 segments and contains up to 30 seeds. The fruits fully ripen in December. Harvest must be removed immediately after ripening, otherwise its quality will deteriorate.

Variety Unshiu belongs to the group Japanese varieties Satsuma though originally from China. Cultivation occurred in Japan, after which it spread throughout the world. It has high frost resistance compared to other varieties of mandarins. Another advantage of the plant is the rapid ripening of fruits with low solar activity. Due to the small size of the crown, the variety is grown both in open ground and as a houseplant.
At home evergreen tree has a crown up to 1.5 m high with dense dark green leaves. The shape of the leaf blade is elongated, with strongly protruding veins. The foliage renewal period is from 2 to 4 years. Flowering occurs in May. The flowers are white, numerous, collected in inflorescences of 4-6 pcs. The pollen is sterile. The fruits have a rounded flattened shape, weighing up to 70 g. The orange peel is well cleaned of pulp.