Houseplant tangerine. Citrus fertilizer: tangerine. Tangerine tree: care

Many gardeners dream of having an indoor tangerine with fragrant flowers And delicious fruits. But for fear of not being able to cope with caring for the plant, they do not dare to take this step.

However, you can grow successfully fruit tree at home and reap a good harvest. You just need to strictly follow the rules for maintaining the plant.

What do we know about the famous mandarin

Mandarin or Latin for Citrus reticulate is a representative of the genus of citrus fruits from the rutaceae family.

Homeland An evergreen fruit tree is northern India, where tangerine began to be grown as a cultivated plant many centuries before our era.

Later it began to be cultivated in China and Japan, and at the beginning of the 19th century was introduced to Spain, Italy, Algeria and other countries of the southern and western Mediterranean.

IN ancient China only rich officials could afford this fruit tree, which is why they began to be called "tangerines".

In natural conditions The fruit tree grows up to 4 meters in height. Its elliptical leathery leaves small size painted dark green.

Matte white tangerine flowers exude a pleasant aroma and capable of self-pollinating. After dropping the petals, ovaries appear on the tree - future fruits, which after six months turn into everyone’s favorite tangerines, reaching up to 60 mm in diameter.

Mandarin successfully grown even in room conditions. It is valued by flower growers not only for its useful fruits, but also as an ornamental plant.

Some types of trees can bloom all year round. Particularly impressive it looks great during the fruiting period, when its crown is strewn with bright orange fruits.

Through the efforts of breeders, many dwarf varieties tangerine for growing at home. Here are just a few of them:

• Winshiu (Citrus unshiu)- the most famous seedless species, growing up to 1.5 meters in height. Begins to bear fruit after 3 or 4 years.
• Kovano— Vasya(Citrus Unschiu Marc. cv.Kowano-Vase)- early ripening dwarf tangerine up to 80 cm in height. Flowering continues all year round. It begins to bear fruit after two years. The fruits can stay on the bush for up to several months.
• Honey (Murcott)- rare variety in the form of a compact bush with very sweet fruits.
• Shiva-mikan (Citrus leiocarpa Hort var. Shiva-mikan Tanaca)- a dwarf tree with juicy fruits weighing up to 30 g. It grows quickly, blooms profusely and bears fruit well.
• Clementine (Citrus clementina)- an early ripening hybrid of mandarin and orange. It bears fruit in the second year. One tree can produce up to 50 orange, flattened fruits per year.

Features of caring for indoor tangerine

An important point in the content of tangerine in room conditions - this is compliance with temperature and light conditions.

Also should know that a tangerine grown from a seed bears inedible fruits called “game” or doesn't bear fruit at all.

To get a tree with delicious tangerines from such a plant, you need graft a seedling, grown from a seed, on the cuttings of a fruit-bearing tree.

Mandarin, unlike other citrus fruits, unable to propagate by cuttings. However, flower shops, as a rule, sell already grafted fruit-bearing trees.

In the formation of the crown of dwarf tangerines dont need. You just need to remove dried or very elongated branches in a timely manner.

Lighting and temperature conditions

Mandarin loves warmth and light. Place the plant the best thing on a south, west or east window, but with shading from the midday sun. In winter, the tree will need additional lighting.

IN summer time It is advisable to place the plant on a balcony or veranda in places protected from the wind. TO fresh air indoor tangerine needs to be taught gradually.

Optimal temperature for a plant in summer - about 25 °C, but not higher. It is better not to allow the tree to overheat, otherwise its flowers may wither and fall off.

in spring during the appearance of buds Recommended temperature is 16 to 18 °C. For abundant fruiting, tangerines need a cold winter. For the winter, you need to place it in a bright, cool room with a temperature of 10 to 12 °C.

Watering and air humidity

From spring to autumn, you need to water the tangerine generously once a day with warm, settled water. It is important to prevent both drought and waterlogging of the soil.

Excess moisture can cause plant roots to rot, and too little moisture can cause leaves to fall off. During wintering, the plant should be watered waiting for it to dry top layer of earth.

Mandarin required high humidity. Regular spraying is very important for the plant.

In this case, you need to make sure that water does not get on the flowers. It is useful to place the container with the tree on a tray with damp moss, pebbles or expanded clay.

Soil composition and replanting

Prefers a tree slightly acidic soil. Ready-made soil for citrus fruits or a self-prepared mixture of the following components is suitable:

• 1 part humus;
• 1 part leaf soil;
• 3 parts of turf land;
• 1 part coarse sand;
• some clay.

Young tangerines are replanted annually in early spring before the beginning active growth. Bottom of the pot definitely necessary provide a layer of drainage 3-4 cm thick in the form of broken bricks or expanded clay. It is recommended to replant fruit-bearing tangerines every 2 or 3 years.

The transplant should be done transshipment method so as not to damage the roots of the plant. In this case, you need to ensure that the root collar of the tree is at the same level as in the previous container.

Top dressing

At the beginning of June during a period of rapid growth You can start fertilizing the tangerine twice a month. This should be done after watering so as not to burn the roots.

It is preferable to feed the fruiting tree with infusion cow dung in a ratio of 1:10 or with a special fertilizer for citrus fruits. In winter, the plant does not require fertilizing.

Flowering and fruiting

During the year the plant goes through two phases active growth. The tree enters the first phase in March or April, and the second phase in August or September. To give young plant thoroughly strengthen, it is advisable to remove flowers and ovaries for the first three years.

In the fourth year the tree can be allowed bear fruit, but no more than 6 tangerines at a time, partially removing the ovaries, since the branches of the plant at this age are still thin and weak.

Regulate fruiting tangerine can be done with a simple calculation- There should be 1 fruit per 15 leaves of the tree.

As it matures, the tangerine will be able to bear more and more fragrant fruits. During fruiting, branches with ripening tangerines it is advisable to tie it up so that they do not break off due to the weight of the fruit.

At proper care within a year you can collect from one mature tree up to 60 fruits.

Mandarin propagation

Indoor tangerines can be propagated at home in two ways: by seeds and by grafting.

Propagation by seeds

Tangerine seeds soak for several days in a damp cloth or hydrogel. Next, the swollen seeds are planted in soil consisting of the components listed above, or in a ready-made mixture for roses.

It is important that the soil for tangerine seedlings there was no peat, which dries very quickly and often turns sour.

Three weeks after sowing the seeds, you can expect the first shoots. However, young tangerines grown from seeds indoors develop only as an ornamental crop. To grow a full-fledged tangerine with real tasty fruits from such a tree, need to vaccinate him.

Reproduction by grafting

Vaccination is carried out during the period of active sap flow - in April or early May, but also in August. You need to take care of the rootstock and scion in advance.

Rootstock- This is a young tangerine grown from a seed with a trunk thickness equal to the diameter of a pencil - this is about 6 mm. Scion- a bud (eye) together with a leaf petiole, taken from a fresh cutting of a fruiting tangerine.

At a height of about 7 cm from the ground, an incision is made carefully on the bark of the rootstock trunk so as not to touch the wood. "T" shaped. The size of the incision along the upper horizontal line is 1 cm, and in height - 2.5 cm.

The tip of a knife bark bends back carefully to the sides, and the bud, held by the petiole, is inserted into the resulting opening. The inserted “eye” is pressed tightly with the corners of the bark.

grafted plant placed in a “greenhouse” in the form of a large plastic bag. The transplanted kidney usually survives within 3 weeks.

The success of the grafting is indicated by an easily detachable yellowed leaf petiole. If the petiole turns black and withers, it means the “peephole” didn’t take root.

The sprouted bud begins accustom to air, gradually increasing the ventilation time of the “greenhouse”. A month after the shoot sprouts from the bud, the trunk of the rootstock is cut obliquely above the shoot at a height of 5 mm.

The cut is treated with garden varnish, and the bandage is removed. A stick is installed in the pot, to which a young shoot is tied for vertical growth and correct formation crowns

Pests

Dangerous pests of tangerine are spider mites and scale insects.

For pest prevention You should wash your tangerine with soap and water once a month. To do this, you need to cover the soil in the pot with a film, wrap the trunk with a cloth and treat the tangerine crown with cotton wool moistened with strong soap suds.

In case of spider mites, a solution of tobacco powder and laundry soap is used. To make it, you need to pour 1 tablespoon of tobacco dust with a glass of boiling water and leave for 6 days, and then add 10 g of soap to the solution.

Also has proven itself to be excellent garlic infusion - a crushed head of garlic is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for 2 days. Each solution is filtered and used for spraying three times with an interval of 6 days.

When dealing with scale insects, it is necessary to resort to water-oil emulsions. Very important During treatment, cover the ground with film, and wrap the plant trunk with gauze, folding it in several layers.

Common problems

Very often, when growing tangerines at home, gardeners face a number of problems: yellowing, curling and falling leaves, complete loss of foliage and falling flowers.

Why do the leaves of indoor tangerines turn yellow?

More often the leaves of the tree turn yellow from a lack of nitrogen and iron. To replenish the amount of nitrogen in the soil, it is recommended to feed the tangerine with organic fertilizers.

With iron deficiency, the plant develops chlorosis, causing its leaves to turn light yellow. To prevent chlorosis Once a month the tree is treated with iron chelate.

Sometimes the leaves turn yellow in case of insufficient lighting or due to the volume of the pot being too small. The problem can be solved by transplanting the tangerine into a new, larger pot or adjusting the light regime.

Another reason for yellowing leaves May be attack spider mite. The method of pest control is described above.

Indoor tangerine - leaves falling

The tree may leaves fall due to too dry air. This can happen in winter heating season, and in hot summers. It is necessary to spray the plant more often.

Another reason for leaf fall May be the fact that the root neck of the tree is too deep into the ground or the tangerine is growing in a very large pot. It is necessary to replant the plant according to all the rules.

Sometimes leaves fall due to lack of potassium in the soil. In this case, you should feed the plant with potassium nitrate. Also, leaf fall can begin with excessive watering, poor lighting and drafts.

Anyway the problem is solved by providing proper care.

The indoor tangerine has lost all its foliage - what to do?

Mandarin can reset all the leaves, if you are exhausted and desperately need a period of rest. The tree needs a well-deserved rest from mid-autumn to the end of February.

At this time, the tangerine must be moved to a cool place with a temperature of up to 12 ° C, reduce watering, avoiding drought in the soil, and stop fertilizing. With the beginning of spring the tree will come to life. Other reasons for heavy leaf fall are described above.

Other Possible Problems

Other problems are possible if the tangerine is not properly cared for:

• Castings dry out and crumble- drought or waterlogging of the soil.
• Flowers are falling- air is too dry.
• The leaves are curling- insufficient watering.

Needless to say, caring for an indoor tangerine has its own difficulties and features. However, the joy of harvesting fruit and the opportunity to admire the beauty of an exotic tree at home worth all the effort.

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

Rules for buying tangerine

On the Internet or specialized nurseries they sell already mature fruit-bearing trees, which you just need to bring home, water and feed. Formed citrus fruits will cost a hefty sum, 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 seller for a certificate. Some traders pass off calamondins as tangerines, which smell like citrus and bear fruit, but the orange fruit is completely tasteless. They cheat mainly 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

Can't stand citrus fruits acidic soils, which contain peat. The soil for growing tangerines should be light and nutritious, allow air to pass through and retain moisture. To prepare the right soil for young trees, you need to mix 4 components:

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

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

Pour a drainage layer 3–5 cm thick into a pot or tub intended for citrus. Expanded clay, small pebbles or clay shards are suitable. Use large pebbles that allow air to pass through better and prevent water from stagnating at the bottom.

Do I need to replant the tangerine?

Every year the citrus tree is moved from a smaller pot to a larger one, because the growing tree needs more space. It is recommended to transplant a four-year-old tangerine immediately into a wooden tub, where it will live and bear fruit over the next 2-3 years.

Relocate a plant better in spring when citrus wakes up and actively develops. First, they make a small dig to check the condition of the root system. If the tangerine tightly entwines the earthen ball, it is replanted. If not, change it upper layer soil and leave in the old pot until next year.

How to relocate citrus without injuring it?

1. Moisten the soil around the edges so that it better comes away from the walls of the pot.
2. Lightly tap the container with a spatula or hand. This makes it easier to separate the roots and soil from the clay or wooden walls.
3. Take the tangerine by the trunk and remove it along with the soil. There is no need to remove old soil from the plant so as not to damage it.
4. Prepare in advance new pot with drainage and a layer of soil. Place a tangerine in it and cover it with soil on top.
5. Compact the soil, but not too much. Water the citrus and place in the sun.

When replanting a tree, you cannot completely cover the root collar with soil. Its upper part should remain on the surface so that the citrus takes root faster.

Help: The root collar of a tangerine is the line separating the trunk and skeletal roots. In this place the tree has a small compaction, which is half covered with earth.

Lighting

Tangerines need sunlight. The more, the healthier the tree and juicier fruits. Mature citrus trees are placed next to western or eastern windows. Pots with young trees are placed on the northern windowsill.

Plants also do well next to south-facing windows if they have blinds or translucent curtains installed to diffuse the light. It is undesirable for citrus leaves to be exposed to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet light burns the crown of tangerines and dries out the soil.

In summer, it is useful to take citrus fruits out onto the balcony or leave them in the garden. The tub is placed under tall, spreading trees, which will diffuse and soften the light. Plants located in an apartment near a 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 illuminated 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's recovery is long and difficult, 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 around its own axis from time to time so that all sides of the plant receive approximately the same amount of light.

Temperature and humidity

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

In winter, the plant is moved to a cool room. The temperature in the room is reduced gradually; due to the sudden cold snap, the tree may shed its leaves. The room should first be +18, then +16–14, and some gardeners drop it to +10. Why keep citrus in a cool room? So that the mandarin has time to rest a little and gain strength. After a short winter holiday, more buds bloom on the tree, and the fruits become juicier and sweeter.

Mandarins need to be prepared for hibernation after harvesting. In mid-January, the temperature in the room begins to gradually increase so that the citrus “wake up” and have time to prepare for spring flowering.

tangerine tree loves warmth and moisture, so in hot weather it needs to be sprayed twice or thrice a day with a spray bottle. 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 recommended to install special humidifiers or ionizers. If the tub of tangerine is located close to the radiator or radiator, cover the heater with a damp towel.

The room in which the citrus tree is located 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 a tub of tangerine dries out, spider mites may appear on the plant. The soil should always be slightly moist, but not wet, so in summer the tree is watered daily, and in winter it is reduced to 2-3 times a week.

You need to test the soil with your finger, and if it seems crumbly and too dry, add a little water. Before watering, look into the pan. Accumulated liquid indicates that there is too much water and the tree does not have time to absorb it. Watering must be stopped before the tray dries, otherwise the root system will begin to rot or fungus will appear.

Use only cleaned melted or rainwater. The liquid is allowed to sit for 3-4 days in a large saucepan or plastic bucket and then passed through a kitchen filter. You can’t just water the tangerine with tap water, because heavy impurities and salts settle in the soil, inhibiting the plant.

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

The water must be heated to +35–40 degrees. How to check the temperature of a liquid without a thermometer? Dip your finger into it. It should be pleasant, but not hot.

Pour water onto the root, being careful not to let droplets fall on the leaves and trunk. Moisten the crown separately from a spray bottle so that the liquid is distributed evenly. During the flowering period, make sure that water does not get on the buds. If a few drops fall on green or ripe fruit, 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, 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.

Find suitable fertilizers Available in flower shops. We recommend stopping at:

• Uniflor bud during flowering;
• Kemira Suite;
• Uniflor growth during fruit ripening.

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

The soil is moistened before fertilizing. Using chemicals It is important to follow the instructions. If you increase the dosage, you can burn the tangerine roots or poison the tree. Weak solution Citrus leaves are also processed. Mineral fertilizers should not get on the fruits.

In the spring, before flowering begins, the tree is pruned. Remove dry and thin branches, pick off yellowed leaves. Garden shears must be sharpened and disinfected before pruning. Treat the cuts with tree resin to help them heal faster.

It is easy to form an oval crown on a tangerine. It is enough to pinch the tops of the branches and trim off excess shoots that are not capable of bearing fruit and only draw nutrients from the tree.

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

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

Citrus needs to be bathed monthly. Cover the pot and soil with 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. Turn on low pressure and rinse off the soap suds. The water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer.

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

Caring for a citrus tree is no more difficult than caring for an apple tree in the garden or an orchid growing on the windowsill. Lots 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 its rich aroma, and in winter it will reward you with sweet and healthy fruits that are associated with the New Year and magic.

Video: how to grow a tangerine from a seed

Plant tangerine (lat. Citrus reticulata)- a small evergreen tree, a species of the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. The fruits of this plant are also called tangerines. The tangerine, the most common species of the genus, comes from Southern Vietnam and China. Currently, the tangerine tree cannot be found in the wild, but it is grown in cultivation in areas with a subtropical climate. And this type of citrus fruit is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative houseplant. In popularity, the homemade tangerine tree is second only to the indoor lemon.

Planting and caring for tangerines (in brief)

• Bloom: usually in the spring, but can last all year round.
• Lighting: bright sunlight: a southern window sill with shading in the afternoon is most suitable.
• Temperature: V warm time year - from 16 to 30 ˚C, in winter - not lower than 14 ˚C.
• Watering: regular, as the top layer of the substrate dries.
• Air humidity: in hot weather, regular spraying of the plant with warm water and monthly showers are recommended.
• Feeding: during the growing season, twice a month with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer. In winter, fertilizing is not needed.
• Rest period: not clearly expressed, but from about the end of October to mid-February.
• Pinching: the crown is formed within 3-4 years in the spring, at the beginning of active growth: if the seedling does not branch when it grows 40 cm, it is pinched to force it to form side shoots. Subsequently, the ends of all shoots after the fifth leaf are removed by pinching.
• Reproduction: seeds, grafting and air layering.
• Pests: spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects and aphids.
• Diseases: root rot.

Read more about growing tangerines below.

Homemade tangerine - description

Mandarin at home does not reach such a height as in nature, growing only up to 1.5-2 m. The branches of the tree are mostly drooping, the leaves of mandarin are dense, small, elliptical or ovoid, dark green, located on petioles with barely noticeable wings. Single or paired fragrant tangerine flowers with matte white petals are located in the axils of the leaves.

The multi-seeded and multi-lobed mandarin fruit - hesperidium - is covered in a peel that is easily separated from the pulp. It is flattened from the top to the base and reaches a diameter of 4 to 15 cm. The pulp is yellow-orange in color and consists of large quantity fusiform hairs - sacs filled with juice. The peel of the fruit, which is called “flavedo”, which means “yellow”, contains many glands with essential oil, and its inner white layer, called “albedo” (“white”), is loose, which makes it easy to peel the tangerine. The pulp of a tangerine is usually sweeter and the flavor is stronger than that of an orange. And although the fruits homemade tangerine By taste qualities much inferior to the fruits of the garden tangerine, the fruiting tangerine, hung like a Christmas tree with yellow-orange balls, looks very attractive.

Indoor tangerine - spectacular potted plant not only because of its bright, mouth-watering fruits: the flowering of tangerines is also a fascinating sight, especially since it is accompanied by an amazing fragrance. Currently, many amateur gardeners are enthusiastically growing tangerines from seeds just on the windowsill, and we will be happy to tell you how to grow tangerines indoors, how to care for tangerines, how to plant a homemade tangerine, how to protect it from diseases and pests, how to replant tangerine, if the pot has become too small for him, and we will also describe beneficial features mandarin

Indoor tangerine from seed

How to grow tangerines at home

Before planting tangerine seeds, they are wrapped in slightly damp gauze or a napkin for several days. Keep the fabric moist the entire time the seeds are swelling. Instead of gauze or fabric, you can use hydrogel - a product that perfectly retains moisture. Seeds from a freshly eaten tangerine should be sown in the ground immediately, without soaking.

Even if you grow just one tree, soak at least a dozen seeds: firstly, not all of them may germinate, and secondly, some seeds may die from diseases during the growth process, and some seedlings will not survive transplantation.

As soon as the seeds hatch, they are planted in 200 ml cups or in bowls no more than 9 cm deep with drainage holes, filled with a substrate of turf soil (3 parts), humus, sand and leaf soil (1 part each) with the addition of a couple of handfuls of clay. . You will have to prepare the substrate yourself, since any of the purchased soils contain peat, which is contraindicated for tangerines. IN as a last resort As a substrate, you can use biohumus or rose soil, the pH of which is in the range of 6.5-7.0 units. At the bottom of the cups under the substrate you need to place a layer of expanded clay or small pebbles. The seeds are buried 4 cm in moist soil. The crops are kept at a temperature of 20-25 ºC. Shoots appear within three to four weeks, although this can happen earlier.

If you sowed seeds in a common container, then at the stage of formation of four leaves in the seedlings (citrus fruits do not have cotyledon leaves), you need to pick them out into separate cups. Sometimes two plants can grow from one seed, since multi-germination of seeds is quite common for citrus crops. In this case, the tangerine seedlings need to be carefully separated (each of them has its own root system) and planted. If one seedling is significantly weaker than another, it is better to sacrifice it: pinch it off so that it does not interfere with the development of a stronger plant.

The next transplantation of seedlings is carried out when their roots fill the entire volume of the cup. You can use a small pot as a container. Planting a tangerine in a pot is done by transferring the seedling along with a lump of earth.

Caring for a tangerine in a pot

Growing tangerine in an apartment

The conditions for growing tangerines at home should be as close to natural as possible. Mandarin loves the sun, so the best place for it is a south-facing window, provided that in winter the room temperature does not drop below 14 ºC. In summer, the plant can be kept on a balcony or loggia. However, in the afternoon, tangerines should be protected from sunlight with a curtain made of light fabric or gauze.

The favorable temperature for the development, budding and flowering of tangerine is considered to be from 16 to 18 ºC with an air humidity of 60%. However, do not worry if the room becomes hot with the arrival of summer: tangerines can grow and bear fruit even at 40 ºC.

Watering a tangerine

Caring for a tangerine involves regularly watering the plant as the top layer of soil in the pot dries. There is a trick to help determine whether a plant needs watering: take a pinch of soil from the pot with your fingers and squeeze it. If the soil sticks together, then it’s too early to water the tangerine, and if it crumbles, then it’s time to moisten the soil in the pot. Under no circumstances allow the earthen ball to dry out completely. Water the tangerine with water at room temperature that has been left standing for 24 hours in an open vessel. In winter, it is advisable to heat water for irrigation to 30-35 ºC, and in summer it can be left in the sun.

As for air humidity, the tangerine, especially in the summer heat, needs daily spraying, and once a month it must be washed in the shower with soap, covering the stem of the plant and the soil in the pot with plastic. This hygienic procedure is also a prevention against pests.

Mandarin fertilizer

During the dormant period, in winter, tangerine does not need fertilizing, and during the growing season, a solution of complex mineral fertilizer is added to the soil twice a month. To stimulate abundant fruiting, adult plants 1 m or more in height are fed with fish broth once a month: 200 g of unsalted fish or fish waste is boiled in 2 liters of water for half an hour, allowed to cool and filtered through cheesecloth. Water the soil with “ear” in the morning at an air temperature of 18-19 ºC.

Tangerine transplant

Young plants are replanted annually, fruit-bearing ones - once every 2-3 years, each time increasing the size of the pot in diameter by 4-6 cm. The soil for young plants should be of the following composition: turf soil - 2 parts, and leaf soil, sand and humus - one part at a time. For plants older than three years of turf soil, you need to take three parts, and the remaining ingredients - one at a time. When planting, it is important that the root collar of the tangerine remains at surface level. Very large or old trees better by transplant do not disturb, but once every 2-3 years you need to remove the top layer of soil in the pot and replace it with fresh fertile substrate.

Tangerine pruning

Mandarin is one of those plants whose crown needs to be shaped. If, with a growth of 30-40 cm, the seedling does not begin to branch on its own, it needs to be pinched to stimulate the formation of side shoots of the first order. However, this is not enough, since fruiting occurs only on branches of the fourth or fifth order. This means that pinching should be continued, removing the ends of all shoots after the fourth or fifth leaf. For sanitary purposes, weak shoots and those growing inside the crown are also pruned. It usually takes 3-4 years for a tree to form.

Sometimes, in order to enhance the branching of shoots, they resort to deflecting and fixing them: one end of a soft wire is fixed on a branch, and the other on the edge of the pot so that the wire pulls the top of the shoot down.

Pests and diseases of tangerine

Mandarin turns yellow

Many amateur gardeners are faced with the fact that tangerine leaves suddenly begin to turn yellow. What is the reason for this phenomenon? There are several reasons. For example, due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil, first the lower leaves of a tangerine become yellow, and then gradually all the foliage turns yellow. This process can be stopped by adding ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate or organic matter to the soil.

Against the background of iron deficiency in the soil, tangerine develops chlorosis: first, young leaves acquire a light yellow color, then older foliage becomes discolored. To prevent chlorosis, tangerines are treated with iron chelate once a month.

Another likely cause of yellowing tangerine leaves may be spider mites - tiny arachnids that make punctures in the leaves of the plant and feed on its cell sap. You can only see a mite under a magnifying glass, but sometimes its presence is revealed by the thinnest web appearing on the plant. To destroy pests, wash the tree in the shower, then treat its leaves with a soapy solution: put grated laundry soap in warm water, whip up a thick foam and use a cotton swab to wipe the tangerine leaves with the foam. To completely defeat the tick, you may need three such procedures with an interval of 2-3 days. The place where the mite-infested tangerine stood should be thoroughly washed.

Mandarin leaves turn yellow due to insufficient lighting, as well as because the pot has become too small for the plant.

The tangerine is falling

Leaves falling from a tangerine are not always a sign of any disease. If this happens from late October to mid-February, move the plant to a room with a temperature of 14-17 ºC and reduce watering: the tangerine needs rest. Leaves may also fall due to low air humidity. In this case, the plant should be sprayed in the evenings with settled water at room temperature and containers of water should be placed around it. Tangerine leaves also fall due to improper planting: the plant is too big pot or the root collar is buried in the soil. The cause of leaf falling may be a lack of potassium in the soil, drafts, too wet soil in the pot and poor lighting.

Mandarin is drying

If, before the tangerine leaves begin to fall off, a dry crust forms on their edges Brown, we can conclude that the watering regime has been disrupted: you have chronically over-moistened the soil in the pot. To restore normal development of the plant, transplant it into another pot with good drainage layer and fresh substrate with a predominance of leafy soil. When replanting, carefully inspect the root system of the tangerine and remove rotten roots. Leaves also dry out if there is insufficient watering. A drying plant will have to be revived by placing it in a bowl of water at room temperature. The water in the basin should reach the edge of the pot. Now you need to water the tangerine until the soil is completely wet and air stops coming out of it. After the procedure, drain excess water and spray the tangerine with a solution of 1 ml of Epin in 2 liters of water. These sprayings should be continued for some time, 2 times a week. In this way, even a very dried out plant can be revived.

Proper cultivation of tangerine trees and shrubs at home. Methods of cultivation and reproduction citrus tree Houses.

Mandarin is a shrub that is ever green all year round. Comes from the fruit family and genus - citrus fruits. The form of life is a bush, in the form of a tree.

Homemade tangerine can be grown in greenhouses and at home: window sill, balcony, greenhouse. Breeders have bred a huge variety of this plant. This tangerine is an effective show-stopper in a pot.

Photo: tangerine tree at home

Homemade tangerine has very tasty and aromatic fruits; they grow on the tree for more than two months. Such a plant attracts and gives pleasure both with its flowering and the unsurpassed smell of its own flower.

The mandarin bonsai is a rare and masterful piece. Mandarin fruits grow without being pollinated and reach maturity at the end of the year.
The most famous and beloved varieties for growing tangerines at home include:

• Shiva is a mikan. Early and fast growing species
• Mirkot is a compact variety with sweet, summer-ripening fruits
• Winshiu - unpretentious plant from Japanese variety, branches well and bears fruit already in the third year
• Clementine - the variety bears fruit in the second year, at home. Refers to a hybrid of mandarin and orange. The fruits have a shiny skin, are slightly flattened, and their number per harvest reaches five dozen.

How to plant tangerines at home?

Ancient China was the first to cultivate mandarin ducks. Today such a plant can be purchased in flower shops.

• If you purchased a plant from such a store, it is better to replant it immediately. To do this, buy a substrate specifically for citrus fruits, where the acidity is 5.5 -7. It is also possible to make your own soil. To do this, it is necessary to mix turf and leaf soil with manure humus and river sand, where the proportion looks like this – 1:1:1:0.5
• Look carefully at the pot in which the plant was brought from the store; its next place of residence should be no more than three centimeters more than the previous one. All these actions will actively stimulate the tangerine to grow

One of the first steps is to choose a place for the mandarin to live in your apartment.

• Proper lighting is one of the most important keys to the growth of your pet. This rule also applies if the tangerine is planted in open ground in a country house or greenhouse. Direct sun rays should hit the plant, but without much persistence. Sunlight will give the leaves juiciness and greenness; a lack of light will only lead to fading and thin new shoots
• The window on which the tangerine will be grown should be located on the east or southeast side. If the growing season is summer, it is necessary to gradually accustom the plant to direct rays, and sometimes take it out onto the balcony or street
• If the time of initial cultivation is winter, place the tangerine in the most illuminated place; if there is not enough light, purchase artificial lighting. It is possible to use a photo light bulb for this purpose
• The optimal temperature for indoor tangerine remains + 25 degrees; if the period of budding and flowering passes, keep the temperature around twenty degrees
• The rest regime in winter is maintained at a level of five to ten degrees. A plant that has had a good rest in winter will bear much better fruits and flowers.

Tangerine from a seed - reality

Growing tangerines from seeds will require your attention and patience only at the first stage, then this crop is easy to care for. Prepare a place for the plant to live. Which excludes the presence of various poisonous neighbors.

A southern room without any neighbors would be ideal. We take material for planting from store-bought tangerines. The number of seeds should be as large as possible, since most of the next sprouts will die from the disease and will not survive the grafting stage. Growing tangerines from seeds occurs in several ways:

• We take a small piece of gauze, irrigate it with water, and wrap the bones. Water should be in a minimum amount to avoid rotting of the seeds. Experienced specialists They suggest using a solution of potassium permanganate for this process to disinfect seeds
• To avoid problems with gauze, you can purchase hydrogel in a specialized store. Its peculiarity is its excellent ability to retain moisture. It looks like a certain mass into which tangerine seeds are aged for pecking and the appearance of sprouts

It is possible to plant the seeds immediately, in open ground. Most gardeners do it this way. If you have extensive experience in growing plants and flowers, you can easily ensure that the bud does not dry out. The leaves will hatch here later than all types of cultivation, but the sprout will be very strong

Caring for indoor tangerine at home

When you see the first sprouts of your pet, you need to start feeding for the next two weeks. It must be carried out using specialized organic and mineral fertilizers. Care consists of watering and irrigating the sprout and constantly adding fertilizers.

Spraying the tangerine should occur every week to maintain high humidity of the tangerine. It is also possible to keep a bowl filled with water near the tree. Especially when the summer is hot, the plant needs moisture. In winter, watering should be done two to three times a week, depending on dryness.

Fertilizing the tangerine plant should be carried out in the period April-September, especially if it is a fruit-bearing citrus. This will ensure the sweet taste of the fruit.

How to plant tangerine at home?

Full-fledged, delicious tangerine fruits can only be obtained as a result of proper care and grafting. Grafting begins in May-August. Since sap flow is especially active at this time.

The effectiveness of the result after vaccination depends on your ability to carefully and quickly carry out the appropriate procedures. Prepare in advance for the tangerine grafting stage:

• A plant grown from seed, the trunk of which is at least six millimeters thick
• Cutting from a fruiting plant, the branch of which is at least two years old
• Garden knife
• Elastic tape
• Var garden

For grafting, make an incision at a height of ten centimeters, where the trunk of the rootstock is. It should look like the letter T, horizontally - 4 cm, vertically -4 cm. The scion is prepared by removing thorns and leaf blades. Very carefully cut the bud and insert it into the cut, with a small layer of wood.

Where the vaccination was carried out, wrap it with tape. Place tangerine in plastic bag or a jar. Only after a month will you be able to determine the degree of success of the vaccination. It is better to take several seedlings for grafting, because only half of them will be successful.

Accustom the plant to grafting by gradually removing the jar, then the new shoot will strengthen and begin to grow. Cover the location of the shoot with garden varnish.

If you follow the rules for growing and fertilizing tangerines, the leaves of the plant will be forever green. The leaves will turn yellow as a result of improper behavior with the pet. Don't go overboard with chemical fertilizers. If the tangerine is not grown correctly, it will become stained and the leaves will fall off.

How to transplant a tangerine at home?

• TO proper care The plant is responsible for replanting the plant. This event is carried out if the tangerine becomes cramped in the pot. Early plants and young ones are replanted every year
• Tangerine trees over seven years old are replanted every two years. To replant a plant, you need to take a pot with a diameter greater than five centimeters from the present one so that the roots do not rot. The substrate should be selected with low acidity, the bottom of the pot should be lined with expanded clay and pieces of polystyrene foam
• The actual transplantation process is carried out not during the flowering of the plant, but in the spring, during the awakening period of the tangerine. The soil is laid by watering after transplanting. Do not use fertilizer two weeks after transplanting, and four days before transplanting

Reproduction of home tangerine

Reproduction tangerine plant occurs in two ways: grafting onto the rootstock and rooting the apical cutting. This process is carried out at the very beginning of the summer period. Be sure to use root-forming agents that will stimulate growth. Vaccination is the most effective and successful way reproduction.

Pruning homemade tangerine

Pruning is done to improve crown formation the desired shape, to stimulate fruiting. As the tree grows, it loses its compactness and attractiveness.

The process is carried out on young plants using a sharp knife and pruning shears. Branches from the first to the third order are subject to pruning. The fourth ones should not be touched, as they produce fruits and flowers.

Video: How to grow tangerines at home?

Video: How to properly graft a citrus tree?

Breeding indoor citrus at home - although a troublesome, but worthwhile task. By growing a tangerine tree on a windowsill, you get not only a fragrant and colorful plant, but also tasty, healthy fruits. You are required to plant correctly and provide the plant with competent and timely care.

Mandarin looks great as an ornamental plant

Features of citrus

Mandarin belongs to plants of the Rutaceae family. Homeland of growth - China. Today, citrus is grown in many tropical countries - Israel, Turkey, Africa, Thailand, Spain.

The evergreen tree reaches 2-4 m in height. The leaves are dense, leathery, with a glossy surface, dark green. The leaf blade is lanceolate in shape with a pointed end.

Citrus blossoms in early spring and lasts throughout the growing season. Mandarin flowers are snow-white, small, formed singly or in groups of several pieces.

The shoots are smooth, erect, dark green. The crown is medium dense, oval or spherical in shape.

The fruits, with thick orange skin, are in no way inferior in taste to industrially grown citrus fruits.

At home, a dwarf species is grown, the maximum height of which is 1-1.3 m.

Indoor varieties

There are several varieties of tangerine tree for home cultivation.

1. Winshiu. A seedless hybrid form, in the wild it reaches 2-3 m in height, in apartment conditions - from 0.8 to 1.3 m. It is a frost-resistant crop, characterized by early ripening and productivity. At home, tangerine blooms profusely with small white flowers. The first fruits are born at the age of 3-4 years.
2. Kovano-Vase. This one has dwarf mandarin Fruiting occurs in the second year of life. low growing plant with a compact crown at home it reaches 40-70 cm in height, so it is grown in a pot on the windowsill. Blooms profusely snow-white flowers. Citrus variety Kovano-Vase is valued for its long flowering, which lasts throughout the year. Indoor tangerine produces juicy, orange fruits that are well preserved on the tree and may not fall off for several months.

Secrets of cultivation

To achieve high decorativeness and high-quality fruiting, the plant should be provided with growth conditions that are as close as possible to natural growing conditions.

Selection of soil mixture

For the tangerine tree, which is grown primarily in tropical climates, it is necessary to select a balanced soil composition. In a specialized store you can purchase ready-made soil mixture for indoor tangerines. You can also prepare it yourself by mixing several ingredients:

• turf soil - 2 parts;
• leaf soil - 1 part;
• rotted manure - 1 part;
• river sand - 1 part.

In such nutritious and loose soil, the plant takes root well and grows intensively.

Preparation of material

To grow a full-fledged tangerine tree at home, you will need a ripe fruit seed. The seed is removed from the pulp, washed and wrapped in damp gauze. The tissue is irrigated daily with warm water to prevent the seed from drying out.

First, the seed should swell, then hatch and produce a small sprout. This is a sign that it is time to plant it in the ground.

The best option for planting tangerines is clay pot for 3 liters

Landing Features

It is better to plant an ornamental plant in a pot made of natural material- ceramics or clay. The container is filled with a nutrient mixture, the recipe for which is described above. Then they make a small depression - 2-3 cm and lower the bone into the hole with the sprout facing up. Afterwards, the seed is buried and generously sprayed with a spray bottle.

Rules of care

After planting, tangerines at home require careful care, especially in the first years of life. Indoor citrus does not require much cost or effort, so even a novice gardener can grow it.

Lighting

This is one of the main conditions for caring for tangerines at home. Tropical crops require good and long lasting daylighting throughout the year. Therefore, a tub or flowerpot with a tree is placed on a south, southwest or southeast window sill.

Homemade tangerine reacts poorly to sharp changes temperatures and does not tolerate drafts. Under such conditions, the plant sheds its leaves en masse and may die.

With the onset of warm spring days, the plant can be placed on a balcony or loggia; in the summer, it can be placed outside, where there is protection from the scorching sun.

Temperature

For tangerine at home, a certain temperature regime is required - from +16 to +18 °C. Then the plant begins to bloom and bear fruit successfully.

In summer, indoor tangerines easily tolerate heat and temperature rises up to +40 °C.

In the winter season, the plant is given the opportunity to rest - it is moved to a room with a temperature no higher than 14 °C. In such conditions, the growth and flowering of citrus is suspended until spring.

Humidity

The basis for caring for tangerines at home is optimizing the humidity level - at the level of 65-70%. To provide high humidity, you should regularly irrigate the tree, place trays with water or containers with moistened expanded clay next to the pot.

Watering

In winter, settled water at room temperature should be used for indoor tangerine plants. Water the tree no more than once every two weeks. In spring and summer, the frequency of watering is increased and moisture is produced as the earthen clod dries out.

Indoor tangerine does not react well to overwatering, so the plant should be watered in small doses. The water flowing into the pan should be poured out to prevent the appearance of mold in the lower layer of soil and rotting of the roots.

The citrus plant responds well to showers with warm water. Washing of foliage is carried out once a month. Before irrigation, the soil is covered with polyethylene. Additionally, the plant is sprayed with warm water every day from a spray bottle.

Feeding

For tangerines at home, care includes regular fertilization. Citrus requires organic and mineral supplements, which are applied to well-moistened soil. Slurry or ready-made complex fertilizers for citrus fruits are suitable as food.

Feed the tree throughout the growing season no more than once every two weeks. In winter, feeding the plants is stopped, because during this period the resting phase begins.

To enhance fruiting, the tree can be fed with fish soup. 200 g of fish products are poured with two liters of water and boiled for half an hour. Then cool, filter and water the soil around the tree trunk. This fertilizing is applied in combination with the preparation “Mandarin”. Suitable for plants with a height of at least 1 m.

The Unshiu variety bears fruit at home in the 3rd year of life

Transfer

As the decorative tangerine grows at home, it should be regularly replanted into a new container 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. Transplantation is carried out by transferring an earthen clod with the addition of fresh nutritious soil mixture.

The first transplant procedure is carried out 3-4 years after planting, once a year. Adult plants are not disturbed; they only periodically replace the surface layer with a new nutritional composition.

Trimming and pinching

The pinching procedure stimulates fruiting and the growth of young shoots. Pinching is done in early spring, shortening the apical shoots by a third of their length.

Growing at home, a tangerine in a pot can bloom endlessly without entering the fruiting phase. To stimulate this process, part of the flower buds and fruit ovaries, which take strength and energy from the tree. This procedure is carried out on the basis that there should be at least 15 leaves per 1 fruit.

Reproduction methods

You can get a houseplant in several ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering;
• vaccination.

Seed cultivation is used if you do not have your own specimens at home. Propagation by layering is suitable for old trees. Cuttings are used only for some varieties of indoor tangerines in order to obtain a varietal fruit-bearing plant. The grafting is suitable for those who already have a sprouted tangerine sprout and any other citrus on which it can be grafted.

Tree grafting

Indoor tangerine can grow and develop for a long time at home without bearing fruit. To speed up the process of formation of fruit ovaries, gardeners carry out the grafting procedure.

Before grafting, the tree is watered abundantly to speed up the process of sap flow in the shoots. This way the bark will move away from the trunk better. For grafting, a well-ripened shoot with several vegetative buds is used. All foliage is removed to prevent the process of moisture evaporation and drying out of the branch. Optimal height grafting on a tree - 7-10 cm from the soil level. The bark in this area should be healthy, smooth, without buds or leaves.

A T-shaped incision is made in this area with a sharp knife. The bark at the incision sites is lifted and a prepared cutting or bud with a heel is inserted into it so that the bud remains on the surface. The raised bark on the rootstock is pressed tightly and wrapped with insulating tape. After the kidney has taken root, the tape is removed.

You can understand that the grafting of a tangerine tree was successful after three weeks - at the grafting site the petiole should turn yellow and fall off. If it has dried out and remained in place, the grafting procedure should be repeated.

After successful budding, approximately 3-4 weeks later, it is necessary to trim the apical shoots on the rootstock, and also remove insulating tape. Pruning of shoots is carried out in two stages - first, the branch is shortened 10 cm above the eye, then after its germination - at a distance from the thorn up from it.

Subsequently, after vaccination, home care for tangerines is the same as for adult specimens.

Diseases and pests

If affected in winter, the use of pesticides is not recommended. For spider mites, folk infusions and solutions based on garlic, tobacco dust, soap and ash are used.

In the fight against scale insects or false scale insects, water-oil emulsions are very helpful.

To prevent diseases and pests, it is necessary to carry out regular treatments of the crown - with a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate at least once a month.

Difficulties in growing

Many gardeners, especially beginners, do not know how to care for tangerines at home, as a result of which it is not always possible to grow a strong, beautiful and fruit-bearing tree.

Conclusion

Growing an indoor tangerine on a windowsill is not difficult. The main thing is to plant the plant correctly and on time and select high-quality planting material for cultivation. In conditions of literate home care tangerines will regularly bloom, bear fruit and delight with their beauty.