Mandarin how to care for at home. Citrus fertilizer: tangerine

The tangerine tree belongs to the citrus family. It is evergreen and does not shed its leaves even in winter. Today, many species of this plant are known that can successfully grow and bear fruit at home.

The most popular of them are:

Konkhinkhin- the most popular variety grown on an industrial scale. In nature, it can reach up to 3-4 m in height. But at home, this species is too whimsical and with proper care can only grow up to 1 meter.
Inshiu- a popular and unpretentious look. Easily tolerates temperatures down to -5 degrees. The fruits are very sweet and aromatic, almost without seeds. Ideal for growing at home.
Tangerine It is distinguished by elongated fruits and thick skin. Tangerines are very sweet and tasty, but they have a specific pungent smell that not everyone likes.

In addition, breeders have developed many hybrid species, which are more hardy and unpretentious, and therefore caring for them will not be difficult.

Popular tangerine tree hybrids include:

Clementine. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, and its fruits are bright and juicy. Especially this variety valued for its taste and aroma.
Minneola- This is a hybrid obtained by crossing grapefruit and tangerine, so the fruits have a bitter taste. The size of the fruit may vary, the color is bright, red-orange. The skin is dense and difficult to remove.
Tangora It is distinguished by large fruits that can reach up to 15 cm in diameter. They taste very sweet and juicy. In addition, there are several varieties with variegated colors not only of leaves, but also of fruits.
Ellendaleunpretentious plant, giving a large harvest in the form of very sweet fruits. But it’s quite difficult to find a seedling of this hybrid.

Tangerine tree care

In order for the tangerine tree not only to please with its foliage and flowers, but also to bear fruit, it must be properly cared for and created comfortable conditions.

To do this, it is necessary to take into account the following important factors, such as lighting, air humidity, fertilizing, etc.

1. Location

It is not difficult to guess that bright lighting is especially important for the tangerine tree. This is especially true during the cold season, so place the pot in the southern part of the apartment.

South-west or south-east sides are also perfect. But do not forget to shade the plant during the heat so that it does not get burned.

When the weather outside is warm enough, it is better to place the tree on the balcony or veranda. If you live in a private house, you can bury the plant directly with the pot.

Before you move your tangerine tree into the sun, you need to give it time to get used to direct rays. For this purpose, the pot is placed in partial shade and only after some time is transferred to the site.

2. Temperature

It is very important to provide the tangerine tree with optimal temperature conditions.

In summer it is worth maintaining the temperature within 15-18 degrees, and in winter period– 12 degrees. If you do not observe the temperature regime, then you may not wait for the fruits to appear.

3. Humidity

The humidity level should be high enough. To achieve this, the plant is regularly sprayed several times a day. This must be done both in summer and winter. It is also recommended to place a small bowl of water near the pot.

If the air humidity is too low, various pests, such as scale insects, spider mites, etc., will begin to spread very quickly.

4. Lighting

Throughout the year, the lighting should be bright, but the tree should not be exposed to direct sunlight. On too hot days, it must be shaded to prevent burn spots on the leaves.

5. Spraying

The tangerine tree needs to be sprayed all year round 2-3 times a day. This is especially true if the plant is located in a room with central heating. For spraying, use settled water at room temperature.

6. Watering

To water a tangerine tree, you can only use warm, settled water. In summer, watering should be plentiful, and in winter it is better to reduce it to 2 times a week.

7. Feeding and fertilizer

From April to September, the tangerine tree must be actively fed. For this purpose, complex fertilizers, both mineral and organic, are used.

It is better to give preference to special fertilizers for citrus plants. Fertilize every week, after watering the tree.

In winter, fertilizing can be stopped completely or reduced to a minimum.

Fertilizer for citrus plants is so important because it is this factor that affects the taste of the fruit. If you fertilize in a timely manner in the summer, the tangerines will not taste bitter.

8. Trimming and pinching

In order for the tree to have a neat appearance and the fruits to appear as quickly as possible, it must sometimes be pruned. Mercilessly get rid of weak and diseased branches. In addition, you can trim off excess branches to give the crown the desired shape.

Pinch out the apical shoots in a timely manner. Thanks to this, the tangerine tree will begin to branch more actively.

9. Transplant

Like other indoor plants, the tangerine tree must be replanted periodically:

Young specimens - once a year.
Fruit-bearing trees – once every 2-3 years.

Transplantation is carried out in March, while the plant has not yet begun to actively grow. If this procedure is carried out later, it may have a detrimental effect on the condition of the tree.

In the case when young specimens have not yet completely filled the pot with their root system, then only the drainage and top layers of the substrate can be changed.

When replanting, do not destroy the earthen ball too much and handle the roots carefully so as not to damage them. Also make sure that the root collar is above the ground at the same level as in the old pot.

The soil for a tangerine tree may vary depending on its age. For young plants use the following mixture:

Leaf snake.
Sand.
Humus.
Sod land.

All components must be used in a ratio of 1:1:1:2.

The substrate for an adult tree differs in that it is necessary to take not 2 parts of turf soil, but 3. In addition, it is advisable to add a small amount of fatty clay.

10. Diseases and pests

The tangerine tree is very vulnerable to pests such as spider mites and scale insects.

After the procedure, the soil should be sprinkled generously with ash. If necessary, all steps are repeated after a week.

There is also a more radical method of pest control. The tree can be treated with special preparations that are sold in regular flower shops.

In order to enhance the effect, you can cover the plant with polyethylene and leave it under this cover for a couple of hours. Remember that fruits after this treatment cannot be eaten for at least a week.

Reproduction

A tangerine tree can even be grown from a seed, but this method not very common. The fact is that you can wait for fruits from such a plant for more than one year, since it begins to bear fruit after 10, or even 15 years.

Even if you are lucky, it may turn out that the resulting tangerines will taste bitter. You can, of course, budding or grafting from another citrus plant, but even in this case the result may not be as expected.

The easiest way to propagate a tangerine tree is by cuttings. Root the cuttings in a pot covered with a jar. The young plant will begin to bloom and bear fruit within a year.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Why do the leaves fall from the tangerine tree?

When leaves fall occasionally and in small quantities, this is natural process. If the foliage begins to intensively turn yellow and fall off, this may indicate that the plant does not have enough lighting, it is not watered correctly (overdried, flooded), or a significant temperature difference occurred when the tree was switched to winter mode.

The leaves have turned brown. What is the reason?

Typically, tangerine tree leaves turn brown due to excess fertilizer.

To prevent the appearance of pests, you must follow all the rules for caring for the plant. It is also necessary to periodically treat the leaves with soap foam. But be careful and make sure that soapy water does not get into the substrate. To prevent this, just cover the pot with plastic.

Plant tangerine (lat. Citrus reticulata)– 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

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: in the warm season - from 16 to 30 ˚C, in winter - not lower than 14 ˚C.
Watering: regular, as the top layer of the substrate dries.
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 top to base and reaches a diameter of 4 to 15 cm. The pulp is yellow-orange in color and consists of a large number of spindle-shaped 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 of homemade tangerines are much inferior in taste to the fruits of garden tangerines, a fruiting tangerine, hung like a Christmas tree with yellow-orange balls, looks very attractive.

Indoor tangerine is a spectacular potted plant not only because of its bright, mouth-watering fruits: the flowering of tangerine 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 in room conditions, how to care for a tangerine, how to plant a homemade tangerine, how to protect it from diseases and pests, how to replant a tangerine if the pot has become too small for it, and we will also describe beneficial properties tangerine

Indoor tangerine from seed

How to grow tangerines at home

Before planting tangerine seeds, they are wrapped for several days in slightly damp gauze or a napkin. 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 only 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 extreme cases, you can use Biohumus or Rose soil as a substrate, 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 the multiple germination of seeds for citrus crops quite a common occurrence. 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 to be sprayed daily, 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 need to be removed once every 2-3 years top layer 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 has a pot that is too large 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 brown crust forms on their edges, 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 a good drainage layer and fresh substrate with a predominance of leafy soil. When transplanting, carefully inspect root system 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 the 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 for growing and propagating citrus trees at home.

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. An early and fast growing species
Mirkot is a compact variety with sweet, summer-ripening fruits
Winshiu is an unpretentious plant from a Japanese variety that 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 at the dacha or greenhouse. Direct sun rays should hit the plant, but without much persistence. Sunlight will give the leaves juiciness and greenness; 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
Rest mode in winter time is observed at the level of five, 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. The water should be in minimum quantity to avoid rotting of the seeds. Experienced specialists 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 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?

Photo: tangerine plant

Full-fledged, delicious tangerine fruits can only be obtained as a result proper care and vaccinations. 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 the tangerine in a plastic bag or 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?

Proper plant care includes 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

Photo: tangerine at home

Reproduction of a tangerine plant occurs in two ways: grafting onto a rootstock and rooting an 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. Grafting is the most effective and successful method of propagation.

Pruning homemade tangerine

Pruning is carried out to improve the formation of the crown of 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 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?

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 fruit tree grows up to 4 meters in height. Its small, elliptical, leathery leaves are dark green in color.

Matte white mandarin flowers exude 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 for its 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)- a 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 don't 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 best 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. Indoor tangerine for fresh air 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. Will do ready soil for citrus fruits or a self-prepared mixture of the following components:

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 active growth begins. 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

Early 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.

With proper care throughout the year, you can harvest 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 proper formation of the crown.

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 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 at insufficient lighting or due to 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 spider mite attack. 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 that the root collar of the tree is too deep into the ground or that the tangerine is growing in very big pot. It is necessary to replant the plant according to all the rules.

Sometimes leaves are falling 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.

How to grow tangerine at home

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

Buying a ready-made seedling

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

Growing tangerine from seed

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

As the gauze dries, be sure to keep it moist for several days until the bones swell. If you don’t have the opportunity to wait several days, then try soaking ordinary seeds in water for 2-3 hours, adding a few drops of Epin, which is a growth stimulant. As soon as the first shoots hatch, you can plant the bush in the ground. In general, it is wise to prepare the seeds of this exotic plant Any novice florist can do it.

Land for tangerine tree

Prepare a pot or regular seedling box and fill it with a layer of soil to transplant the hatched seeds into. Despite the fact that indoor mandarin is unpretentious in relation to the soil, experts still strongly recommend taking this point seriously. It is best to use a mixture consisting of:

1 part leaf soil;
3 parts turf soil;
1 part rotted cow manure;
clay;
sand

How to plant a tangerine in a pot correctly

To grow decorative tangerine, do not use peat, which often sours, dries quickly and does not have any special nutritional properties. This component is available in almost all those mixtures that can be bought in specialized stores. Don't forget about drainage layer. Place expanded clay or small ordinary pebbles on the bottom of a dry container, then fill the pot with the composition of the above components. Then place the swollen seeds into the soil to a depth of 5-7 cm. The pot with the planted seeds should be placed in a well-lit place.

Soil drainage

To form a lush and bright bush, you will need to pay attention to the drainage of the container in which it will grow. As already mentioned, place crushed stone, small pebbles and expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, but if you don’t have any of the above on hand, then use fragments of ceramic dishes. Before planting the tangerine and laying the soil, be sure to thoroughly rinse the drainage. In general, it is necessary to ensure that excess liquid from the soil is drained into the pan. Thanks to this, effective prevention of fluid stagnation and root rot is carried out.

Where to place a flower pot with a shoot

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

How to care for a tangerine tree

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

Air temperature and humidity

The best temperature regime for a tangerine seedling is a temperature of +15-18 degrees in the warm season and +12 degrees in the winter. In hotter weather, the plant begins to bear fruit and bloom worse - buds and ovaries form weakly at this time. At the same time, it is important to avoid sudden changes in temperature, but in order for the plant to become stronger, it must be hardened, i.e. help him adapt to changes in lighting and temperature. To do this in the spring, take the plant outside for a short time during the day. closed veranda or balcony.

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

Illumination

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

How to water indoor tangerine

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

With a short-term lack of moisture, the tangerine tree will not die, but it may shed some or all of its leaves. Fresh greenery will no longer appear in “bald” places, so try to avoid unexpected leaf fall. Leaves will appear only on new branches. Frequently transfusing the plant with water will not be beneficial either, because... this will lead to the appearance of fungal diseases.

How to feed a tangerine tree at home

The entire growing season, i.e. from April to September, the tree needs feeding. Every week it must be fertilized with organic or mineral fertilizers, which can be alternated. This is especially necessary for mature trees growing in cramped containers, without replanting or renewing the soil. In one week the plant can be watered with a solution liquid mullein, and a week later - treat with a complex garden fertilizer specifically designed for citrus trees. Before fertilizing, you should water the soil.

Mineral mixtures based on potassium phosphorus and nitrogen

In specialized garden store You can purchase a ready-made composition for citrus fruits. Make sure that the solution includes minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. It is recommended to fertilize in the first half of the day. The temperature of the solution should not be less than +20 degrees. Follow the recommended cooking recipe exactly nutrient solution. The rule here is that it is better not to top up than to overfill. Excessive concentration or excess fertilizer can lead to burns of the stem or leaves and even death of the plant.

Organic fertilizers

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

Rules for caring for homemade tangerine

To ensure that your tangerine tree is as bright and pleasing to the eye as in the photo of one of the gardening magazines, attach special importance to caring for it. Many of the rules listed above for a plant seedling also apply to a grown tree. Additionally, it is necessary to periodically trim the branches and pinch the tips of the shoots. In addition, remove all dried twigs, leaves and shoots from the tree. Such measures will help to form a compact tangerine with a lush and dense crown. We should not forget about the need for replanting.

Partial removal of flowers

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

Pinching the tops of branches

As the tree grows, it is necessary to periodically pinch the tips of the shoots. This is necessary for the tree to form a thick and lush crown. If formed correctly, it will turn into a real decoration of the room. This can be achieved by controlling the growth of the apex and shoots, which must be removed from time to time, i.e. pinch. When each new sprout appears, pinch the top to form 5-6 leaves. It is also necessary to get rid of tops (strong shoots) that grow quickly from the very root.

Removing stretched branches and dried leaves

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

Why does the tangerine shed its leaves?

If the basic rules of care are not followed, the tangerine tree may develop diseases. Don't ignore the threat that different pests can pose. These include red spider mites, scale insects, and citrus whiteflies. Dropping leaves does not always indicate the presence of a disease, because... This can also happen during a period of relative rest on cold days.

What to do

If pests are the reason for dropping leaves, then wipe all the leaves of the tree special solutions. A few procedures are enough to get rid of all the unwanted “guests”. Yellowing foliage may be a signal that the plant is not getting enough minerals. During nitrogen deficiency, yellowing begins with lower leaves. In addition, a mandarin may react this way to the absence required quantity moisture, lack of light. Move the plant to a well-lit place and remember to water regularly.

Methods for propagating a tangerine tree

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

Reproduction by layering, which are well-formed tree branches. Select a branch from an adult tangerine that is at least 4 mm thick and long enough to bend the branch and pin it to the ground. There is no need to separate the branch from the bush, just cover it with earth. The top will protrude on the surface of the soil. Keep the digging area moist. When the cuttings form new roots, separate the branch from the mother plant.
Reproduction is carried out by cuttings. For this purpose, so-called air layering– the cutting takes root “in weight”. An adult shoot is cut in a circle, cutting off the bark about 1 cm wide, after which the wound is treated and wrapped with sphagnum moss and polyethylene (loosely). The resulting “pupa” must be kept moist until roots form – it will take several months.

How to replant a tangerine at home

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

Pest Control

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

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

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