Homemade tangerine transplantation and care. We take care of the tangerine tree to get a beautiful specimen. What seeds to plant

Mandarin - evergreen citrus. Proper care will ensure its healthy appearance, active flowering and fruiting.

Mandarin is an unpretentious and easy-to-grow representative of the Rutov family. It has the appearance of a shrub or tree up to 5 m high. Indoor tangerine is good because it forms in the form of a small bush, without being dwarf, i.e. its parameters are adjusted by trimming.

Required condition Growing tangerines at home requires sufficient light. When choosing a place for this crop, you need to take care of a sufficient flow of direct sunlight.

During summer lunchtime, you need to shade the citrus tree. It is preferable to place pots on the south side of the apartment, and also create street conditions, periodically taking the plant to the balcony. In winter, when daylight hours are short, you need to place the tangerine in the brightest place, adding artificial lighting if necessary.

There are special phytolamps on sale that provide plants with sufficient light at any time of the day or season.

It is necessary to transfer crops to a new light regime with additional lighting gradually: with a sudden change in the situation, foliage may fall off.

Determine light deficiency in indoor plant Just: tangerine leaves become faded, dull, lose saturation and brightness. New shoots are thin and weak. Flowering is inactive.

The optimal temperature in summer is +20-25 °C. When the first buds appear, +20 (you shouldn’t raise it any higher: it threatens to shed color). In winter, tangerine “rests” at +5-10 °C. Such dormancy will ensure active development and high fruiting in the next season.

Every year in the spring, the tree crown is pruned, which contributes not only to a beautiful appearance, but also to the health of the tangerine. Pruning acts as a stimulation for budding and rejuvenation of green leaves. Thinning is carried out with the removal of overgrown branches (fruit-bearing branches are not touched). As a result, the tree becomes more magnificent.

Prevention should be carried out periodically by pruning dry and unhealthy branches. On newly formed units, it is necessary to remove excess ovary at the rate of 1 cut per 20 intact leaves for normal fruit ripening. The older the plant, the more ovaries need to be left.

The cut should be made using disinfected sharp scissors or pruning shears and treated with activated carbon.

Landing

A simple way to purchase a citrus tree is to buy a ready-made specimen, often already with fruit. Another option is to purchase a seedling and plant it in the ground.

When growing a tangerine from a seed or seed, you need to know the important stages of this process:

1. Preparation of material for planting in the ground. Seeds (10-12 pcs.) need to be removed from ripe fruit. This quantity is due to the lack of a guarantee that they will all germinate. The grains need to be wrapped in a damp cloth or soaked in a container and left for several days for sprouts to form.
2. Planting process. Pour a layer of expanded clay into a pre-prepared pot: it is ideal for drainage. Lay out the soil and plant the sprouted tangerine seeds at a depth of 7 cm. Water the soil periodically. After a month, the first shoots will appear on the surface.
3. Feeding the plant (after germination).

You can grow a tangerine using a branch from an adult tree. To do this, you need to choose a healthy long shoot with a diameter of at least 0.4 cm. There is no need to cut it off. The branch is bent in half and covered with earth, maintaining moisture. The top should not be in the ground. After young roots appear, the new tree is cut off from the main tangerine.

The tree must be replanted annually, and once it reaches seven years of age - once every 2 years. The best substrate is a specialized soil for citrus fruits with slight acidity.

You can make the soil yourself, using turf soil as a basis and adding humus, sand and foliage to it in equal proportions.

The pot should not be too large to avoid rotting of the root system, but a few centimeters larger than the previous one. The bottom is lined with expanded clay and stones to prevent the accumulation of water and the formation of rot. At the end of the process, you should water the soil and after half an hour add soil.

For a positive result after transplantation, you should adhere to the following rules:

• During the period of budding and the appearance of flowers, tangerines cannot be replanted. March is the ideal time for this procedure.
• A few days before the proposed transplant and two weeks after it, it is strictly not recommended to fertilize the plant.

Watering

Mandarin tolerates drought well. With a prolonged lack of water, the plant may shed its leaves to reduce the area of ​​liquid evaporation. Inexperienced owners often flood the tangerine. This is dangerous for the development of fungal diseases.

Factors influencing watering:

1. plant height and crown volume: the presence of abundant green mass requires frequent watering;
2. pot size and amount of substrate;
3. temperature regime: the higher the room temperature, the more water the crop needs;
4. seasonality;
5. lighting conditions.

Mandarin is picky about watering conditions. The tree should be irrigated in the first half of the day. In case of low temperatures (below +15 °C), it is necessary to stop supplying the plant with water for several days.

When growing tangerines in apartment conditions, it is necessary to regularly irrigate the leaves, and during the period of budding and flowering, prevent moisture from getting on the flowers.

Dry indoor air can cause spider mites to appear on the plant.

Treatment

During the development of the tangerine, infections with all kinds of diseases and the appearance of pests are possible. If you notice the appearance of yellow or light green leaves on a tree, you should water the plant and reduce the frequency of fertilizing, and if the symptoms do not go away, look for another solution to the problem.

The causes of diseases can be different:

1. The presence of pests and potassium oversaturation can provoke the release of gum from the trunk. It is necessary to change the soil, clearing the roots of possible insects.
2. The infection causes a black sticky coating to appear on the green mass. To remove it, each leaf is washed with water.
3. The fungicidal agent will help cope with the fungus that appears on the foliage in the form of spots.
4. A fungal disease can cause the plant to rot. Pathology occurs due to high humidity, deficiency of potassium or phosphorus. To cure a tree, you need to treat healthy branches with fungicides, and remove the affected ones with pruning shears.
5. The white coating is powdery mildew. For elimination of this disease It is necessary to ventilate the room more often and spray the culture with a copper-containing preparation.

Pests (spider mites, aphids, etc.) are no less dangerous for tangerines than diseases. To combat this group of insects, a solution based on soap or garlic should be used. If there are a large number of pests, it is better to use chemicals(insecticides). It is recommended to spray tangerines three times a month with equal intervals between treatments. After application, you need to wrap the plant in a bag for 20-30 minutes.

How to feed tangerines at home?

Natural restoration of soil in pots is impossible, and the amount of nutrients that was originally present in the soil is quickly absorbed by the plant and washed away when watering. Therefore, for the full functioning of the tangerine tree, it is worth regularly feeding it with organic and mineral fertilizers. On store shelves you can find a variety of fertilizers: dry granular, powder and liquid.

The amount of fertilizer should be increased in proportion to the increase in daylight hours. In early spring During the growing season, fertilizing is a prerequisite for growing tangerines: this is important to support its active development.

Fertilizing is done in the first half of the day, as is watering. This is the most optimal time when the plant actively absorbs beneficial components. The temperature must be at least 18 °C. Popular are liquid fertilizers, which are universal in use for the root system and irrigation of green mass.

The best time to fertilize is summer. Scheme of application in summer period:

• nitrogen-potassium – 3 times a month;
• fermented manure and superphosphate - every 14 days, 4 days after nitrogen and potassium.

In winter, feed the plant no more than once a month.

You can fertilize using products available in your home supplies:

1. Wood ash. Dissolve 0.5 tbsp. l. in 1 liter of water.
2. Weed grass. Grind the quinoa leaves and add them to the soil.
3. Tea brewing and natural coffee grounds. Pour well-dried raw materials into the soil.
4. Sugar. Use as a solution (1 tsp per 200 ml of water), water once a week.
5. Egg shells. Grind into powder and sprinkle around the tangerine trunk.
6. Aquarium water. Apply when watering: this will strengthen the root system.
7. Bone glue. Dilute 200 g in a liter of liquid, boil until the consistency of liquid jelly. Water the soil with the resulting substance, then loosen it thoroughly.
8. Metal rusty objects. Bury in the ground or sprinkle the surface (if we're talking about about shavings). This method helps replenish iron deficiency. For the same purpose, add bone meal several times a season.
9. Potassium permanganate. Used as a growth activator, protection against harmful insects. To prepare a useful composition, you need to mix 6 crystals of potassium permanganate with 2 liters of water. Mandarin oranges should be watered with the solution once a month.

Mineral mixtures based on phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen

The most optimal fertilizers for growing tangerines are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Dissolution should be carried out in water at room temperature (hot or too cold conditions are not allowed).

When applying replenishment, you should adhere to the specific dosage specified in the instructions. Oversaturation can lead to plant poisoning or leaf burns. In spring and summer, tangerine trees need to be fertilized no more than twice a week.

To fertilize with nitrogen, add a saltpeter solution (0.5%) at a rate of 2 tbsp. l. per bucket of water (10 l). Add 50 g of saltpeter and 2 tsp to the same volume of liquid. potassium salt. To ensure granular fertilizer dissolves quickly, it should be added to a small amount of water, stir and only then add to the bulk of the liquid.

Urea is also rich in nitrogen. It is dissolved in an amount of 1.5 g in a liter of liquid.

Nitrogen fertilizing is excluded during the period of ovary formation or flowering. Otherwise, the tangerine flowers may fall off. As soon as the fruits reach a size of 1.5 cm, the fertilization process must be resumed.

Phosphorus replenishment is presented in the form of poorly soluble superphosphate. It must be boiled in an amount of 50 g in 10 liters of water for half an hour. Superphosphate fertilizer can be applied in a dry state by adding 0.05 kg of the drug to manure mash (10 l). You can simply scatter the substance on the surface of the earth.

Wood ash is another method of replenishing phosphorus deficiency. This type of fertilizer is important in the formation of ovary and color.

Calcium is found in large quantities in plaster.

The plant must be properly prepared for wintering: increase the amount of phosphorus-potassium fertilizing, and reduce nitrogen fertilizing. It is advisable to fertilize using the method of alternating root and foliar feeding.

Organic fertilizers

Alternating addition of organic matter and mineral supplements It is the most the right decision when growing tangerine trees. You can prepare an environmentally friendly feed using horse or cow manure with water in a ratio of 1:10. Chicken droppings will also work. The substance should be infused for three days, then add 3 g of superphosphate and 2 g of potassium salt to it. Add in small portions to the pot, after watering the soil.

As a result of using this product, productivity increases, the vegetative process is activated, the external characteristics of the plant and the taste of its fruits are improved. Organics should be used carefully, taking into account the volume of the pot in which the tangerine tree grows.

Use minerals and organic fertilizers prohibited: this can burn the roots. The best way feeding - alternation. Do not fertilize the affected plant, or apply preparations to unmoistened soil. The first feeding is carried out 60 days after planting to strengthen the root system.

By adhering to the basic rules of caring for an exotic tangerine tree, you can grow a healthy plant. Its aroma will fill the owner’s home, and delicate flowers and bright fruits will add aesthetics.

Mandarin comes from southern China and Cochin China (as South Vietnam was called during the period of French rule there). Currently, tangerine is not found growing wild. In India, Indochina, China, South Korea and Japan - now these are the most widespread citrus crops. Mandarin was brought to Europe only in early XIX century, but is currently cultivated throughout the Mediterranean - in Spain, southern France, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Turkey. It is also grown in Abkhazia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as in the USA (Florida), Brazil and Argentina.

Mandarin is a generalized name for several species evergreens genus Citrus ( Citrus) family Rutaceae ( Rutaceae). The same word is used to call the fruits of these plants. You can read more about the types of tangerines in the “Types and Varieties of Tangerines” section of this article.

In many countries, mandarin is traditionally associated with New Year's holidays, since the harvest time falls in the month of December. In northern Vietnam and China, tangerines are placed on festive tables to celebrate the New Year. lunar calendar, however, in the form of a tree with fruits, which can be considered some kind of analogue of our New Year tree.

The word “mandarin” was borrowed into Russian from the Spanish language, where the word mandarino is derived from se mondar (“easy to peel”) and refers to the property of the peel of the plant fruit to be easily separated from the pulp.

Description of mandarin

Mandarin ( Citrus reticulata) - a tree not exceeding 4 meters in height, or shrub. Young shoots are dark green. Cases are described when, by the age of 30, a tangerine reached a height of five meters, and the harvest from such a tree amounted to 5-7 thousand fruits.

Mandarin leaves are relatively small, ovate or elliptical, with petioles almost without wings or slightly winged.

Mandarin flowers are single or two in the leaf axils, the petals are matte white, the stamens mostly have underdeveloped anthers and pollen.

Mandarin fruits are 4-6 cm in diameter and slightly flattened from the base to the top, so that their width is greater than their height. The peel is thin, does not grow tightly to the pulp (in some varieties the peel is separated from the pulp by an air layer), there are 10-12 lobes, well separated, the pulp is yellow-orange; The strong aroma of these fruits is different from other citrus fruits, and the pulp is usually sweeter than orange.

Tangerine tree. © Michael Coghlan

Features of caring for tangerine at home

Temperature: Tangerines are demanding of light and warmth. Budding, flowering and fruit set occur best at an average air and soil temperature of + 15..18 °C.

Lighting: Bright diffused light. It will be good near the east and west windows, as well as on the north window. Shading from direct sun is needed in spring and summer during the hottest hours.

Watering: In summer and spring, generously 1-2 times a day warm water, in winter, watering is rare and moderate - 1-2 times a week and also with warm water. However, even in winter, the earthen clod should not be allowed to dry out, as this leads to curling of the leaves and falling of not only the leaves, but also the fruits. On the other hand, we must not forget that plants die from excess moisture. Starting in October, watering is reduced.

Air humidity: Tangerines are regularly sprayed in the summer, but if they are kept indoors in winter central heating, then they spray it in winter. When kept in a room with dry air, oranges are susceptible to attack by pests (mites and scale insects).

Transfer: Young trees must be replanted annually. Transplantation should not be carried out if the roots of the plant have not yet entwined the earthen ball. In this case, it is enough to change the drainage and top layers of soil in the pot. Fruit-bearing trees are replanted no more than once every 2-3 years.

Replant before growth begins. It is not recommended to replant the plants after growth has finished. When transplanting, do not greatly destroy the earthen ball. Good drainage must be ensured. The root collar in the new container should be at the same level as it was in the old container.

Soil for young tangerines: 2 parts turf, 1 part leaf soil, 1 part humus from cow manure and 1 part sand.

Soil for adult tangerines: 3 parts turf, 1 part leaf, 1 part cow manure humus, 1 part sand and a small amount of fatty clay.

Fertilizing tangerines: In the first half of summer, fertilizing irrigation is used. It increases the sugar content of the fruit and reduces the bitter taste that is characteristic of citrus fruits when grown indoors. The plant needs more fertilizer the older it is and the longer it stays in one container. Fertilizers are applied after watering.

With additional artificial lighting of tangerines in winter, they also need to be fertilized. Organic fertilizers (cow dung slurry) and combined mineral fertilizers are recommended for tangerines; you can also buy special fertilizers for citrus fruits in flower shops.

Reproduction: Reproduction of tangerines, as well as lemons, is usually carried out by grafting, cuttings, layering and seeds. IN room conditions The most common method of propagating citrus fruits is cuttings.

Calamondin, or citrofortunella (Calamondin) is a fast-growing and well-branching evergreen tree - a hybrid of mandarin with kumquat (fortunella). © Luigi Strano

If you love citrus fruits and decide to make a holiday for yourself at home, then you can think about how to grow tangerines at home. Tangerines are usually propagated by grafting or layering (the second method is more difficult). In the first case, you need to worry about the rootstock in advance, for which any citrus plant is suitable - orange, lemon or grapefruit, grown at home from a seed.

Mandarin propagation by grafting

It is best to take 2-4 year old specimens with stems as thick as a pencil. The selected variety is grafted onto them with an eye or cutting. The operation is carried out during the period of sap flow, when the bark is easily separated from the wood of the seedling, exposing the cambium. Therefore, budding can be done 2 times a year during intensive growth - in spring and at the end of summer. To activate sap flow, the plant is watered abundantly a few days before grafting. Then they check how the bark is separated by slightly cutting it above the place intended for budding.

For beginners, it is better to first practice on the branches of other plants, for example, linden. To prevent water evaporation, all leaf blades are first cut off from the scion, leaving the petioles (they are held by shields with eyes during the operation).

On the stem of the seedling, 5-10 cm from the ground, select a place for grafting with smooth bark, without buds or thorns. Very carefully, with one movement of the knife, first make a transverse incision of the bark (no more than 1 cm), and from its middle, from top to bottom, make a shallow longitudinal one (2-3 cm). Using the bone of a budding knife, lightly pry up the corners of the cut bark and “plow open” it a little. Then immediately return it to its original position, only do not press it tightly at the top (the peephole will be inserted in this place).

After preparing the rootstock, without delay, they begin the most important procedure - cutting off a bud from a scion branch that was previously in a plastic bag. First, the scion is cut into pieces, each of which has a petiole and a bud. The top cut should be 0.5 cm above the bud, and the bottom cut should be 1 cm below. Such a “stump” is placed on the butt and the peephole with the thinnest layer of wood is cut off with a blade.

Having used a knife bone to spread the corners of the bark on the rootstock, quickly insert the eye into the T-shaped cut, like into a pocket, pressing from top to bottom. Then the grafting site is tightly tied with polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride tape, starting from the bottom, to prevent further water from flowing in. You can apply garden varnish over the tape.

If after 2-3 weeks the scion petiole turns yellow and falls off, then everything is in order. And if it dries up and remains, you have to start over.

A month after successful budding, the upper part of the rootstock is cut off. This is done in two steps. At first, 10 cm above the grafting, so as not to cause the eye to dry out, and when it germinates, then directly above it - on a thorn. At the same time, remove the bandage. Old trees are often grafted in this way, but not on the trunk, but on the branches of the crown. The operating technique is the same.

The survival rate of cuttings is significantly increased if the stem below the grafting is wrapped in wet cotton wool and a plastic bag is placed on top of the tree, which creates its own microclimate inside with high air humidity.

In the future, it is necessary to remove shoots coming from the rootstock, otherwise they can drown out the scion. Grafted plants begin to bear fruit in the second or third year.

Green (unripe) tangerines. © Mamoto46

Further care for tangerines

In indoor conditions, tangerines, as a rule, are short-growing and gradually turn into original dwarf trees. When flowering, the fruits set without artificial pollination and ripen after a few months, usually by the end of the year.

Their taste depends on proper care of the plants, which must be replanted annually in containers bigger size with good fertile soil, being careful not to damage the roots. In addition, the trees are regularly fed with fertilizers - mineral and organic. It is best to use an infusion of manure, diluted 10 times before use. Sleeping tea, which is embedded in the top layer of soil, can also serve as a good fertilizer.

It is necessary to constantly monitor the air humidity in the “citrus garden”. You can place a wide bowl of water next to the plants. It is useful to spray the crown of tangerines daily with water at room temperature.

Lighting is of great importance. Trees should stand right next to bright window. In late autumn and winter, it is advisable to install conventional fluorescent lamps above them. They are turned on early in the morning and in the evening, extending daylight hours to 12 hours.

In summer, if possible, it is better to keep tangerines on outdoors, but where there is no strong wind and direct sunlight. Plants are accustomed to new conditions gradually - in the first days they are taken out only for a few hours, and if it is cool outside, the earthen ball is moistened with warm (up to 40 ºC) water. When kept at home, water almost daily, making sure that the soil in the pot is always slightly damp. It is advisable to use rain or snow water rather than tap water.

Types and varieties of tangerine

Mandarin is characterized by strong polymorphism, as a result of which groups of its varieties (or even individual varieties) are described by different authors as independent species. The fruits of tropical varieties are particularly diverse.

Typically, tangerine varieties are divided into three groups:

• in the first group - very thermophilic noble tangerines (Citrus nobilis), having large leaves and relatively large yellowish-orange fruits with coarse lumpy skin;
• the second group consists of heat-loving and smaller-leaved tangerines, or Italian tangerines ( Citrus reticulata) with rather large orange-red fruits of a slightly elongated shape, covered with a plump peel (its smell in some varieties is sharp and not very pleasant);
• the third group includes satsumas(or unshiu) ( Citrus unshiu) native to Japan, characterized by cold resistance, large leaves and small thin-skinned yellowish-orange fruits (often with green on the skin). It is satsumas that can withstand short-term light frosts (down to -7 degrees) that are successfully grown on the Black Sea coast.

Unlike noble mandarins and tangerines, satsuma fruits very rarely contain seeds - which is probably why this variety is also called seedless mandarin. Its varieties, when grown in containers, usually grow up to 1-1.5 m. Slender tangerine trees with a beautiful crown of slightly drooping branches, covered with numerous dark green leaves, especially decorate the house during abundant flowering and fruiting and fill it with wonderful smells.

As a result of crossing tangerines with other citrus fruits, various hybrids have been obtained:

• clementines (Clementina) - (mandarin x orange) - with small or medium-sized, flattened, very fragrant orange-red fruits, covered with a shiny thin peel (multi-seeded clementines are called Montreals);
• Ellendale (Ellendale) - (tangerine x tangerine x orange) - with orange-red seedless fruits ranging in size from medium to large, with a refined taste and aroma;
• tangors (Tangors) - (orange x tangerine) - have large (10-15 cm in diameter), flattened, red-orange fruits with a relatively thick, large-porous peel;
• Minneola (Minneola) - (tangerine x grapefruit) - are distinguished by a variety of sizes of red-orange fruits (from small to very large), elongated-round in shape, with a “tubercle” and a “neck” at the top;
• tangelo, or tangelo (Tangelo) - (tangerine x pomelo) - have large red-orange fruits the size of an average orange;
• santina (Suntina, or Sun Tina) - (clementine x orlando) - with fruits that look like noble tangerines and have an exquisite sweet taste and aroma;
• agli (Ugli, Ugly) - (tangerine x orange x grapefruit) - the largest among the hybrids (fruits with a diameter of 16 -18 cm), flattened, with a rough, large-pore yellow-green, orange or yellow-brown peel.

Tangerine tree in a pot. © Marco

• "Unshiu"- frost-resistant, early-fruiting, very productive variety. The tree is low-growing, with a spreading crown of thin, very flexible branches covered with corrugated leaves. This tangerine branches beautifully, grows quickly, blooms profusely and readily. The fruits are pear-shaped, without seeds. Under artificial lighting it grows without ceasing.
• "Kowane-wasse"- a strong tree with thick branches; branches reluctantly. This tangerine variety can grow quite large for the size of an apartment. The leaves are fleshy and tough. Blooms profusely. The fruits are medium in size, orange-yellow.
• "Shiva-Mikan"- a compact, fast-growing tree with large, fleshy, dark green foliage. Early, blooms well. Productivity is average; fruit weighing up to 30 g.
• "Murcott"(Honey) is a very rare variety with a compact bush. The pulp of this tangerine, which ripens in summer, is as sweet as honey.

Mandarin orange

Many amateur gardeners have sometimes thought about planting a tangerine seed. But will the tree not only grow, but also bear fragrant fruits? For this to happen, it is necessary to properly care for the tangerine tree at home.

In nature, there are many varieties and species of this plant. They differ in the height of the crown and its shape, the number of fruits, their color, taste and aroma. For home grown A tree that will have a small amount of medium-sized fruits and is also small in size is suitable.

Some types of tangerine tree:

• tangerine - has a lot of advantages over other varieties and is great for growing in an apartment;
• wavy tangerine – pleases with a neat crown, the fruits have a diameter of no more than 7 cm;
• small-fruited group - the main representatives are shiva-mikan (has sour taste), as well as mukaku-kishiu and kishiu (sweet varieties);
• hybrids.

Due to the variety of varieties, any gardener will find the type of homemade tangerine that will suit him specifically in terms of the taste of the fruit and their appearance. But it is necessary to pay attention to the growing conditions of this plant. For example, the unshiu variety takes root most well in an apartment, since it tolerates well low temperatures and lack of sunlight.

Tangerine tree: nuances of cultivation

It will be possible to get fruits from homemade tangerines only several years after planting. And it is worth considering that in most cases, daughter plants from a sprouted seed do not retain the taste properties of the mother bush. At home, you almost always get small and sour fruits that will perfectly decorate the interior, but are not suitable for eating. To transfer the qualities of the parent to a new tree, you will need to propagate the tangerine using cuttings or grafting.

The plant requires suitable conditions for its growth, so you need to allocate a sufficient amount of free time to care for it.

How to grow from seed at home?

Seeds of almost any type are suitable for growing tangerines. However, it is important to study the characteristics of a particular variety in advance. It is also necessary to pay attention to the soil and the shape of the planting pot. In order for the plant to sprout and grow stronger, you need to properly plant the existing seeds.

Selection of planting material

To plant a tangerine tree from a seed, you will need to first germinate it. To do this, it is recommended to wrap planting material in several layers of gauze and thoroughly moisten it with water. After a couple of days, small sprouts will begin to hatch from the seeds, and they themselves will significantly increase in size and swell. Then they can be planted in prepared soil.

Also suitable for planting are fresh seeds that have not yet dried out. They do not need to be soaked in advance, and the likelihood of germination increases significantly.

Requirements for soil and pot

The tangerine tree will not grow in acidic soil, so the gardener must monitor this.

To prepare the substrate yourself, you will need:

• 2/5 humus;
• 2/5 forest land;
• 1/5 sand.

You can also purchase ready-made soil at a plant growing store. The soil must have a non-acidic environment (neutral PH) and be suitable for planting tangerines. Peat is not suitable as a soil ball.

How to plant correctly?

As the first container, you can use ordinary plastic cups or small transparent pots with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. It is better to prepare a separate container for each seed.

First you need to make a small hole in the soil to a depth of 4 cm, carefully place the seed there and cover it with earth. The substrate must be moist throughout germination; therefore, it will need to be moistened as necessary. The air temperature in the room should reach 20-25 degrees.

On average, germination of a tangerine takes from 2 to 4 weeks. If several sprouts appear from one seed at once, the weakest ones must be carefully removed.

Transplanting tangerine seedlings

The first transplantation of young seedlings is carried out when root system completely fills the container. This explains the recommendation to plant seeds in a plastic cup or other transparent container - this will make it easier for the gardener to observe the growth of the plant’s roots.

The young tree will need to be pulled out of the first pot along with the earthen lump and transferred to a suitable larger container. You will need to replant every year until the tangerine begins to bear its first fruits.

Will a tree grown from a seed bear fruit?

If you take proper care of this plant, it will definitely bear fruit. True, this will happen no earlier than in 3-4 years. It should also be remembered that in most cases ornamental plants with rather sour fruits grow from the seeds.

Tangerine tree: care

The proper care of a citrus plant depends entirely on its appearance, as well as the taste properties of the resulting fruits. You will need to comply with all growing conditions, water your green pet correctly and fertilize the soil on time.

Growing conditions

The most suitable place for a tangerine would be a window sill on a south or east window. Here the plant will feel comfortable, as it loves bright and diffused light. sunlight. The tree will need to be shaded from direct rays.

The air temperature should not fall below 16 degrees in the summer, and in winter the tangerine can withstand “frosts” of up to 12 degrees above zero. During the cold season, it is important to provide the plant with a low temperature and wintering. If this does not happen, you will not have to wait for fruits next year.

Attention! Main feature Mandarin is its habituation to one-sided lighting. The flower should not be rotated often around its axis, as stress can cause it to shed its leaves and even die.

How to water correctly?

The gardener will also need to know how to properly water a tangerine tree. This plant loves moisture very much, so in summer it needs to be watered every other day. In winter, watering is reduced and the tangerine will only need moisture in the soil once a week.

In summer, be sure to spray the leaves several times a day, without touching the flowers with water. It is also recommended to place a small container of water next to the plant to maintain an optimal level of air humidity.

Fertilizer and feeding

It is imperative to fertilize, starting in March and ending in early autumn. During this period, the buds are actively developing and will require a supply of mineral fertilizer.

What should be in the supplement:

• nitrogen;
• phosphorus;
• potassium.

Mandarins can also be fertilized with mullein manure diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Feeding should be done once every week and a half, alternating the type of feeding. In winter, fertilizers are reduced to once a month.

Shaping and trimming

Often, at home, there is no need to form a crown, since the varieties initially have a decorative appearance. The grower will only need to pluck the shoots during the period of their germination from the seed. If the plant bears heavy fruits, it should be tied to a support.

How to plant tangerine at home?

Grafting is also one of the ways to propagate tangerines. To achieve the goal, you will need to take plants with a trunk thickness of at least 0.5 cm, and the age of the rootstock should be about 1-3 years. The shoot is cut off from the plant from which they want to get a daughter tree. It must have one bud and a leaf.

Disease and pest control

The tangerine tree gets sick just like any other home plant, - due to improper care. The occurrence of diseases is affected by unsuitable air humidity and indoor microclimate, as well as lack of necessary elements in the soil.

The most common diseases are:

1. Anthracnose. It manifests itself as yellowing and falling leaves with deformation of the bark. Treatment with Fitosporin is used for treatment. It is recommended to destroy the affected part of the plant.
2. Citrus fruit blight. Red spots form on the trunk. This can happen due to improper planting, damage to the trunk, lack of necessary drainage or excess fertilizer. The situation can be corrected by treating the cracks with a light solution of vitriol. From above it is necessary to cover them with garden varnish.
3. Scab. It looks like small transparent spots, which subsequently transform into gray warty formations. Spraying the plant three times with Bordeaux mixture will help cure it.
4. Spider mite. Appears as cobwebs on the leaves. Initially, you need to remove pests from the tangerine using an old toothbrush, and then give it a contrast shower. The soil should be sprinkled with ash. You will need to repeat the procedure after a week and a half.

If you care for your tangerine tree according to all the rules, you can get a wonderful living decoration for any interior. When bright orange fruits begin to bloom on it, it certainly lifts the mood of the owner and attracts the attention of all guests at home.

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. Citrus fruits purify and disinfect the air, protecting apartment residents from colds and viral diseases; they delight the eye with their thick dark green crown and soft white flowers, which smell much better than any air 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 the 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.

It is better to move the plant in the spring, when the citrus awakens 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 the top layer of soil and leave it 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 a new pot with drainage and a layer of soil in advance. 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 the juicier the fruit. 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, the tree blossoms more buds, 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.

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

• phosphorus;
• nitrogen;
• potassium.

You can find suitable fertilizers in flower shops. 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. Citrus leaves are also treated with a weak solution. 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 wooden supports in the tub, 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 plastic film 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 useful fruits, which are associated with the New Year and magic.

Video: how to grow a tangerine from a seed

- one of the most favorite treats on New Year's Eve. The aroma of citrus lifts your spirits, gives the body many beneficial microelements and delights with a pleasant, sweet taste. It is possible to grow a “homemade” tangerine. Moreover, it's simple. The plant will decorate the interior of the room and refresh the air with delicate floral and citrus notes.

A small citrus tree was specially bred for growing in greenhouses, winter gardens and rooms. A beautiful ornamental plant can not only brighten up the decor of a room, but also bear fruit. The process of growing a tangerine is very interesting, and what pride appears after the first taste of a sweet fruit grown independently! Growing conditions, planting and caring for citrus - all this can be found in useful material for the grower.

Mandarin orange originally grew wild in China. In nature, it reaches a height of 4 to 5 m and grows as a lush tree. Citrus leaves are bright green, juicy and glossy. Interestingly, the plant changes its crown only once every four years. The plant blooms with white inflorescences in May. Tangerine begins to bear fruit at 4-5 years of age. The fruits are round in shape, slightly flattened in the center, bright orange or yellow color, ripen in October. The peel is easily removed, thin or compacted, depending on the variety and type.

The tangerine tree belongs to the mulberry family and has many species and varieties.

The house plant belongs to the group called "satsumas". They are usually grown indoors. This is a frost-resistant tree, reaching a height of no more than 2 m. It begins to bear fruit at 3-4 years of age, the fruits are sweet or moderately sweet, depending on the variety in this group. Many gardeners grow tangerines from seeds they get from store-bought fruit. But such seeds are not able to produce sweet and tasty fruits in the future. Fruits from the store are tangerines from the “tangerine” or “noble” group, which cannot be grown at home; they need a good climate and a lot of space.

To grow tangerines at home, it is advisable to find seed material from the satsum group and a variety intended for growing indoors. This way you won’t have to bother with grafting tangerine or a noble species planted and grown from a “store-bought” seed. Having understood the intricacies of citrus, you can decide which tangerine to grow at home.

Whatever type of tangerine the gardener chooses to grow, it is necessary to comply with the conditions under which the plant will feel comfortable. For successful development, you need to choose a good place and provide the tangerine with lighting, humidity and select.

Lighting and air temperature:

• Citrus fruits love bright areas with a lot of diffused sunlight. Twelve hours of daylight - necessary conditions for tangerine.
• At home, choose windows facing south. You can also place the seeds on the windowsill, but protect the already grown sprouts from sunburn– place the flowerpot a little further from the window.
• In winter, keep your distance from radiators. Do not expose the tangerine to dry air or currents coming from batteries. It is more advisable to choose a place near the wall of the room, not far from the window, but at a sufficient distance from the radiators. Lighting plays an important role in growing a plant; it should not be ignored.
• The air temperature in the room should not fall below 15° in winter and below 18° in summer. Varieties of the "satsuma", "tangerine" and "noble" group can withstand temperature changes down to -7°.

Citrus loves nutritious soils rich in microelements. Moreover, for seeds you need one mixture, and when transplanting adult plants - another.

The main condition is good drainage and nutritional content of the soil.

For seeds and their germination, a substrate is prepared from turf soil, sand, humus and leaf soil. Ratio 2:1:1:1. Peat cannot be added to the soil; it acidifies the soil. For a tree aged one year or more, a substrate is prepared from turf, humus, sand, clay and leaf soil. Ratio 3:1:1:1:1. If there is no clay available, no problem. This is not a mandatory component of the substrate. Having properly prepared the soil, you can safely plant seeds or replant an already mature tree.

It is very important to provide the plant with sufficient air humidity. This condition is quite difficult to implement at home, especially if the heating system is equipped with conventional radiators. Experienced plant growers place containers of water next to pots of tangerines, and in winter they place wet towels on the radiators. A prerequisite is a regular sprinkling procedure - this will maintain high air humidity and prevent the citrus from drying out. As often as possible, you just need to spray water into the air in the room where the tangerine is located.

Mandarin from the seed: planting rules

Tangerine seeds are the most common plant method. You can always get it from purchased fruit or purchase it at a garden store. Seedlings are bought less often. The process of growing an exotic fruit from a seed is very interesting. It's always nice to know that the resulting fruit was grown "from scratch" - from a seed.

Planting the seed:

1. The available seed material must first be prepared. To do this, the bones are placed in damp gauze for several days. should swell and hatch a little. This way they will sprout faster, in 3-4 weeks, and not in the prescribed 5-6. Mandarin takes a long time to grow. Therefore, be patient from the very beginning.
2. Place a drainage layer in a flowerpot or any other container. It can be expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles.
3. Then the pot is filled with substrate for young plants (see above).
4. Plant the seed shallowly - to a depth of 1-2 cm.
5. Cover the container with film to create a greenhouse climate.
6. The container with seeds can be placed on the windowsill.

The air temperature must be at least 15°. The soil must be periodically moistened, but not flooded. Remove condensation from the film so that the young sprouts are not affected by the fungus. Initially, the seeds soaked in gauze will sprout in 3-4 weeks.

Caring for the plant is simple and requires minimal effort, mainly associated with watering and fertilizing. Mandarin will not cause any trouble if all growing conditions were initially met and provided.

• IN summer time Citrus should be watered and sprinkled frequently. The earthen clod must not be allowed to dry out.
• Make sure the soil is evenly moistened but not waterlogged.
• Use only settled, warm water. You can’t take it straight from the tap. All sediments that are invariably present in the water will settle in the soil. This adversely affects the health of the plant and the nutritional value of the soil.
• Sprinkling procedures are also carried out with warm, settled water. In the hot season, the plant is sprayed 1-2 times a day so that direct sunlight does not fall on the leaves.
• In winter, watering and sprinkling are reduced by 2-3 times.
• Feeding:
• In spring, it is necessary to add and to the soil. The first feeding is carried out after 5-6 full-fledged leaves have formed on the sprout. It is better to give preference to mineral complexes for citrus fruits. Well-rotted humus is added from organic matter.
• In autumn, fertilizing is reduced.
• In winter it is better to avoid them.

It is important to apply fertilizer before - May-June and before the fruits ripen - September. Always observe moderation and adhere to the gardener’s golden rule: in the spring, apply fertilizers with nitrogen compounds, and closer to autumn with phosphorus-potassium.

Every year, in the spring, the young tree needs to be transplanted into a larger pot.

After 8 years of life, the tangerine is replanted once every 2-3 years. The method is transshipment of an earthen clod. Fresh substrate is distributed in a circle, in free place according to the diameter of the pot. Young plants should be moved from one flowerpot to another with extreme caution, since the tangerine root system is very fragile. Many gardeners do young tree so that the fruits are sweet and tasty. However, if the variety and group are selected correctly, this procedure is not necessary. Basically, it is provided if the seeds were taken from a purchased fruit of an unknown variety and group.

At home, tangerines are more often affected by spider mites, scale insects or mealy worms. Pests are removed with cotton wool, and the plant is treated either with plant solutions or with insecticides of chemical origin. Solutions can be prepared from soap shavings, as well. As for chemicals, “Fitoverm” or “Aktellika” will help here. Remember that the use of chemicals is justified in case of severe damage to the plant, which rarely happens at home.

Pests attack tangerines more often when the room is hot and there is low air humidity.

When irregular leaves the trees become spotted and fall off. Therefore, it is very important to water the citrus tree in a timely manner, but not to waterlog the soil. Otherwise, the mandarin no longer has enemies or diseases.

Grow indoor tangerine at home it’s simple, if the rules are followed, the tree has enough light and moisture. At the 3-4th year of life of the exotic, the first tasty fruits will appear - the pride of the grower. Good luck growing your tangerine!

More information can be found in the video: