Mandarin in a pot. Proper care of a tangerine tree at home. Some types of tangerine tree

Planting one on your windowsill seems like an impossible task for many. We are constantly afraid that the citrus family requires unique care that will consume all of our time and finances. Indeed, some of these plants require careful supervision, but this does not particularly concern the tangerine. This fruit is completely unpretentious and hardy enough for our climate. Therefore, after reading our article, choose the best cultivation method for you and feel free to start planting the overseas fruit. We will tell you below how to choose and grow tangerines from seeds at home.

Choosing a place for a tangerine

If you decide to grow a tangerine, the first thing you need to do is choose a place for the tree. Indoors can grow both on the windowsill and on the balcony. To date, breeders have bred a lot dwarf plants, but also ordinary trees tangerine can be given the desired shape.

The place for planting a tree at home is chosen in the same way as on. The site must be well lit with little direct sunlight. If there is insufficient lighting, the tangerine will slow down its growth and may not bloom at all. Therefore, to grow a tangerine, choose the southern part of the room, but so that at noon the tree can be slightly shaded.

Temperature

To keep tangerines indoors, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature. In summer, the optimal temperature indicators for growing a tree should be +20...+25°C. When the plant begins to bloom or buds appear on it, it is advisable to prevent them from falling off the flowers by lowering the temperature no higher than +20 °C.

In winter, to improve future flowering, citrus mandarin is better leave without much movement. Temperature in winter period contents can vary from +5 °C to +10°C. By observing these temperature conditions, you can easily grow tangerines from seeds at home.

Mandarin is very important point with his growth. In insufficient light, the tree is lagging behind in development and there is a high risk of getting modest blooms. In summer, young tangerines can be gradually exposed to open air so that the plant gradually gets used to the environment. But at noon you will have to hide it from direct sunlight.

In winter, when daylight hours are quite short, the tangerine must be placed in the brightest place in the room. It happens that a young tree may not have enough lighting. Here on help will come phytolamp, which is screwed into a regular table lamp or a chandelier. Start off You need to highlight the tangerine gradually, otherwise, with a sharp change in daylight hours, the plant may lose its leaves.

Air humidity

Mandarin does not tolerate dry air. Therefore, to maintain sufficient humidity, it is recommended to place containers of water around the container. As the temperature rises, the plant needs to be additionally moistened, sometimes several times a day. In winter, it is better to spray, but only when it dries.

Choosing a container or container for planting

It is recommended to choose dishes for planting tangerines based on its size. Remember, for the tree to grow better, it will need to be replanted every year. Don't choose a large pot right away, as too much space can cause the roots to rot.

The best containers for tangerines are small ones. wooden boxes or pots made from natural materials. When planting, don't forget the good things. Pebbles, expanded clay, remnants of broken ceramic dishes and even polystyrene foam are perfect for this role. Mandarin does not like stagnant moisture in the soil, which can also lead to root rot.

Important! Every week, inspect the shoots, as well as the trunk and leaves of the tree for bacterial or pest infestation.

Soil for tangerine

As with growing in open ground, indoor tangerine does not love acidic soils . Therefore, when choosing a ready-made mixture for planting in the store, pay attention to the substrate.

If you don’t trust purchased substrates, you can prepare the soil for planting yourself. To do this, take turf and leaf soil, washed river sand and a little. Keep the proportions 1:1:0.5. From these components, light, well-permeable soil is obtained, which the tangerine loves so much.

Planting, propagation and replanting of tangerines

When growing tangerine citrus at home, there are several ways to propagate it: cuttings, grafting, and the most popular method today - seeding. But how to properly plant and grow a tangerine from a seed so that the tree bears fruit?

First of all, you need to understand that when using this method, you should expect results no earlier than six years later. Even more the hard way propagation - cuttings, since when using it it is extremely rare to grow a tangerine at home.

At the same time, tangerine grafting is considered one of the proven options. At home, it is grafted onto orange or grapefruit seedlings. In addition, many gardeners are interested in how long does a tangerine grow? This citrus tree is very durable and, with proper care, will live for more than thirty years.

Mandarin roots grow actively every year, which is why the plant needs annual replanting. After 5-6 years, they are replanted less frequently - once every two years. Transplantation must be carried out in the spring, before the active growth of the rhizome, and each time a flowerpot or pot is selected that is not much larger than the previous one. The best method for replanting a tangerine would be a transshipment method: try not to destroy the formed earthen lump.

Important! The roots of the plant should not be washed. Only when they are infected is rinsing allowed.

Vegetative methods of propagation

As we mentioned above, propagating tangerines at home, using the usual planting of cuttings, is almost impossible. Therefore, in order to grow a fruitful tree, tangerine cuttings are grafted to any other citrus.

To do this, you will need a bush that is one to two years old and a cutting of your choice. We take a citrus seedling and make a T-shaped cut at a distance of up to 10 cm above the soil. Then, lightly pressing the tip of the knife, we get a recess into which we insert our cutting.

After this you need to coat the cut area garden varnish and rewind with PVC film or electrical tape. After grafting tangerines, you need to place them in or simply cover them with a plastic bag. You can ventilate once a day, making sure that a peephole does not appear after vaccination.

Usually the cutting is grafted within a month, after which the greenhouse is removed and the electrical tape is loosened. After rooting, you can completely get rid of the stretched film. By growing tangerines using this propagation method, you have every chance of getting sweet and juicy fruits.

Did you know? For better tangerine growth, spray its leaves daily with warm water from a spray bottle.

Seed method

The easiest way to grow a tangerine is to plant a seed, and you already know about this. Therefore, buy several fruits in advance that have been properly stored, without freezing or direct sunlight, and select a dozen seeds from them. Then, rinse them thoroughly running water and place on a windowsill or other flat surface to dry.

When the seeds are dry, they need to be soaked for further germination: take a cotton cloth and wrap the seeds in it. The fabric should be damp for several days, but not floating in water.

After the seeds swell and sprouts begin to hatch, you can replant them in previously prepared soil. As soon as you plant the tangerine seed and the seedling grows a little, it needs to be transplanted into a container with a volume of about 4 liters.

Important! Be sure to take several grains at once for planting, since some tangerine seeds usually do not germinate.

Plant care

If you no longer have any questions about how to plant a tangerine, then all that remains is to provide it with proper care and wait for the fragrant fruits. For good growth tree do not forget about sufficient humidity in the summer. Give more light, but shade in hot sun, as tangerine leaves easily get burned.

tangerine tree behind last years has gained particular popularity among amateur gardeners. Not only greenhouses, conservatories, and winter gardens are suitable for growing it, but also the most common balconies and window sills in an apartment.

Peculiarities

Indoor tangerine attracts with its lush greenery, beautiful flowers and bright sunny fruits. It does not shed its leaves, so it will remain green even in winter. The light aroma of the plant helps relieve headaches, irritability and lifts your spirits. And when the tree blooms, an even more extraordinary smell emanates from it. The flowering period can last from spring until autumn. At the same time, growing a tangerine tree at home does not require special effort and skills - even a beginner can properly care for it.

The usual tangerine variety grows up to 5 meters high. But modern breeders have developed a huge number of special dwarf and low-growing varieties of plants in the form of small trees or bushes.

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

Varieties for growing at home

Breeders have developed a large number of different varieties of tangerine trees. They differ from each other in appearance crowns, foliage, flowers and fruits, as well as size, fertility and taste. Not all of them are suitable for home grown. Among the many indoor tangerines, it is worth highlighting the most popular types.

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

"Kovano-Vase"

"Unshiu"

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

"Pavlovsky"

How to plant?

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

The first method is simpler and faster. Plant seedlings are sold immediately in a pot or in a packaged earthen coma. After purchasing, they must be transplanted into a suitable container.

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

If you don’t want to wait a long time for germination, then you can use Epin, a growth stimulator. It is added to water and left for a couple of hours. After the first shoots appear, the tangerine can be planted in the ground.

The ready-made mixture can be purchased at a plant growing store. It is important that the soil for the seedlings is not acidic - tangerines will not grow in such an environment. Therefore, the soil should not contain peat.

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

2/5 parts cow humus;
2/5 parts of turf and leaf soil;
1/5 part sand.

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

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

Prepared soil is poured on top. The sprouted seeds are carefully placed in holes 4-6 cm deep and sprinkled with soil. The soil should be moist throughout the entire time, and watering should not be forgotten. The container with seeds must be placed in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. Optimal temperature indoors during the germination period should be +20.25 degrees. The first shoots appear after about 2-4 weeks. If several shoots sprout from one seed at once, then the weakest of them must then be carefully cut off.

Care

In order for the tangerine tree to please with its healthy appearance, shape, beautiful flowering and tasty fruits, it is necessary to provide it with comfortable conditions. The most basic care and attention will help to prolong and make life easier for the plant in apartment conditions.

Location and lighting

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

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

Temperature

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

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

Humidity

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

It is advisable to water in the morning and evening to avoid the midday sun from hitting wet leaves.

If the plant already has flowers, then irrigation must be done very carefully, without getting on the buds. It’s better to simply wipe the leaves with a damp cloth during this period.

If there is a heating radiator in the room, it is recommended to cover it wet towel. You can place a container of water next to the tree. Ideal option there will be a humidifier.

Watering

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

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

You can check whether the soil needs moisture with your finger - if the soil is dry and crumbly, then the plant needs to be “watered”.

You can only pour water on the rhizome - the tree trunk, leaves, and especially flowers cannot tolerate excess moisture.

The most the right time morning is considered the day. It is during this period that the tangerine tree is most active.

Priming

The soil composition required for young and mature plants is different.

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

For an adult plant, take part of leaf soil, three parts of turf and one each of sand and cow humus. And most importantly, fatty clay must be added to the soil for adult citrus trees.

You can also buy ready-made mixtures in gardening stores, but you should pay attention to high-quality products from a trusted manufacturer.

Top dressing

Due to frequent watering, all useful substances are quickly washed out of the soil, so the first feeding of the citrus tree is done immediately after the sprouts appear. And what older plant, the more it needs to be fertilized. You can purchase a ready-made fertilizer mixture in a specialized store. You can also use mullein manure as organic matter in proportions of 1/10 with water.

It is especially important to feed the tangerine in the spring, when the plant begins to develop intensively. This period lasts until September; fertilizer can be applied once every two weeks. This regime will promote the appearance of buds, flowers and ovaries, and the ripe fruits will not taste bitter. In the cold season, fertilizing should be stopped. Like most all indoor plants, it is recommended to fertilize tangerine in the morning. The tree must be watered first warm water. The temperature of the nutrient solution should also be at a comfortable room temperature. The composition of the mixtures varies, but the content of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen is mandatory for a citrus tree.

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

Trimming and pinching

Pruning frequently homemade tangerine it is not necessary, since the formation of the crown of this crop occurs on its own. But pruning and pinching the upper young shoots every 3-4 months will not only help better development branches and leaves, but will also speed up fruiting. The top shoots should be pinched only after five leaves have formed.

You can also get rid of all weak and unnecessary branches. If dried leaves and branches appear on the tree, they also need to be carefully cut off. It is recommended to trim with special sharp scissors.

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

Possible problems

Improper care of indoor mandarin becomes the cause of its diseases. If the microclimate in the apartment is disturbed, irregular moisture, lack or excess of fertilizers, the plant begins to hurt. Let's look at the most common problems and the reasons for their occurrence.

Leaves turn yellow and fall off

If this happens rarely and in small quantities, then it is a natural process, especially in old trees. If leaf fall is intense, then this may indicate insufficient lighting, improper watering or lack of nitrogen in the soil. The reason for this may be a sharp change in regime (temperature, light). If the plant begins to turn yellow after transplantation, then the cause is most likely a violation of technology. Make sure that the root neck is not too deep. A pot that is too large can also cause yellowing.

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

Brown leaves most often indicate improper feeding. It is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizer and strictly adhere to the recipe.
The leaves dry out due to dry air in the room. It is necessary to spray the tree more often with a spray bottle, wipe the leaves with a sponge, cover the heating devices and use a humidifier.
Leaves curl due to excess ultraviolet rays. To solve the problem, the tree needs to be shaded.
“Rust” spots on the leaves also indicate improper watering. This process needs to be regulated.
Red spots on the trunk of a tree indicate insufficient drainage, damage to the trunk or excess fertilizer. A light solution of vitriol is suitable for treating already damaged areas. After this, the cracks are rubbed with a special garden varnish.
If the bush begins to shrink and dry out, then the reason for this lies in insufficient feeding. Mandarin must be provided useful vitamins and minerals.

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

Some diseases can also affect the tangerine tree.

Anthracnose causes deformation of the bark, yellowing and falling leaves. The affected parts of the tree must be carefully cut off and destroyed, and it is recommended to use Fitosporin to treat the entire plant.
Scab begins to appear as small transparent spots. Subsequently, gray “warts” are formed from them. Bordeaux mixture is used for treatment. You need to spray the entire bush with it three times.

One should not exclude such a threat as all kinds of pests.

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

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

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

To combat uninvited “guests” you can also use special means (for example, “Fitoverm”, “Karbofos” or “Aktellik”). It is necessary to wipe the leaves and trunk with the solution. To improve the effect, the bush can be packed in plastic for a couple of hours. It is important to note that the fruits after this procedure cannot be eaten for at least a week.

As preventive measures You can consider treating the leaves with soap foam. At the same time, it should not get into the soil, so it is recommended to cover the pot first.

How to replant and how often to do it?

As the tangerine tree grows and its root system expands, replanting into a pot is required bigger size. The young plant must be replanted every year in early spring before flowering begins. After reaching 4 years of age, a transplant is needed every 3-4 years.

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

Tangerine transplantation is carried out by transferring the entire earthen clod. To make the tree easier to remove, the soil needs to be watered - this will reduce the adhesion of the soil and the walls of the pot. Next, you can lightly tap the pot with your palms so that the lump of earth moves away from it. After this, the plant is carefully removed and transferred to another place. First you need to lay a layer of clean drainage on the bottom of the new pot. The tree is installed and covered with earth. There is no need to compact the soil too hard. It is important to ensure that the root collar (small compaction between the root and the trunk) is only partially covered with soil. Otherwise, the tree will take a long time to take root and will begin to hurt.

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

To learn how to grow a tangerine tree from a seed at home, see the following video.

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 in 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 have a specific Strong smell, which 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. This variety is especially 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 a diameter of up to 15 cm. They taste very sweet and juicy. In addition, there are several varieties with variegated colors not only of leaves, but also of fruits.
Ellendale an unpretentious plant that produces a large harvest 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 create comfortable conditions.

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

1. Location

It is not difficult to guess what is especially important for the tangerine tree bright lighting. This is especially true in cold period year, 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 regime.

In summer it is worth maintaining the temperature within 15-18 degrees, and in winter - 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 mite etc.

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 from appearing on the leaves.

5. Spraying

The tangerine tree must 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 are also more radical method pest control. The tree can be processed special drugs, which 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 is not particularly 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 a 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, the leaves of the tangerine tree become 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.

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

How to plant tangerines at home?

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

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

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

Proper lighting is one of the most important keys to the growth of your pet. This rule also applies if the tangerine is planted in open ground at the dacha or greenhouse. Direct sun rays should hit the plant, but without much persistence. Sunlight will give the leaves juiciness and greenness, a lack of light will only lead to fading and thin new shoots
The window on which the tangerine will be grown should be located on the east or southeast side. If the growing season is summer, it is necessary to gradually accustom the plant to direct rays, and sometimes take it out onto the balcony or street
If the time of initial cultivation is winter, place the tangerine in the most illuminated place; if there is not enough light, purchase artificial lighting. It is possible to use a photo light bulb for this purpose
The optimal temperature for indoor tangerine remains + 25 degrees; if the period of budding and flowering passes, keep the temperature around twenty degrees
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 shoots will die from the disease and will not survive the grafting stage. Growing tangerines from seeds occurs in several ways:

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

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

Caring for indoor tangerine at home

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

Spraying the tangerine should occur every week to maintain high humidity mandarin 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 of proper care and grafting. Grafting begins in May-August. Since sap flow is especially active at this time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to transplant a tangerine at home?

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

The process is carried out on young plants using 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?

Mandarin is an evergreen citrus plant. Proper care will provide it with a 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.

A prerequisite for growing tangerines at home is a sufficient amount of 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:

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.
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.
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:

plant height and crown volume: the presence of abundant green mass requires frequent watering;
pot size and amount of substrate;
temperature regime: the higher the room temperature, the more water the crop needs;
seasonality;
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:

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.
The infection causes a black sticky coating to appear on the green mass. To remove it, each leaf is washed with water.
The fungicidal agent will help cope with the fungus that appears on the foliage in the form of spots.
A fungal disease can cause the plant to rot. Pathology occurs due to high humidity, potassium or phosphorus deficiency. To cure a tree, you need to treat healthy branches with fungicides, and remove the affected ones with pruning shears.
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 prerequisite growing tangerine: 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:

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:

Wood ash. Dissolve 0.5 tbsp. l. in 1 liter of water.
Weed grass. Grind the quinoa leaves and add them to the soil.
Tea brewing and natural coffee grounds. Pour well-dried raw materials into the soil.
Sugar. Use as a solution (1 tsp per 200 ml of water), water once a week.
Egg shells. Grind into powder and sprinkle around the tangerine trunk.
Aquarium water. Apply when watering: this will strengthen the root system.
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.
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.
Potassium permanganate. Used as a growth activator, protection against harmful insects. For cooking useful composition you need to mix 6 potassium permanganate crystals 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. In order for granular fertilizer to dissolve quickly, it should be added to a small amount of water, stirred and only then added 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. Suitable chicken droppings. 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 healthy plant. Its aroma will fill the owner’s home, and delicate flowers and bright fruits will add aesthetics.