Relatively frost-resistant varieties tangerines (after all, this is a subtropical crop) can withstand frosts down to -7– -12 ˚С. Then the skeletal branches are damaged.
Therefore, the northernmost edge of the range barely covers the southern edge of the territory former Union: Black Sea coast, Azerbaijan, Georgia. But you can grow a tangerine tree from a seed at home. At the same time, it is no longer so important what latitudes you live at: a blizzard, if it is raging outside the window, is not a hindrance.
The photo shows tangerine trees growing in the garden and those grown at home.
Planting material, planting
A tangerine purchased at a nursery or store will soon delight you with tasty small fruits. But a tangerine tree grown by yourself will please you much more. There are several ways to plant a plant that will bear fruit if well cared for.
Growing a tangerine tree from a seed
Most affordable way: It’s not a problem to remove the pit from the fruit. It germinates for about a month, but the substrate should not dry out. At first it grows very slowly. It is good to germinate in a special gel.
It makes sense to first plant it in a relatively small pot; if it develops well, replanting in the future is not a problem. Do not expect exactly the same fruits as the original: this is only possible with vegetative propagation.
Growing from cuttings
Tangerine has poor rooting ability. To increase it, you can cover it on top, for example, with a cropped plastic bottle or glass jar. This will increase the humidity in the air near the cutting. The substrate should not dry out! It is convenient to treat the cutting itself with giberilin before planting; the stimulator is available in any garden store. 
Another little trick: the cut of the cutting must be renewed under water before planting. This pruning prevents clogging of the conductive bundles with air.
Grafting on other citrus fruits
Most often, an orange seedling is used as a rootstock. The vaccination is done by budding, the requirements are the same as for any garden trees. That is: during a slight separation of the bark from the wood (usually in June); without touching the cambium with your fingers (tiny particles of fat from the fingers reduce survival rate); carefully wrapping the grafting site with a strip of polyethylene to prevent drying out. In spring and autumn they are grafted into clefts.
The cambium (thin strip of dividing cells between the bark and wood) of the scion and scion must match!
If you don’t have the skill, you should first get your hands on any other crop or just branches. The operation requires care. Just information: with a perfectly done graft, the pear will take root on the willow, as in the saying. True, then it dries up, so you won’t get any fruit.
When grafted or grown from cuttings varietal characteristics are completely preserved: the properties of the mother plant exactly repeat the tangerine tree grown at home. 
The care between a tangerine tree grafted onto a rootstock and one grown from a seed at home differs little. The only difference is the removal of shoots from the rootstock and protection from breaking off at first: with physical impact it can break at the grafting site.
Caring for tangerines at home
Fertilizer
It is clear that when growing in a container, everything needed by the plant substances come from a small volume of soil. There cannot be enough of them there, so regular feeding is required. The easiest way is to use a solution of complex fertilizer. It is convenient to water with mullein diluted 1:10. The larger the container, the easier it is to ensure proper development: the greater the supply of nutrients in the soil.
If a specific element is missing (signs of shortage various elements manifest themselves in different ways), this is what needs to be added. In winter, during dormancy, we fertilize with half the norm or do not fertilize at all. We additionally fertilize in the summer when the fruits are filling. Fertilizing at this time increases the sugar content and reduces the bitterness of the fruit.
Rest period
The tangerine does not shed its leaves; they stay on the tree for four years. Therefore, the “rest” is not absolute: the tree seems to be dozing. But this period is important; without it, there will be no fruit. Therefore, in winter it is necessary to maintain it at a temperature of 8-12 ˚С and reduced. There are often recommendations to supplement the lighting with special lamps at this time... although in winter the days are short and even less light gets into the apartment, when the mandarin is at rest, it is enough. Extra fuss around the bush is usually not worth it.
Watering
The soil should not dry out, even when dormant. But stagnation of water is also harmful to the roots. To get out of such a contradictory situation, it is good to put a layer of shards, gravel or other large materials on the bottom of the container when planting. Then it is easier to keep the soil moist, but not too moist. Excess water flows down, where it does not harm the roots as much. And yet it is there, the soil will not dry out completely. It is better to water with settled water: there is no harmful temperature difference; Chlorine evaporates, harming the plant.
Transfer
This is still a tree; it begins to bear fruit only in the 4th-5th year and grows for many more years. You can’t just plant it in a huge container - it looks stupid, and it takes up a lot of space disproportionate to the size of the sprout. And if there is not enough space for roots to grow, they are not able to provide for the plant. Therefore, you will have to replant many times as soon as the roots entwine a lump of earth. The work is carried out carefully; in order to avoid unnecessary injury and breaking of roots, it is necessary to water abundantly before replanting.
Lighting
Mandarin loves a lot of light, the easiest way is to place it near a south window - you don’t have to add more light. If we take the bush out into the garden in the summer, then in the first days only for a few hours. Or first we put it in the shade, for example, under a large fruit tree. By the way, in the summer, when it’s hot, it’s also worth shading, at least during the hottest hours. And to reduce the evaporation of water from the container, place mulch on the surface.
Pollination
This is quite simple: not required. Self-fertile culture.
Caring for tangerine trees at home brings joy to touching a small miracle... Greens and fruits, the aroma of citrus filling the apartment against the backdrop of bad weather outside the window pleases the soul and cheers the heart.
Citrus grafting technique - video
The evergreen tangerine tree has become a frequent guest of home greenhouses and winter gardens. Even in ordinary apartments You can find miniature citrus plants, because they not only delight the gardener’s eye with their greenery, but also give several dozen fragrant fruits every year. True, it is not easy to achieve a thick crown and abundant fruiting; there are special rules for watering, fertilizing and pruning that are necessary for a tangerine tree when caring for it at home. Certain difficulties in growing indoor citrus fruits can cause some trouble for the grower.
Growing a seedling from a seed
There is nothing easier than buying a ready-made grafted seedling from a fruit nursery or from an online gardening store. Most often, trees are sold with a closed root system: directly in pots or in a clod of earth, packed in a bag. In the second case, transplantation into a container will be required.
But for gardeners, growing a citrus tree from a seed is much more economical. ripe fruit. In addition, many people get mental satisfaction from growing plants from scratch, although it takes much longer.
For germination, you need to select several seeds from ripe, juicy, sweet fruits to increase the chances of success. Tangerine seeds have good germination. As is the case with the seeds of many crops, it is advisable not to immediately place the seeds in the ground, but to soak them first. To do this, they are placed between 2-3 layers of clean gauze and placed on a saucer. The gauze needs to be moistened as it dries for several days until the bones swell. As soon as the first shoots hatch, it’s time to plant the plants in the ground. If it is not possible to wait several days, then the bones are soaked for 2–3 hours in water with the addition of a few drops of Epin (a growth stimulant).
A bag of soil for citrus trees can be purchased in specialty stores. If there is no such thing nearby, then prepare the soil yourself by mixing leaf soil, rotted manure and turf soil. River sand can be added to this mixture. It is not recommended to add clay or peat to the substrate. Drainage (expanded clay, coarse gravel) and a soil mixture are poured into the bottom of a clean pot, container or other container. The seeds are planted to a depth of 5–6 cm. It is important to choose a place for the pot that is well lit, but without direct sunlight, so that the young sprout does not get burned. At favorable conditions The sprout will appear from the ground in 2.5–3 weeks. From this moment you can start feeding the future tree with organic or mineral fertilizers, since beneficial substances are quite quickly washed out of the soil during watering.
Caring for indoor tangerine
Lighting
As permanent place It is recommended to choose a brightly lit room for the pot, because without enough light decorative tangerine will not grow big, will be painful. It would seem that the easiest way is to place the container on the windowsill of the south side of the house, but this can lead to leaf burns. A more acceptable option would be to choose the southeast or east side. If the south side is the only possible option for installing a pot of tangerine, then on spring and summer days the plant will need shading. But in winter, on the contrary, the southern window sill is a good place for a seedling. When daylight hours shorten in winter, it is necessary to turn on additional lighting– special phytolamps.
Temperature and humidity
The best temperature regime for tangerine seedlings is +15+18 °C in the warm season, and about +12 °C in winter. In hotter weather, the tree begins to bear fruit worse - it blooms poorly, and weakly forms buds and ovaries. Air humidity is very important for tangerines: on hot, dry days in summer, as well as on winter days, when central heating dries out the air, it is necessary to spray the tree frequently, sometimes up to three times a day. You can place a bowl of water or another air humidifier on the windowsill (imitation of a waterfall, fountain, stream). Too dry air often provokes the appearance of pests such as mites, scale insects and others. During flowering, the tree should be sprayed carefully. To avoid moisture getting on the buds and flowers, it is better to replace spraying with regular wiping of the leaves.
Hardening. In order for the plant to become stronger, it should be hardened, that is, help adapt to changes temperature regime and lighting. To do this, in the spring during the day, you need to take the seedling out to the balcony or closed veranda for a short time (or at least open the window).
Watering
Indoor tangerine needs frequent watering. On particularly hot days you will have to water it 2-3 times a day. In winter, if the temperature is kept fairly low and the air is well humidified, watering twice a week will be sufficient. It is recommended to first pour water for irrigation into bottles or other containers so that it can settle and warm up to room temperature.
A tangerine tree will not die due to a short-term lack of moisture, since it will shed all or part of the leaves to reduce water loss. Fresh greenery will not grow on “bald” branches; it will appear only on new branches, so everyone tries to avoid unexpected leaf fall. But frequent overwatering of the tree with water is no less dangerous - fungal diseases can develop.
Transplantation and fertilizing
Growing and caring for a young tangerine seedling involves annual transplantation into a container bigger size. The root system of the tree grows very quickly, entwining a lump of earth over its entire surface. Replanting involves changing the drainage layer and adding soil mass. If, having pulled out a tree with a lump of earth, it becomes clear that there was enough space for roots to grow in the pot, then you can replace the drainage layer, insert the tree back with the same lump of earth and add only a surface layer of soil. Annual transplantation is carried out before March, before the start of the growing season. The root collar should not go deep during transplantation; it should be ensured at the same level relative to the soil surface.
The entire growing season, from April to September, the seedling needs feeding. Every week it needs to be fertilized with mineral or organic fertilizers, you can alternate them. This is especially necessary for mature trees that grow in cramped pots, without replanting or renewing the soil.
So, one week you can water it with a solution of liquid mullein, and a week later - with a ready-made complex fertilizer “for citrus trees”, purchased in a store. The finished composition must necessarily include nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Before fertilizing, which is recommended to be done in the first half of the day, the soil should be watered. The temperature of the nutrient solution must be at least +20 °C. The recommended recipe for preparing the fertilizer should be strictly followed.
The rule here is: it’s better not to top up than to overfill. Excess fertilizer, its excessive concentration, leads to burns of leaves or stems and even death of the tree.
Caring for an adult plant
Let's look at how to care for an adult tangerine tree at home. Many of the above rules for caring for tangerine seedlings also apply to a grown plant. But as the tree grows, the need for periodic pruning of branches and pinching the tops of shoots is added.
Like all other trees, it is advisable to remove dried leaves, twigs, and downward shoots from tangerines. But these measures will not help to form a compact tree with a thick and lush green crown. They try to grow homemade tangerine as dwarf plant, therefore the crown is formed like a bonsai tree. To do this, the growing tips of the shoots are pinched (removed) at the desired length. For example, you can pinch the top of each sprout after 5 leaves appear. The so-called tops - shoots growing from the root - greatly harm the growth of the tree and the formation of a beautiful crown. They need to be removed.
Advice. In the first years of fruiting, in order to avoid unnecessary stress on the plant, florists recommend pinching the flowers of the tangerine tree. By leaving only a few flowers on the trunk, you can achieve large, fragrant fruits without depleting the plant.
An adult tangerine tree in a pot also needs to be replanted. Unlike young seedlings, it is enough to replant a fruit-bearing tree after 2-3 years. During the procedure, the drainage and the surface layer of soil must be replaced and topped up required amount soil. It is advisable to disturb the earthen lump as little as possible.
When setting fruit, the tree trunk and fruit-bearing branches must be tied to a support to avoid them breaking off.
Reproduction of home tangerine
Most economical way get a tangerine tree seedling - grow it from a seed. But if there is already a tree, and the grower wants to get offspring from it, then he chooses one of the following methods:
- Layerings. From an adult plant, select a branch with a thickness of at least 4 mm and a length sufficient to bend the branch and pin it to the ground (preferably in a separate, nearby pot). The branch is not separated from the bush, but is buried in the ground, with the top of the branch protruding to the surface of the soil. The digging area must be maintained wet, adding a root-forming agent to the water several times. The branch is separated from the mother plant only when the cuttings form good new roots.
- Air layering. The cuttings take root “in weight”. An adult shoot is cut in a circle, cutting off the bark 1 cm wide. The wound is treated with “Heteroauxin” or “Kornevin”, wrapped with sphagnum moss and transparent polyethylene (loosely, in the form of a cone). This “pupa” must be kept constantly moist until roots begin to form (this may take several months). When the roots become clearly visible through the polyethylene, the rooted branch is cut off and planted in a separate pot. It is advisable to first create young seedling greenhouse conditions, covering the pot with a transparent lid or bag.
Pest Control
Even when providing tangerines with proper care at home, flower growers sometimes encounter problems such as pests. The most common are the following:
- Whiteflies;
- Scale insects;
- Red spider mites.
All of them can cause irreparable harm to the plant, so if pests are detected or at the slightest suspicion of their appearance, you need to wipe the leaves or spray the entire tree special drugs, for example, Aktellik or Fitoverm. It is important to use insecticidal and acaricidal preparations in strict accordance with the instructions for use!
- one of the most favorite delicacies in 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.
Citrus tree small sizes specially bred for cultivation 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.
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 time 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 put wet towels on batteries. Required condition 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:
- 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.
- Place a drainage layer in a flowerpot or any other container. It can be expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles.
- Then the pot is filled with substrate for young plants (see above).
- Plant the seed shallowly - to a depth of 1-2 cm.
- Cover the container with film to create a greenhouse climate.
- 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.
- For 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 compounds.
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 pot to another with extreme caution, as root system tangerine 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.
Growing an indoor tangerine at home is easy if you follow the rules and 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:
Mandarin, just like lemon Tree, is quite common and popular. Indoor plant grown directly indoors. Botanists suggest that it was first grown in China or Japan.
Where did the plant get its name? In the past, it was grown in the gardens of mandarins, who were wealthy dignitaries at that time. At the beginning of the 19th century, tangerines began to appear in Europe. They were transported to Italy in 1840. After which the whole Mediterranean learned about this fruit.
The tangerine tree is distinguished by the fact that it ripens quickly and brings a large harvest. It also has quite sweet fruits that do not have seeds. When did Ukraine see this beautiful tree? At the beginning of the 20th century, where the Black Sea is located. It is in this place that tangerine is most common at home.
The fruit tree can be called weak-growing. Its height reaches 3 meters. It has beautiful, eye-catching leaves. Their color is dark green, and their structure is quite dense and has small wings in the petiole area. The flowers have a wonderful aroma and white color - they are beautifully arranged in clusters. The fruits of the tree are spherical, flattened and have a diameter of up to 6 cm. Their weight is about 100 g.
The fruit has a thin orange peel that is easy to separate from the pulp. There are “plump” tangerines, the peel of which practically does not come into contact with the pulp, but has an air gap. The sweet yellow-orange pulp is easy to divide into slices.
The fruit of the tree is rich in sugar, organic acids, and vitamins. It is rare to find seeds in the fruit. If you decide to plant a tangerine at home, then it requires a limited amount of light and fresh air. Not every variety of tangerine can grow indoors, so it is necessary to distinguish between these types. So, you can get early ripening tangerine trees, which are of Japanese origin. They are undersized and unpretentious.
Among the most common options is the Unshiu variety, which means seedless. He is short in stature - up to 1.5 meters. It has a spreading crown and the branches do not have thorns. The leaves are wide, leathery and have dark green color. The tree blooms profusely once a year. Tangerine from seeds at home has small white flowers with a pleasant aroma. When the tree is already 3 years old, it begins to bear fruit. If you take good care of an adult tree, you can get up to 50 fruits within a year.
This is a decorative species of plants characterized by low growth. They are indoor varieties tangerines. Mature trees are usually no higher than 80 cm. This has made them popular among plants that are kept on the windowsill.
For indoor tangerine There is no need to form a crown for a tree. However, from time to time it is necessary to remove branches that have dried out or grown incorrectly. The peculiarity of the dwarf mandarin is that it begins to bear fruit after two years of life. However, the size and taste of the fruits are the same as ordinary trees fruit.
Basics of planting and transplanting
In order to plant a plant, you need to take a suitable pot. Its material doesn't matter. But there is important condition so that the upper part of the diameter does not exceed 15 cm, and it should be the same in height. The bottom of the container should have one or more small holes so that excess water can drain from it during watering.
The pot can be in the form of a plastic bucket, wooden, ceramic or glass container. It is necessary to place drainage at its bottom, which can be expanded clay or sand. Practice shows that drainage is best served by: charcoal after the fire. You should not make drainage more than 5 cm in height.
After selecting the drainage, you need to take a little soil to sprinkle it. Any soil will not work in this case. There are specially prepared types of soil, for example “Mandarin”. They can be purchased in specialized stores.
In some cases, you can do the soil preparation yourself. Where the old ones grow deciduous trees in the forest, take some soil. However, avoid areas where oak, poplar or chestnut trees grow. The soil is most fertile in the upper layers, the thickness of which is 10 cm. Additionally, you need to add sand, river sand, ash, humus, if available, will do. Dilute a glass of earth with a glass of sand, three tablespoons of humus and a tablespoon of ash, as well as a small amount of water. You should end up with a thick, sour cream-like mass. This will help avoid air voids near the root of the tree.
When six months have passed, you need to take a container that is 5 cm larger and transplant small tangerines there. When you have planted a tree, you need to spray it and water it with a weak potassium permanganate agent from time to time.
Prepare a place for the plant in advance. A window sill that is directed towards the light is suitable for this, so that enough sunlight falls on the leaves.
Propagation occurs when seedlings are grafted from other citrus fruits such as orange and lemon. Air layering is also used using this method. If you want to take cuttings from plants using amateur conditions, you will not succeed.
Important attention should be paid to lighting. The window on which you will keep the plant should be located on the south sunny side. When summer comes, take it outside to breathe. fresh air. This could be a veranda, garden or balcony. However, it is important that this place is protected from the wind.
It is good if the plant grows on the south side, but it is important not to forget in the summer to protect it from being exposed to direct Sun rays. This can damage the roots and crowns, and also cause burns on the tangerine itself from the seed at home. How to avoid this? Make a curtain of gauze and place it on the window where the tree stands. When you plan to leave the house, make it a rule to cover the glass with a curtain, especially on sunny days.
Temperature and watering the plant
Have you placed a tangerine on the windowsill? Then in winter you should take care of it by properly insulating the window. The pot with the tree itself is also insulated. In order for the tangerine to shoot buds and bloom, it is important to maintain the temperature to 18 degrees. There should also be suitable humidity - 60%. At the same time, you should not be afraid of high temperatures, because the plant has the ability to withstand up to 40 degrees of heat.
Now let's move on to the basics of watering. As it dries upper layer soil, it is necessary to water the plant. Under no circumstances should the lump of earth dry out in the pot. Every day, determine how wet the soil is by testing the surface layer of soil with your fingers. If during the inspection you notice that the soil sticks together, then it does not need watering, but if it begins to crumble, then watering is required.
Especially in the summer, it is important to monitor the condition of the soil. After all, due to the fact that the tree is affected heat and the bright sun, the earth often dries out. It is also worth remembering that not all water is suitable for irrigation.
If you have city apartment, then the water from it is not suitable for watering tangerines. This is explained by the fact that it contains alkaline earth metals, as well as chlorine. Such substances will only harm the plant. As a result, its leaves will suffer from chlorosis, and metabolic processes in the soil will be disrupted.
It's a good idea to boil the water every time, but you probably don't need that much trouble. Another good option is to use hot water from the tap, which contains less chlorine and, moreover, it is soft. Before watering the tree, leave the water in an open container for a day - then the chlorine will be completely removed from it. After all, this substance is destructive for any citrus fruit.
If you own a private home, then water from wells will do. However, the water found in a lake or stream is even better. Let it warm up a little at room temperature before watering. Not suitable for watering rainwater, because it contains harmful impurities. What is the best way to care for tangerines in winter? Heat the water until it reaches 35 degrees. Then the tree will grow and bear fruit better. In summer, it is easier to deal with this issue by simply placing water on a window where there is more sun.
Watering alone is not enough for a tangerine tree. It needs to be sprayed once every day. clean water. You need to take care of this especially in the summer. Use a spray bottle or other means to create moisture. Thanks to this, there will be no dust on the leaves and they will be able to breathe. Also, once a month it is necessary to carry out the following procedure: place the plant in the bathtub, cover an area of soil with plastic film, while treating the entire plant with cotton wool and soap suds. This will allow you to forget about the hard work of pest control. However, remember that you need to take gauze or a bandage to bandage the tree trunk. This will prevent soapy water from getting into the soil.
What can you say about fertilizer? In winter, there is no need to fertilize the tangerine. But in summer and spring this is done every two weeks. There are features that show how to properly fertilize. Do not start doing this before you have watered the plant, otherwise you will burn the roots. Moist soil is suitable for fertilizing.
How much should a tree be fertilized? Make sure there is enough of it and that it flows straight out of drainage hole. In specialized stores you will see big choice fertilizers You can also use regular fish soup, which is suitable for a plant that is taller than one meter. Thanks to this feeding, it will begin to bear fruit better. But at the same time, do not neglect special fertilizers, such as Mandarin.
Mandarins can be damaged by sucking and gnawing pests, as well as fungi and viruses. You can often encounter spider mite and scale insects. Chemical and biological agents are used to combat them. However, this is the case if you plant the plant on open ground. It is better not to use pesticides within the apartment.
How can you determine that a plant needs care? For example, it may become covered with white dots. You may also see a reddish tick on it that moves quickly if you touch it. In addition, white cobwebs may appear on white leaves.
To combat such pests, use tobacco dust, garlic and laundry soap. One tablespoon of tobacco dust is poured with boiling water (one glass). All this must be insisted for 6 days. To this then add laundry soap. Spray the plant every 6 days. However, take a break for 6 days.
How to use garlic against pests? Mash the plant head and pour it hot water. Wait 2 days and strain the broth. You can spray the tangerine according to the same previous scheme.
What if you notice that your plant is covered in brownish-gray shiny growths? This means it is a scale insect infection. This can be dealt with using water-oil emulsions. Mix machine oil (1 teaspoon) with warm water (1 cup). To this add laundry soap (40 g) and washing powder(2 large spoons). When you treat a plant with this, be sure to use plastic film to cover the soil with it. Also use a bandage to bandage the trunk. Thanks to this, the emulsion will not get on the ground and damage it. For processing, you can use a cotton or gauze swab. Treat the entire surface and leaves of the plant. Then wait 4 hours and wash everything off. This procedure also needs to be done 3 times.
Thanks to such simple tips you will grow a beautiful plant.
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 right type for himself. homemade tangerine, which will suit him specifically with 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 low temperatures and lack of sunlight well.
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 grower must definitely 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 the root system completely fills the container. This explains the recommendation to plant seeds in a plastic cup or another 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
From proper care a plant of the citrus genus 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
Most suitable place for a tangerine there will be a window sill on a south or east window. Here the plant will feel comfortable, as it loves bright and diffused sunlight. The tree will need to be shaded from direct rays.
The air temperature should not fall below 16 degrees in summer period, and in winter, 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 It 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 optimal level 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.
How to graft a tangerine:
- Make a T-shaped cut on the rootstock. Its length should be no more than 2 cm.
- Carefully remove the bark at the cut site and place the rootstock of the tree there.
- Then the bark must be returned to its place, and the cut must be covered with garden varnish.
- All that remains is to wrap the grafting site with electrical tape.
Successful grafting is characterized by yellowing of the cuttings and falling of leaves from it. If this does not happen, the shoot will turn black.
The tree itself must be placed in an improvised greenhouse made from ordinary plastic bag. After a month, you will need to cut the rootstock using pruning shears, making an oblique cut, remove the electrical tape and cover the cut with garden varnish.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
