Many people have probably seen indoor tangerines in their friends’ apartments. There are also those who dream of growing this tree at home, but they are stopped by a lack of knowledge and experience. In fact, there is no need to be afraid. tangerine tree can live peacefully in a modern apartment.
Grow tangerines from seeds at home
Not many people know that tangerines are grown from a simple seed. To start, take a few tangerine seeds and soak them in a clean cloth. Just wrap the seeds in cloth and add water. Do not use too much water; the fabric should only be slightly damp. Then, as it dries, simply add liquid little by little.
Even if you want to grow just one tree, take about 10 seeds: many of them will die during the growth process. When the seeds swell and hatch, plant them in the ground. Prepare the soil for growing tangerine as follows:
- 3 shares of turf soil;
- 1 share of humus;
- 1 share of leaf soil;
- 1 share of sand;
- small quantity .
If you can’t make your own soil, then buy a neutral one, for example, called “Vericohumus” or “Rose”. Don't forget to add drainage to the pot. In about three weeks the first shoots will emerge.
How to care for homemade tangerine
For the successful growth of tangerine, it is important to choose the right place and type of lighting. For this tree it is important good lighting with enough directly falling on the tree sunlight. If there is not enough lighting, then the plant will have very few flowers or it will not bloom at all. With a constant lack of light, thin stems form on the tree, it becomes faded and sickly.
Considering these points, place the pot with the tree on the east, south or southeast side. At the same time, during those hours when direct sunlight falls on the windows, the tree needs to be shaded. In the summer, take the tangerine out to the balcony and gradually accustom it to the street air. When daylight hours are shortened, place the tangerine on the brightest side under the direct rays of the sun. Even if these hours are not enough for good development plants, make artificial lighting. It can be made from a regular phytolamp, which needs to be inserted into table lamp. Organize lighting for the plant gradually to avoid sudden changes. daylight hours the plant did not shed its leaves.
The temperature regime for tangerine should be as follows: in summer, grow the plant at temperatures up to 25 degrees. On the days when buds appear, reduce the temperature to 20 degrees, and in winter keep the tree at a temperature no higher than 10 degrees so that it can rest and begin to bloom and bear fruit with renewed vigor the next year.
Many gardeners unknowingly overwater the plant. To prevent this from happening, follow a few rules:
- Water the tree only in the morning hours, when it awakens its life processes.
- In winter, water the plant not every day, but only to maintain life in it.
The tangerine needs regular spraying to prevent it from becoming infected with spider mites due to too dry air. Just be careful and do not allow moisture to get on the flowers of the tree.
For full growth, tangerines need feeding. Indeed, unlike natural soil, recreational processes do not occur in potted soil, and it is depleted very quickly. Use dry or soluble fertilizers as top dressing. It is especially necessary to feed mandarins in the spring, when the active growing season begins.
Buy fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to feed your plants. Dissolve them in water and water or spray it. Keep the room temperature no higher than 19 degrees. To dilute the fertilizer, use only settled water at room temperature. Fertilize twice a week.
Mandarin in natural conditions begins to bear fruit after five years. But in order for the fruits to be tasty and sweet, it must be grafted.
Do it like this:
- On the plant you have grown, make a cut in the shape of the letter T at a height of about 10 cm. Insert a bud cut from a fruiting branch into the cut. Wrap this area well with tape.
- Then cover the tree with a jar to create the right microclimate.
- In about a month you will be able to evaluate the result of the scion. Not all scions will take root. That is why several plants are needed so that at least a couple of them survive.
- When you see that everything went well, start gradually accustoming room air plant.
- A month later, when the new shoot begins to actively grow, cut the trunk of the main plant just above the scion diagonally. Coat the cut with garden varnish.
- To make the tree grow vertically, place a stick under it and continue caring for it as usual.
Growing and caring for tangerines is easier. Friendship with this plant can be long and strong.
Growing tangerine from seed
For sowing, take fresh seeds from ripe tangerines. They are used immediately after extraction from the fruit. The seeds are poorly stored and, after drying, quickly lose their viability. Take more seeds, in case not all of them sprout.
Before sowing, they are soaked for 10-12 hours in growth stimulants “Epin-extra” and “Zircon”. This strengthens the strength of the future plant and stimulates the development of the root system.
The right time for sowing is the end of January - beginning of February, when daylight hours become longer.
The soil for seedlings needs loose, nutritious soil with a high phosphorus content. It is this element that plays an important role in the beginning of growth. Large quantity phosphorus is contained in humus and compost, therefore seedling soil must be organic.
The seeds are placed one at a time in separate pots or in common containers, followed by picking. The depth of embedding in the soil is 1 cm. The crops are watered and covered plastic bag to provide a greenhouse microclimate.
At this stage, the seedling does not care about light, the main thing is warmth. For germination, an air temperature of 20-25°C is required. Crops are regularly watered and ventilated. After 3-4 weeks, shoots appear and the cover is removed from the containers.
The seedlings are transferred to a bright place. If it was grown in a container, then after two true leaves appear, one plant is planted in each cup. As soon as the roots fill the entire volume of the glass, the tangerines are planted in larger pots.
Have you bought a tangerine seedling?
Ready seedlings are grown in special greenhouse conditions. It is difficult to create such an ideal environment at home. Therefore, you need to help the plant adapt: choose in advance suitable place in the house, create optimal humidity and air temperature.
When choosing a seedling preference should be given to young specimens in containers. The tangerine should have a small shoot with green leaves and healthy roots without damage. It is also necessary to check the seedling for the presence of pests.
At home, the purchased plant must be sprayed with any anti-stress drug.
It is better to buy tangerines in early spring or summer; during this period it is easier for the plant to adapt to the new environment. He can spend the whole summer outdoors: on the balcony or in the country house. Young tangerines should be protected from direct sun.
Conditions for growing tangerine
Illumination
Like everyone else citrus mandarin loves light. Best place for him these are window sills or places near the window on the east side. From early morning it will be illuminated by warm, but not burning rays of the sun. You can place pots with plants on the southeast, south or southwest side.
Humidity
In nature, tangerine grows in the subtropics with a humid climate. It is difficult to ensure humidity of 90-95% in an apartment. But at home, tangerine will feel great even at a humidity of 60-65%.
A simple and inexpensive way to increase humidity is to place open containers with wet expanded clay or pebbles near pots with plants. As moisture evaporates, water is periodically added to the trays.
But the best and reliable method Humidity regulation is the use of modern air humidifiers.
We should not forget about important rule– keep tangerines away from heating devices drying up the air.
Temperature
During the period of active spring growth optimal temperature air – 18-25°C. In autumn and winter, the plant can be in cooler conditions - at temperatures of 13-15°C.
If a tangerine grows on a windowsill, then in winter make sure that the branches do not touch the cold window and protect it from frosty air.
Soil
The soil should be light, fertile, neutral in acidity, so acidic peat mixtures are not used for planting. Available for sale ready-made soils for citrus fruits. If the substrate is prepared independently, then equal parts of turf, leaf soil, humus and compost are taken for it.
Care
Watering
Water the plants with rain or sediment tap water. Cold water warm up to room temperature 20-25°C. If you water cold water, then nutrients will be worse supplied and absorbed by the roots. In summer and until autumn, water frequently and abundantly, but without flooding. They focus on the appearance of water in the pan - this is a signal that there is enough water. Excess moisture is drained from the pan.
In winter, water less frequently, monitoring the moisture content of the top layer of soil. If during this period the tangerine bears fruit, then it is impossible to sharply reduce watering.
Trimming
Mandarin can grow without pruning. But beautiful plant It won't work without shaping. Ideally, the tangerine should have a branched fan-shaped shape. Due to this, he will be able to make maximum use of sunlight for growth and development. Drastic pruning is an extreme measure; the plant will endure it painfully.
It is better to regulate growth from the very beginning by pinching and trimming excess shoots. In spring, the mature main shoot is cut to 15 cm, leaving a few buds on top. They will begin to grow side shoots. To form the main skeletal branches Of the future bush, 3-4 shoots are left, they are not allowed to grow more than 25 cm. The shoots of the second order growing higher are shortened by 10 cm. The next 3-4 orders are shortened by another 5 cm. So in 2-3 years a compact tree will be formed. In order for it to grow evenly, every 10-14 days it must be gradually and carefully turned to the light in different directions.
Top dressing
Plants are fed once every 10-12 days with complex mineral fertilizer for citrus fruits. They love tangerines organic fertilizers with microelements, they are alternated with mineral nutrition. You can use in low concentrations infusions of mullein with the addition of urea or infusions of green herbs: nettle, dandelion and other weeds.
In winter, tangerines are not fed. At this time, plant activity is reduced and the roots will not absorb nutrients. Fertilizers will begin to accumulate in the soil beyond normal limits.
After transplantation, you also need to wait a while with fertilizing. The new soil will provide enough nutrition for the plant for 1-2 months.
Transfer
Tangerines are replanted as they grow. Young and three to seven year old plants are replanted annually, older ones – once every 5 years.
Indication for planned transplant serves to grow the root system in the pot. Transplantation is carried out at the end of winter - beginning of spring. The diameter of the new pot should not exceed the size of the old one by more than 3-5 cm.
The tangerine will undergo transplantation painlessly if it is carefully transferred to a new container along with the part earthen coma. Before and after transplanting, the plant is watered. A new pot must have drainage. It is better to use expanded clay for it, as it does not weigh down the pot much.
Over time, watering with hard water causes a white salt coating to form on the surface of the soil. It is advisable to replace 2-2.5 cm of the top layer in the pot 2 times a year.
Care questions
How to get tangerines to bear fruit?
Using a number of techniques will help speed up fruiting:
- Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with growth and fruit formation stimulants. The most popular: “Epin-extra”, “Zircon”, sodium humate, “Heteroauxin”. These drugs help plants with early age adapt to dry air, lack of lighting.
- Selection of the strongest seedlings: without crooked shoots, with large leaves and stocky crown.
- Balanced diet. Regular feeding phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in combination with microelements stimulate fruit formation.
- Pinching adding tops of extra shoots saves the plant’s strength and helps to form a crown with short fruit-bearing branches.
- Furrowing and banding- ancient techniques that allow you to redistribute the influx nutrients to the crown and thereby accelerate the formation of fruit buds.
- Graft. Scion – young tangerine cuttings, cut early spring, are combined with a seedling rootstock grown from the seed of any citrus. After 2-3 years, a single plant is formed, which begins to bloom and bear fruit.
How to plant a tangerine yourself?
To graft a tangerine, in addition to plant material, you will need a sharp knife and a strong elastic polyethylene tape 0.5 cm wide. Several graftings can be done on one tree at once.
Common grafting methods:
- splitting. The rootstock is cut at a height of 5-10 cm from the root collar and split in the middle by 3-5 cm. On the lower part of the scion cutting, oblique wedge-shaped cuts are made of the same length as the depth of the split. Then this wedge is carefully inserted into the rootstock. The connection point is secured with strapping.
- simple and improved copulation. Suitable for rootstock and scion of the same thickness. Oblique cuts are made at their ends and connected. Both parts must fit tightly when connected. The joints are tied with tape.
- budding. A cut bud from a varietal cutting is inserted under the cut bark of the rootstock and secured with tape.
Why do flowers fall?
- If the plant does not have enough strength and energy to germinate all the fruits, then it will regulate flowering itself and get rid of excess ovaries.
- High room temperature negatively affects the formation of flowers. Due to the heat, flowers and ovaries fall off or the flowering process is postponed to a later date.
- On uneven watering a tangerine may react by dropping flowers, for example, if the soil in a pot is dried out and then watered a large number water.
- Excess nitrogen in fertilizing leads to increased growth of green mass, few flowers are formed and soon they begin to fall off.
Why do the leaves turn yellow and fall off?
One of the reasons is a lack of nitrogen and iron.
In the first case, yellowing begins with lower leaves and spreads to the entire plant. In case of nitrogen deficiency, tangerine is sprayed with a solution of urea or boric acid– 1 g per 1 liter of water.
With chlorosis, a disease caused by iron deficiency, first the young leaves become light yellow, then the older leaves change color. To prevent chlorosis, tangerines are sprayed with iron chelate once a month.
Besides the disadvantage nutrients leaves may turn yellow and fall off due to:
- dry indoor air;
- drafts;
- exceeding the dose of fertilizers;
- change of place;
Leaf fall can be caused by natural reasons - the beginning of dormant time in the autumn winter period.
Pests and diseases
All citrus fruits are very susceptible to pests. They get to them from the street through open windows and doors, move from neighboring plants.
Spider mite
In dry air spider mite– the most sworn enemy. Its presence can be determined by a thin white web on the shoots and leaves.
At the beginning of infection, spraying the plant with water will help. IN advanced cases you can't do without chemical insecticides.
Aphid
A small and prolific insect of yellow or green color. Capable of producing more than 20 generations over the summer. The larvae overwinter in the ground, on tangerine shoots. Adults live on leaves, buds, and flowers, feeding on their juices.
On initial stages aphids can be completely washed off under a strong stream of a hot shower. The water temperature should be between 50-60°C. Mass colonies are destroyed with insecticides .
Shchitovka
It is more difficult to fight scale insects - the pest is protected by wax brown coating. Scale insect larvae are almost invisible. Adult insects, similar to small turtles, can be easily seen along the veins with reverse side leaves. They are inactive and cling tightly to the leaves. If the infection is severe, sticky secretions cover the leaves and stems and the plant may die.
Washing off plain water will not help in the fight. The best means for scale insects - the drugs "Aktara" and "Aktellik".
In addition to pests, dangerous diseases can hinder the development and destroy the tangerine.
Anthracnose
This is common fungal disease. It starts with the appearance of light spots on the leaves, then they turn brown. The disease spreads to branches, shoots, and flowers. On the fruits dark spots are formed around the stalk.
Provokes the development of the disease high humidity. Damaged parts need to be trimmed, healthy parts should be treated with fungicides.
Late blight
This is a fungal disease. Ring-shaped brown oily spots appear on the trunk.
Affected areas must be cleaned and treated with fungicides. Read more about late blight.
Gommoz
Affects the trunk and shoots of tangerine, brown spots. In diseased areas, the bark dies and cracks appear, from which a golden liquid (gum) is released. The main causes of occurrence are a lack of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, as well as mechanical damage. Another reason could be deep penetration plants when planting or lack of drainage.
Sore areas are cleaned and treated copper sulfate And .
At home, the tangerine is a miniature bush or tree 0.5–2 m high. For your care, it will thank you with fragrant and juicy fruits. But even without fruit it looks beautiful and original.
How to grow tangerines yourself? Find out about it in the video.
Fragrant citrus tree no more difficult to grow than any other fruit crop. Having learned how to grow a tangerine, you can use the advantages of this tree - high immunity, ease of care and good yield will simplify the task for the most inexperienced gardener.
Where are tangerines grown?
Citrus fruits are sensitive to climate: their homeland is subtropics, so they require a short period of time. warm winter and long wet summers. This rule applies to growing in open ground, since in an apartment a heat-loving tree can bloom and bear fruit practically all year round. Recommendations on how to grow tangerines at home vary depending on the growing conditions. Their main differences are that:
- For planting in the garden, you should choose early-ripening crops with small, sweet fruits, so as not to worry about crop loss due to early frosts and heavy rains. Development indoor varieties can be adjusted artificially - the choice here is unlimited.
- When experienced gardeners They tell you how to grow a tangerine, they first mention the planting location. It should be the sunniest in the garden and at the same time protected from the cold wind. On the windowsill or in winter garden additional lighting and sprayer are installed.
Growing tangerines in open ground
If a garden is still chosen as the planting site, the most suitable ones are selected. frost-resistant varieties from existing ones. It is worth paying attention to hybrids: they are bred artificially, which guarantees good varietal characteristics. In open ground they grow both through direct planting of seeds and after transplanting cuttings. To avoid having to rack your brains over whether it is possible to grow tangerines in a regular garden after purchasing seeds, you should pay attention to the following varieties:
- "Clementine";
- "Pioneer 80";
- "Kawano-Wase";
- "Sochi 23";
- "Unshiu latifolia."
How to grow tangerine in a pot?
It’s easier to grow any plant at home because you don’t have to deal with the vagaries of the weather and pest attacks. Purchase a grown tree from sellers flower shops It’s not worth it, if only because the plants are prepared for sale with the addition of strong fertilizers, without which the tree at home can die in a couple of days. The following knowledge about this culture will help you understand how to grow a tangerine on a window:
- From planting a seed or cutting to the appearance of fruit, at least 2-3 years pass. During this time, the plant will change its thin leaves to dense leaves, as if covered with wax, and strengthen the trunk, as well as the root system.
- The correct shape of a citrus tree is spherical or close to it. Experts who know how to grow tangerines insist on this form, because it allows timely detection of diseases of the trunk and upper part of the root.
- The worst neighbors for tangerines, affecting the growth energy and taste of the fruit are poisonous indoor plants(cyclamen, spurge, dieffenbachia or striped aloe).
How to grow tangerines from seeds at home?
Everything related to the answer to the question of whether it is possible to grow a tangerine from a seed at home is similar to the method of germinating any fruit on a windowsill. The bones are soaked in gauze for a week to swell. The gauze cloth should be slightly damp, but not wet. It can be replaced with a hydrogel that retains moisture. After pecking the shoots, they are replanted according to the following principle:
- IN peat pot With a mixture of base soil and turf soil with the addition of clay, seeds are buried 2-3 cm deep.
- The first feeding is carried out when the height of the sprout reaches 5-6 cm.
- When the tangerine gets stronger, it, together with the earthen lump, is transplanted into big pot.
Is it necessary to graft tangerines grown from seeds?
Without grafting, tangerine will certainly produce fruits, which in most cases will taste bitter. Guaranteed result full harvest with excellent taste properties can only promise a scion. Before grafting a tangerine grown from a seed, the future workplace disinfected to ensure the survival of shoots. The manipulation itself does not require any special skills:
- A miniature T-shaped incision is made on the trunk of the plant, the vertical of which will be 2 times longer than the horizontal.
- From a scion taken from a fruiting plant, a section of a branch with a bud is taken, without sheet plate and thorns. It is inserted into the cut, and then the injured area of the trunk is wrapped with elastic tape - otherwise, how to grow a tangerine if it is ruined by an infection? The plant is placed under glass jar or cover with a bag.
- When the bud has sprouted, the jar is removed and the incision site is treated.
When will a tangerine grown from a seed bloom?
Flowers on citrus are the main indicator that the plant is cared for according to all the rules. Flowers will appear on it 3-4 weeks after the first ovaries appear. If growing a tangerine from a seed takes too long and the buds do not appear, a beginner can speed up their appearance using proven methods:
- tying strong branches;
- deprivation of water for 1-2 weeks;
- refusal to replant into fresh soil, which is carried out 2 times a year.
Will a tangerine grown from a seed bear fruit?
There is no point in waiting for the harvest in the first year after planting. There are cases when citrus began to bear fruit in the second year after grafting, but the fruits could not be eaten due to excessive use of fertilizers. For those who want to understand how to grow decorative tangerine without eating fruits, this option is suitable. Gardeners dreaming of a juicy harvest will need at least 2-3 years until suitable ovaries appear.
How to grow a tangerine from a cutting?
Propagating citrus from a fruiting tree is easier than through seed germination. To grow a tangerine from a twig, you need to find a healthy cutting with 1-2 green leaves, and then proceed as follows:
- In a plastic pot with drainage holes A cutting is planted from below and covered with a glass jar on top.
- It spends at least 2-3 months on rooting, during which the plant cannot be disturbed by transplanting and spraying.
- When the tangerine begins to grow and the thickness of the trunk in diameter is 1 cm, it can be transplanted into a large pot or box.
Mandarin - growing conditions
A comfortable atmosphere for a tree can be created without serious financial expenses and time investments. The recommendations on how to properly grow tangerines at home clearly outline the basic instructions:
- Lighting. Daylight hours for shoots that have entered growth should be increased to 12 hours. In the apartment in winter they are used for this.
- Watering. Suitable for him boiled water without foreign impurities.
- Transfer. As soon as the level of fruiting decreases or the tree begins to hurt, it is replanted. The best time in all respects is February, March, September and October.
Mandarin at home - care
When rooting and grafting become a thing of the past, citrus will need a slightly different kind of care. Those who know how to grow a tangerine in a pot say that the emphasis should be on forming a tree. The ball, consisting of branches, is adjusted as necessary:
- When the plant reaches 30-40 cm in height, the side shoots of the first order are pinched off.
- If the citrus begins to branch uncontrollably, form the lower branches, removing everything up to 4-5 leaves.
- Up to 3-4 years from fruit indoor tree remove weak shoots as they grow.
How to grow tangerine - watering
Indoor citrus, like its ancestors, reacts negatively to dry periods, so you cannot forget about watering it. Growing a tangerine on a windowsill with a lack of water, but an abundance of sunlight, will lead to shedding of leaves and wilting of flowers. Excessive watering is dangerous by reducing immunity to fungal diseases. The following subtleties of watering are considered optimal:
- Selecting the volume of water based on the size of the pot, the area of the leaves and the growth of the tangerine. The higher these indicators, the more water should be used to moisten the soil.
- Checking the soil after watering. Can pierce the ground wooden stick by 5-6 cm. It should be slightly damp, and not thoroughly saturated with water.
- Watering should be done before 12 noon. Then the plant activates life processes to the maximum.
- Maintaining temperature conditions. No matter how much you would like to grow a tangerine as soon as possible, you should follow it life cycle. If a plant goes into “hibernation” due to a decrease in temperature outside the window, it is watered only lightly to maintain its vital activity.
How to grow tangerines with fruits - feeding
Options for citrus fertilizer are divided into two types: root and foliar. If fertilizers of the first type help to increase the immunity of the trunk, then additives of the second type accelerate the growth and ripening of glossy fruits. Since you can grow a tangerine in an apartment only in a pot or box, you are responsible for the saturation of the soil organic substances lies with the owner of the tree. There is no point in overfeeding it - fertilizer is used no more than once every 2-3 weeks. You can use it to enrich water before watering and spraying:
- iron sulfate;
- magnesium;
- zinc oxide.
Growing tangerines at home - diseases and pests
At home, there is little threat to citrus because it is resistant to most known phytoinfections. External fruit defects caused by insufficient watering or lack of sunlight and microelements. Failure to follow the rules of care is rarely displayed on the tree, but its symptoms are important for everyone to know. Among them: dwarfism, yellowing of the leaves, drying out of the trunk, folds on the leaves and shedding of the ovaries. Before you grow tangerines at home, you should familiarize yourself with the list of pests that cause diseases on citrus crops:
Planting one on your windowsill seems like an impossible task for many. We are constantly afraid of what family needs unique care, which will consume all 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 ordinary tangerine trees can also 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 light sun rays . 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 period optimal temperature indicators when 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. Temperatures during the winter period can vary from +5 °C to +10°C. By observing such 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 a phytolamp will come to the rescue, 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.
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. Do not choose a large pot right away, as too much space can lead to root rot.
The best containers for tangerines are small ones. wooden boxes or pots 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 doesn't like acidic soils . Therefore, choosing ready 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
At home growing mandarin citrus, 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. An even more difficult method of propagation is 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 tangerine 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 plant.
To do this, you will need a bush that is one to two years old and a cutting of your choice. Let's take it citrus seedling and at a distance of up to 10 cm above the soil we make a T-shaped cut. 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 with garden varnish and wrap it with PVC film or electrical tape. After grafting tangerines, you need to place them in or simply cover in 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 it on a windowsill or other flat surface for drying.
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 have no more questions on the topic of how to plant a tangerine, then all that remains is to provide it proper care and wait for fragrant fruits. For good growth tree do not forget about sufficient humidity in the summer. Give more light, but shade in sunny days, as tangerine leaves get burned easily.
Some varieties of indoor tangerines can bloom for up to a whole year, but to ensure their comfortable growth, tear off most of the flowers and ovaries. If you don't want to give the tree tangerine special kind, then you only need to remove dried or very elongated branches.
To do this you will need a ripe pot of soil. First, remove the seed from the fruit and treat it with a growth stimulator, which you can always buy at a gardening store. Follow the instructions that are usually on the label.
Next, place several broken shards or pieces of brick at the bottom of the pot with the hole. This will result in drainage, without which the roots will be damp and stuffy. Fill the pot with soil. For it, take purchased citrus soil or prepare a mixture of humus, turf soil, peat and sand taken from equal amount.
The soil for the tangerine needs to be steamed over a pan of boiling water.
Plant the seed in a pot, water it and place it in warm place. You will have to wait a long time, only in a month will the sprout appear. During this time, the soil needs to be watered periodically so that the soil does not dry out. Move the pot with the sprout to a lighted place, take care of the young tree, and after a couple of years you will get a beautiful plant that will bloom and even delight you with fruits. True, they will not be tasty, but to get sweet tangerines, you need to plant this bush in at a young age or grow another plant.
To graft a tangerine, you need to take a cutting or bud from a varietal plant.
Growing tangerine from cuttings
To get a plant with sweet fruits, you will need a tangerine with a twig and a leaf. You can buy one like this in a store. The main thing is that the branch is not withered. Cut off a cutting with a leaf and plant it in a loose fertile land. Pour over and cover with halved plastic bottle from sparkling water with the lid unscrewed.
After a couple of months, the branch will take root and new leaves will appear. During this time, it is important to monitor soil moisture. When the plant is completely strengthened, the cover can be removed. Further care comes down to regular watering, annual replanting in more spacious potty with soil replacement and fertilizing. For fertilizing, take manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Water the soil under your home tree with this solution 2 times a year, in spring and autumn.
First, the tangerine will grow, then it will bloom with beautiful white flowers, and soon you will be able to enjoy its fruits, grown with your own hands.