Growing mandarin at home. What is it - room tangerine? How to care for an ornamental tangerine tree

19.11.2019

Who will refuse their favorite citrus fruits, especially those grown with their own hands? This perennial evergreen plant is gaining more and more popularity as a houseplant. When favorable conditions are created, it blooms and even bears fruit. At home, it reaches up to 110 cm. One can bring up to 60 pieces of tangerine, which ripen by September and stay on the branches until October.

The tangerine tree prefers a lot of light, on hot days it needs abundant watering and spraying.

Another useful property is the ability to purify the air and protect owners from various viral diseases. Unlike its "relatives" lemon and orange, this exotic feels great in an ordinary city apartment. He tirelessly pleases their inhabitants with a beautiful crown, dark green leaves and snow-white flowers with a pleasant aroma.

Cultivation and care

Location, lighting and temperature

Properly chosen space is the key to future harvest. Green handsome prefers a lot of light. The window sill of the south, southeast or southwest window is suitable for him. But on hot summer days, it should be protected from direct sunlight by shading it with a curtain or paper. In winter, additional artificial lighting is required. To do this, use a phyto lamp. From June to the end of August you can arrange holidays. A glazed balcony or a place protected from precipitation in the garden, where the pot can be deepened into the ground, is quite suitable.

The ideal temperature range is from +15 to +19. Higher rates negatively affect flowers, their pet can reset. During the dormant period, it is better if the thermometer drops to 11-14 degrees. A significant danger is fraught with a sharp change in temperature. It is better to prepare it in advance for any changes.

Humidity and watering

In the heat, the leaves evaporate a lot of moisture. This can be prevented by maintaining optimal humidity levels. Will help with this regular irrigation twice a day. If this is not possible, an electric humidifier is suitable for this purpose. A pallet with expanded clay will help to increase the percentage of moisture and reduce the temperature, a container is installed on it. Experienced gardeners they advise a little trick: in the heat, put ice cubes around the edges of the pot.

Moisture-loving creature in warm weather "drinks" plentifully and often. The appropriate amount of liquid is determined individually. The earth ball must be completely soaked. Beware of stagnation, it is fraught with root rot. Because of this, watering is significantly reduced in winter, especially if the room has cool air. It is carried out as the topsoil dries up.

In a warm room from December to March, the schedule does not change much. For this purpose, only settled water is suitable. room temperature.

Choosing the right pot

Give preference medium sized pot gradually increasing the diameter of the container. For older representatives, the container is selected 2 times the length of the root system. Be sure to have through drainage holes.

Soil and fertilizer

Choose it for sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings, taking into account the age of the plant. Sour soil is not suitable. The needs of young representatives are different. Inexperienced flower growers are better off buying a ready-made mixture in the market. Bio-humus or earth for roses will be suitable. Fertile, nutritious and permeable - it is great for full growth and development.

But you can cook it yourself from the following components:

sod (2 parts) and leaf (1 part) land;
one share of river sand of fine fraction, humus.

A light substrate helps to actively build up the root system. It is poured onto a drainage layer of brick chips and expanded clay. An adult exotic is more suitable for a different composition: soddy soil(40%), sand (20%), leaf earth (20%), humus (15%), oily clay (5%). A denser composition allows you to retain the required amount of moisture. Thanks to this property, citrus uses all the nutrients to the fullest, forming buds and fruits.

They begin to make them from April to November. Do this every 2 weeks. The most suitable are complexes containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In any flower outlet is presented wide range of: Uniflor-growth (promotes the ripening of tangerines), Uniflor-bud (healthy effect on flowering) and Kemira-lux (supports and nourishes). It is important to regularly alternate mineral substances with organic ones. If the choice fell on a natural nutrient solution, then bird droppings or cow dung will be more suitable. The dry matter is dissolved in water, then infused and then added. Water the plant first.

Working with chemical fertilizers You must strictly follow the instructions given by the manufacturer on the package. An excess of nutrients causes burns. Avoid contact with fruits.

plant pruning

Occurs in the spring, before the buds open. Get rid of thin and dry twigs, yellowed foliage. Use sharp and disinfected garden tools. In order not to miss the infection through the sections, they are sprinkled with crushed activated charcoal. It also contributes to the rapid healing of injuries. To form an oval-shaped crown, excess shoots that are unable to bear fruit are cut off.

Do not do without pinching the tops of the stems. After the first flowering, only 12-13 buds are left, the rest are cut off. Otherwise, they deplete the culture.

Diseases and pests, methods of dealing with them

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The leaves began to turn yellow, fall off, and a thin cobweb is visible on the surface? Action should be taken sooner. First aid - wipe the green mass with a solution of tobacco or soap. Garlic infusion shows good results. But, if the number of the colony is large, then only chemical means - Actellik and Fitoverm - can cope with it. Insecticides are treated once a week, avoiding the substance getting into the soil.

Reproduction and transplantation of a tangerine tree

Until the tree is 4 years old, the pot is changed frequently. This happens as soon as the lower part of the plant fills the entire container. The diameter of the new one is 10 cm larger than the previous one. The first layer is drainage (about 7 cm). A layer of soil (5 cm) is poured onto it. Transplanted by transshipment. The tree is carefully removed from the container and placed on the prepared substrate. The missing amount of land is filled up on the side, but not to the very edge. Its level should be lower by 2 cm.

If necessary, an earthen ball can be raised by adding soil. The process ends with a light crushing of the soil and watering.

Bred culture in two ways.

seeds

Before deepening, they are soaked in water for 2 days. After they have swollen can be transferred to the soil. The first shoots will appear in 18-20 days. But pets grown in this way cannot boast of a harvest and play the role of a decorative culture. But with the help of vaccination this situation can be corrected.

Graft

Occurs during the period when active sap flow begins (April-May). Stock and scion are prepared in advance. The first term refers to a young tangerine grown from a stone at home. The second is a bud that was taken from a citrus that was already producing a crop. The peephole must have a leaf petiole. Select an area (about 7 cm from the ground) on the bark. Carefully, without touching it, an incision is made on the branch 1 cm long and 2 cm wide. A kidney is inserted into it, carefully bending the sides of the incision with a knife. This place is covered with garden pitch.

The peephole takes root for about 25 days, during which it is necessary to create favorable conditions similar to greenhouse ones.

How to choose a healthy plant in the store

If you do not have the time or desire to grow a fragrant representative of the flora on your own, then you can easily purchase an adult and already fruiting tree in the nursery. Of course, such a pleasure will cost a tidy sum, then in the future the gardener is only required to maintain favorable conditions of detention.

To protect yourself from deception, it is better not to risk making a purchase in the market or from spontaneous merchants. The specialized sales center is obliged to provide the relevant documents confirming the quality. Before buying, decide which variety is best for your conditions. For growing on the windowsill, it is better to choose a dwarf one, and for a winter garden - a large bush.

In any case, it should be a healthy plant, without damage and yellowed falling leaves. Look closely for insects.

Indoor tangerine can become a real design item, a bright spot that adorns the interior. Its beautiful orange fruits bring comfort, make the space of the apartment more lively, homely. Growing indoor tangerine is not as difficult as it seems - in the article we will consider in detail all the nuances and subtleties of caring for this plant.

Indoor mandarin is an evergreen plant from the genus Citrus. In nature, its analogue reaches an impressive height, up to five meters: indoors, of course, the tangerine is not allowed to grow to such an extent. In a closed space, it can be grown in living quarters, greenhouses, greenhouses, on insulated balconies and loggias.

Decorative mandarin is a very spectacular and bright plant. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also smells great. The foliage is beautiful, dense, has a magnificent, rich shade.

Growing indoor mandarin is accompanied by magnificent flowering: the plant pleases with white, fragrant, small buds collected in a brush. There are species that are able to bloom for a long time, sometimes all year round. During this period, mandarin smells especially pleasant and bewitching.

Its fruits also ripen - real little tangerines: against the background of rich green foliage, they look like miniature Chinese lanterns. Fruiting occurs when good care: small, neat fruits of a spherical flattened shape of orange or red color appear on the plant.

They usually ripen at the end of the year, and you don’t have to mess with artificial pollination for this. You can buy a ready-made plant with already ripened fruits. You should not eat these bright tangerines, because in room conditions They require a lot of fertilizer to grow.

Varieties

Today, there are many worthy varieties of decorative mandarin, including miniature, dwarf ones - especially suitable for home maintenance. The height of such specimens reaches only 60-110 cm, which makes it possible to grow them even in a small apartment space.

Let's get acquainted with the most popular varieties of tangerine tree.

Kovano-Vase

One of the species of the group of dwarf tangerines of Japanese origin: there are also varieties of Miyagawa-Wase, Miha-Wase and others. Plants reach a height of only 40-80 cm, so they are optimally suited for growing in the limited space of small apartments.

The fruits are yellowish-orange, appear already in the second year after planting. Plants bloom profusely, beautifully, and the formation of a crown during their cultivation is not necessary.

Clementine

Tangerine-orange hybrid, able to please with fruits in the second year after rooting. On one such tree, about 50 small balls of bright orange color with a reddish tint grow, with a characteristic flattened shape. The fruits have a wonderful smell and a beautiful shiny surface.

Murkot

Unlike many other varieties, the fruits of this decorative tangerine can be eaten. Their taste is so sweet that sometimes the variety is also called "Honey".

Unshiu

Japanese variety, very unpretentious, abundantly flowering and fruiting. The first fruits in this case appear in the third or fourth year. A flower grows in room conditions by 80-150 cm. One can note the splendor and excellent branching of the Unshiu mandarin: it needs pruning, albeit not too frequent. The fruits ripen in October-November, they are pear-shaped and without seeds.

Conditions of detention

We will find out what conditions it is necessary to provide indoor tangerine for the plant to actively develop, bloom and bear fruit.

Location and lighting

It is very important to choose the best place for this plant in terms of light level. Light should come in abundantly, including the plant needs a small amount of direct sunlight.

If the illumination is insufficient, the growth of the mandarin will slow down, and its flowering will either become less plentiful, or stop altogether. With a significant, critical lack of light, the foliage becomes ugly, the shoots are elongated, in general the plant looks sickly, stunted. You will then have to take care of it very carefully in order to achieve its full recovery.

It is best to place a pot of tangerine in an apartment on a windowsill from the east, south or southeast. From the direct burning sun most of the time it is desirable to shade. In hot weather, you can put the pot on the balcony, including the unglazed one. In winter, put a tangerine in the brightest place in the apartment, you don’t even need to shade from the sun.

It often happens that natural lighting is not enough - then you have to use the help of artificial lighting. Use a phytolamp or a fluorescent lamp as a source: you need to place it at a distance of at least 30 cm from the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

In summer, decorative mandarin feels great at a temperature of + 20-25 degrees. During the period of bud formation and flowering, it is better to keep at a lower temperature - about + 18-20 degrees. This measure will allow the flowering period to last longer, the petals will not fall off much.

In winter, keep tangerine at a relatively low temperature: + 5-10 degrees. Having passed a dormant period with a low temperature regime, the plant will be able to completely relax and will delight in the next growing season. abundant flowering, fruiting.

As for humidity, indoor tangerine feels better at a high level. Dry air does not suit the plant well, often leads to damage by spider mites, partial loss of decorative effect.

Priming

Ideal for growing mandarin at home special blend for citrus fruits - it is easy to buy it at any flower shop.

You can also prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, you need to take foliage soil from the upper fertile layer, add the following components:

river sand - a glass;
humus - 3 tbsp. spoons;
ash - 1 tbsp. spoon.

The proportions are based on 1 glass of leafy soil.

The acidity of the substrate should be weak, and the structure should be light. Be sure to provide drainage at the bottom of the tank as a prevention of stagnation, root rot. As a material for drainage, you can use pebbles, expanded clay, crumbs of ceramic objects.

Pot

You can choose a container from any material: ceramics, clay, plastic. The main thing is that the pot has suitable size and drainage holes at the bottom.

Features of caring procedures

We will find out what kind of care an indoor tangerine needs for normal life and active flowering.

Watering

Like its wild relatives, the cultivated mandarin is quite capable of enduring periods of drought. Of course, if the dry period is too long, the plant will have to shed its foliage in order to survive, but with further regular watering, it will recover fairly quickly.

Note that it is much easier for a mandarin to survive just a drought than waterlogging. Excessive watering leads to the development of fungal diseases that can completely destroy the tangerine.

You can determine the specific amount of water for irrigation based on the following parameters:

plant size;
the volume of the pot;
air temperature in the room;
illumination level.

The larger the tangerine in size, the more water it needs: moisture quickly evaporates from the surface of bulky leaves. In addition, the higher the ambient temperature, the more you should water. In winter, they water very little, starting to reduce the frequency and volume of water since autumn.

If you take water from the tap for irrigation, be sure to defend it. Otherwise, tangerine will react negatively to alkali, chlorine and salts of heavy metals contained in tap water.

In hot weather, along with watering, also apply spraying. For the procedure, use a spray gun with small holes. Spraying to humidify the air, remove dust from the leaves, make the microclimate more comfortable.

Tip: it is advisable to carry out moisturizing procedures in the morning: at this time, life support processes in the plant's body are most active

top dressing

Without a full-fledged high-quality top dressing, an indoor tangerine will not be able to please either good growth or bright fruits. The soil in a pot with this plant becomes poorer quickly: a lot of nutrients are consumed during the growing season, and there is nowhere to take them again in the closed space of the pot. You can use both minerals and organics. The plant responds well to both dry granules and liquid, soluble formulations.

In the spring, when the plant begins to revive after a period of winter dormancy, top dressing should be made frequent and intense. It is during this period that mandarin requires more nutrients for development. In winter, when the mandarin is in "hibernation", there is no need to fertilize it.

Such a composition of top dressing is considered optimal, in which the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is balanced - the main microelements for any plant. Optimally suitable are special fertilizers intended for citrus fruits, tangerines. Use mineral ready-made formulations strictly according to the instructions indicated on the package. And it is better to make the solution less concentrated than to overdo it: overfeeding is extremely harmful to the flower, it can lead to its toxic poisoning.

Fertilization frequency: 2 times a week during the growing season from March to September. Less often, more often not. Be careful with dry top dressing, as if there is not enough water, the roots may burn. It is desirable to carry out top dressing in the morning or in the afternoon until 14 o'clock. The plant responds well to traditional root fertilization and foliar spraying.

From organic matter, when growing indoor tangerine, cow dung is used. Fertilizer is diluted in a ratio of 1:10, but due to the specific smell, it is usually used only when the plant is in a greenhouse, greenhouse, and not at home.

Trimming, pinching

In order for the indoor tangerine to have a neat, compact shape, it is recommended to pinch the young shoots from above. This measure will allow the plant to branch more actively, becoming more lush. In addition, it is necessary to constantly remove drying shoots, branches, foliage, buds.

If a young mandarin is taken to bloom very profusely, some of the flowers are usually removed. Otherwise, the plant will be severely depleted, and the fruits will not be able to form and ripen.

Note that the fewer fruits ripen on a tangerine tree, the larger each of them and vice versa. If there are too many fruits, tie up branches so that they do not bend or break under the weight.

Transfer

As a rule, the procedure is performed when the plant in the old pot becomes too crowded. Since the young growth is growing rapidly, it is transplanted every year, after the age of seven - once every 2-3 years.

A new container should not be chosen too large, only 5-8 cm in diameter larger than the previous one. Do not plant a small tangerine in a pot that is too voluminous, as this often leads to rotting of its roots.

You can not transplant during flowering, best time- spring, shortly after the awakening of the plant. 2-3 days before the transplant date, stop feeding, you can not use fertilizers and for a couple of weeks after the procedure.

How is reproduction

Room mandarin at home breeds:

vegetatively:
generative.

The first method involves growing a new plant from cuttings, the second - from a seed. It is clear that a new tangerine will sprout from an already formed shoot much faster and easier, which is why this method is usually used. You can also grow from a bone, but the process will be much longer, and its result will be unpredictable. What if this is the bone of a huge wild mandarin growing five meters high?

cuttings

To make the shoot more likely to take root, it is better to use a special liquid that stimulates the development of the root system. In a solution of this liquid, it is necessary to soak the lower part of the cut shoot for some time.

After processing, the cutting is planted in wet sand or soil mixture, covering the container with a polyethylene bag from above. Within a few months, with regular airing and watering, the cuttings usually take root.

From the bone

If you still decide to grow a mandarin from a stone, make sure that this variety is dwarf, and not ordinary. Otherwise, problems are likely when the plant grows. Most often, a tangerine grown from a stone does not bloom - for this it will need to be vaccinated. But, of course, you can grow just a green tree.

If propagation by cuttings or seeds is not suitable, purchase a ready-made, grown mandarin with fruits in a flower shop.

Problems

Most often, when growing a mandarin at home, it is affected by harmful insects: scale insects, spider mites, and worms. Pest control is as follows.

Shchitovka

This insect, resistant to insecticides, is eliminated by spraying with a solution of liquid soap - 2 tbsp. spoons of soap or dish detergent to a 3-liter jar of water. It is previously recommended to collect visible insects by hand. The remedy is kept on mandarin foliage for half an hour, then washed off with water.

mite

If the pest is visible on the leaves, it is collected by hand. Then wipe the stems and foliage on all sides with a cotton swab dipped in technical or medical alcohol. After that, it is desirable to spray with a tincture of garlic, onions (200 grams of chopped vegetable is infused in a liter of heated water).

Chervets

From the pest, wiping the foliage with an alcohol cotton swab, followed by spraying with garlic or onion tincture, will also help.

Tip: it is better to spray in two stages, as one may not be enough. Maintain an interval of a week or ten days.

If the defeat is strong, and folk remedies obviously not coping, you will have to use chemical insecticides. In this case, the tangerine in the pot will have to be taken away from the living quarters for a while and while it is being processed, keep it away from people and pets.

Spots on the leaves

The problem usually arises from the fact that the tangerine is not properly watered. Excessive watering is harmful to the plant: first spots appear, then the foliage begins to fall off and the critical point of the process is the decay of the roots. It is not worth bringing to the last, it is necessary to establish watering already at the stage of spots. Otherwise, the death of the plant is likely.

Diseases

The danger is represented by fungal and viral pathologies. As a preventive measure, agricultural technology is observed, and if the disease has already struck the flower, fungicides are used, or the tangerine is transplanted into another pot with fresh soil.

We learned what kind of care a room mandarin needs. This plant is able to decorate any apartment due to its bright foliage and orange, beautiful fruits. Mandarin is not difficult to grow: by following the available care measures, you can achieve its active growth, lush, long flowering and abundant fruiting.

Mandarin- an evergreen plant that belongs to the Rutov family. The specific Latin name of the mandarin is Citrus reticulate. Like orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, it belongs to the genus Citrus. The life form of this plant is interesting - it can be a shrub and a tree, reaching a height of 5 meters.

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room tangerine
Like other representatives of the genus Citrus, mandarin has long been grown in greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens. Despite its size, mandarin at home can be grown on a balcony or on a windowsill. Currently, breeders have bred many varieties of dwarf and undersized tangerines for home growing, the maximum height of which is 0.6-1.1 m. Indoor mandarin may not belong to dwarf varieties, then the plant needs to be severely cut and shaped.

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Room tangerine is very effective potted plant . And not only because of the bright, fragrant and appetizing orange fruits that can be stored on it for several months. Sometimes the plant gives pleasure only by its flowering, because the delicate white flowers of the mandarin exude an amazing aroma. In some varieties, flowering begins in spring and may continue all year round. room tangerine, grown as a bonsai, is a true work of art.

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Indoor mandarin fruits tied without artificial pollination, usually ripen at the end of the year. Often, indoor tangerine in a pot is bought in a store with fruits already hanging on it. Despite the fact that they are very appetizing, they should not be eaten. Indeed, to achieve such a high decorative effect, plants receive high doses of fertilizers. Leathery and corrugated leaves are beautiful in mandarin.

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Popular mandarin varieties for growing at home
Unshiu - a Japanese variety, the most unpretentious, begins to bear fruit for 3-4 years, grows up to 0.8-1.5 m in room conditions. It branches well. It blooms profusely in spring, forms fruits in late October-November. Pear-shaped fruits do not have seeds.
Kowano-Wase, Miha-Wase, Miyagawa-Wase - dwarf tangerines Vasya groups - suitable for growing on a windowsill, height 40-80 cm. Orange-yellow fruits ripen for the first time in the second year of cultivation, flowering is plentiful. Like all dwarf varieties, they do not need crown formation.
Shiva-Mikan - early compact fast growing variety. Fruits are small, not more than 30 g
Murcott- the fruits of this compact mandarin variety are very sweet, ripen in summer, taste very sweet, which is why the name of the variety is translated as "honey".
Clementine- a hybrid of mandarin and orange, bears fruit at home in the second year. One adult domestic tree per year produces up to 50 medium flattened orange-red fruits, very fragrant, with a shiny skin. Plants of this variety with numerous seeds are called monrealis.

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Mandarin care at home
Tangerine lighting at home
First step in successful cultivation indoor tangerine - choosing a place for a plant and its proper lighting.
Mandarin room, as well as grown in open field, you need good lighting with some direct sunlight. In low light, the plant slows down growth, throws out a small number of flowers or does not bloom at all. With a strong lack of light, the leaves of indoor tangerine become faded, new shoots are elongated, thin and painful in appearance. Therefore, it is better to grow a plant on the eastern, southeastern and southern windows, shading from midday direct rays. In summer, the plant can be taken out to the balcony, gradually accustoming it to the street.
In winter, with a short daylight hours, indoor mandarin should be placed in the most lit place with direct sunlight. But sometimes this is not enough: you need artificial lighting. For this purpose, an ordinary fitolamp is suitable, which can be screwed into a chandelier or table lamp. It is necessary to transfer the plant to supplementary lighting gradually. With a sharp change in the length of daylight hours, it can shed its leaves.

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Content temperature
Optimum temperature for indoor tangerine summer time+ 20-25 оС. During the period of budding and flowering, so that the flowers do not fall off, it is better to keep the plant at a temperature slightly below + 20 ° C. AT winter time to ensure a relative dormant period, tangerines are kept at + 5 -10 ° C. A plant that has rested over the winter will flower and bear fruit better.

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How to water and spray tangerine at home
Indoor mandarin, like its wild ancestors, is adapted to endure dry periods. In a pinch, the plant will shed its leaves to reduce the amount of liquid that evaporates. Frequent problem when growing mandarin at home, this is excessive watering, which leads to the development of fungal diseases.
The amount of water for watering indoor mandarin depends on several factors:
- the size of the plant;
- the size of the container in which the tangerine grows;
- ambient temperature;
- duration of daylight hours and light intensity.
The larger the surface of the leaves of indoor mandarin, the stronger the evaporation, and the more it needs to be watered. The temperature also affects the rate of evaporation: the higher it is, the more the plant loses moisture. The length of daylight directly affects the amount of moisture that evaporates. Stomata - formations on the underside land plants, serving for gas exchange, open during daylight hours.
Watering indoor tangerine should be carried out in the morning, when the plant has activated its vital processes. When the temperature drops, watering is reduced, up to stopping for several days during the period when the temperature in the room is only + 12-15 ° C. In this case, the tangerine is watered with a small amount of water, only to maintain life.
Mandarin at home needs regular spraying of leaves. Strongly dry air has a bad effect on the plant and is often a prerequisite for its infestation with spider mites. If indoor tangerine blooms, then you need to make sure that water does not fall on its flowers.

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How to feed mandarin at home
A complete care for a mandarin at home is not possible without additional mineral and organic top dressing. The soil in a pot is quickly depleted and washed out during watering, and recreational processes practically do not occur in it, unlike the soil in nature.
For top dressing, you can use soluble or dry fertilizers. In the spring, with an increase in daylight hours, top dressing for indoor mandarin is increased. It is in the early spring period that vegetative and generative buds begin to develop intensively, at which time the plant requires additional nutrients.
At home, mandarin is fertilized, like everyone else. houseplants, that is, in the morning. The ambient temperature should be at least + 18-19 degrees.
Soluble fertilizers are often used for top dressing. They can water the plant, and in a weaker concentration spray its leaves. Any complex mineral fertilizer containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, the main elements needed by plants, is suitable for feeding indoor tangerine.
Dissolve fertilizers in soft or settled water at room temperature. The main thing is not to increase the dose. If the instructions say: 1 cap of the product per 1 liter of water, do not think that 2 caps will make the solution more useful. This will lead to the opposite effect - a chemical burn or toxic poisoning of the plant.
You need to feed mandarin at home during the period of intensive growth (from March to September) 2 times a week. Maybe less often, but not more often.
Dry fertilizers, which are applied to the soil and gradually dissolve, giving the soil trace elements, must be applied even more carefully. Their advantage is that by making them in the spring you can long time forget about feeding. However, they can be quickly used by the plant, and it will be difficult to guess about it. The introduction of an additional dose of fertilizer will lead to the above overdose.
Mandarin cultivation also requires organic fertilizers. To do this, you can dilute infused cow dung in a ratio of 1/10. The best option will use organic fertilizer in combination with mineral for soil top dressing.

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Additional care for mandarin at home
To form a lush tangerine tree, pinch the tops of its branches.
Caring for a tangerine at home also consists in removing dried leaves or stretched twigs.
On the young flowering plants partially remove the flowers so as not to deplete them and allow several fruits to ripen. For 15-20 leaves of an adult plant, one ovary can be left. The fewer fruits left on the tangerine, the larger they will be.
The fruit-bearing branches of indoor mandarin are tied, tied to a support, otherwise they may break due to the severity of the fruit, and the plant will not have an attractive appearance.

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Diseases and pests
Mandarin at home can be affected by scale insects, red spider mites and mealybugs. Spraying the plant with a soapy solution will help from the scale insect (2 tbsp. L of liquid soap, you can "Fary", for 3 liters of water). It is better to pre-clean pests by hand. After keeping the solution on the leaves for half an hour, it is washed off warm water. In case of damage by a spider mite, the pest is collected manually, after which the leaves and twigs are wiped with a cotton swab moistened cold water or alcohol, then sprayed with a two-day infusion of garlic or onions (crush 200 g and pour warm boiled water). Against the mealybug, removing the pest with a cotton swab and 3 times spraying with infusion of garlic (1 time in 7 days), or rubbing with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (can be replaced with calendula tincture) will also help. With persistent damage by any pest, potent chemicals are used, which are used according to the instructions.
With improper watering, mandarin leaves become stained and fall off. To prevent or eliminate the problem, follow the rules for watering citrus plants.

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Mandarin transplant at home
Proper care of a mandarin at home involves a plant transplant. Usually, a transplant is carried out if the plant, in our case, indoor tangerine, is cramped in a pot. As a rule, young indoor tangerine plants are transplanted annually, plants older than 7 years - once every 2 years. For transplanting, use a special soil mixture for citrus fruits or make it yourself from soddy soil (50%) and leaf, humus and sand, taken in equal parts.
For transplanting indoor tangerine, choose a pot with diameters 5–8 cm larger than the previous one. You can not plant a small plant immediately in a large pot: this often leads to rotting of the roots. In addition, it is neither aesthetic nor practical.
Mandarin at home, as in nature, prefers a light substrate with low acidity. Drainage must be placed at the bottom of the transplant tank - this is the prevention of stagnant water and root rot. As a drainage, you can use: expanded clay, small stones, fragments ceramic dishes, pieces of foam.
Transplantation of indoor mandarin can not be carried out during the flowering of the plant. It is better to do this in the spring at the beginning of the awakening of the plant from a relative dormant period.
You can not feed the plant 2-3 days before transplanting, and also use fertilizers within 12-14 days after transplanting.
After transplanting, indoor tangerine is lightly watered so that the soil settles down. After 30-40 minutes, if necessary, a substrate is added to the pot and watered again.

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Reproduction of indoor tangerine
Mandarin at home can be propagated in two ways:
- vegetative (rooting of twigs);
- generative (growing from the stone).
For rooting cuttings, it is better to use a rooter - the percentage of survival will be 3-4 times higher. To do this, cuttings with 2-3 leaves are dipped in a rooter and planted in moist soil, covered with a film or cut from above. plastic bottle Be sure to leave holes in them for ventilation. Cuttings take root within a few months.
Growing mandarin at home from the stone is the longest method of reproduction, especially since some varieties almost do not form seeds. In addition, indoor tangerine grown in this way will need to be grafted, otherwise it will not bloom. For rootstock better fit indoor lemon or grapefruit grown at home from a seed.
Since both methods of propagating indoor mandarin take too much time, more often amateur flower growers buy already grafted indoor tangerine in the shops.

1:1911

The tangerine tree belongs to the citrus family. It is evergreen and does not shed its foliage 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 is 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.
Yingshiu- a popular and unpretentious look. Easily tolerates a drop in temperature to -5 degrees. The fruits are very sweet and fragrant with almost no pits. Ideal for growing at home.
Tangerine characterized by elongated fruits and plump skin. Tangerines are very sweet and tasty, but have a specific pungent smell that not everyone likes.

In addition, breeders have bred many hybrid species that 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 the 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 can be different, the color is bright, red-orange. The skin is thick and hard to remove.
Tangor differs in large fruits, which can reach a diameter of up to 15 cm. They taste very sweet and juicy. In addition, there are several varieties, with variegated coloring not only of leaves, but also of fruits.
Ellendale unpretentious plant, giving a large harvest in the form of very sweet fruits. Yes, but finding a seedling of this hybrid is quite difficult.

Mandarin tree care

In order for the tangerine tree not only to please with its foliage and flowers, but also to bear fruit, it is necessary to properly care for it and create comfortable conditions.

For this, it is necessary to take into account such important factors like lighting, air humidity, top dressing, etc.

1. Location

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

The southwest or southeast sides are also perfect. But do not forget to shade the plant during the heat so that it does not get burned.

During a period when the weather outside is warm enough, it is better to place a tree on a balcony or veranda. If you live in a private house, then you can dig the plant right with the pot.

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

2. Temperature regime

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 can not wait for the appearance of fruits.

3. Humidity

The humidity level must be high enough. To achieve this, the plant is regularly sprayed several times a day. This must be done as summer period, as well as in 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 at the same time, direct sunlight should not fall on the tree. On too hot days, it must be shaded so that burn spots do not appear on the leaves.

5. Spraying

Mandarin 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

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

7. Top dressing and fertilizer

From April to September, the tangerine tree must be actively fed. For this, 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, feeding can be completely stopped or reduced to a minimum.

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

8. Pruning and pinching

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

In time, pinch the apical shoots. 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 - 1 time per year.
Fruiting trees - 1 time in 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 can adversely affect 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 upper layers of the substrate can be changed.

When transplanting, 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 neck 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 is different in that it is necessary to take turf land not 2 parts, but 3. In addition, it is advisable to add a small amount of oily clay.

10. Diseases and pests

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

The soil after the procedure should be abundantly sprinkled with ash. If necessary, after a week, all actions are repeated.

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

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

reproduction

A tangerine tree can even be grown from a seed, but this method is not very common. The fact is that fruits from such a plant can be expected 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 taste bitter. You can, of course, carry out budding or vaccination from another citrus plant, but in this case the result may not be as expected.

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

Answers to frequently asked questions

Why do leaves fall from a tangerine tree?

When the leaves fall occasionally and in a small amount is a natural process. If the foliage began to intensively turn yellow and fall off, then this may indicate that the plant does not have enough lighting, it is watered incorrectly (dry, flooded), or there was a significant temperature difference when the tree was transferred to winter mode.

The leaves have turned brown. What is the reason?

As a rule, the leaves of the tangerine tree turn brown due to excess fertilizer.

To prevent the appearance of pests, it is necessary to adhere to all the rules for caring for the plant. It is also necessary to periodically treat the leaves with soapy foam. But be careful not to get soapy water into the substrate. To prevent this, it is enough to cover the pot with polyethylene.

Many amateur flower growers sometimes had the thought of planting a seed from a tangerine. But will the tree not only grow, but also bear fragrant fruits? For this to happen, it is necessary to carry out proper care at home for tangerine tree.

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 cultivation, a tree is suitable, which will have a small amount of medium-sized fruits, as well as small sizes.

Some types of tangerine tree:

tangerine - has a lot of advantages among other varieties and is great for growing in an apartment;
tangerine wavy - 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 a sour taste), as well as mukaku-kishiu and kishiu (sweet varieties);
hybrids.

Due to the variety of varieties, any grower will find that kind for himself. homemade tangerine, which will suit him 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.

Tangerine tree: the nuances of growing

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

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

Selection of planting material

To plant a tangerine tree from a seed, you will first need to 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, fresh bones that have not yet had time to dry are suitable for planting. They do not need to be soaked in advance, and the likelihood of seedlings increases significantly.

Soil and pot requirements

The tangerine tree will not grow in acidic soil, so the grower should definitely keep an eye on 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 from a grow shop. The soil should have a non-acidic environment (neutral PH) and be suitable for planting tangerines. Peat as a soil coma is not suitable.

How to plant?

As the first container, you can use ordinary plastic cups or small transparent pots with a diameter of not more than 10 cm. It is better to prepare a separate container for each bone.

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

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

Transplanting mandarin 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 other transparent container - this way it will be easier for the grower to observe the growth of the roots of the plant.

A young tree will need to be pulled out of the first pot along with an earthy clod and transferred to a suitable container bigger size. It will be necessary to perform a transplant every year until the tangerine begins to bear the first fruits.

Will a tree grown from a seed bear fruit?

If you take proper care of this plant, it will bear fruit without fail. True, this will happen no earlier than in 3-4 years. It should also be remembered that ornamental plants with rather sour fruits grow from the stone in most cases.

Tangerine tree: care

From proper care a plant of the genus citrus is completely dependent on its appearance, as well as the taste properties of the resulting fruits. You will need to comply with all growing conditions, properly water the green pet and fertilize the soil in time.

Growing conditions

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

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

Attention! The main feature of the mandarin is its addiction to one-sided lighting. The flower should not be often turned around its axis, as stress can shed its leaves and even die.

How to water correctly?

Also, the grower will need to know how to properly water the tangerine tree. This plant is very fond of moisture, so in the summer it must be watered every other day. In winter, watering is reduced and the tangerine will have enough moisture in the soil once a week.

In summer, be sure to spray the leaves several times a day, while not touching the flowers with water. It is also recommended to place a small container of water next to the plant to maintain an optimal level of air humidity.

Fertilizer and top dressing

It is imperative to carry out top dressing, starting in March and ending in early autumn. During this period, the kidneys are actively developing, which will require the supply of mineral fertilizer.

What should be in top dressing:

nitrogen;
phosphorus;
potassium.

Mandarin can also be fertilized with mullein manure, diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10. It should be fed once every one and a half weeks, alternating the type of feeding. In winter, fertilizers are reduced to once a month.

Shaping and trimming

Often, it is not necessary to form a crown at home, since the varieties initially have decorative look. The grower will only need to pluck the shoots during their germination from the seed. If the plant has given birth to heavy fruits, it should be tied to a support.

How to plant mandarin at home?

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

Disease and pest control

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

The most common diseases are:

Anthracnose. Manifested by yellowing and falling leaves with deformation of the bark. For treatment, treatment with "Fitosporin" is used. The affected part of the plant is recommended to be destroyed.
Gommose citrus. Red spots form on the trunk. This can happen due to improper planting, damage to the trunk, lack of necessary drainage, or an excess of fertilizer. You can correct the situation by treating cracks with a light solution of vitriol. From above it is necessary to cover them with garden pitch.
Scab. It looks like small transparent spots, which subsequently turn into gray warty formations. Spraying the plant three times with Bordeaux liquid will help to cure the plant.
Spider mite. Manifested by a cobweb on the leaves. Initially, it is necessary to remove pests from the tangerine with an old toothbrush, and then give it a contrast shower. The soil should be sprinkled with ash. You will need to repeat the procedure in a week and a half.

If you take care of the tangerine tree according to all the rules, you can get a wonderful living decoration in any interior. When bright orange fruits begin to bloom on it, this will definitely cheer up the owner and attract the attention of all guests at home.