A small evergreen tangerine tree belongs to the Rutaceae family. Its fruits are also called tangerines. This plant is native to China and South Vietnam. Under natural conditions, today it is practically not found, but is cultivated in areas with a subtropical climate.
This exotic tree is in demand as an ornamental plant. Today, more and more lovers of indoor plants are growing a tangerine tree. Care at home for him is not too burdensome. Trees take root easier and faster than other citrus fruits. They do not wither even when the air temperature in the room drops to +14 ° C, and in a year a tangerine tree in a pot can produce up to 70 sweet and juicy fruits.
How to choose a tangerine?
In specialized nurseries today you can buy a fruit-bearing, adult tangerine tree. Formed citruses are not cheap, so many flower growers prefer to grow a tree from sprouts or seeds. Of course, the first option will give you lesshassle. However, when purchasing a young tree, it is necessary to require a certificate from sellers for their product. Often merchants sell calamondins instead of tangerines, which smell like citrus, but the beautiful orange fruits are completely tasteless.
As a rule, this happens when purchasing a tangerine tree in the markets. Nursery employees value their reputation very much and do not allow themselves to deceive customers. A little later we will tell you how to grow a tangerine tree from a stone, but for now let's talk about what conditions a tree needs to create so that it actively develops, blooms and pleases with bright and tasty fruits.
Tangerine soil
Citrus fruits cannot grow in acid soils containing peat. To grow a homemade tangerine tree, it is necessary to prepare light and nutritious, air-permeable soil. You can buy ready-made soil in the store, and if this is not possible, then it is not difficult to prepare it yourself. For this you will need:
- turf and sheet soil in equal parts;
- river coarse sand to be disinfected;
- humus.
When your tree is three years old, you need to add greasy clay to the soil: it retains moisture and protects the roots from drying out. In a tub or pot in which you are going to plant a plant, pour a drainage layer about 5 cm thick. For this purpose, you can use small pebbles, clay shards, expanded clay.
Is it necessarytransplant tangerine?
If you buy an adult plant, then nurseries usually warn buyers about whether a tangerine needs a transplant in the near future. You yourself can determine that the plant is cramped in a pot: its roots will be visible from the drainage holes.
Every year, the tangerine tree is transplanted into a larger pot (about five centimeters). Experienced flower growers recommend transplanting a four-year-old plant into a wooden tub with a volume of at least 10 liters. In it, he will develop over 2-3 years. Transplanting a tangerine tree is best done in the spring, when the plant wakes up and its active development begins. It is very important during this procedure not to damage the mandarin roots. For this you need:
- moisten the soil along the edges of the container so that it is easier to lag behind the walls;
- lightly tap the container with your hand, which will help separate the roots with soil from wooden or clay walls;
- take a tangerine tree by the trunk and pull it out together with an earthen clod.
Do not remove old soil from the roots, so as not to injure the plant. In a new pot prepared in advance with a drainage layer and a small amount of soil mixture, place a tree in it and cover it with soil. Lightly tamp the soil, water the plant and place in the sun. When transplanting a tree, do not completely cover the root neck with soil (this is the line that separates the skeletal roots and trunk). Its upper part should remain on the surface so that the plant survives the transplant more easily.
Lighting
When growing a tangerine tree at home, you need to carefully choose a place where the plant will have enough natural light. The more sunlight a tree receives, the more actively it develops and produces more juicy fruits. Mature trees are placed next to the east or west windows. For young plants, a window sill on the north side is more suitable.
The tangerine tree also feels good next to the southern windows, but on condition that translucent curtains are installed on them that scatter light or blinds. Experienced flower growers do not recommend placing trees in such a way that direct rays of the sun fall on the leaves. They burn the crown and overdry the ground.
In summer, trees should be taken out to the balcony or garden. They are placed under sprawling tall trees, the foliage of which scatters and softens the light. Plants that are in the apartment by the window must be closed from the sun at noon, and open in the evening.
Tangerine tree care in winter has its own characteristics. In particular, this applies to lighting. The plant needs additional illumination with phytolamps. Light day should be at least 12 hours. Otherwise, the tree weakens, the foliage turns yellow and falls off. It is difficult and long to recover from a disease of a tangerine tree, and some specimens cannot cope with the shock, and they die.
Temperature and humidity
The first buds appear on the tangerine treespring. It is important that during this period the air temperature in the room does not fall below +20 °C. When the temperature drops to +15 °C, the tree is covered with empty flowers, which have a very pleasant smell, but do not yield.
In winter, the plant should be moved to a cool room. The temperature must be reduced gradually - due to a sharp drop, the tree can shed its foliage. At first, the room should be +18 ° C, then the temperature is reduced to +14, and sometimes even to +10 ° C. Why is such a regime necessary? This is done so that the plant has time to rest and gain strength over the winter. After a short winter rest on the tree, much more delicate buds bloom, and the orange fruits become sweeter and juicier.
Prepare the plant for the dormant period should begin immediately after the harvest. In the second half of January, the temperature in the room gradually begins to increase so that the tree wakes up and has time to prepare for flowering and fruiting. The tangerine tree is moisture and heat-loving, so on hot summer days it needs spraying from a spray bottle. This procedure is carried out two to three times a day. Place a bucket or basin of water next to the plant to keep the air from drying out.
In winter, it is advisable to use ionizers or special humidifiers. If the tree is located near a radiator or radiator, the heater should be covered with a damp towel. The room in which the citrus is located should be regularly ventilated. But in thismove the tree away from the window, because the tangerine does not like drafts.
Citrus Watering
When caring for a tangerine tree at home, you should follow the watering regimen. When the soil in the tub with the plant dries out, it can be attacked by spider mites. The soil should always be moistened, so in summer it is watered every day, and in winter - no more than three times a week.
Try the earth in a pot with your hand, if it is too dry and crumbling, water the plant. Before that, look in the pallet. The liquid accumulated there indicates that the plant is waterlogged and does not have time to absorb water. In this case, watering should be stopped until the pan is completely dry. Otherwise, the fungus will infect the root system or it will begin to rot.
For irrigation use only purified melt or rainwater. Tap water is defended for 3-4 days in a plastic container, and then filtered. Mandarin is not recommended to be watered with tap water, as s alts and heavy impurities settle in the soil, inhibiting the plant.
How much water is required for irrigation?
It depends on the air temperature and the size of the tree. The higher the temperature in the room, the more moisture evaporates. If a young plant needs a liter, then an adult tree needs at least four liters of water. It must be heated up to +40 °C. Water the plant under the root, trying to prevent moisture from getting on the trunk, leaves and buds. Water the mandarin in the morning. Water helps the tree wake up and starts active metabolic processes.
Fertilizer
This is a very beautiful plant - homemade tangerine tree. How to care for him? This question interests even experienced flower growers. Does he need food? In winter, the plant does not require additional nutrition, but from April to October, during the active growing season, it is necessary. Nutrients are added twice a month. Use complex fertilizers that contain:
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- nitrogen.
They can be purchased at flower shops. Experts recommend giving preference to the following drugs:
- During the flowering period - "Uniflor-buton", "Kemira-Lux".
- During fruit ripening - "Uniflor-growth".
Mineral fertilizers should be alternated with organic ones. Natural solutions are made from bird droppings and cow dung.
One part of the dry mixture is diluted in 12 parts of water, should be infused for three days, and then applied in small portions. Moisten the soil before fertilizing. When using chemicals, strictly follow the instructions. Exceeding the dosage can cause root burns and even poison the tree.
How to grow a tangerine from a seed?
For planting, it is desirable to use seeds from numerous hybrids that can be purchased in stores today. They sprout much faster, enter the flowering period earlier, in most cases produce high-quality fruits and are easier to graft. It is quite simple to distinguish them from real tangerines: inreal fruits have very few seeds, but hybrids have many.
Selected seeds should not be too thin, misshapen or have a blackened tip. It is desirable that there be at least five of them, since not all of them will germinate.
Choose a pot
Now you should choose the necessary capacity for planting. For seeds, small plastic cups, bowls, at least 7 cm deep, which should have drainage holes or small pots, are quite suitable.
Planting seeds
For all representatives of citrus there is a single rule: the faster the seed from the fruit gets into the soil, the faster it will sprout. Fresh seeds are immediately placed in the ground, to a depth of no more than 4 cm. If for some reason you were unable to do this, then to speed up the germination of dried grains, soak them with water on a cloth for several days. So that it does not dry out, the saucer is placed in a plastic bag, covering it a little.
Summarize
We have told you how to care for a tangerine tree. As you can see, caring for it is no more difficult than caring for an orchid on the windowsill or an apple tree in the garden. A lot of light, a little fertilizer and water - and an exotic tree will stretch out, its branches will cover dark green leaves and delicate buds. In summer, citrus is surprisingly fragrant, and in winter, with proper care, it will delight you with tasty and he althy fruits.
