When planning to grow a tangerine tree at home, it is better to acquire dwarf or weak-growing varieties. They are less whimsical, and they take up little space. For these purposes, early ripe varieties of mandarin that come from Japan are great.
Mandarin is an evergreen perennial. Belongs to the root family. The homeland of the tangerine tree is Southeast Asia. Has a dark green leathery foliage. Homemade tangerine tree blooms in spring with fragrant white flowers. The tangerine tree of the house will grow to a height of one meter. The fruits ripen closer to fall and may sag on the branches for several months. On one plant, up to seventy fruits can ripen.
Mandarins love sunlight, therefore, placing a tangerine tree at home, it is best to choose bright sunny rooms. And with the onset of spring heat, the plant feels great in the fresh air of a balcony or veranda. If there is a garden plot, then you can dig a tangerine into the ground without removing it from the pot. In the winter months, it is better to place the home tangerine tree in a bright, cool room. The air temperature in it should be no higher than 12 degrees, this condition is necessary in order for the plant to bear fruit next year.
Watering the plant in the summer months is plentiful (several times a day), and with the onset of the winter months it decreases to moderate as the earthen coma dries up (several times a week). For irrigation, water at room temperature is used. To increase the air humidity to the required degree, a container of water should be placed next to the plant. It is also necessary to spray the tangerine tree at home with water at room temperature two to three times a day.
From April to September, experts recommend to introduce complex mineral fertilizers of organic origin into the soil of the tangerine tree every week. If the plant is plentifully fertilized in the summer, then its fruits as a result will have a sweetish taste. It is necessary to water the plant and before going to make fertilizer. In winter, fertilize the plant in much smaller quantities, and it is best to stop top dressing altogether.
Mandarin loves not only light but also warmth. Therefore, try to maintain the temperature of the soil and air (with the exception of the winter period) at least 18 degrees.
It is necessary to transplant a tangerine tree at home every year in the spring until the plant reaches eight years of age. After that, you can transplant every two years. The optimal substrate for this plant is "Biohumus", you can use the soil "Rose".
Propagation of mandarin occurs either by grafting, or by seeds and cuttings. If you are going to grow a plant from seed, then you must do this immediately after extracting the seeds from the fruit. Light, fertile soil is taken for planting . The first shoots appear in about a month. It must be remembered that in the first months, tangerines grow quite slowly. Such a seedling will begin to bear fruit only at the age of four to five years. The tangerine tree obtained from the stone must be grafted without fail, since an ordinary wild game with very small fruits grows from it.
Vaccination can be carried out in two ways: by cutting or eye. For a successful vaccination, you must choose the moment when the sap flow begins. This usually happens in the month of April. During this period, the bark of the plant is easily separated from the wood itself.
At home, a tangerine tree is sometimes affected by a red spider mite, various species of scale insects and citrus whiteflies. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the condition of the plant and take timely measures to destroy pests.