A small evergreen tangerine tree belongs to the Rutov 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 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 grow tangerine tree. Home care is not too burdensome. Trees take root easier and faster than other citrus fruits. They do not fade 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 tangerine?
In specialized nurseries today you can buy an already fruiting, adult tangerine tree. Formed citruses are expensive, so many flower growers prefer to grow a tree of sprouts or seeds. Of course, the first option will give you less trouble. However, acquiring a young tree, it is necessary to require a certificate from sellers for their goods. Instead of tangerines, merchants often sell Kalamondins, which have the smell of citrus, but the beautiful orange fruits are completely tasteless.
Typically, this happens when you purchase 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 seed, but for now we’ll talk about what conditions a tree needs to be created in order for it to actively develop, bloom and delight with bright and tasty fruits.
Soil for tangerine
Citrus fruits cannot grow on acidic soils containing peat. To grow a home-made tangerine tree, you need to prepare light and nutritious, well-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. To do this, you will need:
- turf and sheet soil in equal parts;
- coarse river sand, which should be disinfected;
- humus.
When your tree turns three years old, it is necessary to add oily clay to the soil: it retains moisture and protects the roots from drying out. Pour a drainage layer about 5 cm thick into the tub or pot into which you are going to plant the plant. For this purpose, you can use small pebbles, clay shards, expanded clay.
Do I need to transplant mandarin?
If you get an adult plant, then in nurseries, usually warn buyers about whether a mandarin transplant is needed in the near future. You yourself will be able to determine that the plant is cramped in the pot: from the drainage holes its roots will be visible.
Each year, the tangerine tree is transplanted into a larger diameter pot (about five centimeters). Experienced flower growers recommend replanting a four-year-old plant into a wooden tub with a volume of at least 10 liters. In it, it will develop for 2-3 years. Tangerine tree transplantation is best done in the spring, when the plant wakes up and its active development begins. It is very important not to damage the roots of the mandarin during this procedure. To do this, you must:
- moisten the soil at the edges of the tank so that it lags behind the walls more easily;
- gently tap on the container with your hand, which will help to separate the roots with soil from wooden or clay walls;
- take the tangerine tree by the trunk and get it along with an earthen lump.
Remove the old soil from the roots, so as not to injure the plant. In a previously prepared new pot with a drainage layer and a small amount of soil mixture, put a tree in it and fill it with soil. Tamp the ground lightly, water the plant and place it 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 survived the transplant easier.
Lighting
Growing a tangerine tree at home, you must especially 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. A window sill on the north side is more suitable for young plants.
A tangerine tree also feels pretty well next to the southern windows, but provided that they have translucent curtains that scatter light or blinds. Experienced 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, the trees should be taken out to the balcony or to the garden. They are placed under the spreading 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 opened in the evening.
Caring for a tangerine tree in the winter has its own characteristics. In particular, this applies to lighting. The plant needs additional illumination with phytolamps. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. Otherwise, the tree weakens, the foliage turns yellow and falls. A tangerine tree is restored after an illness is difficult and long, and some specimens fail to cope with the shock, and they die.
Temperature and humidity
The first buds appear on a tangerine tree in the spring. It is important that during this period the room temperature 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 give a crop.
In winter, the plant should be moved to a cool room. The temperature must be reduced gradually - due to a sharp drop in the tree can drop the foliage. First, the room should be +18 ° C, then the temperature is reduced to +14, and sometimes to +10 ° C. Why is this mode necessary? This is done so that the plant has time to relax and gain strength over the winter. After a short winter rest, much more tender buds bloom on the tree, and the orange fruits become sweeter and juicier.
Prepare the plant for the dormant period should begin immediately after the harvest is harvested. In the second half of January, the room temperature 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 to be sprayed 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 prevent the air from drying out.
In winter, it is advisable to use ionizers or special humidifiers. If the tree is near a radiator or radiator, cover the heater with a damp towel. The room in which the citrus is located should be regularly ventilated. But at this time, move the tree away from the window, because the mandarin does not like drafts.
Watering citrus
When caring for a tangerine tree at home, you should follow the watering regime. When the soil in the tub with the plant dries up, it can be attacked by spider mites. The soil should always be moist, so in the summer it is watered every day, and in winter - no more than three times a week.
Try the earth in the pot by hand, if it is too dry and crumbles, water the plant. Before that, look into the pan. 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 root system will be affected by the fungus or its decay will begin.
For irrigation use only melt purified or rain water. Water is left to stand for 3-4 days in a plastic container, and then filtered. Mandarin is not recommended to be watered with tap water, since salts and heavy impurities settle in the soil, inhibiting the plant.
How much water is needed 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 has enough liters, then an adult tree needs at least four liters of water. It must be heated to +40 ° C. Water the plant under the root, trying to ensure that moisture does not fall on the trunk, leaves and buds. Mandarin is watered in the morning. Water helps the tree to wake up and starts active metabolic processes.
Fertilizer
This is a very beautiful plant - a homemade tangerine tree. How to care for him? This question is interesting even for experienced gardeners. Does he need nutrition? In winter, the plant does not require additional nutrition, and from April to October, during the period of active vegetation, it is necessary. Nutrients are added twice a month. Complex fertilizers should be used 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-bud”, “Kemira-lux”.
- During fruit ripening - “Uniflor-growth”.
Mineral fertilizers should be alternated with organic. Natural solutions are prepared from bird droppings and cow manure.
One part of the dry mixture is diluted in 12 parts of water, should be insisted for three days, and then applied in small portions. Before applying fertilizer, moisten the soil. Using chemicals, strictly follow the instructions. Exceeding the dosage can cause root burns and even poison the tree.
How to grow mandarin from seed?
For planting, it is advisable to use seeds from numerous hybrids, which today can be purchased in stores. They sprout much faster, earlier enter the flowering period, in most cases give high-quality fruits and are easier to plant. To distinguish them from real tangerines is quite simple: in real fruits there are very few seeds, and in hybrids there are a lot of them.
Selected seeds should not be too thin, deformed or have a blackened tip. It is desirable that there be at least five, since not all of them will sprout.
We pick up a pot
Now you need to select the necessary capacity for landing. For seeds, small plastic cups, cups, with a depth of at least 7 cm, in which there should be drainage holes or small pots, are quite suitable.
Planting seeds
There is a single rule for all representatives of citrus fruits: the faster the seed enters the soil from the fruit, the faster it will sprout. Fresh seeds are immediately placed in the ground, to a depth of not 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 for several days with water on a cloth. So that it does not dry out, the saucer is placed in a plastic bag, covering it a little.
To summarize
We told you how to care for a tangerine tree. As you can see, caring for it is no more difficult than picking 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 stretches out, its branches will cover dark green leaves and delicate buds. In summer, citrus is amazingly fragrant, and in winter, with proper care, it will delight you with delicious and healthy fruits.