Tangerine trees take root in city apartments more easily than lemon or orange trees. They do not wither when the room temperature drops to +14, and can produce up to 70 juicy and sweet fruits per year. Citruses clean and disinfect the air, protecting apartment residents from colds and viral diseases, delight the eye with a thick dark green crown and soft white flowers that smell much better than any freshener.
Rules for buying tangerine
On the Internet or specialized nurseries they sell already mature fruit-bearing trees, which you just need to bring home, water and feed. Formed citrus fruits will cost a hefty sum, so it’s easier to grow your own tangerine from a sprout or seed.
The first option is less troublesome, but when buying a young tree you should ask the seller for a certificate. Some traders pass off calamondins as tangerines, which smell like citrus and bear fruit, but the orange fruit is completely tasteless. They cheat mainly in markets or supermarkets, because nurseries value their reputation, but even when visiting a specialized center, you should ask the employees for documents.
Land preparation
Can't stand citrus fruits acidic soils, which contain peat. The soil for growing tangerines should be light and nutritious, allow air to pass through and retain moisture. To prepare the right soil for young trees, you need to mix 4 components:
- leaf and turf soil in equal proportions;
- coarse-grained river sand, which must be disinfected;
- humus obtained from cow dung.
The last ingredient can be replaced with compost, which has no less nutrients. When the tangerine is 3–4 years old, rich clay is added to the soil, which will retain moisture and protect the root system from drying out.
Pour a drainage layer 3–5 cm thick into a pot or tub intended for citrus. Expanded clay, small pebbles or clay shards are suitable. Use large pebbles that allow air to pass through better and prevent water from stagnating at the bottom.
Do I need to replant the tangerine?
Every year the citrus tree is moved from a smaller pot to a larger one, because the growing tree needs more space. It is recommended to transplant a four-year-old tangerine immediately into wooden tub, where it will live and bear fruit over the next 2-3 years.
Relocate a plant better in spring when citrus wakes up and actively develops. First, they make a small dig to check the condition of the root system. If the tangerine tightly entwines the earthen ball, it is replanted. If not, change it upper layer soil and leave in the old pot until next year.
How to relocate citrus without injuring it?
- Moisten the soil around the edges so that it better comes away from the walls of the pot.
- Lightly tap the container with a spatula or hand. This makes it easier to separate the roots and soil from the clay or wooden walls.
- Take the tangerine by the trunk and remove it along with the soil. There is no need to remove old soil from the plant so as not to damage it.
- Prepare in advance new pot with drainage and a layer of soil. Place a tangerine in it and cover it with soil on top.
- Compact the soil, but not too much. Water the citrus and place in the sun.
When replanting a tree, you cannot completely cover the root collar with soil. Her top part should remain on the surface so that the citrus takes root faster.
Help: The root collar of a tangerine is the line separating the trunk and skeletal roots. In this place the tree has a small compaction, which is half covered with earth.
Lighting
Tangerines need sunlight. The more, the healthier the tree and the juicier the fruit. Mature citrus trees are placed next to western or eastern windows. Pots with young trees are placed on the northern windowsill.
Plants also do well next to south-facing windows if they have blinds or translucent curtains installed to diffuse the light. It is undesirable for citrus leaves to be exposed to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet light burns the crown of tangerines and dries out the soil.
In summer, it is useful to take citrus fruits out onto the balcony or leave them in the garden. The tub is placed under tall, spreading trees, which will diffuse and soften the light. Plants located in an apartment near a window should be protected from the sun at noon, and opened in the evening, closer to 4–5 o’clock.
In winter, tangerines must be illuminated with phytolamps. The duration of daylight hours is 8–12 hours, no less, otherwise the citrus weakens, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The tree's recovery is long and difficult, spending a lot of energy and nutrients, and some specimens cannot cope with the shock and die.
Tip: When using special lamps, the citrus tub needs to be rotated around its own axis from time to time so that all sides of the plant receive approximately the same amount of light.
Temperature and humidity
In spring, the first buds appear on the tangerine tree, and it is important that the temperature in the room does not fall below +20–25 degrees. When the thermometer drops to +17–15, the citrus is covered with barren flowers, which smell pleasant, but do not produce a harvest.
In winter, the plant is moved to a cool room. The temperature in the room is reduced gradually; due to the sudden cold snap, the tree may shed its leaves. The room should first be +18, then +16–14, and some gardeners drop it to +10. Why keep citrus in a cool room? So that the mandarin has time to rest a little and gain strength. After a short winter holiday, the tree blossoms more buds, and the fruits become juicier and sweeter.
Mandarins need to be prepared for hibernation after harvesting. In mid-January, the temperature in the room begins to gradually increase so that the citrus “wake up” and have time to prepare for spring flowering.
The tangerine tree loves warmth and moisture, so in hot weather it needs to be sprayed twice or thrice a day with a spray bottle. In summer, a bucket or bowl of water is left next to the plant to prevent the air from drying out. In winter, it is recommended to install special humidifiers or ionizers. If the tub of tangerine is located close to the radiator or radiator, cover the heater with a damp towel.
The room in which the citrus tree is located is regularly ventilated. But the tree is moved away from the window, because the tangerine does not tolerate drafts.
Watering citrus
When the soil in a tub of tangerine dries out, spider mites may appear on the plant. The soil should always be slightly moist, but not wet, so in summer the tree is watered daily, and in winter it is reduced to 2-3 times a week.
You need to test the soil with your finger, and if it seems crumbly and too dry, add a little water. Before watering, look into the pan. Accumulated liquid indicates that there is too much water and the tree does not have time to absorb it. Watering must be stopped before the tray dries, otherwise root system will begin to rot or fungus will appear.
Use only cleaned melted or rainwater. The liquid is allowed to sit for 3-4 days in a large saucepan or plastic bucket and then passed through a kitchen filter. You can’t just water the tangerine with tap water, because heavy impurities and salts settle in the soil, inhibiting the plant.
Liquid volumes depend on the size of the tree and air temperature. The hotter the room, the more moisture evaporates. If 0.5–1 liter is enough for a small tangerine, then an adult tree will need three or four.
The water must be heated to +35–40 degrees. How to check the temperature of a liquid without a thermometer? Dip your finger into it. It should be pleasant, but not hot.
Pour water onto the root, being careful not to let droplets fall on the leaves and trunk. Moisten the crown separately from a spray bottle so that the liquid is distributed evenly. During the flowering period, make sure that water does not get on the buds. If a few drops fall on green or ripe fruit, it's okay.
It is better to water the tree in the morning. Water helps the plant wake up and starts metabolic processes.
Fertilizer
In winter, tangerine does not need feeding, but from April to September-October, when the buds bloom and the fruits ripen, the tree needs to be fertilized. Apply nutrients twice a month. Buy complex fertilizers containing:
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen;
- potassium.
You can find suitable fertilizers in flower shops. We recommend stopping at:
- Uniflor bud during flowering;
- Kemira Suite;
- Uniflor growth during fruit ripening.
Mineral fertilizers alternate with organic ones. Natural nutrient solutions are prepared from cow manure or poultry droppings. Part of the dry matter is diluted in 10–12 parts of water, left for 2–4 days, and then added in small portions.
The soil is moistened before fertilizing. Using chemicals It is important to follow the instructions. If you increase the dosage, you can burn the tangerine roots or poison the tree. Citrus leaves are also treated with a weak solution. Mineral fertilizers should not get on the fruits.
In the spring, before flowering begins, the tree is pruned. Remove dry and thin branches, pick off yellowed leaves. Garden shears must be sharpened and disinfected before pruning. Treat the cuts with tree resin to help them heal faster.
It is easy to form an oval crown on a tangerine. It is enough to pinch the tops of the branches and trim off excess shoots that are not capable of bearing fruit and only draw nutrients from the tree.
When the plant first blooms, you need to leave only 10-15 buds. The rest are carefully cut off so that they do not deplete the young tree. The older the tangerine becomes, the more ovaries can be left.
Install one or more in a tub wooden supports, to which branches with fruits are tied. Large fruits are attracted to the ground, and the tangerine may break or split into several pieces.
Citrus needs to be bathed monthly. Cover the pot and soil with plastic wrap and take the plant to the bath. The leaves are first moistened and then soaped. You can gently rub them with a soft cloth to remove dust and cobwebs. Turn on low pressure and rinse off the soap suds. The water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer.
All that remains is to blot the leaves and branches with a dry towel. Let the tangerine sit in the bathroom until it dries completely, and then you can return it to its old place and remove the film.
Caring for a citrus tree is no more difficult than caring for an apple tree in the garden or an orchid growing on the windowsill. Lots of light, a little water and fertilizer - and the tangerine will stretch out, covered with dark green leaves and delicate buds. In summer, citrus will delight you with its rich aroma, and in winter it will reward you with sweet and healthy fruits that are associated with the New Year and magic.
Video: how to grow a tangerine from a seed
Among the countless varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers, there are those, such as the Ramiro pepper, whose popularity is literally worldwide. And if most vegetables on supermarket shelves are nameless, and it is almost impossible to find out about their variety, then the name of this pepper “Ramiro” will certainly be on the packaging. And, as my experience has shown, this pepper is worth letting other gardeners know about it. In connection with which this article was written.
Autumn is the most mushroom time. It is no longer hot, and heavy dew falls in the mornings. Since the earth is still warm, and foliage has already attacked from above, creating a completely special microclimate in the ground layer, the mushrooms are very comfortable. Mushroom pickers are also comfortable at this time, especially in the mornings when it is cooler. It's time for both to meet. And, if you haven’t introduced yourself to each other, get to know each other. In this article I will introduce you to exotic, little-known and not always edible mushrooms, similar to corals.
If you are a busy person, but at the same time not devoid of romance, if you have your own plot and are endowed with aesthetic taste, then explore the opportunity to purchase this wonderful ornamental shrub– karyopteris, or Nutwing. He is also “wing-hazel”, “blue fog” and “ blue Beard" It truly fully combines unpretentiousness and beauty. Karyopteris reaches its peak of decorativeness in late summer and autumn. It is at this time that it blooms.
Pepper ajvar - vegetable caviar or thick vegetable sauce from bell pepper with eggplants. The peppers for this recipe are baked for quite a long time, then they are also stewed. Onions, tomatoes, and eggplants are added to ajvar. To store eggs for the winter, they are sterilized. This Balkan recipe is not for those who like to make preparations quickly, undercooked and underbaked - not about ajvar. In general, we approach the matter in detail. For the sauce, we choose the ripest and meatiest vegetables on the market.
Despite the simple names (“sticky” or “indoor maple”) and the status of a modern substitute for indoor hibiscus, abutilons are far from the simplest plants. They grow well, bloom profusely and delight with a healthy look of greenery only in optimal conditions. On thin leaves, any deviations from comfortable lighting or temperatures and disturbances in care quickly appear. To reveal the beauty of abutilons in rooms, it is worth finding the ideal place for them.
Zucchini fritters with Parmesan and mushrooms - a delicious recipe with photos of available products. Regular zucchini pancakes It can easily be turned into a fun dish by adding a few savory ingredients to the dough. During the squash season, pamper your family with vegetable pancakes with wild mushrooms; it is not only very tasty, but also filling. Zucchini - versatile vegetable, it is suitable for stuffing, for preparations, for main courses, and even for sweets delicious recipes- compotes and jam are made from zucchini.
The idea of growing vegetables on the grass, under the grass and in the grass is scary at first, until you become imbued with the naturalness of the process: in nature, this is exactly how everything happens. With the obligatory participation of all soil living creatures: from bacteria and fungi to moles and toads. Each of them contributes. Traditional tillage with digging, loosening, fertilizing, and fighting all those we consider pests destroys the biocenoses that have been created over centuries. In addition, it requires a lot of labor and resources.
What to do instead of a lawn? So that all this beauty does not turn yellow, does not get sick and at the same time looks like a lawn... I hope that the smart and quick-witted reader is already smiling. After all, the answer suggests itself - if you do nothing, nothing will happen. Of course, there are several solutions that can be used, and with their help, you can reduce the area of the lawn, and therefore reduce the labor intensity of caring for it. I suggest you consider alternative options and discuss their pros and cons.
Tomato sauce with onions and sweet peppers - thick, aromatic, with pieces of vegetables. The sauce cooks quickly and is thick because this recipe contains pectin. Make such preparations at the end of summer or autumn, when the vegetables have ripened in the sun in the garden beds. Bright, red tomatoes will produce just as bright homemade ketchup. This sauce is a ready-made dressing for spaghetti, and you can also simply spread it on bread - very tasty. For better preservation, you can add a little vinegar.
This year I often observed a picture: among the luxurious green crown of trees and shrubs, here and there, like candles, the bleached tops of shoots “burn.” This is chlorosis. Most of us know about chlorosis from school biology lessons. I remember that this is a lack of iron... But chlorosis is an ambiguous concept. And lightening of foliage does not always mean a lack of iron. What is chlorosis, what our plants lack during chlorosis and how to help them, we will tell you in the article.
Korean vegetables for the winter - delicious korean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. The salad is sweet and sour, spicy and slightly spicy because it is prepared with Korean carrot seasoning. Be sure to prepare a few jars for the winter; in cold winter, this healthy and aromatic snack will come in handy. You can use overripe cucumbers for the recipe; it is better to prepare vegetables late summer or early autumn, when they are ripe in open ground under the sun.
Autumn for me means dahlias. Mine begin to bloom as early as June, and all summer the neighbors peek at me over the fence, reminding them that I promised them a few tubers or seeds by the fall. In September, a tart note appears in the aroma of these flowers, hinting at the approaching cold. This means it’s time to start preparing the plants for a long harvest. cold winter. In this article I will share my secrets autumn care for perennial dahlias and preparing them for winter storage.
To date, through the efforts of breeders, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) varieties of cultivated apple trees have been bred. But despite their enormous diversity, in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and beloved varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of them in one area. What if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will tell you exactly about these varieties of apple trees.
Pinjur - Balkan-style eggplant caviar with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes. Distinctive feature dishes - eggplants and peppers are first baked, then peeled and simmered for a long time in a roasting pan or in a thick-bottomed pan, adding the rest of the vegetables specified in the recipe. The caviar turns out to be very thick, with a bright, rich taste. In my opinion, this cooking method is the best known. Although it is more troublesome, the result compensates for the labor costs.
The evergreen tangerine tree can be an excellent guest in a home greenhouse or a decoration for winter gardens. Often, even in a simple apartment you can see a miniature citrus. After all, it can not only delight the gardener’s eye with its greenery, but also give several dozen fragrant tangerines every year.
However, it is worth paying attention that to achieve a thick lush crown and abundant fruiting in any variety homemade tangerine or an orange tree is quite difficult. To do this, you must follow some rules regarding watering, pruning and fertilizing. These rules are very important when caring for tangerine tree at home. It’s worth noting right away that gardeners may encounter certain difficulties regarding growing indoor citrus fruits.
You should familiarize yourself in more detail with the rules for caring for a tangerine tree, and also learn how a tangerine blooms.
Of course, the most simple option will purchase a ready-made grafted seedling of any tangerine variety in a fruit nursery or in an online gardening store.
Most often you come across trees with a closed root system. The root system is hidden in an earthen coma in a pot or packaged in a bag.
If you purchased a tangerine tree of any variety, the root system of which is packaged, then the tree will need to be transplanted into a separate container after purchase.
More economical gardeners prefer to grow citrus trees from the seeds of ripe and juicy fruit. In addition, many fans indoor plants They receive great moral satisfaction when their citrus tree grows from scratch, although it takes much longer and requires much more effort.
So, the basic rules for growing tangerines from seeds:
- In order to grow a citrus tree at home, you need to select seeds from ripe, juicy fruits. It is worth noting that tangerine seeds have excellent germination.
- As soon as the seeds are selected, it is advisable not to immediately place them in the soil, but to pre-soak them. To do this, they must be placed between 2-3 layers of clean, damp gauze and placed on a saucer.
- As the gauze dries, it should be periodically moistened for several days until the bones begin to swell.
- As soon as you notice that they begin to hatch and the first shoots appear, the plant can be planted in the ground.
If you do not have the opportunity to wait several days for the sprouts to appear, then the seeds can be soaked for 2-3 hours in water with the addition of a few drops of Epin, a growth stimulator.
In specialized stores you can buy a ready-made package of soil for citrus fruits. If you do not have such an opportunity, then you can prepare soil for any type of tangerine tree yourself. To do this, mix the following types of soil:
- Leaf soil.
- Rotted manure.
- Soddy soil.
It is worth noting that you should not add clay or peat to the substrate. When planting a tangerine in a separate pot, drainage in the form of expanded clay or coarse gravel is placed at the bottom of the container. Then the soil mixture is poured on top. The seeds should be planted to a depth of 5-6 cm. The pot with the seed should be in a well-lit place, away from direct sun rays. Otherwise, the sprout may get burned. If you follow all the rules of care, then after 3 weeks the sprout will appear from the ground. From this moment you can begin feeding the future tangerine tree with organic and mineral fertilizers. This is due to the fact that everything useful material They are washed out of the soil very quickly when watering.
How to care for a citrus tree
In order for the plant to bloom and bear fruit, it is necessary to follow some rules for caring for indoor tangerines, regardless of its variety.
Lighting requirements
As mentioned earlier, the pot with the tangerine tree should be placed in a sufficiently lit place, while direct sunlight should be avoided. If the plant does not have enough light, it will not grow large and will be sickly. At first glance, it may seem that a pot of decorative tangerines is best placed on the south side of the house.
However, this may cause burns on the leaves. The most ideal option would be to place the plant on the southeast or east side. If the south side is the only possible option to install a pot with an indoor tangerine tree, then in spring and summer time the plant will need additional shading.
But in winter, it is best to choose the south side of the house to place the tree. During shortened daylight hours in winter period indoor tangerine also needs additional lighting using special lamps.
Air temperature and humidity
As for the temperature regime, the plant will feel best in a room with a temperature of 15 to 18°C. However, this applies to the warm season. In winter, the tangerine tree must be kept at a temperature of 12°C. If the temperature is higher, the tree will begin to bear fruit worse, bloom poorly and weakly form buds and ovaries.
Particular attention must also be paid to air humidity. During hot dry days in summer, as well as on winter days, when central heating dries out the air in the room, the plant needs additional spraying. Sometimes this spraying will have to be carried out up to 3 times a day. For additional humidity, you can use a bowl of water placed on the windowsill or use other humidifiers. It is worth noting that dry air often provokes the formation of pests. These could be ticks, scale insects and many others. During the flowering period, the tangerine tree must be sprayed very carefully to avoid moisture getting on the buds and flowers. In this case, spraying is best replaced by wiping the leaves.
Watering rules
The tangerine tree needs frequent and abundant watering. In hot summer, the plant needs to be watered 2-3 times a day. As for winter time, if you maintain a sufficiently high temperature regime, and constantly humidify the air in the room, watering twice a week will be enough. Watering a tangerine tree of any type must be done only with settled water. The water temperature for irrigation should be room temperature.
If for some reason the plant suffers from a short-term lack of moisture, it will not die, since to reduce water loss the tangerine will shed all or part of its leaves. However, it is worth noting that on bare branches fresh leaves don't grow back. They appear only on new branches. It is for this reason that many gardeners try to avoid unexpected leaf fall and provide the plant with regular watering. At the same time, you need to know that frequent overwatering of wood can cause the development of fungal diseases.
Feeding and replanting
Caring for a tangerine tree at home also involves replanting it in pots every year. bigger size. The root system of tangerines grows quite quickly and entwines the earthen ball over its entire surface.
Replanting plants involves changing the drainage layer and adding soil mass. If you take out the plant with a lump of earth and see that there was enough space for roots to grow in the pot, then you can only get by by replacing the drainage layer, and insert the tree back into the pot with the same lump of earth and add only the top layer of soil.
Every year, it is recommended to transplant a tangerine tree at home before March - before the start of the growing season. The root collar should not be deepened during transplantation. She will have to provide the same level relative to the ground surface.
During the growing season, which lasts from April to September, the plant needs feeding. Every week, tangerine must be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to alternate types of fertilizer. Adult trees that grow in cramped pots especially need feeding, without updating the soil or replanting.
So, for one week it is recommended to water the tangerine with a solution of liquid mullein, and for another week - with a ready-made complex fertilizer for citrus trees. Such fertilizers can be purchased in specialized stores. Fertilizers should include the following components:
- Nitrogen.
- Potassium.
- Phosphorus.
It is recommended to fertilize in the first half of the day. However, before this, the soil must be watered. Temperature nutrient solution should be at least 20°C. The recipe for preparing the fertilizer must be strictly followed.
It is worth noting that caring for an orange tree at home will be almost the same as caring for a tangerine.
The most in an economical way To get a tangerine tree seedling is to grow it from a fruit seed. But if the grower already has a ready-made tree and wants to get offspring from it, then you can choose one of the following methods for propagation:
Control of possible pests
Even if the tangerine tree is given everything the necessary conditions and proper care, flower growers sometimes face problems such as pests. Among these pests, the most common are the following:
- Whiteflies.
- Scale insects.
- Red spider mite.
Each of the above pests can cause irreparable harm to the tangerine. That is why, at the first detection of these insects on a plant and the slightest suspicion of their presence, it is necessary to wipe the leaves or spray the entire tree with special preparations: Actellik or Fitoverm. Acaricidal and insecticides must be used only in strict accordance with the attached instructions for use.
Exotic plants can become a real decoration for your home. Of course, growing them on your own from seeds is not at all easy, but you can purchase an already grown seedling of such a tree or flower and simply organize proper balanced care for it. Thus, home-grown citrus fruits are extremely popular among lovers: tangerines and oranges, as well as laurels, etc. And growing them in an ordinary apartment is not so difficult. Today we will talk about how to care for a homemade tangerine in a pot.
So, the indoor tangerine is a representative of the Rutaceae family, evergreen, which grows successfully in greenhouses and various winter gardens. Although this tree can reach quite large sizes, it can be grown on a windowsill. In addition, you can now find dwarf and low-growing tangerines on sale, the height of which does not exceed sixty centimeters - one meter.
How to care for tangerine at home?
Optimal lighting
In order for this exotic tree to feel good, readers of Popular About Health need to organize it correct lighting– quite good, but with a minimum amount of direct sunlight. If the plant feels a lack of light, it may practically not bloom, and if there is a strong lack of lighting, its leaves will become pale, the shoots will begin to stretch and weaken. So it is best to place a pot with a plant on the windowsill of an eastern or south-eastern window, when grown on south side It is advisable to provide shade for your indoor pet from direct sunlight. In the hot season, it is quite possible to take the tree outside, but accustom it to open space costs gradually.
In cold weather, it is extremely important to place the pot of tangerine in the most illuminated place, and it is better to even provide it with additional lighting.
Optimal temperature indicators
It is best to grow indoor tangerine in the summer at temperatures from twenty to twenty-five degrees. At the budding stage, as well as during the flowering period, it is advisable to slightly reduce the temperature - to twenty degrees or even slightly lower. With more high temperature the tree may shed flowers or buds. In cold weather, in order to organize a period of short rest for your pet, it is worth lowering the temperature to five to ten degrees. If the tree has the opportunity to rest during the winter, it will bloom and bear fruit much better.
How to properly water a homemade tangerine?
Indoor tangerines at home are quite resistant to a lack of life-giving moisture. They successfully tolerate a lack of watering, and in severe drought they can only shed their leaves. Quite often, such plants suffer from excess moisture, which can lead to the development of fungal diseases.
So you should water the tree only after the soil in the pot has dried out somewhat. It is advisable to carry out this manipulation in the first half of the day. When temperatures drop (in winter), watering is reduced, performing it only to maintain life.
Humidity
Despite their drought resistance, indoor tangerines really do not like dry air. Therefore, they should be sprayed systematically. In case of lack of humidity environment plants may be damaged by spider mite. But during the flowering period, it is extremely important to ensure that droplets of water do not fall on the tangerine flowers.
Top dressing
In order to exotic trees looked attractive and remained healthy, it is necessary to feed them. After all, the soil in the pot is depleted quite quickly. For fertilizing it is worth using soluble fertilizers; they can be used for both watering and spraying, but in the second case the concentration should be very weak. As fertilizers, you can use any complex mixtures that contain basic particles, needed by plants, they are represented by phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
Tangerines are fed starting from March and ending in September, once every two weeks. In autumn, it is worth carrying out such manipulations less often - once a month.
Experienced flower growers It is also recommended to feed indoor tangerines organic fertilizers. In this case, it is necessary to dilute a well-infused cow dung, adhering to the proportion of 1:10.
Transfer
Young trees need to be replanted annually, and adults - at intervals of two years. For replanting, it is best to purchase special soil intended for citrus fruits. It is advisable to move the plant into a pot whose diameter is no more than five centimeters larger than before. Extremely important role The organization of a fairly good drainage layer in the new container also plays a role.
Best time for replanting tangerines - early spring, when the active growing season is just beginning. A couple of days before this procedure, you should stop using fertilizers. Fertilizing is not carried out within two weeks after transplantation. At the end of this procedure, you need to water the tree, and after half an hour, add soil (if necessary) and water again.
Additional Information
In order to get a lush tree in a pot in a home flower garden, indoor tangerine it is necessary to pinch the branches. It is also worth periodically removing dried leaves, elongated branches and excess flowers. For every fifteen leaves you should leave no more than one ovary. And when bearing fruit, the branches must be tied to a support so that they do not break.
The tangerine tree is becoming increasingly common in gardeners' collections; caring for it at home is not particularly difficult if you follow the rules.
These are miniature citrus fruits with a neat and attractive appearance. The bright orange fruits are especially decorative, for which this plant is purchased.
You can buy a tangerine tree ready-made in flower shops or try to grow it yourself.
At the time of buying finished wood you should pay attention to whether it is really a tangerine. The fact is that sellers often offer calamondins instead. They are similar to tangerines, but do not have a pronounced citrus smell and taste.
That is why lovers prefer to grow tangerines themselves from seeds or purchase a seedling from a nursery.
IN room conditions The following species grow most successfully:
- Clementine is a hybrid; it produces a harvest in the second year, and an adult specimen produces up to 50 fruits per year.
- Murcott - produces sweet fruits and is compact.
- Shiva-mikan is fast-growing, compact, with small fruits.
- Vasya - hybrids up to 80 cm tall, the fruits ripen in the second year.
If you decide to try growing a tangerine tree yourself, it will definitely thank you beautiful view and aroma.
Tangerine seeds germinate quite well, but they must be fresh and ripe for planting. The fruit is taken ripe.
- We remove the bones.
- We disinfect them. This is done to prevent mold from appearing.
- The bones can be soaked in water with the addition of epin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- We take pre-prepared nutrient soil.
- The seed is placed at a depth of 1 cm. You should not deepen it too much, otherwise the sprout will need more strength to break through to the surface.
The tangerine tree shoots appear in about 2 weeks. It is better to decide on the location of the tree in advance - it does not like to be moved.
Tangerine tree care
Proper care is the key to ensuring that the plant will live at home for several years.
Priming
Suitable for universal soil or specifically for citrus fruits. As soon as several true leaves appear on the sprout, it should be transplanted to permanent place. The substrate should be light, consisting of leaf soil, turf, humus, and sand. Peat and clay soil are not suitable for tangerines. You must definitely remember about drainage - expanded clay, broken shards, large brick chips.
Where to place a pot with a tangerine tree
The tangerine tree needs bright light. However, care must be taken to ensure that the direct rays of the sun do not burn it. This is especially dangerous for seedlings and young trees, since their foliage is delicate and susceptible to burns. IN dark place The tangerine will develop poorly and even lose some of its foliage. It will be even more difficult for it to bloom and bear fruit. The best windows for him: east, west, southeast, southwest. At noon, the tree is covered with a thin curtain or it must be installed so that the light is always uniform, diffused, but without direct sun. On the south side they are placed next to the window. North window Not suitable for tangerine. In winter or dark room The plant can be illuminated with lamps. The most economical and at the same time brightest are LEDs. Regular fluorescent and flora lamps are also suitable.
Watering
The supply of moisture should be regular and uniform. The tangerine tree will tolerate drought, but may lose some of its leaves. Excessive flooding, especially in winter, can cause the death of a tree or the appearance of fungal diseases, which also leads to loss of foliage, decorative look, and if the watering regime is not followed further, the plant will die.
The need for watering is determined by the size of the container, air temperature, time of year, air permeability of the soil - the rate of moisture evaporation. To determine the need for water, it is convenient to plunge your finger into the ground. In a small pot, the need for liquid is determined by weight.
It is better to water in the evening in summer, in winter in the morning.
Has a negative effect on the plant low humidity air, so it is useful to spray the tangerine tree. Do this carefully during flowering. Drops of water on the buds can cause them to rot and fall off.
Temperature
Mandarin grows successfully under normal conditions room temperature. During flowering, the best temperature is 18-20 degrees. In winter, the tangerine tree goes into a dormant period, the most comfortable temperature at this time – 5-10 degrees. This helps to gain strength and set flower buds.
Fertilizers for tangerines
Fertilizing is applied during the period of growth, flowering and fruiting. Suitable fertilizers for citrus fruits, potassium humate. Feed once every 2 weeks in summer. In winter, during the dormant period, fertilizers are not given; the plant is not able to fully absorb nutrients at this time, which will adversely affect its development.
Fertilizers are applied after watering, preferably the next day, diluted in the recommended dose and not exceeding it.
Excess fertilizer is much more harmful than a small deficiency. Excessive feeding inhibits growth and development and can cause leaves to fall and diseases to appear.
Formation
In nature, tangerine grows freely, but at home it should be shaped. This is done not only for beauty, but also for full fruiting. A neat tree is obtained by controlling the growth of shoots; they are periodically pinched at the level of 5-6 leaves. Strong, fatty, fast-growing shoots can slow down the appearance of buds; they are also removed. Branches growing inside the tree are also removed.
Reproduction
Mandarin is propagated by seeds and layering. Adult specimens that are well formed are propagated by air layering. You can try propagation by cuttings by placing them in water.
To achieve a harvest, the tree is grafted. This is done in the spring, in May-April. You will need the following:
- The rootstock is the tree itself on which the graft will be made.
- A scion is a sprout from a healthy, fruit-bearing plant.
At approximately a height of 7 cm, a sharp T-shaped incision is made, which should preferably be disinfected. The bark is slightly pushed back, and the scion is placed into the resulting incision. After which this place must be treated with garden varnish.
Some gardeners prefer to simply tie it with thick fabric. Next, the plant is placed in a greenhouse or a plastic bag is put on it. It will take about a month to germinate.
Transfer
The young plant is replanted once a year, after the root system has completely entwined the earthen ball. The pot is taken with a diameter of 6 centimeters wider than the previous one.
When the tree reaches the age of 7 years, replanting is done once every two years, since its growth is no longer so fast.
Can't plant right away young plant into a large container, this will slow down growth and can lead to rotting of the root system, since moisture from a large pot takes a long time to evaporate and acidification of the soil occurs.
Transplantation is carried out in the spring and not during flowering to avoid bud drop. After transplantation, fertilizing is resumed a month later - the new soil contains all the necessary nutrients.
Diseases, problems in growing
The tangerine tree gets sick if the rules for caring for it are not followed.
Yellow leaves:
- Bay
- Lack of nutrients.
- Excess fertilizer.
- The appearance of pests: spider mites, aphids.
Dropping leaves:
- Excessive drought.
- Draft.
- Bay
- Rearrangement.
- Errors during transplantation.
- Lack of lighting for a long time.
- Dormant period - sometimes in winter the plant may remove some of its leaves.
It is important to monitor air humidity. The Mandarin will not like being next to central heating radiators.
Sometimes the plant can be attacked by pests:
- Spider mite.
- Mealybug.
First aid - wash the plant warm shower using laundry soap. It might hold back 
reproduction of pests, but will not destroy them completely, so special preparations are used.
From aphids, scale insects - Aktara. For spider mites – Fitoverm. Actellik is an effective and strong remedy, but it is not recommended for use indoors.
If you see small jumping insects on the surface of the soil, these are podurs; they appear when the soil is waterlogged. The first action is to dry the soil; perhaps this measure will allow you to get rid of them completely. Additionally, the drugs Grom 2 and Aktara can help. Also, when flooding and using homemade fertilizers, fungus gnats - sciarids - may appear above the pot. The same drugs are used for them as for foolishness.
In general, tangerine is quite easy to care for and is a good addition to the interior. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the climate, refreshes the air and releases aromatic substances.