There is nothing complicated in growing a tangerine from a seedling purchased in a store, because we're talking about about a grafted fruit-bearing tree. And if there is no opportunity to spend money on seedlings, then the only way out is cultivation tangerine from the seed at home. What will it take? Just a few seeds extracted from ordinary fruits.
Within a few years after planting, you will be proud of a slender tree with shiny and very beautiful leaves. The characteristic aroma of citrus will be felt throughout the house, making your home seem even more comfortable.
Self tangerine tree is a member of the Rutaceae family. The shape of the plant is spherical, the leaves are evergreen (change every four years), and the flowers are white. The tree can reproduce both vegetatively and by seeds.
On a note! Many homes have an indoor tangerine that has been grown from seed, but this is usually an ornamental plant. It does not bear fruit or has small and inedible fruits, but only improves the interior of the room.
If we talk about farms, then in order to obtain tasty fruits, citrus crops are grown through grafting. You can also perform a similar operation if you want to enjoy juicy tangerines. But if you just want to try growing a citrus tree with your own hands, you can definitely do it! First, make some preliminary preparations: free the window sill of the window that “looks” to the south, rearrange poisonous plants to another place (such crops are not better neighbors for tangerine). Then follow the instructions below.
Stage one. Seed preparation
Any person who has once been involved in growing seedlings knows very well that the seeds must swell before planting. For this purpose, take several prepared seeds (you can buy them, but choose seeds without defects and rot) and soak them in gauze for a couple of days (as shown in the image below). Make sure that there is not too much water - the gauze should be only slightly damp, and then simply add a little more liquid as you go.
If you plan to grow just one tree, you will still need to soak about 12-15 seeds. The fact is that not all of them will germinate; some will die from diseases; in addition, many will become “victims” of the first plant grafting.
Instead of gauze, you can use hydrogel - you can buy it at your nearest specialty store. Experienced gardeners and professional landscape designers It is actively used, because hydrogel is an excellent protection against heat.
On a note! Figuratively speaking, hydrogel is a kind of analogue drip irrigation, but you will not add it to the soil, but use it instead of gauze (the substance retains moisture well).
Try to keep the seeds inside the hydrogel all the time - this way they will not dry out.
Stage two. Planting in the soil
Seeds that have already “hatched” must be planted in a seedling box or an ordinary pot. It is worth noting that some do not wait for the seeds to swell, but immediately begin planting them in the ground. Here the sprouts form later, but in appearance they look no worse than those that grow from soaked seeds.
To begin, select a suitable soil.
Ideally, you need to take a special soil mixture for citrus crops, sold in flower shops. Although what kind of soil will be used during cultivation does not play a special role. The difference between homemade tangerine is, first of all, its unpretentiousness, so you can use almost any mixture - for example, from turf and leaf soil. It can also be neutral nutritious soil (“Rose”, “Veriohumus”, etc.). The main thing is not to use peat, because it quickly sours and dries out, and it contains very few nutrients.
You can also make your own soil mixture for growing home citrus crops - to do this, mix the following ingredients in the indicated proportions:
- one part sand;
- three parts of turf;
- one part of humus;
- one part leaf soil;
- some clay.
Fill the bottom of the prepared container drainage, which you can use:
- small stones;
- fine-grained expanded clay;
- brick fight.
Fill the prepared soil mixture on top of the drainage and place the tangerine seeds in it. The first leaves should appear within three weeks after planting.
Stage three. Further care
At first, the tangerine requires virtually no care, but later, when the first shoots form, you will have to start feeding the plants. You can do this using any fertilizer - not only organic, but also inorganic. They are sold, again, in any flower shop. Although it is better to give preference special compounds, intended for feeding citrus plants.
As for other aspects of care, they are presented in table form.
Table. Features of mandarin care
| Procedure | Brief description, instructions |
|---|---|
| Replant every year, preferably in the spring. Try not to damage the integrity of the soil near the roots. When the tree reaches eight years of age, you can switch to replanting every two years. |
| It is quite obvious that the tangerine is sun-loving plant, so it should be grown on a windowsill located with south side at home (where the largest number of sun rays). In winter, make sure that the air temperature in the house is at least 14 degrees. |
| The plant described in the article needs high humidity, so water it thoroughly every day using water at room temperature. In addition, spray the plant weekly with a spray bottle. Additionally, you can place some open container with water next to the tangerine. |
| These include, first of all, citrus whiteflies and spider mites. To protect against them, use special preparations (for example, Actellik), washing the leaves with them. |
Separately, it is worth talking about the rules for applying fertilizer, which are common for both young seedlings and citrus fruits. Apply fertilizer immediately after watering, paying attention Special attention this process from April to the end of summer. Any experienced gardener will say that if you carefully care for citrus fruits during this period, the fruits will grow sweeter.
Video - Features of growing homemade tangerine
Features of growing fruiting mandarin
If you grow a tangerine from a seed, it begins to bear fruit six to seven years after planting. As noted earlier, the first fruits (also called wild fruits) will not have the characteristic taste of citrus crops. Is there any way to speed up fruiting?
It is possible, but to obtain juicy and tasty fruits it is necessary to graft a tangerine tree. The best time for vaccination is considered to be the period from April to August, that is, the time of sap flow. If everything is done quickly and cleanly, then you are guaranteed to get a positive result.
First, prepare everything you need - during the vaccination process you will need:
- rootstock (a tree you grew with a trunk at least 0.6 centimeters thick - about as thick as a pencil);
- scion (an eye or cutting cut from a branch of a fruit-bearing plant - it is important that its age does not exceed two years);
- special knife for budding;
- garden var;
- elastic band.
The further algorithm of actions should look like this.
Step one. On the scion trunk, at about 10 cm in height, make a T-shaped cut.
Step two. Insert the previously prepared graft into the cut.
Step three. Carefully wrap the elastic band around the grafting site.
Step four. Then cover the plant with a PET bag or glass jar– this is necessary in order to provide the required microclimate.
Step five. After the bud sprouts, begin to “accustom” it to fresh air. To do this, remove the bag/can from it every day, gradually extending the ventilation period.
Split grafting technique
Step six. After about a month, when the shoot has become stronger, remove the elastic wrap and cut the rootstock layer obliquely, approximately three centimeters from the scion. Be sure to cover the cut with garden varnish.
Step seven. Place a stick in the pot - this way the plant will “learn” to grow vertically. Actually, that's all.
With the help of these simple instructions, you can grow a fruit-bearing tangerine tree at home, which will not only complement the decor in your apartment/house, but also give it a characteristic pleasant aroma. It is possible that you will fail the first time, but you will gain valuable experience that will definitely be useful for subsequent attempts!
Video - How to graft citrus plants
You can grow indoor tangerines not only on the windowsill, but also in the greenhouse, on the balcony, in winter garden. At proper care it is even capable of bearing fruit. For home grown breeders bred dwarf and low-growing varieties up to 1-1.5 m high. The tangerine tree, unlike the orange and lemon trees, is best adapted to the home microclimate.
"Domesticated" species
Not all varieties are suitable for indoor gardening. They mainly use low-growing ones, since tall plants require constant pruning. Let's consider the most popular types and their distinctive features.
Table - Indoor views tangerine tree and their features
| View | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| Unshiu | - Fruits appear after 3-4 years in October-November; - height can reach 1.5 m; - abundant flowering in spring; - the fruits are pear-shaped, there are no seeds |
| Kovano-Vasse | - Height up to 80 cm; - the fruits ripen in a year; - hard, massive branches; - bright orange fruits |
| Clementine (a hybrid of orange and tangerine) | - The fruits appear in the second year and have a flattened shape; - up to 50 pieces of fruit on a bush |
| Shiva-Mikan | - Early; - fruits weighing up to 30 g |
| Murcott | - Compact bush bears fruit in summer; - sweet fruits |
Plants belonging to the Vasya group are suitable for home gardening. These are varieties such as Mikha-Vase, Miyagawa-Vase.
Caring for a tangerine tree: what to consider
All plants love care and attention, and the tangerine tree is no exception. To ensure that it is not only beautiful and healthy, but also bears fruit, you should adhere to several simple rules content.
Location and lighting
The culture needs good lighting. A south, south-west, south-east window is best suited. In hot weather at lunchtime it is better to shade the plant. Otherwise, it will get sunburned.
In spring, the pot can be taken out onto the balcony, veranda and even outside. We gradually accustom the plant to ultraviolet radiation, increasing the time it spends in the air. You should start with partial shade and then move to sunny places.
In winter, to extend daylight hours, we use phytolamps.
Temperature
In order for the plant to bloom profusely and set fruit, in spring and summer, indoors we set the temperature to 15-20 °C. IN winter period The ideal temperature is no more than 12-14 °C. In such conditions, indoor culture will be able to rest and prepare for a period of active growth.
High temperatures can lead to leaf loss, and low temperatures can lead to slow growth.
Humidity
In spring and summer, we regularly wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or sponge. We spray with a spray bottle throughout the year. We use water at room temperature. In winter, when the heating is on, we carry out the procedures more often - several times a day. We irrigate in the early morning or late evening hours. The main thing is that the moistened leaves should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
You can increase the humidity level in the room by placing a container of water next to the pot.
Watering
We heat the water for irrigation to room temperature and let it stand. It is not recommended to use tap liquid, as it contains chlorine, salts and other substances that negatively affect the crop. To calculate the volume of water required by a tree, we take into account the following factors:
- bush size;
- pot volume;
- room temperature;
- daylight hours and lighting quality.
It is especially important to properly care for the tangerine tree during flowering. From spring to autumn, “water” the plant abundantly and often. The tangerine tree should be watered when the soil is completely dry. This is very easy to check. We take a handful of earth and squeeze it. If it crumbles, it’s time to go get the watering can. In winter, one approach every five to seven days is enough. Watering, like spraying, is carried out in the morning or evening.
Top dressing
First meal after winter holiday It is better to add in April. In the future, before the onset of cold weather, fertilizer is applied once every two weeks. This regime will allow the tree to bud, bloom and bear fruit. Regular summer feeding will help avoid bitterness in the fruits. With the onset of cold weather, fertilizing is reduced or stopped altogether.
An indoor decorative tangerine tree in a pot is strengthened with special mixtures from the store intended for citrus fruits - organics or minerals. The older the bush, the more fertilizer it needs. Before feeding, we moisten the soil well. Among folk remedies, liquid is used cow dung. But it is often available to gardeners living in rural areas.
Before using fertilizers, carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. An incorrectly calculated dose can lead to damage to the root system.
Based on reviews from gardeners, you can increase fruiting with the folk remedy “fish soup.” For 2 liters of water you need to take 200 g of small fish and cook for half an hour. Strain the broth and cool. Add to the store-bought complex mixture.
Priming
The soil for young and adult plants should be different. In both cases, be sure to make a drainage layer.
- For young plants. Mix one part of leaf soil and sand and two parts of turf soil. Add humus from cow manure to the composition, if available.
- For adult bushes. For the soil we take one part of leaf soil, three parts of turf, one part each of sand and humus. We don’t add here a large number of clays with a high percentage of fat content.
To save time, you can purchase ready-made formulations for citrus fruits, but only from trusted manufacturers.
Pinching and trimming
It is necessary to trim and pinch the tangerine tree. Thanks to the procedure, a neat and beautiful crown will be formed, and the fruits will appear faster. Branches that are weakened and unnecessary in terms of aesthetics are removed. You can get a dense crown if you carefully pinch the shoots from the top of the bush.
Young plants during the first flowering period require a special approach. It is better to remove some of the buds to preserve the vitality of the bush. If this is not done, then in the future the plant will produce little fruit. In addition, the fewer flowers, the larger the fruits will be.
Transfer
For young bushes it is better to change the pot every year. The root system is constantly developing, so it needs more free space. If the roots do not entwine the soil ball, then leave the plant alone. But in this case, we replace the top soil layer and drainage.
Features of caring for a tangerine tree with fruits include replanting it to a new place every two to three years. Bushes over five to six years old do not need to change the container.
To safely transplant a tangerine tree means to try not to destroy the soil ball entwined with roots.
Reproduction: 2 ways
The plant can be propagated using seeds, cuttings and supplemented with grafting. The method in most cases is selected taking into account the age of the bush.
Seeds
Peculiarities . Growing a tangerine tree from a seed is not difficult, but you will have to wait 10-15 years for flowering and fruits, or you may not even wait at all. Fruiting can be accelerated by grafting a twig from an adult fruit-bearing bush onto a young tangerine. The seedling to which a twig is grafted is called a rootstock. And the cutting itself from the fruiting plant is a scion.
Algorithm of actions
- Most simple option is planting seeds directly into moist soil without prior preparation. Or we place the seeds in gauze, moisten it with water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Instead of gauze, you can use hydrogel, which retains moisture well. Place it on a plate and mix with the seeds.
- Place gauze or hydrogel with seeds into the soil.
- After the first leaf appears, we replant it by transshipment (without destroying the earthen ball with roots) into a flowerpot.
- We grow from one to three years. The bush will be ready for grafting when the trunk diameter reaches at least 6 mm. Then we move on to the vaccination procedure. The optimal period is from April to May.
- As a scion, we cut a twig one or two years old from a healthy, fruit-bearing bush. We remove leaf plates and thorns from the cuttings.
- We make a cut in the shape of the letter “T” on the rootstock. This is where we insert the cutting.
- We wrap the grafting site with electrical tape. We create a greenhouse effect using a plastic bag or plastic container.
- After about 21 days, shoots should appear from the buds. We gradually accustom them to the microclimate of the room - remove the polyethylene or plastic container. Remove the fixing bandage.
- We cut off at an angle that part of the rootstock stem that remains above the grafted cutting. We treat the area with coal.
- We tie young plant to the stick so that it grows vertically. If the grafting is successful, the new plant will bloom throughout the year.
If the scion turns yellow on the rootstock and falls off, then the grafting failed. You will need to repeat the procedure.
Cuttings
Peculiarities . The method is more popular, since a plant grown from a cutting of an adult bush will bloom and bear fruit within a year, maximum two.
Algorithm of actions
- Cut the stalk and place it in a container with water.
- We create a greenhouse effect - cover the cutting with a plastic bag or plastic bottle. Rooting may take two to three months.
- Replant into a pot when roots appear.
For better rooting and stimulate growth, you can treat the cuttings with Gibberellin.
Pests
The citrus tree, like other indoor crops, is susceptible to insect attack. In the fight against them we use both folk remedies, and store products.
Red spider mite
Red dots appear on the stems. With severe damage, pests are visible, forming an almost invisible web. They appear in dry, hot microclimates. We fight with the help of two folk remedies.
- Tobacco dust. Dissolve one tablespoon of dust in boiled water and leave for six hours. Add 10 g of soap to the mixture. Treatment: spray the bush three times every six to seven days.
- Garlic . Infuse a clove of garlic in a glass boiled water two days. We carry out the procedure as with tobacco dust.
If we use store-bought insecticides, then before spraying we carefully study the instructions or first consult with the seller.
Mealybug
Sticky spots appear on the leaves white. It is much more difficult to notice on the roots. The main symptom is that the foliage dries out and falls off. The most effective remedy is a soap solution. We spray once every six to seven days. The procedure should consist of three approaches.
Shchitovka
A sign of scale insects is a dried out bush with yellowed leaves. Growths form Brown. The main reason is dry, unventilated air. We use two treatment methods.
- Mechanical cleaning. We remove insects ourselves using a toothbrush or gauze. We wash the place where the pot is located with a solution of soap.
- Spraying with solution. Mix one teaspoon of machine oil, two tablespoons of washing powder, slightly crushed laundry soap with a glass of water. Spray the leaves and branches with the solution. After four hours, rinse with water. We repeat the procedure at least three times a month.
Before spraying, protect the soil from the solution by covering it with polyethylene.
Problems
In addition to pests, the plant is susceptible to diseases associated with improper care. Here are the four most common symptoms:
- Rust spots. The reason is improper watering. We regulate the moisture supply.
- Shriveled leaves. A large amount of ultraviolet radiation is to blame. We shade the bush.
- Small and drying bushes. The reason is a lack of fertilizers. We add minerals and vitamins.
- Leaves fall on the tangerine tree. If this mature plant, then you shouldn’t worry, as this is a sign of “old age”. In young bushes, the leaves turn yellow and fall off due to an excess of light and a lack of nitrogen.
If symptoms appear, we are reviewing the conditions for raising a pet, otherwise it may die.
Knowing how to care for a tangerine tree, you can grow a sunny plant on the windowsill, the fruits of which have a lot of useful properties. It is known that the fruit has phytoncidal properties that suppress the activity of microbes and can alleviate the condition of dysentery or diarrhea. Fresh juice is even able to destroy some types of fungi in skin diseases.
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Plant tangerine (lat. Citrus reticulata)- a small evergreen tree, a species of the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. The fruits of this plant are also called tangerines. The tangerine, the most common species of the genus, comes from Southern Vietnam and China. IN wildlife Nowadays you cannot find the tangerine tree, but it is grown in cultivation in areas with a subtropical climate. And this type of citrus fruit is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative houseplant. In popularity, the homemade tangerine tree is second only to the indoor lemon.
Planting and caring for tangerines (in brief)
- Bloom: usually in the spring, but can last all year round.
- Lighting: bright sunlight: a southern window sill with shading in the afternoon is most suitable.
- Temperature: in the warm season - from 16 to 30 ˚C, in winter - not lower than 14 ˚C.
- Watering: regular, as the top layer of the substrate dries.
- Air humidity: in hot weather, regular spraying of the plant with warm water and monthly showers are recommended.
- Feeding: during the growing season twice a month with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer. In winter, fertilizing is not needed.
- Rest period: not clearly expressed, but from about the end of October to mid-February.
- Pinching: the crown is formed within 3-4 years in the spring, at the beginning of active growth: if the seedling does not branch when it grows 40 cm, it is pinched to force it to form side shoots. Subsequently, the ends of all shoots after the fifth leaf are removed by pinching.
- Reproduction: seeds, grafting and air layering.
- Pests: spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects and aphids.
- Diseases: root rot.
Read more about growing tangerines below.
Homemade tangerine - description
Mandarin at home does not reach such a height as in nature, growing only up to 1.5-2 m. The branches of the tree are mostly drooping, the leaves of mandarin are dense, small, elliptical or ovoid, dark green, located on petioles with barely noticeable wings. Single or paired fragrant tangerine flowers with matte white petals are located in the axils of the leaves.
The multi-seeded and multi-lobed mandarin fruit - hesperidium - is covered in a peel that is easily separated from the pulp. It is flattened from top to base and reaches a diameter of 4 to 15 cm. The pulp is yellow-orange in color and consists of a large number of spindle-shaped hairs - sacs filled with juice. The peel of the fruit, which is called “flavedo”, which means “yellow”, contains many glands with essential oil, and its inner white layer, called “albedo” (“white”), is loose, which makes it easy to peel the tangerine. The pulp of a tangerine is usually sweeter and the flavor is stronger than that of an orange. And although the fruits of homemade tangerines are much inferior in taste to the fruits of garden tangerines, a fruiting tangerine, hung like a Christmas tree with yellow-orange balls, looks very attractive.
Indoor tangerine is a spectacular potted plant not only because of its bright, mouth-watering fruits: the flowering of tangerine is also a fascinating sight, especially since it is accompanied by an amazing fragrance. Currently, many amateur gardeners are enthusiastically growing tangerines from seeds just on the windowsill, and we will be happy to tell you how to grow tangerines indoors, how to care for tangerines, how to graft homemade tangerine, how to protect it from diseases and pests, how to replant a tangerine if the pot has become too small for it, and we will also describe beneficial features mandarin
Indoor tangerine from seed
How to grow tangerines at home
Before planting tangerine seeds, they are wrapped in slightly damp gauze or a napkin for several days. Keep the fabric moist the entire time the seeds are swelling. Instead of gauze or fabric, you can use hydrogel - a product that perfectly retains moisture. Seeds from a freshly eaten tangerine should be sown in the ground immediately, without soaking.
Even if you grow just one tree, soak at least a dozen seeds: firstly, not all of them may germinate, and secondly, some seeds may die from diseases during the growth process, and some seedlings will not survive transplantation.
As soon as the seeds hatch, they are planted in 200 ml cups or in bowls no more than 9 cm deep with drainage holes, filled with a substrate of turf soil (3 parts), humus, sand and leaf soil (1 part each) with the addition of a couple of handfuls of clay. . You will have to prepare the substrate yourself, since any of the purchased soils contain peat, which is contraindicated for tangerines. In extreme cases, you can use Biohumus or Rose soil as a substrate, the pH of which is in the range of 6.5-7.0 units. At the bottom of the cups under the substrate you need to place a layer of expanded clay or small pebbles. The seeds are buried 4 cm in moist soil. The crops are kept at a temperature of 20-25 ºC. Shoots appear within three to four weeks, although this can happen earlier.
If you sowed seeds in a common container, then at the stage of formation of four leaves in the seedlings (citrus fruits do not have cotyledon leaves), you need to pick them apart individual cups. Sometimes two plants can grow from one seed, since multi-germination of seeds is quite common for citrus crops. In this case, the tangerine seedlings need to be carefully separated (each of them has its own root system) and planted. If one seedling is significantly weaker than another, it is better to sacrifice it: pinch it off so that it does not interfere with the development of a stronger plant.
The next transplantation of seedlings is carried out when their roots fill the entire volume of the cup. You can use a pot as a container small size. Planting a tangerine in a pot is done by transferring the seedling along with a lump of earth.
Caring for a tangerine in a pot
Growing tangerine in an apartment
The conditions for growing tangerines at home should be as close to natural as possible. Mandarin loves the sun, so the best place for it is a south-facing window, provided that in winter the room temperature does not drop below 14 ºC. In summer, the plant can be kept on a balcony or loggia. However, in the afternoon, tangerines should be protected from sunlight with a curtain made of light fabric or gauze.
The favorable temperature for the development, budding and flowering of tangerine is considered to be from 16 to 18 ºC with an air humidity of 60%. However, do not worry if the room becomes hot with the arrival of summer: tangerines can grow and bear fruit even at 40 ºC.
Watering a tangerine
Caring for a tangerine involves regular watering plants as the top layer of soil in the pot dries. There is a trick to help determine whether a plant needs watering: take a pinch of soil from the pot with your fingers and squeeze it. If the soil sticks together, then it’s too early to water the tangerine, and if it crumbles, then it’s time to moisten the soil in the pot. Under no circumstances allow the earthen ball to dry out completely. Water the tangerine with water at room temperature that has been left standing for 24 hours in an open vessel. In winter, it is advisable to heat water for irrigation to 30-35 ºC, and in summer it can be left in the sun.
As for air humidity, the tangerine, especially in the summer heat, needs daily spraying, and once a month it must be washed in the shower with soap, covering the stem of the plant and the soil in the pot with plastic. This hygienic procedure is also a prevention against pests.
Mandarin fertilizer
During the dormant period, in winter, tangerines do not need fertilizing, and during the growing season, a solution of complex mineral fertilizer is added to the soil twice a month. To stimulate abundant fruiting, adult plants 1 m or more in height are fed with fish broth once a month: 200 g of unsalted fish or fish waste is boiled in 2 liters of water for half an hour, allowed to cool and filtered through cheesecloth. Water the soil with “ear” in the morning at an air temperature of 18-19 ºC.
Tangerine transplant
Young plants are replanted annually, fruit-bearing ones - once every 2-3 years, each time increasing the size of the pot in diameter by 4-6 cm. The soil for young plants should be of the following composition: turf soil - 2 parts, and leaf soil, sand and humus - one part at a time. For plants older than three years of turf soil, you need to take three parts, and the remaining ingredients - one at a time. When planting, it is important that the root collar of the tangerine remains at surface level. Very large or old trees better by transplant do not disturb, but need to be removed once every 2-3 years upper layer soil in the pot and replace it with fresh fertile substrate.
Tangerine pruning
Mandarin is one of those plants whose crown needs to be shaped. If, with a growth of 30-40 cm, the seedling does not begin to branch on its own, it needs to be pinched to stimulate the formation of side shoots of the first order. However, this is not enough, since fruiting occurs only on branches of the fourth or fifth order. This means that pinching should be continued, removing the ends of all shoots after the fourth or fifth leaf. For sanitary purposes, weak shoots and those growing inside the crown are also pruned. It usually takes 3-4 years for a tree to form.
Sometimes, in order to enhance the branching of shoots, they resort to their deflection and fixation: one end soft wire fixed on a branch, and the other on the edge of the pot so that the wire pulls the top of the shoot down.
Pests and diseases of tangerine
Mandarin turns yellow
Many amateur gardeners are faced with the fact that tangerine leaves suddenly begin to turn yellow. What is the reason for this phenomenon? There are several reasons. For example, due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil, first the lower leaves of a tangerine become yellow, and then gradually all the foliage turns yellow. This process can be stopped by adding ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate or organic matter to the soil.
Against the background of iron deficiency in the soil, tangerine develops chlorosis: first, young leaves acquire a light yellow color, then older foliage becomes discolored. To prevent chlorosis, tangerines are treated with iron chelate once a month.
One more probable cause Yellowing of tangerine leaves may be due to spider mites - tiny arachnids that make punctures in the leaves of the plant and feed on its cell sap. You can only see a mite under a magnifying glass, but sometimes its presence is revealed by the thinnest web appearing on the plant. To kill pests, wash the tree in the shower and then treat its leaves. soap solution: Put grated laundry soap into warm water, whip up a thick foam and, using a cotton swab, wipe the tangerine leaves with the foam. To completely defeat the tick, you may need three such procedures with an interval of 2-3 days. The place where the mite-infested tangerine stood should be thoroughly washed.
Mandarin leaves turn yellow due to insufficient lighting, as well as because the pot has become too small for the plant.
The tangerine is falling
Leaves falling from a tangerine are not always a sign of any disease. If this happens from late October to mid-February, move the plant to a room with a temperature of 14-17 ºC and reduce watering: the tangerine needs rest. Leaves may also fall due to low air humidity. In this case, the plant should be sprayed in the evenings with settled water at room temperature and containers of water should be placed around it. Tangerine leaves also fall due to improper landing: the plant’s pot is too large or the root collar is buried in the soil. The cause of leaf falling may be a lack of potassium in the soil, drafts, too wet soil in the pot and poor lighting.
Mandarin is drying
If, before the tangerine leaves begin to fall off, a dry brown crust forms on their edges, we can conclude that the watering regime has been disrupted: you have chronically over-moistened the soil in the pot. To restore normal development of the plant, transplant it into another pot with good drainage layer and fresh substrate with a predominance of leafy soil. When transplanting, carefully inspect root system tangerine and remove rotten roots. Leaves also dry out insufficient watering. A drying plant will have to be revived by placing it in a bowl of water at room temperature. The water in the basin should reach the edge of the pot. Now you need to water the tangerine until the soil is completely wet and air stops coming out of it. After the procedure, drain the excess water and spray the tangerine with a solution of 1 ml of Epin in 2 liters of water. These sprayings should be continued for some time, 2 times a week. In this way, even a very dried out plant can be revived.
general information
Of all the types of citrus plants grown indoors, only the indoor tangerine is second to the lemon tree in terms of prevalence and popularity. According to botanists, its homeland is China or Japan. The name “mandarin” was given to this plant by the Chinese, since for many centuries it was grown only in the gardens of wealthy dignitaries of feudal China - mandarins. Tangerine trees exported from China appeared in Europe only in the 19th century. The Italian Michel Tecor brought tangerine trees to Italy in 1840, and this citrus plant quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean. Probably, such popularity was caused by the fact that tangerine trees are early-fruiting and very productive, and the fruits are sweet and without seeds. Mandarin came to Ukraine from Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, during the massive construction of summer cottages in the subtropical zone of the Black Sea coast. This is where it became most common. citrus plant. Regardless of the variety, summer gardeners gave tangerine trees common name- forged. Mandarin trees are relatively low-growing; on plantations they reach a height of 2-3 meters. The branches of the tangerine tree are mostly drooping. The leaves are dense, dark green, with small wings on the petioles. White fragrant flowers are collected in brushes. Mandarin fruits are spherical, flattened, 4-6 cm in diameter and weighing from 30 to 100 g. The fruit peel is thin, orange, and easily separated from the pulp. In the so-called “plump” tangerines, it almost does not touch the pulp, because it is separated from it air gap. The pulp is sweet, juicy, yellow-orange, easily divided into slices. The fruit of the tangerine tree contains a lot of sugar, organic acids, vitamins C and B1. Seeds are rarely formed in tangerine fruits. In an apartment, tangerine grows and develops with a limited amount of light and fresh air, therefore it is of paramount importance right choice tangerine variety, most suitable for indoor conditions. Early ripening tangerine trees of Japanese origin, characterized by low growth and unpretentiousness, meet these requirements. The most common is the indoor tangerine variety Unshiu (which means “Seedless”). This is a low (no higher than 1.5 m) tangerine tree with a spreading crown; without thorns on the branches; with wide, leathery, dark green leaves. The tangerine tree usually blooms once a year in the spring, very profusely. Tangerine flowers are small, white, exuding a pleasant aroma. The tangerine tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 3. At home, a well-groomed adult tangerine tree produces an average of 40-50 fruits per year.
Dwarf tangerines of the Vasya group.
These varieties of tangerine trees are low-growing and decorative. These include indoor varieties of tangerines: Kovano-Vase, Mikha-Vase, Miyagawa-Vase. The height of mature tangerine trees does not exceed 50-80 cm, so they are very convenient to keep on the windowsill. Indoor mandarin does not need to form a crown; only sometimes it is necessary to remove dried and improperly growing branches. Dwarf tangerines begin to bear fruit in the second year of life. The fruits of the tangerine tree are not inferior in size and taste to the fruits of the Unshiu variety.
Landing (transfer)
For this purpose, take a pot from any material, the main thing is that the upper diameter should not exceed 10-15 cm, the height is approximately the same. There should be one or several small holes at the bottom of the pot for drainage excess water when watering. At the bottom of the pot, and this can be a plastic bucket, wooden, ceramic, glass container, place expanded clay or sand as drainage, and best of all charcoal, which can be taken from an extinct fire in the forest, in a city park. The thickness of the drainage should not exceed 3-5 cm. Then sprinkle the drainage with a little soil. To transplant a tangerine tree seedling, you need specially prepared soil of the “Mandarin” type; it is presented on our website in the section “Soils and fertilizers for indoor plants" - "Soils for indoor plants." Or prepare the soil yourself: the soil for replanting must be taken from the forest or park, under old deciduous trees, except oak, chestnut and poplar. It is necessary to take only the top, most fertile layer of soil, 5-10 cm thick. Add sand to this soil, preferably river sand, a little ash, and more humus, if available. The proportion is as follows: two glasses of deciduous soil, a glass of sand, three tablespoons of humus and one tablespoon of ash. Stir all this in any bowl, add a little water to get a thick, creamy mass that will well fill the entire volume of the pot, leaving no air voids near the roots of the tangerine tree. After six months, the tangerine tree must be transplanted into a larger pot 5 cm in diameter. Spray and water the planted indoor tangerine with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), and then place it on a previously prepared window sill, bay window or balcony so that the surface of the leaves is directed towards the light.
Reproduction
Indoor tangerines are propagated by grafting onto lemon and orange seedlings grown from seeds indoor varieties and by air layering method. Indoor mandarin is practically not amenable to cuttings under amateur conditions.
Lighting
The tangerine tree should be kept in a southern sunny window. In summer, indoor tangerine is recommended to be taken out open air- in the garden, on the veranda, on the balcony, placing it in a place protected from the wind. If an indoor tangerine stands on a south window, then summer time It is advisable to darken it a little from direct sunlight so that burns do not occur on the tangerine leaves and chlorosis does not appear from overheating of the entire crown and roots. To do this, make a gauze curtain on the window frame itself, at the height of the tangerine tree, and in the morning, before leaving the house, cover the glass with it if the day promises to be sunny.
Air temperature
If a pot of indoor tangerine will stand on a windowsill, then the window must be well insulated for the winter, and the pot itself must be insulated in winter and summer. Favorable temperature for tangerine budding and flowering is +16 +18°C, air humidity is at least 60%, but don’t be afraid high temperature, the tangerine tree can withstand and bear fruit up to +40°C.
Watering
Indoor tangerine should be watered as the top layer of soil dries, without allowing the lump of earth in the pot to completely dry out. To determine soil moisture, take the time to take a little of the surface layer of soil with three fingers every day and squeeze it. If the soil sticks together, then there is no need to water; if it crumbles under your fingers, then it’s time to water. You need to monitor the condition of the soil daily (especially in summer) so that the entire earthen lump in the pot does not dry out due to high temperatures and bright sun. The question of where to get water for irrigation and what it should be is also very difficult, and therefore we will dwell on it in detail. In a city apartment drinking water practically unsuitable for watering citrus fruits, since it contains a large amount of compounds of alkaline earth metals and chlorine, which together and individually cause great harm tangerine, causing spotting (chlorosis) of leaves, alkalizing the soil, disrupting metabolic processes. Many authors recommend boiling tap water, but this does not always immediately lead to the desired result; unnecessary hassle often scares off potential fans of window fruit growing, so I recommend using hot water from the tap. This water contains less chlorine and is softer. In addition, water for irrigation must be left for at least 24 hours in an open container to completely remove chlorine, which is extremely harmful to citrus fruits. In a private house, water can be taken from a well, but it is better from a lake or stream and left in the room for heating. Rainwater now contains many harmful impurities, so do not collect it for irrigation. In any case, wherever the water is taken, it must be left for at least a day in an open container at room temperature and only then water the tangerine. In winter, to achieve better growth and fruiting of tangerines, it is advisable to heat the water to a temperature of +30 +35°C before watering. In the summer, you can put the water on a sunny window and not bother heating it.
Spraying
It must be well remembered that in addition to watering, indoor tangerines should be sprayed with water from a spray bottle or any other method at least once a day, especially in summer, to create humidity, to wash away dust from the branches, so that the leaves “breathe”. At least once a month, it is advisable to place the tangerine tree in a bath, cover the soil in the pot with plastic wrap and treat the entire crown with cotton wool and soap suds. Then you won't have to deal with difficult pest control. Do not forget to tie the stem of the tangerine tree at the bottom with gauze or a bandage so that the soapy water is absorbed into the fabric and does not get into the soil.
Fertilizer
In winter, indoor mandarin is not fed, in spring and summer - once every two weeks. Any fertilizing should be done only the next day after watering, i.e. when the soil in the pot is wet, otherwise you can burn the roots. Pour fertilizer under the plant until the solution begins to flow out of the drainage holes. To feed a tangerine tree seedling, you need fertilizer of the “Tangerine” type; it is presented on our website in the section “Soils and fertilizers for indoor plants” - “Fertilizers for indoor plants.” Feeding mature plants, at least one meter high, with fish soup once a month increases their fruiting. They do it like this: 200 grams of fish waste or small unsalted fish are boiled in two liters of water for half an hour. Then dilute the solution cold water and filter through cheesecloth. This fertilizer must be used together with the Mandarin fertilizer mentioned above.
Pests
Enemies for indoor tangerine are sucking and gnawing pests, as well as fungi and viruses. The most common pests are: spider mites, scale insects (false scale insects). The fight against them is carried out with chemical and biological preparations, which are more acceptable in conditions open soil subtropics and greenhouses. It is advisable not to use pesticides for an apartment. Signs of defeat spider mite the following: on old tangerine leaves, white dots appear on the underside, and the reddish mite itself is visible to the naked eye. If you touch it, it starts to move quickly. Young leaves curl into a “boat” and become entangled in a white web. To combat mites, use tobacco dust, garlic, and laundry soap. Take 1 tablespoon of tobacco dust and pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 6 days. Add 10 grams of laundry soap to the resulting infusion and spray the plant 3 times with an interval of 6 days. Garlic is used as follows: one head of garlic is crushed, poured with a glass of hot water and left for 2 days. The solution is filtered and spraying is carried out similarly to the above. When affected by scale insects, brown-gray shiny round formations with a diameter of 3-5 mm are visible on the surface of young and old leaves. They are placed along the veins at the top and bottom of the leaf, as well as on the branches themselves. In the initial stage, these growths are almost transparent, whitish in color and difficult to notice. With severe damage, sticky gum appears on the surface of old leaves, and in the late stage they become covered with a black sticky coating, which is very difficult to wash off with water. Water-oil emulsions effectively help against scale insects. Mix one teaspoon of machine oil in one glass of warm water, add 40 grams of laundry soap, 2 tablespoons washing powder. Before processing, cover the soil in the pot with plastic film, and the stem is tied at the bottom with a bandage. This is done in order to prevent the emulsion from getting into the soil. Treatment is carried out using a cotton or gauze swab. A water-oil emulsion is applied to all surfaces of tangerine branches and leaves. After 3-4 hours, rinse everything off in the shower, making sure that the emulsion does not get into the soil. Process 3 times with an interval of 6 days.