A spectacular potted plant - the indoor tangerine - is loved by many gardeners not only for its bright, aromatic fruits that ripen on New Year's Eve, but also for its white flowers, which exude a surprisingly delicate, incredibly pleasant aroma during flowering. Some cultivated varieties of mandarin are capable of blooming all year round. Look at the photo how beautiful the tree looks in the interior of the room. Mandarin is easy to grow and care for; it can be planted and propagated without difficulty even at home. See for yourself.
Biological characteristics and common varieties
Mandarin (Citrus reticulate) is classified as an extensive plant. The crop is a tree or shrub, reaching 5 m in nature. Of all citrus fruits, tangerine is the most winter-hardy and productive plant. It can withstand short-term temperature drops to -12-15 degrees. Tangerine trees begin to bear fruit in the second year of planting. Its flowers are slightly smaller than lemon flowers, but have a more piercing, strong aroma. Plants of dwarf varieties, not exceeding 40-50 cm, are usually grown indoors.
A tangerine tree can bloom and bear fruit at the same time
Common varieties include the following:
- Mandarin Georgian seedless(Unshiu) is the most common in indoor cultivation due to its large fruits with thin skin and juicy sweet pulp. It practically does not form seeds.
- Mandarin Georgian angustifolia– the plant produces smaller fruits. The peel is slightly thicker than that of the Unshiu variety. The pulp is sweet, fine-grained and very juicy.
- Mandarin Kovano-Vase– high-yielding, early-ripening variety. It produces a lot of fruit even when grown at home. Able to bear fruit in the first year of planting.
Planting indoor tangerine
The cultivation of tangerine trees began in Ancient China, where orange-yellow fruits were available only to the rich - tangerines. Where, perhaps, the name of the culture came from. Nowadays, dwarf tangerine plants, already with existing ones on the branches bright fruits, can be easily purchased at many flower shops.
Young tangerine trees for indoor growing
After purchase, it is recommended to replant the plant in a fresh suitable substrate for citrus fruits with an acidity pH of 5.5-7.0. You can make the soil yourself by mixing leaf soil, turf soil, manure humus and river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:0.5. Take a pot for replanting that is only 2-3 cm larger than the previous one - this will stimulate the tangerine to grow.
Features of growing and caring for tangerines
Indoor tangerine trees are very light-loving. It is recommended to place them no further than 1 m from the window on the east or south side.
Attention! Citrus fruits (and tangerines are no exception) easily get used to lighting on one side, so sharp turns and rearrangements from one window sill to another are contraindicated for the tangerine tree. This causes metabolic disturbances nutrients in the leaves, which leads to heavy leaf fall, and in some cases even to the death of the entire plant.
For development and optimal growth, tangerine will require a temperature of +16-20 degrees in the spring-summer period and +12-15 in winter. In summer and during flowering, carefully monitor the temperature readings near the plant, as overheating threatens the flowers and fruits withering.
Mandarin responds very well to spraying
Pay special attention to the leaf mass: regularly spray and clean the leaf plates. The flowering and productivity of tangerines directly depends on the condition and number of leaves. Monitor the soil moisture in the pot: it should not dry out completely. Water only with warm, purified or settled water.
Important! All citrus fruits are excellent air purifiers, as they saturate it with a large amount of phytoncides.
Feeding
Fertilizing an adult fruit-bearing tangerine tree begins in the summer and continues until the end of September. Give preference organic fertilizers– infused and diluted cow manure in a ratio of 1:10. In the spring, before flowering begins, tangerines can be fed 2-3 times with complex fertilizer for citrus fruits.
Reproduction
Indoor tangerine can be propagated in two ways:
- rooting of the apical cutting;
Cuttings are carried out at the beginning of summer. For rooting, root stimulating agents are used, since cuttings do not produce roots well.
Reproduction of a tangerine tree by grafting onto a rootstock
Vaccination is more effective and successful. Own-rooted lemon cuttings or seedlings of any citrus fruits are used as rootstocks.
Common diseases and pests
Most often, the plant is susceptible to late blight, gray rot and scab. For prevention, it is recommended to carry out regular spraying with systemic fungicides.
Among the pests that cause great harm to tangerine trees, scale insects, aphids, spider mite and thrips. To combat them, special natural or chemical insecticides are used.
How to grow tangerines at home: video
Growing tangerine: photo
The domestic tangerine tree is cultivated indoors as often as an orange or lemon. True, for these purposes it is best to choose dwarf forms or plants from the unshiu varietal group. All fruits of this group do not contain seeds, and their skin is very thin and practically devoid of bitterness. Therefore, such a crop can be consumed without preliminary cleaning. Learn how to care for indoor tangerine, and try growing a citrus tree on your windowsill.
Mandarin belongs to the Rutaceae family. Homeland - Southeast Asia.
The tangerine got its name because its delicious fruits were the privilege of the Chinese emperors - tangerines. Mandarin also occupies an important place in the ancient oriental art of Feng Shui. The tangerine tree symbolizes good luck in receiving money, and also has the ability to activate existing savings.
A beautiful small tree that blooms and bears fruit every year will certainly delight the eyes of the owners and surprise guests with its exotic appearance.
There is very little information about the origin of mandarin. It is believed that its homeland is China or Japan. It was brought to Europe from Southeast Asia only in the last century, but it quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean. Now tangerine plantations are especially large in Japan, China, countries of Southern Europe and South America. More than 6 million tons of tangerine fruits are harvested annually. In terms of production volume among citrus fruits, tangerine ranks second after orange.
Tangerines grow on low trees with a spreading crown. Their leaves are very smooth, shiny, green at any time of the year. The fruits ripen quite quickly and can be harvested already in November. Tangerines give the most big harvest among citrus fruits. IN favorable years 5–6 thousand fruits are collected from one tree per season.
In the subtropical regions of the Russian Black Sea region, tangerines can be grown, but there is no free space for planting large plantations here. Tangerines are found only in the individual gardens of local residents. This citrus comes to Russian cities mainly from neighboring countries: Abkhazia and Adjara.
Below we describe what a tangerine tree looks like and how to grow a houseplant at home.
What does a tangerine tree look like (with photo)
Mandarin is a perennial evergreen tree with a compact, well-leafed crown. In room conditions it grows up to 1 m. The leaves are leathery, dark green, lanceolate. The flowers are white, with a wonderful aroma, 2.5-4 cm in diameter. Blooms in spring, fruits ripen in autumn
As shown in the photo, the fruits of the tangerine tree are spherical, slightly flattened, with a diameter of 4 to 8 cm, with a thin orange skin that is easily separated from the pulp:
The peel is rich in glands that abundantly produce essential oil, streams of which are easy to see when the peel is crushed. The pulp is sweet, yellow-orange. The weight of one fruit is from 30 to 100 g. Fruits without seeds or with a few seeds.
Externally, the tangerine tree looks like a lemon, only their leaves are slightly blunted at the top. The main difference is the structure of the fruit. They are flattened or slightly pear-shaped, yellow, orange or orange-red (tangerines). The peel of the fruit is easily separated from the pulp, which, in turn, is easily divided into slices. The pulp is rich in sugars (up to 7.4%), vitamins C and P. This is the fastest ripening of all citrus fruits grown indoors.
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) also called noble citrus (C. nobilis) for its delicious taste.
But still, the main difference between mandarin and other relatives is the ability of the peel to easily lag behind the fruit. In some varieties of fruit (plump tangerines), the peel does not touch the pulp at all, since there is a layer of air between the peel and the pulp of the fruit. The selection of tangerines already in ancient times turned into a “conveyor line” in agriculture. So many varieties of tangerines have been developed that some have once been described as different types citrus fruits. The diversity of cultivated plant varieties is called polymorphism in science. The polymorphism of mandarin is explained by the importance of this citrus in the agriculture of various eastern countries, especially China, where mandarin is the main citrus crop (tangerine variety). In Japan, varieties of the Satsuma group that have conquered the world were bred, of which in Russia we love the unishiu variety - seedless tangerine.
Although tangerine is traditionally considered a New Year's fruit, it is also irreplaceable in the spring, during the period of vitamin deficiency. After all, tangerines retain more vitamin C than, for example, apples and potatoes.
Tangerine peels make good tea - not only tasty, but also healthy, since even dry tangerine peels contain essential oils. These essential oils act like inhalation, causing coughing, and have an antimicrobial effect. Tangerine peels are dried, crushed, mixed with tea (1 tbsp per 200 g of black tea) and the resulting mixture is used as regular tea.
When describing a tangerine, it is definitely worth noting that its peel contains a lot essential oils, which are used in the food industry, medicine and cosmetics.
Unshiu variety of indoor tangerines
A large group of varieties are united under the name “unshiu”, which means “seedless”. Scientists suggest that these frost-resistant citrus fruits were selected more than 500 years ago in Japan from plants imported from China.
This is a small tree with a spherical crown and drooping branches without thorns. The leaves are hard, dark green, slightly corrugated, elongated, with a sharp tip. The petiole is long, grooved. The flowers are white, small, appear in May. The fruits are mostly flat-round, weighing 50-80 g, without seeds, as they are formed without pollination. Ripe fruits, if not removed from the tree in time, become coarse and fall off. The peel is dark orange, rich in oil glands, and easily separates from the pulp. The pulp is juicy, soft and tasty. From one Unshiu tangerine tree you can get 30-50 fruits, which are formed on last year’s and new branches.
Recently, the interest of indoor gardening enthusiasts has attracted the attention of another variety of unshiu - the family dwarf tangerines from the so-called Vasya group.
The Kowano-wase mandarin, imported from Japan back in 1930, is considered to be its original ancestor.
Now there is already a whole list of dwarfs that are extremely interesting for home citrus growing. Among these tangerines grown indoors, there are several imported “foreigners”:
Nagahashi unshiu
Sugiama unshiu
Tyahara unshiu
Miho-wase
Okitsu-wase
As well as the forms and varieties bred by our breeders:
Kartuli saadreo
Miagawa-wase
Abkhazian early ripening
Agudzera
Very sweet bright orange fruits of these varieties indoor plants tangerines, almost the size of an orange, ripen several weeks earlier than unshiu. The trees' harvests are surprisingly generous, but the main thing is that when growing at home, these tangerines fit freely even in the smallest window. In nature, the height of these low-growing trees is about one and a half to two meters, and on the windowsill it is even less - practically does not exceed 40–50 centimeters. Fruiting of the indoor tangerine flower begins in the first - second year of life. A real find for lovers!
Also suitable for growing indoors are varieties of indoor tangerines - ‘Cawanowa.se’ and ‘Miagawawase’.
Growing an indoor tangerine tree: caring for a flower at home (with video)
Growing tangerines indoors is difficult, since the plants do not experience enough light and heat during the period of fruit ripening, cannot accumulate enough sugars, and their taste decreases. Mandarin is the most cold-resistant citrus plant. In terms of heat requirements, tangerine occupies an intermediate position between lemon and orange. It is demanding of moisture from spring growth until fruiting.
Lighting. When caring at home, indoor mandarins need a bright, sunny room. In spring, with the onset of warm days, it is best to take the plant out into the air. Citrus is sensitive to changes in lighting, so it should not be moved from place to place, otherwise it will stop growing until it adapts to the new lighting conditions.
Temperature. In winter it should be kept at a temperature of 4-6 ° C in a bright room. When growing and caring for tangerines at home, drafts should be avoided.
Substrate. Turf and leaf soil, humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. Sod land you can take twice as much as the leaf one.
The substrate is prepared from turf and leaf soil, humus and sand (2:1:1:1).
Watering. Recommended in summer abundant watering, in winter - extremely moderate. It should be watered as the coma dries with settled water. room temperature. Both over-drying of the soil and excess moisture in winter with a lack of light causes leaves to fall.
Humidity. A tangerine plant grown at home requires regular spraying.
Feeding: From April to September, weekly fertilizing is carried out with complex mineral fertilizer.
Starting from April and ending in August, citrus trees are given weak fertilizers 2 times a week, alternating feedings mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers.
Transfer. When caring for a tangerine tree at home, young plants are replanted after 1 - 2 years, and then after 3 - 4 years, old tub plants - once every 5 or even 8 - 10 years.
Reproduction. Cuttings take root with difficulty, in special heated greenhouses, so we recommend buying plants in specialized stores.
Watch the video “Growing indoor tangerine” to better understand how to care for this plant:
Mandarin tree rejuvenation
The life of a mandarin fits within the life span of a human. By the age of 25–30, the tangerine reaches its peak. At 50 he begins to age. He dies at the age of 70–75. But it also happens that a tree dies in the prime of its life. The lush crown suddenly begins to dry out, the growth of new branches stops, the fruits become smaller and there are fewer and fewer of them - in the end the tree has to be cut down. Is it possible to save a tree whose very root system is affected by an incurable disease? It turns out that it is possible!
A scientist at the All-Union Institute of Humid Subtropics, N.V. Ryndin, together with the practical gardener Henrikhson, carried out an interesting experiment in the spring of 1934. Having selected thirty trees from the tangerine forest of the Sukhumi Botanical Garden, the root system of which was dilapidated, N.V. Ryndin performed a kind of rejuvenation operation on each of them.
You need to know that tangerine, like any other fruit tree, grafted onto a wild child. Dichok serves here as a pump, supplying cultivated plant life-giving juices of the earth. The destruction of the “pump” inevitably leads to the death of the entire plant. The operation performed by N.V. Ryndin consisted in the fact that he tried to change the “pumps”.
A new young wild bird was planted in the ground under a diseased tree. The crown of the wild bird was cut off, an incision was made in the diseased tree, just above the affected part of the trunk, the cut crown was inserted into this incision, after which the junction was covered and bandaged, as with a regular grafting.
The whole calculation boiled down to the fact that the diseased tree, having received such an original prosthesis, would begin to use it first as an additional “pump”, and later as a standard (main trunk).
Thirty operations with sick tangerines were a great success. Almost all the new wild birds have grafted onto the old trees and began to “work” on them. In the most severe cases, two wild animals were grafted at once: later it will be possible to see which “leg” of the tangerine to leave and which one to “remove”.
A homemade orange and tangerine tree looks beautiful and impressive. During its flowering, white fragrant buds are formed. And after some time, tasty fruits are formed. If grown in bonsai style, you can get a real work of art. The article will tell you what the plant looks like, what varieties are suitable for an apartment, and how to properly organize care at home.
Orange and tangerine are flowering evergreen. Belongs to the genus Citrus, rue family (calamondin). The height is 4-5 meters. Productivity varies from 5,000 to 7,000 fruits per tree. The crown is round and spreading, with a diameter of about 3.5 meters. The bark is light gray. Young shoots are dark green. The leaves are leathery and small in size. Have egg-shaped, pointed at the end. Photos of a tangerine tree can be seen in specialized literature.
Growing tangerines at home
It is not difficult to grow tangerines, kiwis, pomegranates, and persimmons at home. When planted with a seed, the tree begins to bloom and bear fruit after 7-8 years. But this state can be achieved much faster if, at the 4th year of life, you graft from a fruit-bearing tree. If you don’t want to bother with planting and propagation, it’s better to buy a plant in a specialty store or order it online. Usually fruits are formed without artificial pollination.
To get a good harvest, the plant must be properly cared for and fertilized.
From stones, seeds
Planting a seed is the easiest way to get a tangerine tree at home. But this process is long. In addition, not all varieties produce seeds. To plant you should buy quality material, which has been properly stored, not exposed to direct sunlight or frozen. The seeds need to be washed and dried. Next, they are wrapped in damp cotton cloth. When the seeds increase in size and sprouts begin to hatch, they are planted in a pot with fertile substrate. As the plant grows, it is transplanted into a larger container. It is better to sow several seeds at once, because their germination percentage is average. It is important to consider that fruits grown from seeds are inedible. Therefore, in order to improve taste, they are vaccinated. You can watch the process in more detail in the video.
Grafting a tangerine seedling
Grafting a tangerine seedling allows you to get bountiful harvest. The procedure is carried out from April to May or in August. It's important to take best rootstock and a cutting from a fruiting one healthy tree. Use biennial or annual grapefruit branches. Thorns and leaves are cut from the cuttings. A plant with well-developed bark is suitable for rootstock. The barrel is first wiped from dust and dirt. Then a small T-shaped incision is made in the bark. Use a knife to push the bark away and insert the cutting into the hole. This area is smeared with garden varnish and wrapped in cloth, leaving only a bud on the surface. Grafted homemade tangerine covered plastic bottle or a plastic bag to create greenhouse effect. After three weeks the branch should take root.
Cuttings for growing a tangerine tree
Often cuttings are used to grow an ornamental tree. A small branch with a leaf can be bought at a specialty store or cut from an existing tree. The cuttings are planted in a fertile, loose substrate. Then water it generously and cover it with a plastic bottle. After 60 days, the branch will take root and leaves will begin to appear. It is allowed to remove the cover only when the plant is completely strengthened. Further care consists of timely irrigation, annual replanting and fertilizing.
Crossing tangerine with other citrus fruits
It is easy to obtain hybrid forms of tangerine at home. To do this, crossbreeding with other citrus plants is carried out. For example, with lemon, orange, grapefruit. When a mandarin is crossed with a North African orange, the clementine is obtained. The tree produces medium-sized or small orange-red, flattened fruits. To cross, the flowers of one plant must be pollinated with pollen from another. The seeds obtained from the fruit are planted in a box with fertile substrate. To grow such a hybrid, vaccination is needed. Without this procedure good harvest can't achieve it. If you provide clementine necessary conditions content, after a few years the tree will begin to bear fruit.
Features of wood care
When keeping tangerine indoors, it is important to observe the light and temperature conditions.
In order for the young plant to grow stronger, all ovaries and flowers are removed for the first three years after planting. Only in the fourth year is the tree allowed to bear fruit. But since at this age the branches are still weak and thin, it is impossible for more than 6 fruits to form. Every year the plant will be able to produce more and more fruits. It is advisable to tie up the shoots during fruiting. If you organize care correctly, you can collect about 60 tangerines from one mature tree.
Temperature and lighting
Mandarin is light and heat-loving plant. Therefore, it should be placed on an east, south or west window. In this case, it is necessary to construct shading from the midday sun. IN winter time install additional lighting. In summer, the tree is taken out onto the veranda or balcony. But to fresh air The plant should be trained gradually. The optimal temperature is +25 degrees in summer and +17 degrees in winter. In order for mature tangerines to bear fruit abundantly, experts recommend cold wintering: keep the pot in a room where the temperature does not exceed +12 degrees.
Watering a tangerine tree
In spring and autumn, irrigate once a day with settled warm water. The watering regime must be adjusted so as to prevent waterlogging and drying out of the soil, so that the tangerine does not lose its leaves. Excess moisture causes root rot, and deficiency causes leaves to fall. The tangerine tree prefers high humidity, so regular spraying will be useful. It is important to ensure that during spraying and watering water does not fall on the flowers. Experts advise placing a pot with a tree on a tray with damp expanded clay, pebbles or moss.
Soil requirements and necessary fertilizers
For cultivation homemade tangerine Slightly acidic soil should be used. You can buy ready-made soil for citrus fruits in the store or prepare the substrate yourself from turf and leaf soil, clay, humus and coarse sand. Fertilizing begins in June, when the plant enters the active growth phase. Nutrients are added twice a month. Feed after the irrigation procedure so as not to burn root system. It is better to use an infusion of cow manure and yeast as fertilizer. Special formulations for citrus fruits are also suitable. In winter, fertilizing is not carried out.
Replanting a tangerine tree
Replanting is carried out as the tree grows. For a young plant, this procedure is carried out once a year. Tangerines over 7 years old are replanted every two years. They use the transfer method. The new pot should be 6 centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. WITH 
It cannot be planted in a large container once. This is fraught with rotting of the roots. Do not replant during flowering. The optimal time for such an event is the beginning of spring. A few days before the planned transplant date, you need to stop feeding.
For the procedure to be successful, you must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- Water the tree generously.
- Remove the plant from the old container.
- Carefully place in new pot.
- Sprinkle with soil.
- Lightly moisten the soil.
Reproduction, pruning, shaping
Mandarins are propagated at home by generative or vegetative means. The first method involves growing from seed. The essence of the second is to root the branches. When choosing cuttings, you should use a special rooting solution. Then the survival rate will increase several times. Both methods take a lot of time. Therefore, some gardeners prefer to buy already grafted indoor tangerines in the store.
Typically, domestic varieties are low-growing. If you form the crown correctly, you can create a bonsai tree that will become a real decoration of the room. To make the plant look neat, you need to control the growth of side shoots and tops. To do this, trim the branches that are lowered down and growing inward.
Varieties for home cultivation
To grow tangerines at home, varieties that are short-growing and compact are used. The most popular are Unshiu, tangerines of the Vase group, Shiva-Mikan, Clementine. Unshiu is Japanese variety, which is characterized by unpretentiousness, early fruiting, and good branching. The tree grows up to 1.5 meters. Flowering is abundant and occurs in the spring season. The fruits ripen at the end of November. The tree is resistant to low temperatures.
Kowano-Wase and Miyagawa-Wase are dwarf varieties whose height varies from 40 to 80 centimeters. Kovano-Vase grows no more than 50 centimeters. Different abundant flowering. The tree bears fruit in the second year of life and produces orange-yellow fruits of a round-flattened shape. The advantages include frost resistance and high yield. Miyagawa-Wase is the tallest variety in the Washo group. It is characterized by large fruits that have smooth thin skin and are seedless. The fruits ripen in September and retain their taste for a long time.
Shiva-Mikan - fast growing, compact variety, which produces small but very sweet fruits. Shiva-Mikan tangerines ripen in the summer. Often grown in apartments, Clementine is a hybrid of orange and tangerine. The tree begins to bear fruit in its second year of life. One plant bears about 50 fruits per year orange-red color. The fruit contains many seeds.
Possible problems during cultivation
If you follow all the rules of care and take into account the characteristics of the variety, there will be no problems when growing a tree. But beginners often make mistakes in maintaining a citrus plant for a month. Often gardeners notice that the foliage begins to turn yellow, curl and fall off. 
This happens for various reasons:
- The tree is aging.
- Lack of light.
- The air is too dry.
- The transplant was carried out incorrectly.
- There are drafts in the apartment.
When yellowing begins at the bottom of the canopy and spreads upward, there is likely a nitrogen deficiency. If young leaves turn yellow and dry first, and then old ones, this means that the tree is deficient in iron. It happens that leaves begin to fall for no apparent reason. In this case, resuscitation and feeding with potassium nitrate should be carried out. If the cancer is cured and the cause of the yellowing of the foliage is eliminated, the tree will quickly recover.
Mandarin is susceptible to the following pests:
- Spider mite. It appears as small light dots on the underside of the leaf.
- Mealyworm. It looks like a white fluffy coating.
- Aphid. These are small insects of light green color.
- Shield. A sticky syrup-like coating forms on the leaves.
Citrus products
Tangerines are considered low-calorie, so they are often used in dietary foods. Drinks, juices, classic compotes, and lemonade are prepared from this fruit. They make Isabella wine and chacha from it, alcohol and grapes. There are also recipes for compotes and squeezes of dandelions, apples and plums with alcohol. There are a lot of recipes that allow you to create a real dietary treat from healthy tangerine.
For example, korok and candied fruits turn out delicious. To prepare them, soak the crust in water for 24 hours. Then cut it into thin strips. Boil in sugar syrup You need candied fruits for an hour. Then they are placed on a baking sheet and left to dry.
In the east, fresh slices of this fruit are added to sweet soups and vegetable salads. Ice cream made from tangerine, milk, condensed milk, and sour cream turns out delicious. The tangerine is peeled and pureed using a blender. Add condensed milk and sour cream. Mix everything and pour the mixture into a container with a lid. Place in the freezer for 6 hours. Every 40 minutes you need to take out the container and stir the ice cream. It is recommended to serve dessert with fruit syrup.
Citrus fruits, including tangerines, contain a lot of vitamin C. You can try growing them yourself. The tangerine dwarf tree is a wonderful ornamental plant that brings bright colors and a pleasant aroma to the home. It is known that the smell of this fruit not only improves mood and gives vigor, but also relieves headache. An evergreen citrus tree can maintain a flowering period for most of the year and bear fruit even indoors.
Becoming the owner of a wonderful indoor tangerine is not difficult at all. Moreover, you can even grow a tangerine in a pot yourself, from a seed.
Planting stages
It’s worth noting right away that there is a simpler option. You can buy a ready-made seedling in a specialized store and plant it directly in the ground. You can even purchase an adult plant that is already bearing fruit, which you only need to place on the windowsill, providing it home care.
But for those who are not looking for easy ways, you can plant and grow indoor tangerines yourself at home.
Step 1. Materials
The seeds of this fruit are needed. It’s better to take at least a dozen, because no one has yet canceled natural selection. Not all seeds will be able to sprout, not all sprouts will be able to break through the soil. To get suitable seeds, you need to take a ripe fruit: the larger and juicier, the better.
Step 2. Preparing the seeds
Experienced gardeners know that any seeds require a preparatory period before planting in the ground. The tangerine seeds must be left in a damp place for some time. The ideal option is to wrap them in cloth and leave them, maintaining a moist environment. After a couple of days, the seeds will be ready for planting: small sprouts will appear at the seeds.
Step 3. Planting in the ground
Usually, indoor tangerines can grow in the most ordinary soil, but you should approach the choice of soil for the plant responsibly. First to the bottom flower pot a layer of small stones or expanded clay is laid out for soil drainage. Next, the rest of the soil is laid out, where the sprouted seeds are placed. They should not be located too deep, but not near the surface of the soil. The ideal planting depth is from 5 to 7 cm.
Unless you need to water, but not too much and very carefully. In less than a month, young shoots will begin to emerge from the soil.
Even if the experiment fails, don’t be discouraged: it doesn’t always work out as planned. You can always try to plant tangerines at home again, using previous experience.
Caring for young seedlings
At the very beginning it is important to produce proper care for young shoots. The pot with the plant must be placed correctly, finding the most suitable place for it. The indoor mandarin loves good lighting, and in dark places it begins to wither and may die. But direct sunlight in large quantities may burn young shoots. Until the stems of the tangerine tree are sufficiently strong, it is better to remove them from the risk zone. The task is not entirely simple - the container with the sprouts must be constantly lit and reliably protected from direct sun.
The tangerine tree must be exposed to direct sunlight, without which it will not be able to grow and develop normally.
Immediately after the first shoots appear, it is important to feed the young citrus. The algorithm of action does not differ significantly from feeding an adult plant.
Caring for an adult plant
When growing tangerines at home, it is important to understand that the plant is adapted to hot countries where droughts often occur. Therefore, excessive watering will be detrimental to the plant. When an indoor tangerine is watered too often, it begins to shed its leaves. But it’s also not worth rushing from one extreme to another.
Humidity
The decorative variety of tangerine is still not a cactus; at home it requires regular irrigation.
Mandarin grown at home requires care and nutrition in addition to watering. We are talking about feeding the plant.
It is necessary to feed plants, because frequent watering washes away organic and mineral substances. Understanding this is of decisive importance in growing tangerines at home. At different times of the year, mandarin behaves differently, which affects the amount and frequency of nutrition needed.
It is especially important to feed indoor shrubs in the spring, when the tangerine undergoes its main growth.
The frequency of feeding should not exceed twice a week. The fertilizer must be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions for use. Otherwise, you can seriously harm the plant: instead of the necessary minerals and organic substances, your homemade tangerine may receive poison. Mixtures for fertilizing and feeding indoor plants are sold in both specialized stores and large hypermarkets. When choosing fertilizer, it is advisable to focus on fertilizers for citrus fruits.
Tangerine home tree requires feeding to a much greater extent than its garden counterparts. Soil in a pot, as opposed to open ground, is not capable of regenerating organic and mineral substances washed away during irrigation. Garden mandarin does not need to be fed so often, but caring for a tree at home is a completely different matter.
Although the tangerine tree is not a capricious or difficult plant to care for, in addition to watering and fertilizing, it is sometimes worth making additional efforts. Let's say a few more words about how to care for a decorative tangerine so that the tree always pleases the eye with its beauty.
Transfer
As the tree grows, the indoor tangerine needs to be replanted. While the bush is growing, it is advisable to update the “place of registration” every year. After the plant reaches seven years of age, expansion of its living space is required every two years.
In order for the tree to bear fruit well, it is better to remove excess ovaries at the flowering stage.
The more potential fruits grow, the more energy and nutrients the tree will spend on growing. In order not to deplete the tangerine tree, it is advisable to leave only part of its flowers, the strongest ovaries. Although the “harvest” will be smaller, each fruit will contain more micronutrients. Therefore, the fruits will be larger, tasty and juicy. Indoor tangerine is an ornamental plant, not a garden plant. Therefore, the health of the tree should always be a priority.
When the ovaries form into small fruits, it is advisable to tie the tree crowns to a support. As tangerines grow and become heavier, they run the risk of breaking the tree's fragile decorative stems. Without additional help, the bush may suffer. Broken branches can cause serious tree disease.
Diseases and pests
When growing a tangerine, you cannot provide it with proper home care without protecting the plant from pests.
Types of indoor trees
There are several varieties of tangerine tree. Some of them fit perfectly into the culture of home ornamental plants.
Unshiu
The most popular is the Unshiu tangerine tree, a variety of Japanese tangerine trees. The height of an adult plant rarely reaches 1.5 m. Indoor tangerine Unshiu is more tolerant of cold than others and is extremely fruitful.
Dwarf form
The dwarf or, as it is also called, mountain mandarin, Kovano-Vase, is also popular. This variety is from the Vasya group, which at home is capable of reaching a meter in height, although usually the plant’s growth stops within the range of 40 cm to 80 cm.
Clementine
You can also highlight indoor Clementine. This is a mandarin crossed with an orange. The decorative tangerine of the Murcott variety, which translates as “honey,” is distinguished by its bright and sweet fruits. The early ripening variety begins to bear fruit in the summer, unlike the above-mentioned varieties.
Other varieties
The small tangerine Shiva-Mikan tree, like Murcott, is an early variety with small fruits.
But despite the fact that the varieties of tangerine trees mentioned are specially bred decorative varieties, even an ordinary garden tangerine remains rather short-growing at home, regardless of care.
Whatever variety you ultimately choose, the result will be spectacular. decorative tree With with the most beautiful flowers and bright, fragrant fruits.
Conclusion
Since ancient times, tangerines have been used as decorative home trees by noble and wealthy families, growing them in greenhouses or winter gardens, because the flower of both garden and home tangerines exuded a wonderful aroma. Today tangerine is available at home. Growing a tree is quite simple. Care also does not require any special effort. But this noble tangerine dwarf tree will look impressive and stylish in any interior, giving the surrounding space more positivity and color. Therefore, even if you had doubts about whether to get involved with a citrus tree or give preference to another ornamental plant, discard them. Domestic trees will invariably please their owners, bringing juicy fruits, a delicate aroma and a great mood.
Tangerine tree for recent years has gained particular popularity among amateur gardeners. For its cultivation, not only greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens, but also the most ordinary balconies and window sills in the apartment.
Peculiarities
Indoor tangerine attracts with its lush greenery, beautiful flowers and bright sunny fruits. It does not shed its leaves, so it will remain green even in winter. The light aroma of the plant helps relieve headaches, irritability and lifts your spirits. And when the tree blooms, an even more extraordinary smell emanates from it. The flowering period can last from spring until autumn. At the same time, growing a tangerine tree at home does not require special effort and skills - even a beginner can properly care for it.
The usual tangerine variety grows up to 5 meters high. But modern breeders have bred a huge number of special dwarf and low-growing varieties plants in the form of small trees or bushes.
The height of an adult plant is no more than one and a half meters, and to maintain beautiful shape less effort will be required. With the right approach, the tangerine tree in the apartment grows quite quickly and begins to bear fruit.
Varieties for growing at home
Breeders have bred a large number various varieties tangerine trees. They differ from each other in the appearance of the crown, foliage, flowers and fruits, as well as in size, fertility and taste. Not all of them are suitable for home grown. Among the many indoor tangerines, it is worth highlighting the most popular types.
- "Kovano-Vase" is an ideal option for an apartment. This is a dwarf variety, up to 50 cm in height, so you can even grow it on a windowsill. The leaves are dark green and arrow-shaped. Distinctive feature Another advantage is that the bush does not have to be pruned to maintain its shape. “Kovano-Vase” begins to actively bloom in the spring, and bright orange fruits ripen in the fall. The fruits appear within a year and do not fall for a long time.
- "Unshiu" It is an unpretentious variety and is not difficult to grow. This variety tolerates low temperatures and lack of sunlight. In apartment conditions, the height is usually about 80 cm, sometimes up to one and a half meters. The first fruits appear in the third or fourth year. "Unshiu" has lush greenery, blooms beautifully and bears fruit well. Flowering begins in spring, lasts several months, and by the end of autumn the fruits ripen. They are slightly elongated pear-shaped, sweet and almost seedless.
"Kovano-Vase"
"Unshiu"
- "Pavlovsky" Mandarin has also proven itself well when grown at home. The height of an adult tree does not exceed one meter. Its leaves are similar to an ordinary tangerine - large, shiny, dense. There are many fruits, they are round in shape, up to 7 cm in diameter, and have a sweetish-tart taste. The skin is bright orange, thin, and easily peels off. The flowers of the “Pavlovsk” mandarin are large, about 3 cm, and are collected in whole inflorescences. They are white in color, but the buds are pinkish. The flowering period begins in April-May, and the first fruits may appear as early as September.
- "Clementine"– the most delicious and sweet hybrid. A plant with dense elongated leaves, fragrant flowers and bright flattened fruits. The first tangerines ripen within 1.5-2 years. In an apartment, the harvest is small, about 40-50 fruits per season.
- "Shiva-Mikan" refers to early varieties. At home it is more likely ornamental plant– this variety grows quickly, has a compact size and small fruits weighing no more than 30 grams.
- "Marcotte"– translated as “honey”. This variety has surprisingly sweet fruits. Plant small size, with a neat crown of elongated leaves and yellow-orange fruits. The skin is smooth and tight; the pulp contains many seeds.
"Pavlovsky"
How to plant?
If you decide to grow a tangerine tree at home, you can either buy ready-made seedlings in plant growing stores, or germinate them yourself from a seed.
The first method is simpler and faster. Plant seedlings are sold immediately in a pot or in a packaged earthen coma. After purchasing, they must be transplanted into a suitable container.
The second method is more economical and interesting. Indoor tangerine can be grown from an ordinary seed of a ripe fruit. It is recommended to germinate several pieces at once, in which case the probability of obtaining the desired result will be higher. The seeds must first be soaked for several days until they swell and sprout. To do this, they are placed in 3-4 layers of damp gauze. Be sure to ensure that the gauze does not dry out and add water periodically.
If you don’t want to wait a long time for germination, then you can use Epin, a growth stimulator. It is added to water and left for a couple of hours. After the first shoots appear, the tangerine can be planted in the ground.
The ready-made mixture can be purchased at a plant growing store. It is important that the soil for the seedlings is not acidic - tangerines will not grow in such an environment. Therefore, the soil composition should not contain peat.
You can prepare the soil yourself, suitable option is a mixture:
- 2/5 parts cow humus;
- 2/5 parts of turf and leaf soil;
- 1/5 part sand.
As the first container, you can use ordinary cups, pots with a diameter of up to 10 cm or boxes for seedlings.
At the bottom of a clean and dry container, it is imperative to lay a layer of drainage made of small stones or expanded clay. This will prevent stagnation of moisture and rotting of the roots.
The prepared soil is poured on top. The sprouted seeds are carefully placed in holes 4-6 cm deep and sprinkled with soil. The soil should be moist throughout the entire time, and watering should not be forgotten. The container with seeds must be placed in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. The optimal room temperature for the germination period should be +20.25 degrees. The first shoots appear after about 2-4 weeks. If several shoots sprout from one seed at once, then the weakest of them must then be carefully cut off.
Care
So that the tangerine tree pleases with its healthy appearance, shape, beautiful flowering and tasty fruits, it is necessary to provide it comfortable conditions. The most basic care and attention will help to prolong and make life easier for the plant in apartment conditions.
Location and lighting
It is recommended to place the tangerine tree in a well-lit place with diffused light. Windows facing south, southwest or southeast are best suited for it. Direct ultraviolet rays should be avoided in hot weather - the plant can get burned, and the soil in the pot will quickly dry out. You need to accustom the plant to ultraviolet radiation in stages: first stick to partial shade, and only then gradually increase the time spent under direct rays. Mandarin gets used to one-sided lighting, so it is not recommended to often rotate it around its own axis. IN warm time year, the tree can be taken out onto the balcony, terrace or outside.
The optimal daylight hours for tangerines should be 8-12 hours. With a lack of natural sunlight, the plant will weaken, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off. You can extend his daylight hours with the help of special phytolamps.
Temperature
Recommended temperature for citrus trees in the warm season (spring and summer) it is considered +18.20 degrees. During this period there is a phase of active flowering, and more high temperatures will lead to the falling of flowers and leaves. And more low temperatures will slow down growth and prevent fruit formation.
In winter, it is necessary to give the plant a rest and gain strength for the next season. To do this, the room temperature must be kept at +10.12 degrees. Otherwise, subsequent flowering and fruiting may not occur. You can start raising temperatures for spring as early as the end of January. The tangerine tree does not tolerate sudden temperature changes, so any change in conditions should be gradual. But at the same time, the tree needs to be accustomed to natural changes. To do this, it is recommended to take it out to a closed terrace or balcony for a very short time during the day - this way the plant hardens and becomes stronger.
Humidity
In the room where the tangerine tree is located, there should always be high level air humidity. To do this, the plant is often sprayed with a spray bottle. In hot weather or during heating season It is advisable to do this twice a day. The water should be at room temperature.
It is advisable to water in the morning and evening to avoid the midday sun from hitting wet leaves.
If the plant already has flowers, then irrigation must be done very carefully, without getting on the buds. It’s better to simply wipe the leaves with a damp cloth during this period.
If there is a heating radiator in the room, it is recommended to cover it with a wet towel. You can place a container of water next to the tree. Ideal option there will be a humidifier.
Watering
During rapid growth and flowering, it is especially important to properly water your home citrus tree. At this time, the soil should not dry out; it is recommended to do the procedure daily. Even a short drought can negatively affect the plant - to save moisture consumption, it will shed its leaves and they will not grow again in this place.
When the plant “winters”, you can water it only twice a week. The amount of water should be moderate - excessive soil moisture should not be allowed, this will lead to rotting of the roots, and mold may appear on the surface of the soil. It is recommended to use only settled clean water room temperature. Tap water contains chlorine, so it is not suitable for irrigation.
You can check whether the soil needs moisture with your finger - if the soil is dry and crumbly, then the plant needs to be “watered”.
You can only pour water on the rhizome - the trunk of the tree, leaves and especially flowers cannot tolerate excess moisture.
The most the right time morning is considered the day. It is during this period that the tangerine tree is most active.
Priming
The soil composition required for young and mature plants is different.
For a young plant, you need to mix one part of sand with leaf soil, two parts of turf and cow humus.
For an adult plant, take part of leaf soil, three parts of turf and one each of sand and cow humus. And most importantly, fatty clay must be added to the soil for adult citrus trees.
You can also buy ready-made mixtures in gardening stores, but you should pay attention to high-quality products from a trusted manufacturer.
Top dressing
Because of frequent watering all beneficial substances from the soil are quickly washed out, so the first fertilizing citrus tree produced immediately after sprouts appear. And the older the plant, the more it needs to be fertilized. You can buy it in a specialized store ready mixture fertilizers You can also use mullein manure as organic matter in proportions of 1/10 with water.
It is especially important to feed the tangerine in the spring, when the plant begins to develop intensively. This period lasts until September; fertilizer can be applied once every two weeks. This regime will promote the appearance of buds, flowers and ovaries, and the ripe fruits will not taste bitter. In the cold season, fertilizing should be stopped. Like most all indoor plants, it is recommended to fertilize tangerine in the morning. The tree must be watered first warm water. The temperature of the nutrient solution should also be at a comfortable room temperature. The composition of the mixtures varies, but the content of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen is mandatory for a citrus tree.
The proportions and recipe must be observed; this information is indicated on the packaging. Irrational use of fertilizers can cause burns to the stem, roots and leaves or, in general, lead to the death of the tree. Among folk remedies, gardeners recommend using “ fish soup" For cooking, take 100 grams of fish per liter of water. Boil this for 30 minutes, strain, cool and add store-bought mineral mixture to the solution.
Trimming and pinching
It is not often necessary to prune homemade tangerines, since the formation of the crown of this crop occurs on its own. But pruning and pinching the upper young shoots once every 3-4 months will not only contribute to better development of branches and leaves, but will also speed up fruiting. The top shoots should be pinched only after five leaves have formed.
You can also get rid of all weak and unnecessary branches. If dried leaves and branches appear on the tree, they also need to be carefully cut off. It is recommended to trim with special sharp scissors.
During the first flowering, some of the buds should be removed. This procedure will save strength young tree and will increase productivity not only this year, but also in subsequent years.
Possible problems
Improper care of indoor mandarin causes its diseases. If the microclimate in the apartment is disturbed, irregular moisture, lack or excess of fertilizers, the plant begins to hurt. Let's look at the most common problems and the reasons for their occurrence.
Leaves turn yellow and fall off
If this happens rarely and in small quantities, then it is a natural process, especially in old trees. If leaf fall is intense, then this may indicate insufficient lighting, improper watering or a lack of nitrogen in the soil. The reason for this may be a sharp change in regime (temperature, light). If the plant begins to turn yellow after transplantation, then the cause is most likely a violation of technology. Make sure that the root neck is not too deep. Too much big pot also causes yellowing.
All these processes need to be reviewed, conditions favorable for the tree must be created, and the plant will begin to recover.
- Brown leaves most often indicate improper feeding. It is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizer and strictly adhere to the recipe.
- The leaves dry out due to dry air in the room. It is necessary to spray the tree more often with a spray bottle, wipe the leaves with a sponge, cover heating devices and use a humidifier.
- Leaves curl due to excess ultraviolet rays. To solve the problem, the tree needs to be shaded.
- “Rust” spots on the leaves also indicate improper watering. This process needs to be regulated.
- Red spots on the trunk of a tree indicate insufficient drainage, damage to the trunk or excess fertilizer. A light solution of vitriol is suitable for treating already damaged areas. After this, the cracks are rubbed with a special garden varnish.
- If the bush begins to shrink and dry out, then the reason for this lies in insufficient feeding. Mandarin must be provided useful vitamins and minerals.
But even high-quality care is not enough to avoid some diseases.
Some diseases can also affect the tangerine tree.
- Anthracnose causes deformation of the bark, yellowing and falling leaves. The affected parts of the tree must be carefully cut off and destroyed, and it is recommended to use Fitosporin to treat the entire plant.
- Scab begins to appear as small transparent spots. Subsequently, gray “warts” are formed from them. Bordeaux mixture is used for treatment. You need to spray the entire bush with it three times.
One should not exclude such a threat as all kinds of pests.
They are almost invisible, but can cause irreparable harm to the plant.
- Spider mite. It manifests itself as cobwebs on the leaves and red dots on the stems. This pest thrives in dry, hot microclimates. To combat it, you first need to clean the wood with a brush and then water it with a contrast shower. The soil must be sprinkled with ash and the entire procedure repeated after 10 days. A mixture of tobacco dust and laundry soap is suitable for spraying. A spoonful of dust and a spoonful of grated soap are dissolved in water and infused for 5-6 hours. You need to spray the solution 2-3 times a week.
- Aphid. If there is a large amount, you must first thoroughly wash the plant with a solution of laundry soap. A decoction of wormwood or nettle is suitable for treating damaged leaves. It is recommended to spray the leaves with garlic water. To prepare it, one clove is infused in a glass of water for two days. The tree needs to be treated with the solution several times a week.
- Shield. Signs of infection are brown bumps and dried, yellowed bushes. First, use a brush to clean the plant from insects. Wash the tree and its location with soapy water. To spray in water you need to dissolve a little soap, two spoons washing powder and a teaspoon of machine oil. 3-4 hours after treatment, the plant should be rinsed with water. Repeat the procedures three times a month.
- Mealybug. With its appearance, white sticky spots form on the leaves. The leaves fall asleep and fall off. The best folk remedy fight is soap solution. You need to wipe the tree with it and spray it once a week.
To combat uninvited “guests” you can also use special means (for example, “Fitoverm”, “Karbofos” or “Aktellik”). It is necessary to wipe the leaves and trunk with the solution. To improve the effect, the bush can be packed in plastic for a couple of hours. It is important to note that the fruits after this procedure cannot be eaten for at least a week.
Treatment of leaves with soap foam can be considered as a preventive measure. At the same time, it should not get into the soil, so it is recommended to cover the pot first.
How to replant and how often to do it?
As the tangerine tree grows and its root system expands, replanting into a pot is required larger size. The young plant must be replanted every year early spring before flowering begins. After reaching 4 years of age, a transplant is needed every 3-4 years.
This culture does not like large containers, so you need to choose a new pot only one size larger than the previous one.
Tangerine transplantation is carried out by transferring the entire earthen clod. To make the tree easier to remove, the soil needs to be watered - this will reduce the adhesion of the soil and the walls of the pot. Next, you can lightly tap the pot with your palms so that the lump of earth moves away from it. After this, the plant is carefully removed and transferred to another place. First you need to lay a layer of clean drainage on the bottom of the new pot. The tree is installed and covered with earth. There is no need to compact the soil too hard. It is important to ensure that the root collar (small compaction between the root and the trunk) is only partially covered with soil. Otherwise, the tree will take a long time to take root and will begin to hurt.
It's easy to learn how to properly care for tangerine tree at home. You just need to follow the recommendations, and then the plant will delight you for a long time with a lush crown, beautiful fragrant flowers and fruits.
To learn how to grow a tangerine tree from a seed at home, see the following video.