Tangerine tree: varieties and subtleties of cultivation

Tangerine tree in recent years has gained particular popularity among amateur gardeners. Not only greenhouses, greenhouses, winter gardens, but also the most common balconies and window sills in the apartment are suitable for its cultivation.

Room mandarin attracts with its juicy greens, beautiful flowers and bright sunny fruits. It does not shed its leaves, so it will remain green even in winter. Light aroma of the plant helps to relieve headaches, irritability and uplifting. And when a tree blossoms, an even more unusual smell emanates from it. The flowering period can last from spring to autumn. At the same time, growing a tangerine tree at home does not require much effort and skill - even a beginner can properly care for it.

The usual grade of mandarin grows up to 5 meters high. But modern breeders derived a huge number of special dwarf and low-growing varieties of plants in the form of small trees or bushes.

Breeders deduced a large number of different varieties of tangerine trees. Among themselves, they differ in the appearance of the crown, foliage, flowers and fruits, as well as size, fecundity and taste. Not all of them are suitable for home cultivation. Among the many indoor tangerines stands out the most popular types.

• "Kovano-Vasya" is an ideal option for an apartment. It is a dwarf variety, in height up to 50 cm, therefore it can be grown even on a windowsill. The leaves are dark green in the shape of an arrow. A distinctive feature is the fact that the bush does not have to be cut to maintain shape. “Kovano-Vasya” begins to actively bloom in spring, and bright orange fruits ripen in autumn. Fruits appear in a year and do not fall for a long time.
• Unshiu is unpretentious variety, grow it is not difficult. This variety tolerates low temperatures and lack of sunlight. In room conditions, the height is usually about 80 cm, sometimes up to one and a half meters. The first fruits appear on the third - fourth year. "Unshiu" has a lush green, blooms beautifully and fruits well. Flowering begins in spring, lasts several months, and by the end of autumn fruits ripen. They are slightly elongated pear-shaped, sweet and contain almost no bones.

• "Pavlovsky" Mandarin is also well established at home breeding. Growth of an adult tree does not exceed one meter. Its leaves are similar to the usual tangerine - large, shiny, dense. A lot of fruits, they are rounded in shape with a diameter of up to 7 cm, sweet-tart in taste. The peel is bright orange, thin, easily separated. Flowers "Pavlovsky" mandarin large, about 3 cm, and collected in whole inflorescences. They have a white color, but pinkish in buds. The flowering period begins in April-May, and in September the first fruits may form.
• Klymentin - the most delicious and sweet hybrid. A plant with dense elongated leaves, fragrant flowers and bright flattened fruits. The first tangerines mature in 1.5-2 years. In an apartment harvest is small, about 40-50 fruits per season.
• "Shiva-Mikan" refers to early varieties. At home, it is rather an ornamental plant - this variety grows quickly, has compact dimensions and small fruits weighing no more than 30 grams.
• "Marcott" - translated as "honey." This variety has surprisingly sweet fruits. The plant is small in size, with a neat crown of elongated leaves and yellow-orange fruits. The skin is smooth and tight, there are many bones in the flesh.

If you decide to grow a tangerine tree at home, then you can either buy ready-made seedlings in stores for plant growing, or germinate from seed.

The first way is easier and faster. Plant seedlings are sold immediately in a pot or in a packed earthy coma. After purchase, they must be transplanted into a suitable container.

The second method is more economical and interesting. Room tangerine can be grown from the usual seeds of ripe fruit. It is recommended to germinate several pieces at once, in which case the probability of obtaining the desired result will be higher. Seeds must first be soaked for several days until swelling and sprouting. To do this, they are placed in 3-4 layers of wet gauze. Be sure to make sure that the gauze does not dry out, periodically add water.

Ready mix can be bought in a store for crop production. It is important that the land for seedlings is not sour - in such an environment, the mandarin does not grow. Therefore, the composition of the soil should not be peat.

The soil can be prepared independently, a suitable option is the mixture:

• 2/5 part of cow humus;
• 2/5 parts of sod and leafy ground;
• 1/5 of the sand.

At the bottom of a clean and dry container must necessarily put a layer of drainage of small stones or expanded clay. This will prevent stagnant moisture and rotting roots.

From above the prepared soil gets enough sleep. Sprouted seeds are neatly placed in wells 4-6 cm deep and covered with earth. The soil should be wet all the time, you should not forget about watering. Seed containers should be placed in a well-lit place, but not under direct sunlight. The optimum temperature in the room for the period of germination should be +20.25 degrees. The first shoots appear in about 2-4 weeks. If several shoots sprung from one bone at once, then the weakest of them should then be carefully cut off.

In order for the tangerine tree to delight with its healthy appearance, shape, beautiful flowering and tasty fruits, it is necessary to provide it with comfortable conditions. The most basic care and care will help extend and ease the plant life in apartment conditions.

Tangerine tree is recommended to be placed in a well-lit place with diffused light. It is best suited for him windows facing south, southwest or southeast. Contact with direct UV rays in hot weather should be avoided - the plant can get burned, and the soil in the pot will quickly dry out. It is necessary to accustom the plant to ultraviolet in stages: first, stick to the penumbra, and only then gradually increase the time spent under direct rays. Mandarin gets used to one-sided lighting, so it is often not recommended to twist it around its own axis. In the warm season, the tree can be taken out on the balcony, terrace or on the street.

The recommended temperature for citrus trees in the warm season (spring and summer) is considered to be +18.20 degrees. During this period there is a phase of active flowering, and higher temperatures will lead to the fall of flowers and leaves. And lower temperatures will slow growth and will prevent the formation of fruits.

In winter, you need to give the plant a rest and gain strength for the next season. To do this, the room temperature should be kept at +10.12 degrees. Otherwise, the subsequent flowering and fruiting can not wait. To raise the temperature by spring, you can begin at the end of January. Tangerine tree does not tolerate sudden temperature changes, so any change of conditions should be gradual. But at the same time, the tree must be taught to natural differences. For this purpose, it is recommended to carry it out for a short while on a closed terrace or balcony during the day - thus the plant becomes hardened and becomes stronger.

In the room where the tangerine tree is located, there must always be a high level of humidity. To do this, the plant is often sprayed with a spray. In the hot season or during the heating season, it is advisable to do it twice a day. Water should be at room temperature.

It is advisable to do irrigation in the morning and in the evening to avoid the midday sun falling on the wet leaves.

If the plant already has flowers, then irrigation should be done very carefully, without getting to the buds. And it is better to simply wipe the leaves with a damp cloth during this period.

During the period of rapid growth and flowering is especially important to properly water the home citrus tree. At this time, the soil should not dry out, the procedure is recommended to be done daily. Even a short drought can adversely affect the plant - to save moisture, it will shed its leaves and will not grow again in this place.

When the plant "wintering", you can water it only twice a week. The amount of water should be moderate - you should not allow excessive soil moisture, this will lead to rotting of the roots, and mold can appear on the soil surface. It is recommended to use distilled clean water at room temperature. Water from the tap contains chlorine, so for irrigation is not suitable.

Whether the soil needs to be wetted can be checked with a finger - if the ground is dry and free-flowing, then the plant needs to be “drunk”.

You can pour water only on the rhizome - the trunk of the tree, the leaves and the more flowers do not tolerate excess moisture.

The most appropriate time of day is considered to be morning. It is during this period accounts for the maximum activity of the tangerine tree.

The composition of the soil for young and adult plants requires different.

For a young plant, you need to mix one part of the sand with leafy ground, two parts of the sod and cow humus.

For an adult plant, a part of leafy soil is taken, three parts of sod and one by one - sand and cow's humus. And most importantly - in the ground for adult citrus trees, you must add fat clay.

Because of frequent irrigation, all the nutrients from the soil are quickly washed out, so the first additional feeding of citrus trees is made immediately after the emergence of sprouts. And the older the plant, the more it needs to be fertilized. In a specialized store you can buy ready-made mixture of fertilizers. As organic matter you can also use manure-mullein in proportions of 1/10 with water.

It is especially important to feed the mandarin in the spring, when the plant begins to develop intensively. This period lasts until September, fertilizer can be applied once every two weeks. Such a regime will promote the appearance of buds, flowers and ovaries, and ripe fruits will not taste bitter. In the cold season feeding should be stopped. Like most of all indoor plants, mandarin is recommended to be fertilized in the morning. The tree must first be watered with warm water.The temperature of the nutrient solution should also be a comfortable room temperature. The composition of the mixture are different, but the content of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen is mandatory for citrus trees.

Proportions and recipes must be respected, this information is indicated on the packaging. Irrational use of fertilizers can cause burns on the stem, roots and leaves, or, in general, lead to the death of a tree. From folk remedies gardeners recommend the use of "fish soup". To prepare takes 100 grams of fish per liter of water. Boil it for 30 minutes, strain, cool and add to the store solution mineral mixture.

Often it is not necessary to prune home tangerine, since the formation of the crown of this culture takes place by itself. But pruning and pinching the top young shoots once every 3-4 months will not only contribute to the better development of branches and leaves, but will also accelerate fruiting. The upper shoots should be pinned only after the formation of five leaves.

You can also get rid of all the weak and unnecessary branches. If dried leaves and branches appear on the tree, they should also be carefully cut. It is recommended to cut with special sharp scissors.

Improper care for indoor mandarin causes his illness. In case of violation of the microclimate in the apartment, irregular moisture, lack of or excess fertilizer plant begins to hurt. Consider the most common problems and their causes.

If this happens rarely and in small quantities, then it is a natural process, especially in old trees. If the leaf fall is intense, then this may indicate a lack of light, improper watering or a lack of nitrogen in the soil. The reason for this may be a sharp change in mode (temperature, light). If the plant began to turn yellow after transplantation, then the cause is most likely a violation of technology. Pay attention that the radical neck is not too deep. Too big pot also causes yellowing.

All these processes need to be reviewed, to create conditions favorable for the tree, and the plant will begin to recover.

• Brown leaves most often speak of improper feeding. It is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizer and strictly adhere to the recipe.
• Leaves dry due to dry indoor air. It is necessary to frequently spray the tree from the sprayer, wipe the leaves with a sponge, cover the heaters and use a humidifier.
• Leaves curl due to an excess of ultraviolet rays. To solve the problem, the tree must be applied.
• Spots of "rust" on the leaves also talk about the wrong watering. Need to adjust this process.
• Red spots on the trunk of a tree indicate insufficient drainage, damage to the trunk, or an excess of fertilizer. For the treatment of already damaged areas will be suitable light solution of vitriol. After this, the cracks are rubbed with a special garden pitch.
• If the bush began to shrink and dry, then the reason for this lies in the lack of feeding. It is necessary to provide tangerine with beneficial vitamins and minerals.

But even quality care is not enough to avoid certain diseases.

Tangerine tree can affect some diseases.

• Anthracnose causes bark deformation, yellowing and leaf fall. The affected parts of the tree must be carefully cut and destroyed, and for the treatment of the whole plant, it is recommended to use Fitosporin.
• Scab begins to appear with small transparent spots. In the future, they form gray "warts". Bordeaux liquid is used for treatment. She needs to spray the whole bush three times.

It is not necessary to exclude such a threat as all sorts of pests.

They are almost imperceptible, but can cause irreparable harm to the plant.

• Spider mite It manifests itself as a cobweb on the leaves and red dots on the stems. This pest feels good in a dry hot microclimate. To combat it, you must first clean the wood with a brush, and then pour a contrast shower. Sprinkle the soil with ashes and repeat the whole procedure after 10 days. For spraying, a mixture of tobacco dust and laundry soap is suitable. A spoonful of dust and a spoonful of rubbed soap dissolve in water and infuse for 5-6 hours. Spray the solution to 2-3 times a week.

• Aphid. In case of large quantities, you must first wash the plant thoroughly with a solution of soap. For the treatment of damaged leaves suitable decoction of wormwood or nettle. Spraying the leaves is recommended garlic water. For its preparation, one clove is infused in a glass of water for two days. Treating the sapling need several times a week.
• Shchitovka. Signs of infection are brown bumps and a dried yellowed shrub. To start with a brush to clean the plant from insects. Wash the tree and its location with soapy water. For spraying in water you need to dissolve a little soap, two spoons of washing powder and a teaspoon of engine oil. 3-4 hours after treatment, the plant should be rinsed with water. Procedures repeat three times a month.
• Mealybug. With its appearance, white sticky spots are formed on the leaves. Leaves fall asleep and fall. The best folk remedy is a soap solution. Wipe them with a tree and spray it once a week.

To combat the uninvited "guests", you can use special means (for example, "Flyoverm", "Karbofos" or "Aktellik"). The solution must wipe the leaves and trunk. To improve the effect bush for a couple of hours can be packaged in polyethylene. It is important to note that fruits after such a procedure cannot be eaten for at least a week.

As the tangerine tree grows and its root system grows, transplanting into a larger pot is required. The young plant must be transplanted each year in early spring before flowering. After reaching the age of 4, transplantation is needed once every 3-4 years.

Mandarin transplantation is performed by transferring the whole earthen coma. To make the tree easier to remove, the soil needs to be watered - this will reduce the cohesion of the soil and the walls of the pot. Then you can gently tap your palms on the pot so that the clod of earth lags behind it. After that, the plant is carefully removed and transferred to another location. First you need to lay a layer of clean drainage on the bottom of the new pot. The tree is set and covered with earth. It is not necessary to tamp the soil too much. It is important to ensure that the root neck (a small seal between the root and the trunk) is only partially covered with earth. Otherwise, the tree will take root for a long time and start to hurt.

It is easy to learn how to properly care for the tangerine tree at home. It is only necessary to comply with the recommendations, and then the plant will long please with a lush crown, beautiful fragrant flowers and fruits.

To learn how to grow a tangerine tree from a stone at home, see the following video.