Many amateur gardeners sometimes had the idea of planting a seed from tangerine. But will the tree not only grow, but also bear fruit aromatic fruits? For this to happen, it is necessary to carry out proper care at home for a tangerine tree.
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Types and varieties of homemade mandarin
In nature, there are many varieties and species of this plant. They differ in the height of the crown and its shape, number of fruits, their color, taste and aroma. For home growing, a tree is suitable, which will have a small number of medium-sized fruits, as well as small sizes.
Some types of tangerine tree:
- Tangerine - has a lot of advantages among other varieties and is great for growing in an apartment;
- wavy mandarin - pleases with a neat crown, the fruits have a diameter of not more than 7 cm;
- small-fruited group - the main representatives are shiva-mikan (has a sour taste), as well as mukaku-kishiu and kishiu (sweet varieties);
- hybrids.
In view of the variety of varieties, any grower will find for himself that kind of home mandarin that will suit him specifically with the taste of the fruits and their appearance. But you need to pay attention to the growing conditions of this plant.For example, the unshiu variety survives most well in an apartment because it tolerates low temperatures and a lack of sunlight.
Tangerine tree: the nuances of growing
It will be possible to get fruits from homemade tangerine only a few years after planting. And it is worth considering that in most cases, daughter plants from sprouted seeds do not retain the taste properties of the mother bush. At home, small and sour fruits are almost always obtained, which will perfectly decorate the interior, but are not suitable for eating. To convey the qualities of a parent to a new tree, you will need to propagate tangerine using cuttings or vaccination.
The plant requires suitable conditions for its growth, therefore, to care for it, you need to allocate a sufficient amount of free time.
How to grow from seed at home?
For the cultivation of tangerine, seeds of almost any kind are suitable. However, it is important to study in advance the features of a particular variety. It is also necessary to pay attention to the soil and the shape of the pot for planting. In order for the plant to sprout and grow stronger, it is necessary to properly plant the existing bones.
Selection of planting material
To plant a tangerine tree from a stone, you will need to first germinate it. To do this, it is recommended to wrap the planting material in several layers of gauze and carefully moisten it with water. After a couple of days, small sprouts will start to hatch from the seeds, and they themselves will significantly increase in size and swell. Then they can be planted in the prepared soil.
Also, fresh bones that have not yet had time to dry are suitable for planting. They do not need to be presoaked in advance, and the likelihood of seedlings is significantly increased.
Ground and pot requirements
A tangerine tree will not grow in acidic soil, so a grower must definitely follow this.
To prepare the substrate yourself, you will need:
- 2/5 humus;
- 2/5 of forest land;
- 1/5 of the sand.
You can also purchase ready-made soil in a crop store. The soil should have a non-acidic environment (neutral PH) and be suitable for planting tangerines. Peat as a soil coma is not suitable.
How to plant?
As the first container, you can use ordinary plastic cups or small transparent pots with a diameter of not more than 10 cm. For each bone, it is better to prepare a separate container.
First you need to make a small hole in the soil to a depth of 4 cm, carefully place a bone there and cover it with earth. The substrate should be moist throughout the germination period; accordingly, it will need to be moistened as necessary. The air temperature in the room should reach 20-25 degrees.
On average, the germination of tangerine takes from 2 to 4 weeks. If several sprouts appeared at once from one bone, the weakest must be carefully removed.
Transplanting Mandarin Seedlings
The first transplant of young seedlings is carried out when the root system completely fills the container. This explains the recommendation to plant the seeds in a plastic cup or other transparent container - so it will be easier for a grower to observe the growth of plant roots.
A young tree will need to be pulled out of the first pot along with an earthen lump and transferred to a suitable larger container. A transplant will be required every year until the moment when the mandarin begins to bear the first fruits.
Will the fruit tree grown from seed?
If you carry out proper care of this plant, it will bear fruit without fail. True, this will happen no earlier than in 3-4 years. It should also be remembered that in most cases ornamental plants with fairly acidic fruits grow out of the seed.
Tangerine tree: care
From the proper care of the plant of the genus citrus, its appearance, as well as the taste properties of the resulting fruits, completely depend. It will be necessary to observe all growing conditions, properly water the green pet and fertilize the soil on time.
Growing conditions
The most suitable place for tangerine will be the windowsill on the south or east window. Here the plant will feel comfortable, because it loves bright and diffused sunlight. From direct rays the tree will need to be shaded.
The air temperature should not fall below 16 degrees in the summer, and in winter tangerine can withstand “freezing” to 12 degrees above zero. In the cold season, it is important to provide the plant with a low temperature and wintering. If this does not happen, you will not have to wait for fruits next year.
Attention! The main feature of mandarin is its addiction to one-way lighting. The flower can not often be rotated around its axis, as from stress it can lose leaves and even die.
How to water?
Also, the grower will need to know how to properly water the tangerine tree. This plant is very fond of moisture, so in the summer it must be watered every other day. In winter, watering is reduced and the mandarin will have enough moisture to enter the soil once a week.
In summer, you need to spray the leaves several times a day, while not touching the flowers with water. A small container of water is also recommended next to the plant to maintain an optimal level of air humidity.
Fertilizer and fertilizing
It is absolutely necessary to carry out top dressing, starting them in March and ending in early autumn. During this period, kidneys are actively developing, which will require the supply of mineral fertilizers.
What should be in top dressing:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- potassium.
Mandarin can also be fertilized with mullein, diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10. It should be fed once a week and a half, alternating the type of top dressing. In winter, fertilizers are reduced to once a month.
Shaping and trimming
Often, at home, it is not necessary to form a crown, since the varieties initially have a decorative appearance. From the grower, you only need to pinch the shoots during their germination from the seed. If the plant has given birth to heavy fruits, it should be tied to a support.
How to instill mandarin at home?
Vaccination is also one of the methods for propagating mandarin. To achieve the goal, you need to take plants with a trunk thickness of at least 0.5 cm, and the stock should be about 1-3 years old. The shoot is cut from the plant from which they want to get a daughter tree. He must have one kidney and a leaf.
How to plant mandarin:
- Run a cut in the shape of the letter T on the rootstock. Its length should be no more than 2 cm.
- Gently push the bark at the cut site, place the rootstock there.
- Then the bark must be returned to its place, and cover the cut with garden var.
- It remains to wrap the place of grafting with electrical tape.
Successful grafting is characterized by yellowing of the cuttings and falling leaves from it. If this does not happen, the shoot will turn black.
The tree itself must be placed in an improvised greenhouse from an ordinary plastic bag. After a month, you will need to cut the stock using a secateurs, cut obliquely, remove the electrical tape and cover the cut with a garden var.
Pest and Disease Control
A tangerine tree gets sick just like any other home plant - due to improper care. The appearance of diseases is affected by inappropriate humidity and indoor climate, as well as the lack of necessary elements in the soil.
The most common diseases are:
- Anthracnose. Manifested by yellowing and falling of leaves with deformation of the bark. For treatment, the treatment "Fitosporin" is used. It is recommended to destroy the affected part of the plant.
- Gommosis citrus.Red spots form on the trunk. This can happen due to improper planting, damage to the trunk, lack of necessary drainage or an excess of fertilizer. Correct the situation by treating cracks with a light solution of vitriol. From above it is necessary to cover them with garden var.
- Scab. It looks like small transparent spots, which subsequently are transformed into gray warty formations. Three times spraying with Bordeaux liquid will help to cure the plant.
- Spider mite. Manifested by a web on the leaves. Initially, it is necessary to remove pests from the mandarin with an old toothbrush, and then spend a contrast shower on it. The soil should be sprinkled with ash. Repeat the procedure after a week and a half.
If you take care of the tangerine tree in accordance with all the rules, you can get a wonderful living decoration in any interior. When bright orange fruits begin to bloom on it, it will certainly cheer up the owner and attract the attention of all guests at home.
