Secrets of growing tangerines. Growing a tangerine tree from a seed at home. Caring for tangerines at home

We associate tangerines with childhood, New Year, and some other holidays - but not with flower pots in the apartment. Meanwhile, a fruit-bearing tree can be grown at home. This requires patience, observance simple rules and tangerine seed. You'll be surprised how easy it is to get fragrant fruits from indoor tree, grown from a seed planted in a pot. This distinguishes tangerine from other citrus fruits grown indoors.

All tangerine varieties grown in pots are divided into dwarf and low-growing (compared to a tree growing in nature, because low-growing varieties can reach two or more meters in height). Main groups of varieties for home grown– this is Vasyo and Clementine. From the Vasho group, the most common variety is Kovano-Vaso, from the Clementine group - Marisol.

Among other varieties, Unshiu is very common, variety Unshiu broadleaf. This is a fast-growing, well-branched, cold-resistant tree with good fruit production. The only thing that can rival him in popularity is Kovano-Vaso, since it has larger fruits, which also ripen faster.

You can also note such varieties as:

• Willow;
• Sochinsky 23;
• Pioneer 80;
• Agudzera;
• Abkhazian early;
• Nova;
• Nobils;
• Shiva-Mikan;
• Murcott (Honey).

Choosing a variety homemade tangerine for growing from seeds, you need to keep in mind that not all of the above fruits contain them.

What conditions are needed to grow tangerine at home?

The usual environment for the tangerine tree is the tropics and subtropics. Based on this, you need to provide them with suitable conditions at home, the main ones of which are:

• humidity;
• lighting;
• temperature.

You should know that these conditions vary depending on the time of year, age and condition of the tree (flowering, fruiting, dormancy). Moreover, separate conditions necessary for successful germination tangerine seeds. When the seed is already placed in the soil, it should be warm, the temperature should not go beyond +20-25°C.

In the warm season optimal temperature for tangerine +25°C. About temperature regime winter period, even in authoritative sources there are discrepancies: some argue that a lower threshold of +10°C is acceptable, while others warn that it is unacceptable for the temperature in the room where the plant is located to drop below +14°C in winter.

Temperature separation into summer and winter should be done after the tree begins to flower. After the first color appears, it is necessary to establish winter dormancy, gradually raising the temperature when entering spring (+16-18°C), this will provide optimal conditions for the formation of buds. Summer temperatures above +25°C can cause mass defoliation.

High humidity is an indispensable condition for the normal development of tangerines. This applies to moisture content both in the soil substrate and in the air.

With the advent of warming, you need to place a wide bowl of water at room temperature next to the tree (than larger area surface of the water, the more it evaporates).

Since the tangerine needs moisture, the owner of the plant must properly equip the place where he will place the pot with the tree. With constant air humidification regular wallpaper or plaster are damaged by fungal mold due to the fact that they cannot be washed.

And the presence of pathogenic microbes near tangerines is not welcome. By the way, poisonous indoor plants will also have a bad effect on him, so they need to be separated into different rooms.

In order for a tree to drink, in winter it is relatively rare watering- in one day. You need to test with your finger and water only when the soil has dried out a little. In warm weather, tangerines must be sprayed (during the flowering period, avoid contact with the flowers). The hotter it is, the more often the tree is watered. In summer, you can water several times a day without sparing water.

Although he loves tangerine very much sunlight, during the brightest time of day (from noon to two), the tree needs to be shaded from direct rays. It is best to place the plant near a window facing south or southeast. In this case, you should avoid placing it directly next to heating radiators, because the tangerine will suffer from dryness in winter.

One of the properties of citrus fruits is to turn their leaves towards the light. To ensure that the crown is uniform, the pot with the plant is slowly rotated, turning 10 degrees twice a month. Stronger or more frequent turning will negatively affect the tangerine. Unfortunately, he is sensitive to stress - transplants, moving to another place and even turning. By the way, tangerine does not tolerate drafts, this also needs to be kept in mind.

As the daylight hours shorten, it is necessary to gradually introduce into the “daily routine” indoor tangerine and illumination: there are phytolamps for this. This is especially important in winter, because tangerine fruits take six months to ripen. You cannot sharply increase the illumination: the tree will misunderstand such a maneuver and drop all its leaves.

Growing a tangerine tree in a pot - step-by-step instructions

In order for the tangerine tree to grow and please the eye, you need to start with proper germination seed, and then, as the plant develops, perform the necessary actions. This, of course, is more difficult than simply buying a ready-made grafted tangerine in a pot at a flower shop, but the growing process itself will be much more interesting if you see everything with your own eyes - from pipping a sprout from a seed to the first flowering and first fruits.

The first thing to remember for those who are going to grow tangerines from seeds at home is that peat is absolutely not suitable. The so-called universal soil, which consists largely of peat, is also not suitable. The reason is that it sours, dries quickly and does not have any special nutritional properties.

You can make a nutrient substrate with your own hands by taking 3 parts turf land and one part each of leafy soil, rotted manure (cow) and sand, supplementing this with a small amount of clay.

Not always and not everyone has the opportunity to make such a complex mix, especially for urban gardeners, so as an option you can take soil for pink “Rose” or neutral nutritious “Vermicompost”. In any case, you need to look at the packaging so that the pH value is 6.5-7.

If you're lucky, you can find specialized soil for citrus fruits - it is suitable for all representatives of this family. But if everything is really bad, then ordinary soil is taken as soil, into which wood ash, superphosphates and some organics. Only land is best taken in parks or other green spaces, away from highways and places where the soil becomes saturated due to heavy traffic harmful substances from the air.

We extract the seeds from any purchased tangerines. Having selected all the seeds from the fruit, we will examine them to see if they are suitable for growing into a tree:

1. The seeds should not be dry, flat, or “skinny”. Such material will not have enough strength for good germination and the formation of a viable plant.
2. An irregular shape is a prerequisite for rejection; a darkened tip is an obvious defect.

The main rule of planting in the ground is that the faster the seed from the fruit gets into the soil, the faster it will germinate, following the laws of nature. But if for some reason it was not possible to plant the seed right away, you need to soak it first.

How many seeds you need depends on what you plan to do with the tree itself. If grafting is not planned, a dozen seeds are enough, from which the best ones are selected after germination. Future vaccination involves large quantity sprouts, because it is unknown how the rootstock will react to another plant.

Soak the bones on a small piece of gauze or other light fabric, which is periodically moistened with a small amount of water at room temperature. It is very convenient to use hydrogel for germinating tangerine seeds, which is used by professional gardeners. This is a special material that, after watering with water, evenly distributes moisture within itself and retains desired mode humidity. The seed just needs to be immersed inside.

The seed germination time is at least two weeks, but no more than a month. The container with seeds can be placed under a film so that the water evaporates less, but it cannot be completely closed to avoid rotting.

If the seed, as they say, has just come out of the mouth, then there is no need to soak it; we plant it immediately, burying it 4 cm into the prepared substrate. If there is no soil at hand, you need to place the seed in a dry place, placing it on a hygroscopic material, preferably paper .

Planting seeds

Disposable plastic cups, yogurt containers, and other packaging materials are also suitable for replanting sprouted grains. The main requirement is that they should not be too voluminous. You can plant all the seeds at once in one planting container, or you can use individual containers. Drainage holes must be made in the bottom.

During germination, you should not create greenhouse conditions for the plant: after a mini-greenhouse, it will be more difficult for the mandarin to adapt to room conditions.

You need to take care right away good drainage: The finished product is available in any flower shop. Expanded clay is also suitable. Drainage stones should cover the bottom of the pot into which the tangerine is transplanted by two fingers.

After four leaves appear on a sprout, seedlings planted in one container need to be “dispersed” into separate containers. At this stage, you can already choose stronger ones for further cultivation, and weaker or deformed plants are not suitable for this.

As soon as root system tangerine sprout will fill the entire container, you need to transfer it to a larger container. The difference between the pots cannot be significant: if you transplant the seedlings into large pots, there is a high risk of the soil becoming waterlogged. The tangerine will react to this by drying out the tips of the leaves: this means that its roots are beginning to rot.

Transplanted young plant once a year, in the spring. Upon reaching the age of eight, the tangerine changes the container with soil every two years, and after ten years it is recommended not to disturb it by replanting, only remove upper layer substrate and add fresh one (of the same composition).

How to grow a tangerine from a seed - 2 ways: video

Caring for a tangerine in a pot

You need to constantly care for a small tree transplanted into a pot. Care includes watering, shaping procedures (pinching), and fertilizing. The good news is that the larger the tangerine, the less fuss there is with it.

You need to water a tangerine tree in a pot 3 times a week in winter, and several times a day in summer. The water should be at room temperature, settled. In summer, it is good to “bathe” the tree by washing it with water (spraying does not have this effect) and watering it once a month from a shower or garden watering can.

The first three to four years of the life of an indoor tangerine tree needs to be formed. Formative pinching begins when the seedling grows to 30 cm. This stimulates the plant to launch first-order side shoots.

For a tree to bloom, branches of 4-5 orders are needed. For this reason, pinch off the tips of all shoots above 4-5 leaves. Shoots and weak branches growing inside the crown are removed. It takes up to 4 years to form a full-fledged crown of an indoor tangerine.

There is another method of stimulating branching - deflection with fixation. To do this, the shoots are pulled down, securing them with wire or twine. The branch is fixed in a position parallel to the horizontal surface.

Pruning homemade citrus fruits: video

Tangerines grown at home from seeds are fed only from mid-spring to early autumn. He leaves for the winter without increased nutrition. Fertilizing is needed for the formation of flower buds and fruit ripening.

The first feeding is done twice a month, when sprouts appear. Both organic and mineral fertilizers are used. It is best to use fertilizers for citrus plants. You need to fertilize after watering, not before it. To improve the taste of tangerines, the tree is most actively fed from April to September.

How to get fruits at home?

A tangerine grown from a seed can bear fruit, or it can remain sterile. In order to get fruits at home, the plant needs to be grafted.

Fruiting in a tangerine that has grown from a seed (no matter at home or in wildlife) starts at age five. This is a wild fruit that does not differ in taste. Accelerating fruiting and improving the taste of tangerines is achieved through grafting: the original sprout-rootstock is grafted with a scion from a young fruit-bearing branch.

Indoor tangerine vaccinations are done in April-early May and August. These are periods of sap flow. At other times, grafting tangerines is useless and dangerous for the plant.

The plant is grafted as thick as a pencil, no less. The graft is a peephole with a bud, cut from a two-year-old branch of a fruiting tangerine (scion). The cutting is also suitable for this purpose. You also need to stock up on:

• electrical tape;
• garden pitch;
• with a sharp instrument (ideally a budding knife).

On the rootstock sprout, at a height of 10 cm, carefully cut the skin, without damaging the wood, in the shape of the letter T. The vertical cut should be no more than 4 cm. The skin at the edges of the cut is slightly turned away with a knife. The eye is inserted, after which the plant at the cut site is wrapped with electrical tape. It is better to graft several shoots, since it is unknown how the graft will take root.

After grafting, a mini-greenhouse is created: a jar or bag, under which it is warm and humid. The plant is removed from under the shelter when it becomes clear that the scion has taken root. A sign of a sprouted bud is that the bud turns yellow and falls off. If it remains on the rootstock and turns black, it means the bud has died.

As the seedling grows, ventilation increases, then the tape is removed. After 30 days, the “native” trunk is cut obliquely just above the base of the scion, and the cut site is covered with garden varnish. To make the plant grow straight, you can install a stick or a high peg.

Grafting indoor tangerine: video

The tangerine changes its evergreen leaves every four years. If leaves fall off (defoliation), replacement becomes more frequent, color changes - this may indicate not only a violation of the rules of care, but also damage by diseases or pests.

Although tangerine grown indoors has greater immunity, it can also get sick or be affected by pests. The closer to optimal conditions tangerine content (sunlight, high humidity), the less likely the plant is to be damaged, but you need to be fully prepared and treat the tree at the first sign of ill health. You should not rely on pest detection: their size makes them invisible.

The main enemies of the mandarin are:

• spider mite;
• mealybug;
• scale insect

Each pest has its own signs, but even without knowing the subtleties, it is necessary to pay attention to changes in the usual appearance: the appearance of cobwebs, sticky coating, dots on the leaves, curling of the leaves.

Effective means are Fitoverm, Intavir, Aktelik, and other insecticides, but they are quite toxic, and after treatment with them the top layer of soil must be removed, and the fruits should not be eaten.

Therefore, it is much better to use such old proven remedies as tincture of tobacco (shag), garlic and laundry soap. The plant is washed with room water and soap, sprayed with a concentrated infusion of garlic (2 cloves per 500 ml) and tobacco (40 g per liter of water).

When removing ripe tangerines, do not leave the petioles on the branches.

In summer it is useful to take the plant outside open air, but if it’s a balcony, make sure that there are no drafts there.

If you don’t know where to get a scion for fruiting your tangerine, wander around flower shops: perhaps they won’t refuse you and will cut off a small eye from the plant they have. You can look for amateur plant growers.

If a tangerine stubbornly does not want to bloom, experienced plant growers advise wrapping the base of the trunk copper wire so that it presses into the bark. Such a constriction will disrupt sap flow and can stimulate flowering. In any case, after 6 months the wire is removed, and the constriction site is treated with varnish. But the first flowering can be stimulated only in those tangerines that have branches of 4-5 orders and have gone through a cold winter. A tree that has not gone through a dormant period and has not formed a crown will not bloom.

You can grow a tangerine from a seed at home and get a wonderful fruit-bearing tree. Before you decide to make your dream come true, you need to look for a suitable place in the room for the plant and think about where you can later take the scion so that the tangerine bears fruit.

Instructions

To germinate tangerine seeds, you will need a piece of gauze folded in several layers. Place the seeds in gauze, wrap them and moisten them with water regularly over several days to keep them constantly moist. Over time, the seeds will swell and hatch.

In the store you can buy hydrogel, which is sold in the form of balls, colored and transparent. When exposed to water, the hydrogel swells and for a long time retains moisture, thereby creating ideal conditions for the growth of all kinds of plants. Plant the tangerine seed in the middle layer of hydrogel. Since the top layer dries out quickly, and the bottom layer is too wet.

The easiest way to germinate a tangerine seed is to plant the seed that has not yet hatched in a pot of soil and periodically water it with settled water.

The tangerine tree, just like any other citrus plant, loves a large number of sun, so place it in a well-lit place (on a south-facing window). In winter, make sure that the air temperature in the room does not fall below 12 degrees. Try to maintain constant air humidity - spray the tree or place a humidifier nearby. Watering should be almost daily, the main thing is not to overdo it.

A tangerine tree grown almost from scratch at home will become a real source of your pride. It will delight you all year round with its glossy and beautiful leaves, as well as pleasant aroma, characteristic of each tangerine tree. But you won’t see fruits on such a tree, grown from a seed, soon - in 10-15 years, and most likely they will not be eaten. If you want to get a real citrus harvest, then you will have to graft it with a cutting from a plant with good fertility.

Do you love citrus fruits and would like to have your own garden on the windowsill? In this case, try growing a tangerine.

You will need

• The easiest way to propagate tangerines is by grafting. Therefore, think in advance about the rootstock - the plant into which you will graft the tangerine cuttings. Any citrus fruit is suitable for these purposes - lemon, grapefruit, orange, lime. You can simply grow them from a seed.

Instructions

When the rootstock reaches two to three years old, you can begin the operation. Plants are grafted during the period of sap flow, that is, at the end of summer. At this time, the bark is easily separated from the tree trunk. You can check this by making a small cut just above the area where you plan to graft and see if the top layer comes off easily? If everything is in order, let's move on to the main thing.

The scion is the tangerine plant that you will be grafting. From the scion, which was previously stored in a plastic bag, the eye is cut off thin layer wood Having spread the cut on the rootstock, insert the peephole, as if into a pocket. Then the area is tied with plastic tape to prevent water from entering. If desired, you can apply garden varnish over the tape.

You can grow a tree using seedlings or planting a seed. If problems can arise with a seedling, then you definitely won’t have them with seeds. You can go to any store near your home and buy tangerines. In its tender and juicy pulp you will definitely find a couple of seeds from which you can grow a tangerine at home.

But, like any plant, this tree requires special treatment. Growing a plant from a seed has its own special secrets.

Preparing seeds

Those who have ever tried to germinate seeds know that it is better if the seeds are soaked before doing so. To do this, the bones can be placed in a damp cloth made of natural fibers and left alone for 2-3 days, placed at home in a warm place. Just make sure that the fabric always remains damp and wet it periodically. In a few days, roots will begin to appear.

You just need to avoid excess moisture; the seeds should not float in water! It is better to germinate up to 10 pieces or more at once, because it will not be possible to germinate everything at once; some of them will die even before rooting. Then choose the strongest one and healthy plant, raised at home.

If you are not confident that you can monitor the moisture content of the fabric, go to a specialty store and buy a special hydrogel. It will not only create optimal humidity, but will also nourish the already sprouted sprout. The main thing is to immerse the seeds in the middle of the gel, and not just scatter them on the surface.

Soil preparation

When choosing soil for your tree, immediately stop using peat, given soil It dries out too quickly, and it doesn’t have many nutrients. The ideal soil would be one you make yourself; for this you will need the following:

• Forest soil – 2 parts;
• Humus - 2 parts;
• Sand – 1 part.

But, if you don’t have the opportunity to mix the ingredients yourself, you can buy soil with a neutral pH at the store. For example, a mixture of “Rose” or “Veriohumus”; there is also a special mixture for growing citrus fruits, but it is not always possible to find it.

How to plant a seed

When the seed has swelled, sprouted and a root has sprouted, it’s time to plant it at home. If you don’t know what a grown seed looks like, it’s better to look at the photo to avoid making mistakes.

Suitable for planting small pot or a flowerpot with a volume of more than four liters. Before filling the soil, fill the bottom with drainage. This can be small pebbles, nut shells, expanded clay, etc. Then we fill the flowerpot with earth, leaving about 6 cm from the top edge. We place seeds on the ground, preferably several at a time, and fill them with another four centimeters of earth.

It is best to place the pot with seeds in a warm place, ideally on the south side and be sure to monitor the condition of the soil. The soil should be moist, but not wet. And the temperature is not lower than 20 °C. Remember, you have a warm guest at home, southern countries, requiring special care.

What needs to be done for active growth

The planting has taken place, but you need to wait two to three weeks before the plants themselves become noticeable. In general, tangerine is a rather slow-growing tree. It may stop growing for several months. But if you give it everything it needs at home, then after several years your eyes will be pleased with the beautiful tree.

In order for growth and development to proceed correctly, you need to take into account factors such as temperature and lighting, watering and fertilizing, replanting and more.

Lighting

Lighting has important beneficial features for growth. It requires abundant sunlight at least 12 hours a day. all year round. But at the same time in spring and summer during the hottest hours, when straight lines fall Sun rays, the tree needs shade. Temperature - do not allow the temperature at home to drop; where the tangerine grows, it should not be lower than +13. But the plant doesn’t care about temperatures of +40 °C or higher, as long as there is sufficient humidity.

Spraying

This plant loves moisture very much. Dry soil and air can cause death. Therefore, if the air in the apartment is dry, care includes spraying the leaves and stems with a spray bottle and wiping with a dust cloth.

A monthly shower procedure has beneficial properties.

Watering

You need to water your tangerine at home when the layer of soil on top dries out. Just take a lump and rub between your fingers. The soil crumbles when pressed - it’s time to water. But overwatering will lead to rotting of the roots.

Tap water is absolutely unsuitable for citrus plants, as it contains chlorine and metal salts. Such water will not bring any benefit to the plant, and will even cause spots on the leaves and disrupt metabolic processes in the shoot, which will negatively affect cultivation. It is better to pour water from a hot tap, let it sit for at least a day, and it will be suitable for watering.

If you live in own home, then it is better to take water from a well or stream, letting it warm up to room temperature. But it’s better not to use rainwater, it now contains too many different chemical impurities and all the beneficial properties in it disappeared.

In winter, it is better to water the tree with water heated to a temperature of at least +30 °C. In the summer, it’s easier to put the water on the window and the sun will decide the heating issue for you.

Top dressing

With the appearance of the first leaves, you can already start fertilizing and do this twice a month, with both organic and mineral fertilizers. There are also fertilizers for citrus fruits on sale. Fertilizing is done the next day after watering, otherwise the roots will get burned. When the plant takes the form of a tree, fertilizing is carried out only in spring and autumn period. And in winter, the beneficial properties of feeding are lost, as the plant rests.

Transfer

As the tree grows, it needs to be transplanted into a larger pot once a year. Choose a new one with a diameter 3 cm larger than the previous one. Best time for transplantation February-March. Replanting is carried out by transshipment, preserving the old lump of earth and adding fresh soil on the sides. After two weeks, the plant always begins a period of growth activation; at this time it is better to feed the tree.

Pest and disease control

For a plant that was grown at home, the enemies are gnawing and sucking pests, as well as viruses and fungi. The most common are spider mites, aphids, scale insects, thrips, etc. Care involves destroying them. Use natural biological products that have beneficial properties - an infusion of onion peels or garlic.

The appearance of a thrips fly at home is the first sign of wet soil; constantly loosen the soil and allow the top layer to dry.

But the infection of tangerine grown from a seed with scale insects or spider mite may lead to the death of the plant. If you notice the finest cobwebs on the stems and leaves, make sure that this is not the work of a spider and treat it immediately special drugs, for example, “Aktellik”, but others will do. But strictly follow the instructions for the drug.

Can also be used folk remedies – laundry soap and mix tobacco dust in following proportions– 10 grams add 1 tbsp to the solution. spoons filled with a glass of water and infused for 6 days. The resulting solution should be sprayed on the plant 3 times, with an interval of 6 days.

Grafting and the tangerine bears fruit

After about eight years, the grown tree will bloom and bear fruit. Only the fruits turn out beautiful and green, but not very tasty, very sour.

If you want to grow the same fruits as in the store, then you cannot do without grafting. To do this you need to buy a cutting the right variety or search for a fruit-bearing plant you know. It is necessary to undergo a grafting operation with a sterile instrument, but which cut is better is up to you to decide. Look at the photo and choose the best one for your plant.

But remember that you need to vaccinate clearly and quickly, thinking through everything in advance. Caring for the junction consists of treating it with garden varnish and bandaging it.

A tangerine grown at home can reach a height of up to 1.5 m. When it blooms or bears fruit, you always want to capture it in a photo, because the tree simply attracts the eye with its beauty.

Mandarin, just like lemon Tree, is quite common and popular. Indoor plant grown directly indoors. Botanists suggest that it was first grown in China or Japan.

Where did the plant get its name? In the past, it was grown in the gardens of mandarins, who were wealthy dignitaries at that time. At the beginning of the 19th century, tangerines began to appear in Europe. They were transported to Italy in 1840. After which the entire Mediterranean learned about this fruit.

The tangerine tree is distinguished by the fact that it ripens quickly and bears big harvest. It also has quite sweet fruits that do not have seeds. When did Ukraine see this? beautiful tree? At the beginning of the 20th century, where the Black Sea is located. It is in this place that tangerine is most common at home.

The fruit tree can be called weak-growing. Its height reaches 3 meters. It has beautiful, eye-catching leaves. Their color is dark green, and their structure is quite dense and has small wings in the petiole area. The flowers are different wonderful aroma and white - they are beautifully located in the brushes. The fruits of the tree are spherical, flattened and have a diameter of up to 6 cm. Their weight is about 100 g.

The fruit has a thin orange peel that is easy to separate from the pulp. There are “plump” tangerines, the peel of which practically does not come into contact with the pulp, but has an air gap. The sweet yellow-orange pulp is easy to divide into slices.

The fruit of the tree is rich in sugar, organic acids, and vitamins. It is rare to find seeds in the fruit. If you decide to plant a tangerine at home, then it requires a limited amount of light and fresh air. Not every variety of tangerine can grow indoors, so it is necessary to distinguish between these types. So, you can get early ripening tangerine trees, which are of Japanese origin. They are undersized and unpretentious.

Among the most common options is the Unshiu variety, which means seedless. He is short in stature - up to 1.5 meters. It has a spreading crown and the branches do not have thorns. The leaves are wide, leathery and dark green in color. The tree blooms profusely once a year. Tangerine from seeds at home has small white flowers with a pleasant aroma. When the tree is already 3 years old, it begins to bear fruit. If you take good care of an adult tree, you can get up to 50 fruits within a year.

This decorative look plants characterized by low growth. They are indoor varieties tangerines. Mature trees are usually no higher than 80 cm. This has made them popular among plants kept on the windowsill.

For an indoor tangerine tree there is no need to form a crown. However, from time to time it is necessary to remove branches that have dried out or grown incorrectly. The peculiarity of the dwarf mandarin is that it begins to bear fruit after two years of life. However, the size and taste of the fruit is the same as that of ordinary fruit trees.

Basics of planting and transplanting

In order to plant a plant, you need to take a suitable pot. Its material doesn't matter. But there is important condition so that the upper part of the diameter does not exceed 15 cm, and it should be the same in height. The bottom of the container should have one or more small holes, so that during watering excess water could have flowed off it.

The pot can be in the form of a plastic bucket, wooden, ceramic or glass container. It is necessary to place drainage at its bottom, which can be expanded clay or sand. Practice shows that drainage is best served by: charcoal after the fire. You should not make drainage more than 5 cm in height.

After selecting the drainage, you need to take a little soil to sprinkle it. Any soil will not work in this case. There are specially prepared types of soil, for example “Mandarin”. They can be purchased in specialized stores.

In some cases, you can do the soil preparation yourself. Where the old ones grow deciduous trees in the forest, take some soil. However, avoid areas where oak, poplar or chestnut trees grow. The soil is most fertile in the upper layers, the thickness of which is 10 cm. Additionally, you need to add sand, river sand, ash, humus, if available, will do. Dilute a glass of earth with a glass of sand, three tablespoons of humus and a tablespoon of ash, as well as a small amount of water. You should end up with a thick, sour cream-like mass. This will help avoid air voids near the root of the tree.

When six months have passed, you need to take a container that is 5 cm larger and transplant small tangerines there. When you have planted a tree, you need to spray it and water it with a weak potassium permanganate agent from time to time.

Prepare a place for the plant in advance. A window sill that is directed towards the light is suitable for this, so that enough sunlight falls on the leaves.

Propagation occurs when seedlings are grafted from other citrus fruits such as orange and lemon. Air layering is also used using this method. If you want to take cuttings from plants using amateur conditions, you will not succeed.

Important attention should be paid to lighting. The window on which you will keep the plant should be located on the south sunny side. When summer comes, take it outside to breathe. fresh air. This could be a veranda, garden or balcony. However, it is important that this place is protected from the wind.

It’s good if the plant grows on the south side, but it’s important not to forget summer time protect it from direct sunlight. This can damage the roots and crowns, and also cause burns on the tangerine itself from the seed at home. How to avoid this? Make a curtain of gauze and place it on the window where the tree stands. When you plan to leave the house, make it a rule to cover the glass with a curtain, especially on sunny days.

Temperature and watering the plant

Have you placed a tangerine on the windowsill? Then in winter you should take care of it by properly insulating the window. The pot with the tree itself is also insulated. In order for the tangerine to shoot buds and bloom, it is important to maintain the temperature to 18 degrees. There should also be suitable humidity - 60%. At the same time, you should not be afraid of high temperatures, because the plant has the ability to withstand up to 40 degrees of heat.

Now let's move on to the basics of watering. As the top layer of soil dries out, it is necessary to water the plant. Under no circumstances should the lump of earth dry out in the pot. Every day determine how much wet soil, checking the surface layer of the earth with your fingers. If during the inspection you notice that the soil sticks together, then it does not need watering, but if it begins to crumble, then watering is required.

Especially in the summer, it is important to monitor the condition of the soil. After all, due to the fact that the tree is exposed to high temperatures and bright sun, the land often dries out. It is also worth remembering that not all water is suitable for irrigation.

If you have city ​​apartment, then the water from it is not suitable for watering tangerines. This is explained by the fact that it contains alkaline earth metals, as well as chlorine. Such substances will only harm the plant. As a result, its leaves will suffer from chlorosis, and metabolic processes in the soil will be disrupted.

It's a good idea to boil the water every time, but you probably don't need that much trouble. Another good option is to use hot water from the tap, which contains less chlorine and, moreover, it is soft. Before watering the tree, leave the water in an open container for a day - then the chlorine will be completely removed from it. After all, this substance is destructive for any citrus fruit.

If you own a private home, then water from wells will do. However, the water found in a lake or stream is even better. Before watering, let it warm up a little at room temperature. Not suitable for watering rainwater, because it contains harmful impurities. What is the best way to care for tangerines in winter? Heat the water until it reaches 35 degrees. Then the tree will grow and bear fruit better. In summer, it is easier to deal with this issue by simply placing water on a window where there is more sun.

Watering alone is not enough for a tangerine tree. It needs to be sprayed once every day. clean water. You need to take care of this especially in the summer. Use a spray bottle or other means to create moisture. Thanks to this, there will be no dust on the leaves and they will be able to breathe. Also, once a month it is necessary to carry out the following procedure: place the plant in a bathtub, cover an area of ​​soil with plastic film, while treating the entire plant with cotton wool soap suds. This will allow you to forget about the hard work of pest control. However, remember that you need to take gauze or a bandage to bandage the tree trunk. This way you will avoid getting hit soapy water into the ground.

What can you say about fertilizer? IN winter time there is no need to fertilize the tangerine. But in the summer and spring time this is done every two weeks. There are features that show how to properly fertilize. Do not start doing this before you have watered the plant, otherwise you will burn the roots. Moist soil is suitable for fertilizing.

How much should a tree be fertilized? Make sure there is enough of it and that it flows straight out of the drainage hole. In specialized stores you will see big choice fertilizers You can also use regular fish soup, which is suitable for a plant that is taller than one meter. Thanks to this feeding, it will begin to bear fruit better. But at the same time, do not neglect special fertilizers, such as Mandarin.

Mandarins can be damaged by sucking and gnawing pests, as well as fungi and viruses. You can often encounter spider mites and scale insects. To combat them, chemical and biological drugs. However, this is the case if you plant the plant on open ground. It is better not to use pesticides within the apartment.

How can you determine that a plant needs care? For example, it may become covered with white dots. You may also see a reddish tick on it that moves quickly if you touch it. In addition, white cobwebs may appear on white leaves.

To combat such pests they use tobacco dust, garlic and laundry soap. One tablespoon of tobacco dust is poured with boiling water (one glass). All this must be insisted for 6 days. Then add laundry soap to this. Spray the plant every 6 days. However, take a break for 6 days.

How to use garlic against pests? Mash the plant head and pour it hot water. Wait 2 days and strain the broth. You can spray the tangerine according to the same previous scheme.

What if you notice that your plant is covered in brownish-gray shiny growths? This means it is a scale insect infection. This can be dealt with using water-oil emulsions. Machine oil(1 teaspoon) stir with warm water(1 glass). To this add laundry soap (40 g) and washing powder (2 large spoons). When you treat a plant with this, be sure to use plastic film to cover the soil with it. Also use a bandage to bandage the trunk. Thanks to this, the emulsion will not get on the ground and damage it. For processing, you can use a cotton or gauze swab. Treat the entire surface and leaves of the plant. Then wait 4 hours and wash everything off. This procedure also needs to be done 3 times.

Thanks to such simple tips you will grow a beautiful plant.

Many amateur gardeners have sometimes thought about planting a tangerine seed. But will the tree not only grow, but also bear fragrant fruits? For this to happen, it is necessary to carry out proper care at home for tangerine tree.

In nature, there are many varieties and species of this plant. They differ in the height of the crown and its shape, the number of fruits, their color, taste and aroma. For home growing, a tree that will have a small amount of medium-sized fruits and will be small in size is suitable.

Some types of tangerine tree:

• tangerine - has a lot of advantages over other varieties and is great for growing in an apartment;
• wavy tangerine – pleases with a neat crown, the fruits have a diameter of no 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.

Due to the variety of varieties, any gardener will find the type of homemade tangerine that will suit him specifically in terms of the taste of the fruit and their appearance. But it is necessary to pay attention to the growing conditions of this plant. For example, the unshiu variety takes root most well in an apartment, since it tolerates well low temperatures and lack of sunlight.

Tangerine tree: nuances of cultivation

It will be possible to get fruits from homemade tangerines only several years after planting. And it is worth considering that in most cases, daughter plants from a sprouted seed do not retain the taste properties of the mother bush. At home, you almost always get small and sour fruits that will perfectly decorate the interior, but are not suitable for eating. To transfer the qualities of the parent to a new tree, you will need to propagate the tangerine using cuttings or grafting.

The plant requires suitable conditions for its growth, so you need to allocate a sufficient amount of free time to care for it.

How to grow from seed at home?

Seeds of almost any type are suitable for growing tangerines. However, it is important to study the characteristics of a particular variety in advance. It is also necessary to pay attention to the soil and the shape of the planting pot. In order for the plant to sprout and grow stronger, you need to properly plant the existing seeds.

Selection of planting material

To plant a tangerine tree from a seed, you will need to first germinate it. To do this, it is recommended to wrap planting material in several layers of gauze and thoroughly moisten it with water. After a couple of days, small sprouts will begin to hatch from the seeds, and they themselves will significantly increase in size and swell. Then they can be planted in prepared soil.

Also suitable for planting are fresh seeds that have not yet dried out. They do not need to be soaked in advance, and the likelihood of germination increases significantly.

Requirements for soil and pot

The tangerine tree will not grow in acidic soil, so the grower must definitely monitor this.

To prepare the substrate yourself, you will need:

• 2/5 humus;
• 2/5 forest land;
• 1/5 sand.

You can also purchase ready-made soil at a plant growing store. The soil must have a non-acidic environment (neutral PH) and be suitable for planting tangerines. Peat is not suitable as a soil ball.

How to plant correctly?

As the first container, you can use ordinary plastic cups or small transparent pots with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. It is better to prepare a separate container for each seed.

First you need to make a small hole in the soil to a depth of 4 cm, carefully place the seed there and cover it with earth. The substrate must be moist throughout germination; therefore, it will need to be moistened as necessary. The air temperature in the room should reach 20-25 degrees.

On average, germination of a tangerine takes from 2 to 4 weeks. If several sprouts appear from one seed at once, the weakest ones must be carefully removed.

Transplanting tangerine seedlings

The first transplantation of young seedlings is carried out when the root system completely fills the container. This explains the recommendation to plant seeds in a plastic cup or another transparent container - this will make it easier for the gardener to observe the growth of the plant’s roots.

The young tree will need to be pulled out of the first pot along with the earthen lump and transferred to a suitable larger container. You will need to replant every year until the tangerine begins to bear its first fruits.

Will a tree grown from a seed bear fruit?

If you take proper care of this plant, it will definitely bear fruit. True, this will happen no earlier than in 3-4 years. It should also be remembered that in most cases the seed grows ornamental plants with rather sour fruits.

Tangerine tree: care

From proper care a plant of the citrus genus depends entirely on its appearance, as well as the taste properties of the resulting fruits. You will need to comply with all growing conditions, water your green pet correctly and fertilize the soil on time.

Growing conditions

Most suitable place for a tangerine there will be a window sill on a south or east window. Here the plant will feel comfortable, as it loves bright and diffused sunlight. The tree will need to be shaded from direct rays.

The air temperature should not fall below 16 degrees in summer period, and in winter, tangerine can withstand “frosts” of up to 12 degrees above zero. During the cold season, it is important to provide the plant with a low temperature and wintering. If this does not happen, the fruit will be next year you won't have to wait.

Attention! Main feature Mandarin is its habituation to one-sided lighting. The flower should not be rotated often around its axis, as stress can cause it to shed its leaves and even die.

How to water correctly?

The gardener will also need to know how to properly water a tangerine tree. This plant loves moisture very much, so in summer it needs to be watered every other day. In winter, watering is reduced and the tangerine will only need moisture in the soil once a week.

In summer, be sure to spray the leaves several times a day, without touching the flowers with water. It is also recommended to place a small container of water next to the plant to maintain an optimal level of air humidity.

Fertilizer and feeding

It is imperative to fertilize, starting in March and ending in early autumn. During this period, the buds are actively developing and will require a supply of mineral fertilizer.

What should be in the supplement:

• nitrogen;
• phosphorus;
• potassium.

Mandarins can also be fertilized with mullein manure diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Feeding should be done once every week and a half, alternating the type of feeding. In winter, fertilizers are reduced to once a month.

Shaping and trimming

Often, at home, there is no need to form a crown, since the varieties initially have a decorative appearance. The grower will only need to pinch the shoots during the period of their germination from the seed. If the plant bears heavy fruits, it should be tied to a support.

How to plant tangerine at home?

Grafting is also one of the ways to propagate tangerines. To achieve the goal, you will need to take plants with a trunk thickness of at least 0.5 cm, and the age of the rootstock should be about 1-3 years. The shoot is cut off from the plant from which they want to get a daughter tree. It must have one bud and a leaf.

How to graft a tangerine:

1. Make a T-shaped cut on the rootstock. Its length should be no more than 2 cm.
2. Carefully remove the bark at the cut site and place the rootstock of the tree there.
3. Then the bark must be returned to its place, and the cut must be covered with garden varnish.
4. All that remains is to wrap the grafting site with electrical tape.

Successful grafting is characterized by yellowing of the cuttings and falling of leaves from it. If this does not happen, the shoot will turn black.

The tree itself must be placed in an improvised greenhouse made from ordinary plastic bag. After a month, you will need to cut the rootstock using pruning shears, making an oblique cut, remove the electrical tape and cover the cut with garden varnish.

Disease and pest control

The tangerine tree gets sick just like any other home plant, - due to improper care. The occurrence of diseases is affected by unsuitable air humidity and microclimate in the room, as well as lack of necessary elements in the soil.

The most common diseases are:

1. Anthracnose. It manifests itself as yellowing and falling leaves with deformation of the bark. Treatment with Fitosporin is used for treatment. It is recommended to destroy the affected part of the plant.
2. Citrus fruit blight. Red spots form on the trunk. This can happen due to improper landing, damage to the trunk, lack of necessary drainage or excess fertilizer. The situation can be corrected by treating the cracks with a light solution of vitriol. From above it is necessary to cover them with garden varnish.
3. Scab. It looks like small transparent spots, which subsequently transform into gray warty formations. Spraying the plant three times with Bordeaux mixture will help cure it.
4. Spider mite. Appears as cobwebs on the leaves. Initially, you need to remove pests from the tangerine using an old toothbrush, and then give it a contrast shower. The soil should be sprinkled with ash. You will need to repeat the procedure after a week and a half.

If you care for your tangerine tree according to all the rules, you can get a wonderful living decoration for any interior. When bright orange fruits begin to bloom on it, it certainly lifts the mood of the owner and attracts the attention of all guests at home.