Mandarin
Growing a tangerine, if you follow all the rules, can be an enjoyable, exciting and useful activity. Of course, it’s so tempting to start your own tree, which will decorate your room or winter garden and, over time, will delight you with flowers and fruits.
Growing tangerines in open ground is possible only in the subtropical zone, so residents of mid-latitudes have the opportunity to obtain an adult plant when grown in a greenhouse or indoors.
Growing tangerine at home
Growing tangerines from seeds at home will require some knowledge about this plant.
The first condition for success is the correct soil. It should not be sour, i.e. it should not contain peat.
Perfect option:
- humus - 2 parts
- forest soil - 2 parts
- sand - 1 part
This substrate is lightweight and allows moisture and air to pass through well.
Seeds can be sown directly into the ground and can be germinated. First, you can sow them in cups; slightly grown sprouts can be transferred to pots. The recommended pot volume is within 4 liters.
Good drainage in pots is a must; you can use pebbles, pieces of ceramics or nut shells.
The seeds are deepened into the soil by about 4 cm, left in a warm place, and the soil is periodically moistened.
The optimal temperature for keeping the plant is + 20 C and above; the tree does not tolerate cold well.
After germination, the pots should be moved to a well-lit windowsill.
How to properly care
Watering a tree is very important, but you shouldn’t over-water it either. The plant loves humidified air and spraying with warm water.Removing dust from leaves is a must.
The tangerine tree is replanted:
- first 8 years - annually
- next - in a year
Pest control is carried out using biochemical means of protection. But it is better to use an infusion of onion peels or garlic for processing. It is recommended to wash every leaf, branches, and trunk. Regular spraying will be less effective.
A common cause of disease is overly moist soil.
Fruiting of indoor tangerine
To enjoy tangerines There is one way - grafting a twig of a varietal tangerine. Citrus grown from seeds will be a wonderful decoration for the room, but even if it blooms and produces fruits, they will turn out to be inedible - very small and extremely sour.
To graft, you will need to acquire a twig cut from a fruit-bearing tree.
You can graft it immediately, or after keeping it in the refrigerator for some time.
You can graft a tree whose thickness reaches approximately 1 cm. The grafting procedure is carried out in the same way as for other trees.
