What soil is suitable for tangerine at home
At the sight of a juicy fragrant tangerine in your head, an association with the warm southern sun will certainly arise. It's hard to believe, but you can grow a tangerine tree at home on a windowsill. Such a houseplant gives aesthetic pleasure, fills the room with positive energy and even bears fruit. Let's find out what conditions are necessary for it.
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Features of growing mandarin at home
If you decide to grow a tangerine tree at home, first decide on a variety. There are specially bred dwarf varieties for cultivation in pots (Unshiu, Shiva-Mikan, Kovano-Vasya, Clementine, etc.). The height of such a tree does not exceed 1 m, the crown is compact and does not require pruning.
There are two ways to grow mandarin at home. Purchase ready-made seedlings in a specialized store or use for this purpose seeds from fruits bought in a regular store or on the market.
Take the seeds from ripe fruits without traces of spoilage. Separate them from the pulp and place them in a damp cloth for a few days to germinate. Once the shoots appear, place them in the soil.
Caring for an adult tangerine tree includes watering, feeding and timely transplanting into a larger pot. The tangerine tree is very light-requiring, so it is better to place it on the south or southeast side, and in winter it needs special lighting with special lamps.
Choosing a container for planting
For planting sprouted seeds, use small pots or bowls with a depth of at least 6-7 cm... Even ordinary disposable plastic cups are suitable. Don't forget the drainage holes or the plants will die.
When the sprouts take root, get stronger, 4 leaves will appear on them, transplant them into medium-sized pots. It is not recommended to use containers with a diameter of more than 15 cm for young plants.
The tree is transplanted once a year, increasing the diameter of the pot by 1 cm, and fruit-bearing trees - every 2-3 years, increasing the diameter of the pot by 4-6 cm at once.Volume trees, which are difficult to transplant, can be left in their old place by carefully replacing the top layer soil to fresh.
Important! It is not recommended to immediately take a container with a large diameter. This leads to waterlogging of the soil, damage to the roots and death of the plant.
The material of the container for planting a mandarin tree depends on your taste and the interior of the room. An exotic plant looks most organic in a natural stone pot or wooden tub.
What soil to prepare for planting a tangerine at home
Mandarin soil should not contain peat, as it does not like acidic soils.
For seed germination, sawdust is an alternative to soil. They are moistened, bones are placed in them and placed in a warm place, avoiding direct sunlight. As soon as the sprouts hatch, prepare a pot of soil and place them there.
For planting seeds and transplanting young seedlings, the following composition of the substrate is considered optimal:
- land from under deciduous trees - 1 part;
- turf - 2 parts;
- quartz sand - 1 part;
- humus from cow dung - 1 part.
The use of these components will provide the emerging plant with all the necessary trace elements, will help to acquire a lush crown and a strong root system. The needs of the plant change over time.When transplanting an adult tree, it is recommended to slightly change the composition of the substrate. You need to take:
- 1 part of the land from deciduous plants;
- 3 pieces of turf;
- 1 part of humus;
- 1 part sand;
- a small amount of high fat clay.
When harvesting land in deciduous forest, avoid areas where oak, poplar and chestnut grow. It is better to take the land from the upper fertile layer, without deepening more than 10 cm. Such a composition helps mature trees to take root faster and stimulates fruiting.
Features of soil care for mandarin
The tangerine tree thrives in neutral soil. The optimal substrate is with a pH of 6.5-7. Carefully inspect the selected material for the presence of pest larvae. This will prevent damage to the plant. To destroy bacteria in the soil, it is recommended to water it with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate before planting.
Also an important requirement for the soil for a tangerine tree is the level of moisture. To prevent waterlogging of the soil, it is necessary to have holes and a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Depending on the shape and size of the container, make one or more holes in the bottom so that excess water flows freely through them. Use small stones, expanded clay, charcoal as drainage. The thickness of the drainage layer should not exceed 5 cm.
The mandarin tree needs nutrients from the soil: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron... Spring is the optimal period for fertilizing, because at this time the growth of shoots is activated, and the needs of the plant increase. Complex mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable for feeding the tangerine tree. An important condition for proper feeding is a preliminary abundant soil moisture.
Important! When using commercial fertilizers, strictly follow the instructions and do not change the recommended proportions when preparing nutrient solutions.
It is important to carefully monitor the moisture content of the soil for tangerine and prevent the earthen coma from completely drying out. Watering schedule depends on room temperature, pot size, season, and other factors.
Determining if a tree needs watering is not difficult. Take a pinch of earth from the pot and squeeze it with two fingers. If the ground sticks together, it is too early to water; if it falls apart - it's time. It is not recommended to use tap water for irrigation. This can lead to white spots on the leaves.
Watering is best done with cooled boiled water. If there is no time for this, use hot water from the tap. It contains fewer soil alkalizing impurities. In any case, the water must be kept for 24 hours in a wide container without a lid before watering.
It is interesting:
Health benefits and harms of tangerines, energy value and rules of use.
Conclusion
A small bone can turn into a fruiting tree in a few years. Compliance with the described conditions will help not only to enjoy the appearance of the tangerine tree, but also to enjoy its juicy fruits.