Homemade tangerine is an incredibly aesthetic tree that can decorate any interior. By its nature, the home tangerine is very whimsical; it requires not only good lighting for favorable growth, but even a special soil composition. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is not always possible to find the most comfortable living conditions for an indoor mandarin, and this aspect always negatively affects the appearance of the plant.
Improper care of indoor tangerine, which causes problems!
The tree requires a lot of attention and care, and if it does not get what it wants, this is immediately evident from its condition. There are many reasons for tangerine leaves falling off.
Wrong wintering
The main reason why tangerine leaves fall is excessively warm and dry air. It is advisable to keep the room where it grows cool, and do not forget to regulate the air humidity. In winter, there is no need to generously flavor the tree’s soil with water, or specially feed it.
Basic rules for wintering tangerines:
- The tangerine should receive the maximum amount of light. If there is not enough light, you will have to provide it artificially. Abundant lighting should last for at least 6 hours.
- It is recommended to occasionally turn the other side to the light and also move the tree. This will ensure that the maximum amount of light reaches the leaves and trunk. In addition, the tangerine will not spend a lot of energy all the time to direct its leaves towards the light.
- It is not recommended to water the tangerine often! The cooler the place where the plant is located, the less water it needs. The water should be at room temperature.
- It is advisable to regularly ventilate the room with the tangerine, but the tree should not be in a draft.
- During the winter period, indoor tangerine can be propagated and cultivated.
Pests
To find out the reason why tangerine leaves turn yellow, you should carefully examine the plant for the presence of pests:
- Spider mite. You can only see it under a magnifying glass. The insect is recognized by the web that forms on the leaves. The mite sucks the juices from the plant.
- Shield. It resembles aphids, but poses a great danger to the plant. As a result of the lesion, dark spots appear on the leaves, and over time, sticky discharge.
To combat mites, place the plant under a warm shower. The remaining pests are neutralized with a soap solution using a sponge, wiping the stems and leaf blades with it. The next day, the culture is again placed under the shower - this way the remaining soap is removed.
To completely destroy insects, about 3 treatments are carried out with an interval of 2-3 days. You also need to thoroughly wash the place where the flowerpot stands. Insecticides that are bought in flower shops are used against pests.
Low humidity
Insufficient indoor humidity can cause serious problems, including heavy leaf fall. The leaves of the tree wrinkle, shrink and turn black from lack of moisture.
Excessively high humidity is just as dangerous as low humidity. In this case, the leaves and buds of the tree may begin to rot, and, among other things, the formation of fungi and mold begins.
To regulate the air humidity in a room with homemade tangerine, you can resort to a simple but effective technique . To begin, prepare pallets with expanded clay (or pebbles), fill the tray filler with water, distributing it evenly, then place a tub of indoor tangerine on top.
There is another excellent way to properly moisten a tree, it is called the “ double bottom method ”. The tub of homemade tangerine should be placed in a larger pot, and the free space between the walls of the two containers should be filled with peat soil. It must be constantly kept moist. Thanks to the moisture evaporating from the ground, the air will be sufficiently humidified.
Direct sunlight
The indoor mandarin needs good and high-quality lighting. But in order not to damage the plant, you should not expose it to prolonged exposure to sunlight. It is advisable to place the tangerine not on the south side of the house, but on the western or southwestern side. A short sunbath along with a light breeze will have a beneficial effect on the flowering and growth of the tree. It is advisable to rotate the tangerine tree by 10 degrees every 10-12 days.
Background of leaf fall
A few months ago I was happy with the acquisition of an adult and very beautiful citrus -. It came with ripe fruit, which I picked for tasting. At that moment I was very alarmed by the wet “heavy” soil, which seemed to have been taken right next to the store. However, after several days of acclimatization, he not only did not show any discomfort, but also gave a good increase in . The flowers successfully set fruit and the plant as a whole made me very happy.
The only sad thing was that along with the plant in this store I also purchased a formidable pest - . After discovery, the tree was immediately moved to a new location so as not to endanger the entire collection. And then the problems began: 1-2 leaves flew off per day, which looked healthy, and only upon careful examination was a slightly yellowed vein visible.
There was no massive leaf fall, but the leaves gradually fell over the course of several weeks. I associated all this with a change in living conditions and a pest. But when I stopped noticing the scale insect for a long time and acclimatization was about to be completed, I began to worry, but could not guess what was the reason for the falling leaves on the citrus tree.
Low or high air temperature
Mandarin is a sunny plant, and therefore for its favorable flowering the temperature should be 16-18 degrees. Then it begins to bloom and form fruit ovaries. Even in the heat, where the thermometer reaches 40, the tangerine can survive. But he doesn’t like low temperatures, starting from 7 degrees. If you put it in a room with such low indicators, it can get sick and drop fruits and leaves.
Watering with cold water
It is advisable to water indoor tangerines with heated water. Its temperature should be about 5 degrees above room temperature. Otherwise, the roots will reluctantly absorb moisture from the cold soil, while the leaves will evaporate it as usual. And if the room is warm, they will lose a lot of water and receive little. It should be taken into account that an inappropriate amount of moisture will cause a lack of air supply to the roots. They will begin to die, and the tree will shed its leaves, which were previously curled into a boat.
Lack of nutrients
A lack of nitrogen provokes flowering of the tangerine tree, but does not produce fruit. In the absence of phosphorus, tangerine growth slows down and then stops blooming. If there is not enough potassium in the soil, then the tangerine leaves become rich green, become stained and shrink into folds. The same thing happens with a lack of copper, when the leaves become deformed, curling into a tube.
The lack of iron provokes slow growth of leaves, and they themselves become covered with brown and bronze spots. Naturally, if there is a severe shortage of one of the microelements, the tangerine will shed its leaves.
Incorrect transfer (or lack of transfers)
If the roots of the tangerine tree have grown and not only filled the entire volume of their home, but are sticking out of the pot, an unscheduled replanting is required. In other cases, it is worth sticking to the plan.
Often young tangerines need to be replanted once a year .
For this event, turf, leaf soil and sand are used in proportions of 2:1:1.
After the tree begins to bear fruit regularly, it is replanted every 2-3 years. In this case, it is necessary to increase the volume of the pot by several centimeters so that the root system has room to develop.
It is no longer recommended to replant mature tangerine trees. You just have to regularly remove the top part of the soil layer, replacing it with fresh fertile soil.
Household citrus plants, soil composition, nutrition, feeding, fertilizers
very demanding when it comes to nutrition.
It is no coincidence that in the plant kingdom they are called gluttons. Plants are fed all year round, excluding the period from October to February, when they are given only a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil. The rest of the time , fertilizing is carried out alternating organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers.
, once every 7-10 days.
This increases the sugar content of the fruit and reduces its bitterness. Recommended fertilizer mixtures: foscamide, Darina, ideal, agrovit-cor.
Citrus fruits are highly adaptable to soil conditions.
They just cannot tolerate very acidic soils and the presence of peat. Usually they make up a mixture of turf and leaf soil, humus, sand (2:1:1:1). Citrus fruits should not be placed in the same room with strong-smelling plants, as they do not like other people's odors. They also don’t like smokers
: they may even drop their leaves in protest.
Transplantation is also a crucial point. The most common mistakes: replanting plants with flowers and fruits, which causes them to fall off, as well as destruction of the earthen clod, severe pruning of roots. Both deep and shallow planting can cause a lack of fruit. The root collar should be slightly above soil level.
Let's summarize: for what reasons can tangerine leaves fall?
The leaves of a tangerine tree may fall off for several main reasons:
- too dry air in the room where the tree grows;
- the root neck of the homemade tangerine goes too deep into the ground;
- disproportionately large pot;
- lack of potassium;
- the soil is too moist;
- The room temperature is cold.
To eliminate a problem that arose during erroneous plant care, it is necessary to gradually resolve all the nuances of care in order to identify the cause. Perhaps the plant requires replenishment with potassium nitrate if it is excessively depleted.
HOMEMADE MANDARNINE - HOW TO GROW?
Mandarin at home - photo
The aroma of tangerines awakens in us memories of childhood, Christmas trees, morning parties and gifts. The wonderful feeling of the approaching holiday, the expectation of miracles, does not leave those who grow tangerines.
You don't have to live in China, Spain or Morocco to do this. A city apartment window sill, a glass balcony, a greenhouse or a winter garden, where during the coldest period of the year the temperature does not drop below 5 °C, can become a cozy home for a tangerine tree.
And you will be given the daily joy of communicating with plants, fragrant indoor air saturated with phytoncides, and a feeling of involvement in the miracle of the birth of the fragrant sunny fruit of the tangerine. Mandarin is a small evergreen tree that is not found in nature today, but is very common in culture. It is grown on plantations in China, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, Transcaucasia, and Mediterranean countries.
They are suitable for tropical and subtropical climates. However, for good flowering and fruiting, tangerines need a cool winter at a temperature of 4 -1 0 °C. They need bright, diffused light, and feel equally bad in the shade and in open, dry areas.
What other problems might arise?
There are other important aspects to consider when caring for your home tangerine.
The leaves of indoor tangerines are turning yellow
Sometimes the leaves of a home tree acquire a soft yellow tint. The reason for this may be a lack of elements necessary for functioning: iron and nitrogen. Thus, in order to return everything to its place, you will need to feed the tree with organic fertilizer.
If light does not reach the point where the tangerine tree has settled, the leaves may turn yellow for this reason. Then you should either move the pot with the plant or add lighting artificially.
In addition, citrus fruits have a whole range of diseases that can be accompanied by yellowing of the leaves, but this will be discussed in a separate article.
Tangerine tree leaves drying out
If a dense crust is found at the ends of fallen leaves, this indicates that the soil is very moist. To quickly revive an indoor tangerine, you need to transplant it into fresh, breathable soil with a good drainage system. Rotten roots, if any were found during transplantation, must be removed.
Causes of the disease
During the dormant period, leaves curl and fall.
It must be said right away that the leaves of indoor tangerines fall off quite often, and this does not always indicate disease. The most common reason for leaf drop is that the plant has gone dormant. What can I do to stop the leaves from falling? You need to move the tree to a room where the temperature is cooler, and also reduce watering and stop applying fertilizers, and if you apply them, then in small quantities. This period usually begins in late autumn and ends in late winter or early spring. Those people who have had an indoor tangerine in their house for many years already know its “habits”, and therefore take the tree to a cool place in advance and avoid the fact that too many leaves fall off.
Leaves can fall for the most banal reason that every gardener should know about: the plant is simply hot, the air in the room is dry. If it is not possible to move the plant to a colder place, then you need to spray the leaves and crown of the plant from a sprayer daily, or better yet several times a day, in order to create additional air humidification. Next to the pot or tub where the tree sits, you need to place a basin or bottle of water. The water will evaporate, which will create additional humidity in the air. The soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out. Typically, the period when the air is too dry and the plant requires additional care occurs in the summer and during the heating season in winter.
The reason that the leaves of an indoor tangerine fall off may also be that the plant was replanted incorrectly. Therefore, it is worth remembering whether the transplant was carried out recently? What mistakes can be made when transplanting indoor tangerines? First of all, an inexperienced gardener may plant a tree too deep in the soil, but this should not be done. Or perhaps a small plant was placed in a pot that was too large for it. If the plant has indeed recently been replanted and there is a risk that it was done incorrectly, then it must be replanted again, observing these requirements. And if everything is done correctly, the leaves should stop falling.
Very often, “leaf fall” is caused by the fact that the plant lacks potassium in the soil. In order to replenish it, you need to buy a special fertilizer called potassium nitrate. You need to ask for it at the flower shop, carefully study the instructions and apply it in a timely manner.
The leaves of an indoor tangerine may turn yellow and fall off because there are often cold drafts in the room where it stands, or because the plant is flooded and does not need as much moisture. In addition, this can happen because the plant is not provided with the additional lighting it needs.
Preventing problems with tangerine leaves
To prevent diseases of indoor mandarin, you need to strictly follow all the rules for caring for the plant. After all, even a minor point, for example, excessive watering in winter, can disrupt growth and flowering.
Main care requirements:
- In summer, it is better to place the tangerine outdoors so that it can sunbathe. It is important that the place is protected from direct rays, rain and wind.
- Drafts should not be allowed, otherwise the tangerine will react extremely negatively.
- even in winter, the tangerine should be treated to plenty of sunlight.
- For replanting, it is advisable to use special soil containing humus, clay and peat.
- The plant can be replanted not only when the roots break out and stick out of the pot, but also scheduled replantations can be done once a year for a young plant.
- the soil should be loose and provide oxygen access to the root system; water should not stagnate, but flow freely through special holes at the bottom of the container (drainage holes). A tub with homemade tangerines must have drainage (expanded clay, polystyrene foam).
- the soil should be rich in nutrients, the soil should be moderately acidic.
Preventative measures for lemon disease and pest damage
The main measure to prevent lemon diseases is to create familiar conditions for growth and vital activity. Before you start planting indoor lemon, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for growing it and be prepared to follow them carefully. This capricious plant does not forgive even seemingly insignificant deviations from the rules and reacts to them with deterioration in health. So, let's list the basic important rules:
- Maintaining optimal heat and humidity conditions. The plant feels better in the temperature range of +15-22 °C, but if you give it a rest in the winter, the temperature should be reduced to +10-12 °C. Lemon also does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. The plant reacts negatively to dry air - its humidity must be maintained at 75-85%. To monitor this parameter, it is better to get a hygrometer. Based on these conditions, you need to follow a number of rules: Do not place the plant near heating appliances.
- Moving lemon from room to room, from room to street and vice versa should occur at times when the temperatures are approximately the same. The increase/decrease in temperature should be as smooth as possible.
- To increase the humidity level, use humidifiers or place wide containers of water in the room.
How to save a wilting tangerine tree
When taking custody of a tangerine, you need to be prepared for various serious problems, including diseases that occur in citrus trees.
If the leaves of an indoor tangerine turn yellow, curl, wither and crumble, and the roots of the plant have weakened and some of the branches have begun to dry out, serious resuscitation measures must be taken immediately.
Often the problem with leaves falling off is due to improper watering. Perhaps the soil is overly moist or, conversely, dry. In addition, it is possible that the indoor tangerine was watered with cold water, which is also a rather serious mistake. In order for the plant to bloom again and return the leaves to their usual lush green color, you need to adjust the watering process. It is advisable to record each date so as not to forget or confuse anything.
If the branches begin to dry out, the tree does not bear fruit, and the root system has partially died, this indicates a serious lack of nutrients. To return an indoor tangerine to its original appearance, it is enough to feed the tree 1-2 times a month.
Why does a tangerine turn yellow?
Another reason why a tangerine turns yellow may be an invasion of spider mites. The pest attacks the leaf blade and sucks the juices from the plant, which leads to yellowing and falling of the leaves. To see spider mites, you should use a magnifying glass. If this pest is present, you need to wipe the plant with a soapy solution.
To prepare it, add a small amount of laundry soap to warm water, make a thick foam, then use a cloth or cotton swab to wipe the leaves and stems of the citrus with the foam. This removes the tick and its oviposition.
Before processing, it is recommended to rinse the wood in the shower. After this procedure, most of the insect will be washed away. The next day after soap treatment, the remaining soap is washed off in the shower. After 2-3 days, re-treatment is carried out. To completely destroy spider mites, it is necessary to carry out 3 treatments of the tree with a soap solution. The place where the affected tangerine stood is thoroughly washed.
