In the room, citrus fruits such as grapefruit, mandarin, orange, lemon, kinkan are grown. They will not bear fruit soon, and only with proper care. Although many grow indoor citrus plants not because of the fruit. At someone simply interest: whether can grow from a seed the present tree, and someone is content with the thin aroma exhausted by a plant.
Care Tips
Lighting and temperature:
It must always be remembered that citrus fruits are southern plants, therefore, they are demanding to heat and light. The exception is a lemon - he feels well in a dimly lit room. However, do not forget that electric lighting contributes to fruit formation, along with the necessary temperature regime. For flowering and ovary fruit optimal temperature is considered + 15-18 ° C. However, a mandatory precondition for the fruiting of your indoor citrus plants is a cold winter. The temperature in winter should not be above + 12 ° C.
Watering:
Water should be followed by warm water in the summer - 1-2 times a day abundantly, in the winter - 1-2 times a week moderately. Do not allow the coma to dry out in the winter. This can lead to the loss of both leaves and fruits. However, even from excess moisture, indoor citrus plants die. Watering is reduced from October. Your pets will feel better if you cover the central heating batteries with a moistened towel.
Keep the plants clean and wash more often. And daily spraying during the growth period will only go citrus fruit for good.
Transfer:
Young trees are transplanted by the method of transshipment. And it needs to be done in a timely manner, otherwise the plant will be inadequate because of a lack of essential nutrients. Transplantation is carried out only on condition that the roots of citrus fruits had an impact on the earthen lump. If this does not happen, it will be sufficient to change the upper soil and drainage layers in the pot.
Before transshipment, the pot must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or at least be boiled.
The transshipment should be performed every 2-3 years and only before the growth of indoor citrus. After the termination of growth, it is not recommended to touch it. Also, you should not injure a tree with flowers or fruits, since you risk losing both.
The soil:
Choose for young plants light, and for large plants heavier. It is usually recommended to take a mixture of greenhouse manure, turf and leaf land, adding coarse-grained sand to it.
For young plants:
- two parts - turf ground
- one - sheet
- one part - humus from cow manure
- one part - sand
For adult plants:
- three parts - turf ground
- one part - sheet
- one part - humus from cow manure
- one part - sand
- add low-fat clay (small amount)
Replace when replanting with fresh earth the upper and lateral layers of the earth. Remove the roots above the root collar. Watch for the acidity of the soil - it should be pH = 6.5-7 for indoor citrus fruits. After stopping the frost, the plants are taken to fresh air and kept in the shade under a canopy for 2-3 weeks.
Potted plants in pots are carried out for the summer to fresh air, but they do not dig into the ground in order to avoid hypothermia of the roots. Let it be in the shadow of some climbing plants: grapes, loach and other climbing.
Citrus Fertilizer:
The first half of summer is good for fertilizing. The plant will thank you with more sugary fruits without a bitter taste, which characterizes indoor citrus fruits. The older your pet is and the more it is in one tank, the more it needs fertilizer. Apply fertilizer after watering.
Also, additional care in the form of recharge is necessary with additional artificial illumination in winter.
Well, as the best fertilizer recommend organic compounds (I live from manure of cows and litter of birds). Add the combined mineral fertilizers and special fertilizers for the care of citrus fruits, which are sold in flower shops.