Citrus trees are a big draw to most gardens and patios around the world. Mediterranean area. In addition to their beautiful ornamental appearance, they also give off a wonderful aroma of orange blossoms in full bloom, and later we can enjoy their fruits.
If you do not have land to plant, there is the possibility of grow mandarin in pot. To do this, in this article we show you the main keys to keeping this tree in perfect condition.
Contents
Potted Mandarin Tree Care
We are going to know what are the main keys to growing a mandarin in a pot.
Location
Citrus fruits like mandarin require a climate similar to that of the Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers.
By extrapolating this information to a mandarin grown in a pot, we will choose the brightest area possibleeven with a few hours of direct sunlight during the day.
Medium and constant temperatures are perfect for good budding and even fruiting. It does not matter if there are drafts because it is a hardy plant.
Best substrate for our mandarin
The choice of substrate This is an important point for many plants, but not especially for citrus fruits, whose hardiness allows it to adapt to all types of soil.
The universal substrate It is a good alternative because provides nutrientsis mildly acidic to keep nutrients unlocked and provides good drainage of excess water.
You also won’t need to place a layer of gravel or pebbles on the base. Only the universal substrate is sufficient.
If you want to further improve the substrate of your potted mandarin, you can incorporate a small amount (about 20%) with earthworm humus. It increases the concentration of organic matter in the substrate and provides additional nutrients (especially microelements) essential to your mandarin.
How to water your potted mandarin
One of the most important keys to caring for a potted mandarin is the irrigation approach, since we can run the risk of running out or, even worse, overdoing it and rotting the roots. .
Citrus fruits like tangerine are demanding on water, but being grown in a container changes the approach a bit.
An approximate watering schedule for a container-grown tangerine would be as follows.
- Watering in spring and summer: 2 to 3 times a week.
- Watering in autumn and winter: 1 time per week.
How much water for irrigation?
We recommend that you always apply the same amount, playing with the frequency mentioned above. In general, we will apply a quantity of 1/5 part of the volume of the jar.
For example, if our tangerine is planted in a pot with 5 liters of water, we will apply 1 liter of water. As a tip, it should be noted that some of the water, about 5-10%, flows through the holes in the base. It will also help remove accumulated salts and keep the substrate in better condition.
Fertilizer application
Tangerine consumes a large amount of nutrients, although much less than that planted in the garden. Being contained in a volume-limiting substrate, it is more dependent on the replenishment of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and others, including micronutrients.
You choose which type of fertilizer to choose, whether liquid or solid granules.
liquid fertilizers
Liquid fertilizers require more continuity in supply, but since they are applied mixed with water, assimilation is very rapid.
this solution NPK 7-5-6 with micronutrients It is quite complete for any crop, as it is quite concentrated. In general, we will apply a dose of 1 ml/L of water, in 1 out of 4 waterings, throughout the spring and summer.
solid fertilizers
They are more comfortable to applyespecially for potted trees, but you have less control over nutrition and its release into the substrate.
For the tangerine in a jar, we recommend the following composition, as it is very balanced and also provides microelements.
discounts
COMPO Novatec Universal Fertilizer Blue, 5 kg
- NPK complex fertilizer (Mg+S) 12 + 8 + 16 (+3+25) with magnesium and sulfur + microelements + nitrification inhibitor, Ideal for all types of ornamental plants, shrubs, green plants, roses, citrus fruits, etc.
- The professional technology with the nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) ensuring the stability of nitrogen in the soil, guarantees the maximum utilization of nutrients in the plants and more abundant flowering. Subscription up to 8 weeks available
- Improved formula, with less phosphorus. Eco-friendly
- COMPO quality: raw materials selected according to the original COMPO recipe, Strict quality controls by independent laboratories and institutes, The best conditions for healthy plant growth
- Contents: 1 x COMPO Novatec universal blue fertilizer, 5 kg
Remember that mandarin, like the rest of citrus fruits, is very demanding in iron, zinc and manganese.
We will apply 1 time every 20 days in moderate quantities, well dispersed in the pot, without the need to bury the granules. The usual dose is 30-50 grams per tangerine in pot.
Possible pests and diseases
A mandarin grown in a container is much better controlled than a mandarin planted in the garden, but that does not mean that it cannot be attacked by pests or diseases (fungi and bacteria).
We will analyze each specific situation.
Pests: ribbed mealybugs or California red mites may appear on the leaves. On new shoots, aphids. All are easily removed by applying a cloth dampened with alcohol. Aphids, using potassium soap or spraying water with dish soap.
Diseases: aerial diseases such as anthracnose or alternaria are much rarer when you maintain your mandarin indoors or in pots. However, excessive irrigation (a very common thing in this cropping system) generates root rot known as citrus gummosis (Phytophthora). This problem has a complicated solution since it is necessary to resort to phytosanitary products for professional use.
The most effective fungicide against this disease is the active ingredient known as Fosetil-Al
Fungicide COMPO Phytophthora and Gummosis, Preventive and curative, Suitable for domestic outdoor gardening, Soluble powder, 250 gr
- Preventive and curative fungicide indicated for the control of phytophthora of conifers, pytium of lawns, gummosis of citrus fruits and downy mildew of vines.
- Dilute the powder in water and apply by normal spraying with a tractor or manually during the period of active growth of pome fruit trees, citrus trees and vines.
- Respect the dose and method of application indicated on the packaging for each type of plant: citrus, pome fruit or vine
- Safety period between treatment and harvest: 28 days for vines, 15 days for citrus and pome fruit trees, Incompatible with mineral nitrogen fertilizers, petroleum and copper products
- Contents: 1 x COMPO Phytophthora and Gummosis fungicide, Preventive and curative, Suitable for domestic outdoor gardening, Soluble powder, 250 gr
Check out lemon tree diseases as they are very similar to those of tangerines and other citrus fruits.
Adapt the pot to the size of the tree
A tree like the mandarin tree, grown in a pot, will never grow as big as if we grew it in the soil of our garden.
However, we may also be interested control its development to avoid having to constantly change the container of the pot.
In general, for a mandarin tree with a height of 1 meter, it is necessary to look for a pot with a minimum diameter of 50 cmand 60 cm for mandarins between 1.5 meters.
This will allow you to have your mandarin in a pot even inside your home, with access to plenty of light and even direct sunlight.