How to grow citrus at home?

Citrus indoor plants are not only a wonderful decoration of the home, but also useful plants, the fruits of which are rich in vitamins and excellent taste. Growing these southern treats in the home, however, requires special conditions that differ for each type of fruit. In this article, we will look at how to grow citrus fruits in a pot in a city apartment.

Features of growing citrus fruits

Growing citrus fruits at home involves adhering to the basic rules of caring for southern crops.

First of all, indoor citrus fruits need a properly selected soil. For the base, you can take the soil "flower" or "lemon", diluting it one part at a time with foliage, sand and humus and three parts of turf. In structure, such a soil will be low-acid, lumpy and loose, which will provide free access of oxygen and moisture to the root system of the plant.

It is better to plant the plant in clay pots, which, due to their properties, are excellent conductors of heat. In addition, these pots "breathe", which will allow excess moisture to evaporate without lingering in the soil.

Citrus fruits in pots need to maintain an optimal moisture level - at least 65%. The fruits grown in humid air will turn out to be juicy and tasty, however, with an excess of humidity, they are threatened with decay and abscission. Citrus houses should be watered as the soil dries up: in winter this happens once a month, in summer - once every 1-2 weeks. On hot days and during the heating season, the plant needs regular spraying.

In an apartment, most often citrus fruits stand on the windowsill, since it is there that the plant will be provided with sufficient access to light and heat. If there is not enough lighting (for example, on the north or north-west side of the apartment), then it is necessary to provide citrus with additional lighting using ordinary lamps with good heat transfer. The temperature during the entire period of development should not fall below +8 degrees. In winter, the temperature regime should be maintained in the region of + 12-15 degrees, and with the onset of spring - not lower than +18. Thanks to warm temperatures and high-quality lighting, the plant will begin to release buds, the flowering of which will mark the proximity of fruiting.

Reproduction of citrus fruits is carried out at the end of summer by separating the growing shoot from the main cutting. Such a shoot is carefully trimmed and cleaned from the bark below, after which it is lowered into a pre-prepared pot with nutrient soil, which is fertilized with moss, manure and a small amount of peat. The pot must have holes in the bottom, which are necessary for the outflow of excess water.

You can propagate by seeds and grafting, but for this it is better to familiarize yourself with the varietal characteristics of the plant, since even fertile trees can become inedible during propagation.

Pruning citrus fruits is essential not only to keep the plant healthy, but also to create a beautiful round shape that can be created after the second year of the plant's life. If the aesthetic side requires pruning too long shoots, then the vegetative one - too thick. Shoots that grow inside the crown and hinder the free development of buds due to their large numbers should also be removed. Pruning is done in the spring, all cuts are made at an angle.

If you are interested in how to grow a citrus tree on your own, then there are two options - cuttings or from a stone at home. The apartment is ideal for this, since it is possible to create conditions in it that are as close as possible to those of a greenhouse. Growing from cuttings is recognized as the best method, since this method will provide you with fruits in the coming years, while plants obtained from seeds begin to bear fruit at least 10 years later.

Consider the varieties of citrus trees for an apartment in more detail.

Lemon Tree

The lemon tree is an unpretentious and persistent citrus fruit that shows good fruiting and hardiness results. In addition, lemon gets along well in low light and moisture conditions. Keep in mind, however, that the lemon tree needs regular pruning and fertilization, as a well-groomed tree will provide you with delicious and aromatic fruits.

Lemon is planted from seeds or cuttings. As already mentioned, plants from seeds will begin to bear fruit only after 10-15 years. For development, planting material of varieties Pavlovsky, Maikop, Novogruzinsky is used - these are varieties specially created for home conditions.

Lemon care is simple: regular watering, bait, crown pruning. The only thing that can be difficult is the need to replant the lemon tree in a larger pot annually.

Indoor tangerines

Mandarin, like lemon, requires regular transplanting in the spring. In addition, it is more thermophilic and picky about the level of humidity. It is better not to keep home tangerine at temperatures below +20 degrees, otherwise the plant will quickly die. However, a clear advantage of the species is its faster period of entry into fruiting - within 5–6 years, the development of fruits is possible.

Mandarin, in addition to the requirements for lighting and moisture, also needs regular feeding and treatment from pests. Unfortunately, these plants are very susceptible to aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. Also, the problem of mandarin is the complexity of the flowering process, which often needs stimulation.

Orange

The orange tree in the apartment is not only a supplier of sweet fruits throughout the year, but also a source of wonderful aroma. However, the problem with the orange is its poor tolerance to low temperatures, which will require constant temperature maintenance at 18-24 degrees. In addition, an orange requires direct sunlight for at least 2 hours a day, but no more than 3 hours, which is difficult when choosing a growing location, since, with all this, the tree does not like anxiety and permutations.

This type of citrus fruit needs regular watering and spraying, which should be carried out at least 2 times a week. The best varieties of homemade oranges are Gamlin, Pear-shaped Korolek, Washington Navel and Adjarian.

Calamondin

Calamondin is a citrus plant with a mandarin-like fruit appearance. However, unlike the latter, calamondin is less whimsical to light and moisture, moreover, it is very frost-resistant for a tropical plant. The tree reaches a height of 90 cm, and bears fruit all year round.

Calamondin is best grown from cuttings or store-bought annuals. Such a tree will begin to bear fruit as early as 2-3 years.

Despite the resistance to cold weather, the optimal growing temperature in summer is 21-25 degrees with a humidity of 70%, and in winter - 10-16 degrees with a humidity of 50%. This regime will provide the plant with healthy and abundant fruiting.

Grapefruit

Homemade grapefruit can be obtained from Duncan and Marsh varieties. This variety of citrus fruits resembles a lemon in terms of keeping conditions. However, the grapefruit needs more abundant and frequent watering and the maximum amount of sunlight.

Citron

Citron is a plant with very large yellow fruits (from 15 cm in length) and thick skin. For home cultivation, the varieties Pavlovsky, Buddha's Hand and Mir are suitable. It should be remembered that the size of the fruit requires a tall tree (1.5 m), which should provide an abundance of sunlight and warm temperatures throughout the year.

Video "Growing citrus at home"

From this video you will learn how to grow and care for lemon, tangerine, lime at home.

Growing citrus indoor plants at home is an interesting activity, but far from simple. Therefore, those who believe that it will be enough to plant a seed in the ground, and that's all - lemons for tea are no longer necessary to buy. Without special knowledge, the first harvest of citrus indoor plants, if they do, will not be earlier than twenty years later.

But if you know some of the nuances and grow correctly, observing all the rules, then you can enjoy the fruits much faster. But even here it is important not to make a mistake in choosing a variety. For growing on a windowsill, only those citrus indoor plants that have been grafted on seedlings of orange, lemon, grapefruit or kumquat are suitable. Those crops that were grown from cuttings cut from fruit-bearing trees have also proven themselves well.

Difficulties in growing homemade citrus plants

It would seem that it is simpler: you need to go to a flower shop and buy a pot in which a flowering or already bearing citrus grows - a "golden orange", a Meyer's lemon, which is not very difficult to take care of at home, or a tangerine. The tree just needs to be brought home, placed on the windowsill in the right place, and started to water. But this is not at all the case, since it is really difficult to grow a lemon or tangerine at home, moreover, this process is somewhat different from caring for ordinary specimens.

Those plants that are sold today in flower shops most often come to the shelves from abroad, mainly from Holland. There they are kept in ideal conditions from the first day: the optimum temperature for growth, high humidity are maintained, supplementary lighting is supplied, and fertilizers for citrus indoor plants are constantly applied to the soil. When buying on dwarf trees, by the time they are sold, there may be a dozen or more fruits.

But after getting on the windowsills, beautiful citrus indoor plants immediately begin to face stressful conditions. In our houses, the illumination is much lower - several times, and the air (especially in winter) is incredibly dry compared to the greenhouse, and growth stimulants stop helping after a while.

Therefore, in conditions of a shortage of their internal resources, citrus indoor plants begin to throw all their strength into preserving the fruits with which they were so abundantly strewn in the store. And as a result, the overwhelming majority of purchased "pets" die.

Species suitable for growing at home

Citrus crops have long been known to man. Their people have been actively cultivating for so long that it has become difficult to detect their wild-growing ancestors in nature. Most often, citrus fruits are cultivated outdoors in countries with tropical or subtropical climates. And it is from there that their fruits are delivered to store shelves in all corners of the planet.

A novice grower who cannot pay too much attention and time to a pet growing on his windowsill should choose varieties of indoor citrus plants that are easier to care for. If we talk about subspecies for a small apartment, then it is preferable for beginners to grow lemon, tangerine and trifoliate, since their growth is easier to restrain. In turn, oranges, grapefruits or pomelo, which are large in size, turn into a rather bulky tree after a couple of decades.

As for exotic varieties, today a close relative of mandarin is quite common - citrus kumquat nagami, as well as calamondin. Speaking of amazing varieties, the Hand of Buddha must be mentioned as well.

Cuttings

The most convenient option for those who decide to grow a citrus crop on their own will, of course, be a young plant, which was purchased in a specialized store. But a purchased tree does not always take root in the house for many reasons. However, if, after all, the culture has migrated from the store to the apartment, you need to contact the seller and get a recommendation from him for adapting the citrus to the new conditions.

First, the plant needs to be examined. If there are fruits on it, then they will have to be cut off. For seven to ten days, citrus should be left in a store pot, and only then transplanted into a new one.

Advice

Citrus trees grown from material obtained by cuttings take root best at home. Of course, it will be difficult for beginners who have a poor idea of ​​how to grow tangerine, lemon, etc.

The cuttings should be cut from a well-developed and healthy citrus tree. The length of the planting material should be between ten and twelve centimeters. It must have at least three buds. It is not recommended to use either too young or old enough shoots with dense wood.

The best time for harvesting cuttings is April. Rooting of the planting material can be carried out in a glass of water or in a soil consisting of earth and sand. In the latter case, the cutting should be covered, for example, with a plastic bottle. The roots will appear in about twenty days. After that, the rooted stalk can already be planted in a permanent pot.

Planting material - seeds

You can often hear that a seed planted in the ground turns into a luxurious citrus tree over time. But, even despite the fact that growing tangerine or lemon from seeds is the most affordable way for amateurs to propagate this type of plant, the result is often unpredictable.

As a result, you can get a culture, the fruits of which will be much smaller than the parental form, or you can grow a new excellent pet. Judging by the reviews, the use of seeds pulled from fruits as planting material often leads to a lack of flowering in such seedlings.

The seedling begins to germinate in about a month and a half, and it should be transplanted at the stage of the appearance of five leaves.

How to grow a tangerine

After the juicy fruits of this citrus bought in the store are eaten, you can use the remaining seeds as planting material. For the greatest probability of success of the event, it is better to have more seeds, since definitely not all will germinate. Therefore, to obtain seedlings, you need to take a dozen seeds.

The planting material is placed in cheesecloth for several days and slightly moistened. This is necessary so that the bones, swelling, "hatch".

Tangerines can be grown at home in special citrus soil purchased at a flower shop. Although, in principle, almost any light soil is suitable for this culture.For example, in mixed in equal proportions turf and leafy soil, to which compost and rotted manure humus will be added, the tangerine will be very comfortable. Do not make peat-based soil. We must not forget about the need for drainage. Quite a long time should pass before the first shoots appear. The sprouts become noticeable only after two to three weeks, and sometimes even after a month.

Mandarin is a tree that grows rather slowly at home, and it sometimes stops its growth. Therefore, you should not lose hope and enthusiasm, because when this citrus is provided with all the necessary conditions, it grows into a very beautiful tree.

Tangerine care

According to agronomists, tangerine is a very unpretentious tree to maintain, not only among citrus fruits, but also among many other plants, but it still requires observance of certain rules when leaving. The most important condition for him is the abundance of sunlight. Mandarin requires intense lighting up to twelve hours a day all year round.

Watering and replanting

Mandarin is no less anxious about humidity. In the summer months, it should be watered abundantly without flooding, while in the winter the water supply should be reduced, periodically making sure that the soil does not dry out. In addition, it is necessary to spray the leaves daily, using filtered or boiled clean water for this purpose. You can compensate for the dryness of the air by placing a small decorative indoor fountain next to the tangerine. As it grows, the tree needs to be transplanted into larger pots periodically. It is best to carry out the movement in early spring. In this case, the new pot should have a diameter of three to five centimeters larger than the previous one.

Transplanting a tangerine tree is done by the transshipment method, while it is necessary to preserve the old earthen lump as much as possible so as not to accidentally harm the root system of the plant. For the first time, plants that have bloomed need to adjust the number of ovaries. In the first year, two or three fruits are left, in the second, seven or eight, and then about ten.

How to grow an orange tree

Home care for this type of citrus crop is not very different from the growing conditions for tangerine. Both a newly acquired tree and one that has been growing in the house for many years must be transplanted every year. The best time for this is spring, when the plant is just getting ready to expend energy for growth. For young crops, regular watering and spraying is a prerequisite for a normal existence.

Bloom

An orange tree, which is not very difficult to take care of at home, will give ovaries if the crown is correctly formed. This plant blooms and bears fruit on twigs at least five orders of magnitude, so you should not expect fruit to appear earlier than five years later. The crown is formed quite simply. When the branches reach a length of ten to fifteen centimeters, they are pinched. Soon, new shoots begin to awaken from the lateral buds, which should also be shortened. As a result, only after five years you can get an orange tree with many short shoots.

In this case, the room should be cool: 17-20 degrees. At higher temperatures, the fruits are not set, and the plant itself is sick or affected by pests.

Indoor lemons

Of all the varieties, Pavlovsky is considered the most unpretentious. This type of lemon feels good even on northeastern or northwestern windowsills, it is comfortable in relatively dry air and with rare dressings.

The Panderoza variety is almost as unpretentious, but it needs more light. True, this type of lemon has a special "syndrome" that is found only in him: it produces too many flowers to the detriment of the growth of green mass. Therefore, extra buds must be constantly cut off.

Slightly less common is Meyer's lemon, caring for which at home involves following certain rules: if they are not followed, it grows very slowly. However, flower growers, even with little experience, can simply place the pot on a light windowsill, feed the plant from time to time, and spray it if necessary.

For lovers of exotic

Citrus fruits in our understanding are lemon, orange, tangerine. But there are representatives of this plant species that many of us have not even heard of. Of the tangerines, the Unshiu variety is interesting, which, in comparison with other representatives of the species, is relatively tolerant of poor lighting and unpretentious, just like Pavlovsky lemon.

Other close relatives of citrus fruits are Kumquat and Calamondin. Fans of original indoor plants should definitely get these types of plants.

Speaking of exotics, one should definitely mention the Buddha Hand variety. This citrus is distinguished by the unusual appearance of its fruit: it resembles a lemon in color, and outwardly - a fleshy brush on the hand. However, there is no edible pulp inside. Nevertheless, the fruit is so exotic that it should definitely be grown at home.

Many representatives of citrus fruits, when creating favorable conditions, develop well and grow in various residential and administrative premises. The most popular of them is lemon, it can be found in apartments and offices, school classes and preschool institutions, clinics and shops. Raising this popular pet is not easy, you have to spend a lot of time and effort on growing and caring for it. Mandarin, orange, lime, pomelo, and grapefruit require the same attention. All of them have numerous beneficial qualities, one of which is the presence of biologically active substances in the leaves that can destroy pathogenic bacteria. To create all the necessary conditions for citrus fruits in a house or apartment is within the power of every lover of indoor plants.

Caring for citrus plants in the apartment

Location and lighting

The place for growing citrus indoor plants should not be on the windowsill from the north of the house, near a microwave oven, in drafts and near central heating batteries or other heating appliances. Citrus fruits belong to shade-tolerant crops, therefore it is more favorable to place them on the east or west window, but it is also possible at a short distance from the southern window sill.

Temperature

For plants, places where warm and cold air is found, as well as elevated air temperatures, are dangerous. In the presence of at least one of these unfavorable moments, the leaves on citrus fruits begin to fall off.

In the period from November to February, when the crops are in a dormant period, a special maintenance regime is introduced - low air temperature in the room, the absence of any water procedures (spraying and watering) and fertilizing.

Air humidity

The humidity level should be high. It can be maintained with the help of daily spraying, the water temperature should not be lower than 25 degrees. Overdried indoor air is painfully tolerated by citrus plants.

Watering

It is not recommended to use tap water for irrigation, the presence of chlorine in it will negatively affect indoor pets. Irrigation water (with a temperature of 20-22 degrees) should be settled and slightly acidified. To do this, add a few drops of vinegar to it.

Pot selection

The ideal pot material is unglazed fired clay or wood. There must be drainage holes and a good drainage layer at the bottom of the flower container.

Requirements for the composition of the soil

Indoor citrus fruits will fully develop only in a special substrate for this type of plant.It is recommended to purchase high-quality soil mixture only in specialized shops for flower growers, so that its quality is not in doubt.

Top dressing and fertilizers

It is necessary to feed exotic citrus plants regularly from February to November. You can use organic fertilizers or mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Reproduction of indoor citrus fruits

Lemons, tangerines, oranges and other exotic species can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and grafts. Every florist dreams of growing an exotic citrus plant from an ordinary seed, which will not only germinate and sprout, but will eventually turn into a small tree and give many fruits.

Growing citrus fruits from a seed, from the very beginning of its life path, the plant's immunity is strengthened and its resistance to life increases. After all, a tender young culture has to adapt to its unusual conditions of existence from the very first days. Usually, there are no big problems with germinating seeds, but flowering and fruiting will have to be expected from 7 to 15 years. The taste of the fruit also leaves much to be desired. In order for the culture to bloom much earlier, you will need to be vaccinated. Usually, experienced florists and gardeners recommend using cuttings of citrus fruits that are already bearing fruit as a scion.

When growing exotic crops indoors, it must be borne in mind that plants can reach great heights. It is better to immediately purchase seeds of dwarf species and varieties for planting.

Seed propagation

It is recommended to plant freshly harvested seeds taken directly from the fruit. Planting depth - no more than 3 cm. The planting container should hold a volume of about 2 liters with mandatory drainage holes at the bottom. Drainage is poured at the bottom, and then a special substrate for citrus fruits. After planting, the pot must be covered with a glass jar or foil to create greenhouse conditions in which seedlings will appear much earlier. Depending on the variety and type of culture, seedlings will appear in the interval from 7 days to 2 months. If several shoots have appeared from one seed, then over time it is necessary to leave only one stronger and stronger plant.

Propagation by cuttings

For rooting, you need to take the apical cuttings and plant them in wet river sand at a slight slope, covering the top with a cut plastic bottle made of transparent material. The favorable temperature for root formation is 20-25 degrees. The place should be well lit, but protected from direct sunlight. The first roots may appear in about a month, after which the plant is transplanted into a special soil mixture. When transplanting, it is necessary to take care of the root part, as it can easily be damaged.

This method is considered the most common, because it allows you to keep all the best quality characteristics of the mother plant. Flowering and fruiting occurs much earlier than with seed reproduction.

Graft

Vaccination can be carried out by budding or copulating. The graft and rootstock can be from different types of citrus fruits. It is recommended to use lemon, orange or grapefruit for rootstock.

Diseases and pests

Possible pests of citrus fruits as indoor crops are aphids, spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs, possible diseases - anthracnose, wartiness and gommosis. The emerging diseases are difficult to treat, so you need to try to prevent them. At the first signs of illness, it is recommended to "help" the plants. This help consists in the urgent removal of the affected leaves, buds and fruits, then the plant will direct all its strength to recovery and preservation of healthy parts.

The main and most common cause of diseases and pests is a violation of conditions of detention and rules of care.With increased attention to indoor pets and strict adherence to their requirements and preferences, such a danger does not threaten.

Conditions for growing citrus fruits (video)

Planting and caring for citrus plants (recommendations of the employee of the Institute of Mountain Horticulture and Floriculture, Doctor of Biological Sciences V.V. Vorontsov). Soil is critical in growing citrus fruits indoors. It is necessary that it be rich in organic matter, have a lumpy structure and good water and air permeability. It is necessary to take into account the fact that all subtropical crops proposed for growing in a room under normal conditions are large trees or shrubs that develop in a significant amount of soil. Therefore, in smaller volumes, in a pot culture, the soil is taken more concentrated in terms of fertile properties, with the presence of a large amount of nutrients in it. With rare exceptions (for example, for Pavlovsky lemons), the soil mixture is best composed of 1 part of leaf, 3 - sod land, 1 - thoroughly washed river or sea sand, 1 - humus or rotted manure. Most subtropical plants (other than tea, which require acidic soil) will work with the store-bought flower mix. After drawing up the mixture, it is sieved and various impurities are removed from it.

The best utensils for growing citrus fruits (and other subtropical plants) - clay pots. Clay is a kind of moisture regulator. With the appearance of excess moisture, it absorbs it, and when the earthy coma is dried out, on the contrary, it gives it away gradually. Some amateurs use plastic containers, however, with all their convenience, it is easier to disrupt the water regime of plants in them. Citrus fruits at the age of 1 are planted in pots with 0 10 -15 cm (no more) in the upper part. As the plants grow and develop, they are transplanted into larger pots.

Reproduction of citrus and other woody plants. At the end of summer, on a growing shoot (or in spring on a lignified one), 15–20 cm from the top, remove the leaves and remove the bark rings and place them in a tub. Regardless of the dish in which the plant is planted, drainage must be made in it, providing a free drain of excess irrigation water. Therefore, it is best to close the outlet at the bottom of the dishes with a convex shard ”on top of which a layer of small pebbles, mixed with charcoal, is poured into a depth of 3 - 3 cm. Plants thrive especially when there is a small (1–2 cm) layer of moss, high-moor peat or dried manure on top of the drainage. Plant citrus fruits in pots just like any other plant.

The content of citrus plants in the apartment. With the onset of warm spring days, with an increase in air temperature to 7-9 degrees. all indoor subtropical plants must be taken out into the yard or on an open balcony. It is best to dig them into the soil along with the utensils, so that the level of the ground in the pot coincides with the surface of the garden. In the summer, in order to avoid too much moisture loss, the soil in the pots is covered with moss, peat or dry plant residues in a layer of 2–3 cm. Removal is carried out gradually. In the first days, the plants are placed in a shaded place and only after a week they are finally transferred to the open air. Watering - as the coma dries. Better - in the evening; in rainy weather, plants do not need watering. In dry, hot, they are moistened daily, stopping watering with the appearance of water in the pan. Excess moisture must not be allowed, which causes acidification of the soil and further plant disease. Signs of acidification are the appearance of a greenish bloom on the soil with an unpleasant odor. Plants stop growing, brown spots appear on the leaves, and they begin to fall off. This is observed when excessively large dishes, excessive watering or drainage is faulty. If soil acidification occurs, the plant is transplanted with its complete replacement.Watered with water at room temperature, be sure to loosen the soil after 5 - b waterings. And best of all - rainwater. Should not be - boiled. In cities, they moisten the tap, which contains bleach, which negatively affects the life of plants. In order for chlorine to evaporate from such water, it is defended for 24–28 hours. Chlorinated water is quickly rendered harmless by adding 1/2 teaspoon of water to 1 liter of water.

Citrus fruits, exposed in the courtyard in spring, are brought into the room before the onset of a cold snap. In most areas of our country, it is difficult for them to grow and develop normally, especially in apartments where there is not enough light, but at the same time there is a lot of heat. Therefore, in them, the process of photosynthesis is often sharply reduced at this time, we intensify in respiration, which leads to their weakening, shedding of their leaves, and often to death from themselves. In this regard, from November to February inclusive, citrus fruits are kept, if possible, in dry rooms with a low temperature (no higher than 8 - 10 degrees). The vital processes of subtropical plants at this time slow down significantly, they pass into the stage of winter dormancy, however, completely preserving the leaves. And in March, due to the spring increase in illumination, a noticeable increase appears - a guarantee of the harvest. In order not to provoke growth earlier and not to force the plant, no fertilizers should be applied in winter, watering is extremely rare. In the case when there are no cold rooms, the plants during this period are placed in rooms with a normal temperature, that is, 18 degrees. For normal development, they are only sprayed with water at room temperature, this is especially necessary in apartments with central heating, where the air is very dry ... The humidity of the air is increased by placing the pots with plants in trays, where water is regularly poured. Citrus fruits themselves are placed away from heating systems and at least 2 times a day they are sprayed with water at room temperature.

Rice. 6.
Reproduction of citrus and others (according to F. Zorin): a - budding (otherwise - peephole binding), b - by the lateral splitting method

Crown formation of citrus plants. This is a very important point, on which the timing of the entry of plants into the fruiting season, its further development and productivity depends, in addition to the fact that it is also beauty, decorativeness achieved by filling the crown with small, abundantly leafy branches. The formation of the crown begins from the 1st year of life of citrus fruits, when, with the help of pinching and pruning, they create low indoor plants with 3-4 correctly located skeletal branches in the crown. All citrus fruits in the 1st year of life form 1 vertical (zero) shoot 25 - 30 cm high. In the 2nd year, before the start of growth at a height of 15 - 20 cm, the plant is cut off. As soon as the lateral buds germinate, they are removed, with the exception of only 3-4 future lateral shoots located on different sides of the table. A zero shoot, if it has a powerful development, is pinched (pinched) at a height of 15 - 20 cm, growing skeletal crowns in the 1st year. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that very often, after pinching, only 1 upper bud germinates, forming a continuation shoot. Therefore, when it becomes noticeable that only the upper kidney gives rise, it, and preferably together with the 2nd, lower kidney, must be cut off with a pruner. Such an operation creates favorable conditions for the growth of the lower kidneys. In the spring of the same year, the newly formed side shoots are removed, except for 2 - 3 eyes. At the end of summer, when the lateral shoots reach 10-15 cm long, they are shortened. This contributes to obtaining first shoots of the 3rd order, and then the 4th. Forming the crown, with further pruning of citrus fruits, adhere to the following rule: remove all strongly growing straight shoots that are located inside it. Pruned in the spring before the plant starts growing. Formation by pinching is carried out in the summer, during its growth.Carefully caring for 1 year, you can grow 2 orders of branching. The main formation of the crown skeleton usually ends with branches of the 4th or 5th order.

Do not allow fruiting until the formation of the crown is complete "- it slows down vegetative growth, which is the material for its correct" modeling ". To enhance the growth of individual shoots and branches, first of all, all buds, flowers and ovaries are removed from them. Sometimes they use a short pruning of such branches for replacement, that is, above the 2nd or 3rd bud at its base / Current pruning of citrus fruits involves the removal of shoots that thicken the crown, cutting out broken and diseased branches, shortening strongly growing branches that violate the shape of the crown ... Lemons often (less often in oranges) develop large, fatty, sterile shoots that are noticeable almost from the very moment they appear. To turn them into fruiting, fatty shoots are pinched at the level of the 5th - 6th buds. The technique of cutting shoots during the formation and pruning of citrus crops is no different from the corresponding operation on continental fruits. The cut is carried out over the bud facing the outer part of the crown.

And one more essential detail... Keeping citrus fruits in apartments (especially if it is a lemon), you need to remove part of the ovary, thereby rationing the harvest. From this, the fruits increase in size as a whole, the yield rises. The need for rationing is due to the fact that almost all citrus fruits bloom profusely and form a large number of ovaries, which greatly deplete indoor plants. The yield is normalized 10 - 15 days after the end of flowering. The ovaries are removed first of all on weak ones and also on shoots closely spaced one to the other.

Citrus transplant... The root system of potted plants gradually, with age, "grows so much that often the roots break through the bottom hole. The plant begins to ache and shed its leaves due to lack of nutrients. The way out is to transplant (reload) them I once every 2 to 3 years (in early spring, during the end of growth dormancy; at the same time, the diameter of the new dishes is taken several centimeters larger than that of the previous one). Before transplanting, examine the root system of the plant, removing from a pot or tub a layer of soil 2 - 3 cm. And if there are not a lot of roots along the edges of the tub, the transshipment can be postponed until next year. The need for a transplant is precisely determined by pulling the plant out of the pot: if an earthen lump is entwined with roots, then it is mandatory, then.

Before transplanting, the plant is watered abundantly.... Following this, turning the dishes and lightly tapping the walls of the pot with your palm, they take out the plant along with a lump of earth. Diseased and damaged roots are carefully cut with a sharp knife. After that, with a coma, the drainage layer is cleaned with a wooden stick and, if possible, the external depleted earth is removed. The plant, prepared for transplantation, is placed in the center of a new dish, into which drainage is poured to the bottom. The dishes are filled with earth so that no voids remain in it and the earthen lump with the plant does not reach 3-4 cm to the edge. It is impossible to destroy an earthen lump, because a large number of roots die, the plant sheds its leaves and takes root again with difficulty. If the dishes are not new, before planting they are disinfected with formalin, bleach or calcined for several minutes over a fire. During transplantation, the earth at the edges is pressed tightly so that the pouring water flows to the center of the coma. After transplanting the plant, it is watered abundantly with warm water and sprayed. Place in a cool room for 1–2 weeks. Frequent transplants should be avoided: the volume of dishes increases rapidly, besides, fruiting may completely stop for 1 - 2 years. It is better to transplant into small vessels, slightly more spacious than the previous ones. Transplanting should be done as soon as possible so that the exposed roots do not dry out.

Fertilizers. Due to the small volume of the dishes, the supply of nutrients is naturally small; they need to be constantly replenished. Every year indoor plants are fed with organic mineral fertilizers. Of organic, settled slurry, which does not emit an unpleasant odor, is best suited. Before watering, it is diluted 7 to 10 times with water, in which the chlorine compounds have settled and removed. Slurry is introduced no more than 2 times a season. Preferably in early spring and mid-summer. Of course, this cannot be done in a multi-storey building, and therefore only mineral fertilizers are applied there (already from the 2nd year of plant life). Based on many years of experience, the Research Institute of Mountain Horticulture and Floriculture offers the following fertilizer system. Mineral - potassium and ammonium nitrate, superphosphate. A solution of potassium nitrate for irrigation is prepared in advance in a concentrated form. For 1 liter of water - 50 g of saltpeter. Before adding the prepared solution of nitrate is diluted with water 10 times to bring its strength to 0.05%. When ammonium nitrate is available, add another 20 g of potassium salt to 30 g of it per 1 liter of water and dilute it with water 1: 10 before adding it. When preparing phosphorus fertilizer, take superphosphate at the rate of 50 g per 1 liter of water and boil for 30 minutes ... The liquids are allowed to settle. Then it is drained so that there is no sediment. And immediately before application, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 10. The fertilization time depends on the size of the dishes, the state of the plants and the season, of course. The bush is fattening - nitrogen fertilizer is given less often. In winter, during the dormant period, at least 1 time in 1.5 - 2 months. From March to September, nitrogen-potassium nutrition is desirable once every 15 days, and phosphorus, together with slurry, once every 1 month.

Growing citrus planting material... Propagated by citrus seeds, cuttings, layering and grafting. New plants perfectly adapt to living conditions in apartments, rarely get sick and, entering fruiting, form beautiful bright orange and golden fruits during seed propagation. However, it has negative aspects. Plants from seeds are distinguished by a great variety of economic characteristics; fruits often acquire the properties of distant "progenitors and are characterized by low taste or may be generally unsuitable for consumption. Inedible, despite their attractive appearance, for example, Pavlovsky tangerines, Maikop oranges obtained from seeds. In addition, all citrus fruits from seeds bloom and give the 1st harvest only 10-15, or even 20-25 years after sowing. Therefore, durable indoor plants, resistant to the unfavorable conditions of the environment of apartments, are grafted on citrus seedlings from fruiting ones. To successfully grow citrus seedlings, sowing with fresh seeds is essential. Storing them (even 15 - 20 days) significantly reduces germination. So it is better not to remove them from the fruits until sowing.

Seeds are sown in indoor greenhouses and boxes covered with glass, or flower pots to a depth of 2-3 cm. The temperature in the greenhouse after sowing seeds must be maintained within 18 - 22 degrees. They usually germinate on 10 - 18 days. Before germination, the soil with the seeds sown in it is kept in a moderately moist state: excess moisture contributes to their rapid decay. Seedlings are very tender. The first weeks they are afraid of direct sunlight, but they must be kept close to light all the time. Water them once every 1 month. 1% solution of nitrate or urea. It is very desirable for small seedlings to feed 1 - 2 times a season with a solution of slurry. With the appearance of 4 - b leaves, the seedlings dive into small (08 - 10 cm) flower pots, in which they will grow and develop until budding, when the stem reaches 8–10 mm thick. Seeds are best collected from fruit-bearing plants grown in apartments.If they are not, then they are harvested from fruits purchased in stores on the market.

Due to the fact that citrus seedlings begin to bear fruit very late, various techniques should be used to speed up this process. An earlier entry of citrus fruits into fruiting is achieved primarily by observing the rules for the formation of young plants, regulating the length of daylight hours. This is facilitated by grafting buds from fruit-bearing trees into the crown of a citrus plant. In the same way as budding. Some lovers of the main trunk and skeletal branches bend down strongly, the growth is often pincer, mechanical damage is done on the bark, etc. Others recommend, for example, plants grown from seeds, for 2 - 3 winters to keep for 3 months. at low temperatures (2 - 5 degrees), then they can bear fruit at about the 8th year of life, they say. Well, check these assumptions for correctness. So far, the most reliable way to accelerate the fruiting of seedlings is to graft them with an eye or a cuttings taken from a fruiting plant.

The most suitable of the vegetative propagation methods for all citrus crops is budding, which should be done at the end of July - in August with a sleeping eye. Since the rootstocks are grown indoors, budding can be done throughout the growing season, from March to October, during the period when they have active sap flow. Own-rooted plants are considered to be the best stock of citrus fruits grown in greenhouses. For a lemon, a lemon seedling. Orange - respectively. Kinkana is a kinkan seedling. And so on. In the open ground of the subtropics of the CIS, a 3-leafed wild lemon - ponzirus - tripoliata, a deciduous plant that can withstand low temperatures up to 20 degrees is used as a rootstock. frost. However, many experts believe that it is not very suitable for room culture. Tripoliata is a small shrub with thorny branches. The leaves are trifoliate. It blooms in early spring before the leaves open. Fruits are yellow, globular, inedible. The latter is very valuable for the stock. To get 1 kg of seeds, only 6 - 7 tripolyate fruits are needed, while in a cultivated apple tree they need to be peeled about 200 kg. In winter, like all deciduous trees, it passes into a state of deep growth and physiological dormancy. Trifoliate roots begin to grow only in May, and in winter they do not grow. Lemon, orange and other citrus fruits, being evergreen, need nutrition and moisture throughout the year. When citrus trees grafted on tripoliate are grown outdoors, this rootstock helps to reduce active physiological processes in grafted plants for the winter or to develop relative dormancy in them, which increases their frost resistance. Citrus plants in indoor conditions practically do not have growth dormancy, therefore, if they are grafted onto a triphodiatag, then it cannot provide them with food and moisture in winter.

As a result, indoor plants on the tripolyate rootstock are depleted during the winter period, partial leaf fall begins, and in the spring - massive shedding. And the plants don't bear fruit. The experiments of researchers indicate that a lemon grafted on tripolyate can develop well and preserve the fruit harvest only if it is in a room or in other rooms in winter with a temperature that significantly reduces its growth processes. Some varieties of lemons are noticeably different from each other, but the effect on them of different temperatures. Compared to the varieties of Kuzner, Lunario, Commune, Genoa showed itself better: it is more plastic and easier to adapt to the unfavorable conditions of apartments.

Not every amateur will be able to create everything necessary for the wintering of plants grafted with tripolyate. In addition, everyone wants to have an evergreen in the room, especially in winter. Therefore, at room culture, it is better to refuse citrus seedlings on a tripolyate rootstock.In warm living rooms and other premises where the air temperature does not drop below 16 - 18 degrees in winter, lemon and other citrus fruits need to be grown on their roots or grafted on citrus seedlings - lemon, orange, grapefruit, bigaradia, kinkan. It should also be borne in mind that lemons grown from cuttings and layering enter the fruiting season earlier, at the same time, they differ in weaker growth than those grafted on citrus seedlings and are more likely to suffer from gammoza (gum disease). If, nevertheless, there is a citrus plant in the apartment, grafted on a tripolyate rootstock, keep it in a cold room, a bright corridor or on a warmed veranda at a temperature of 4-6 in winter. At the same time, both the crown of the grafted plant and the root system of the tripolyate rootstock will not be physiologically active, and therefore, shedding of leaves will not occur. The best time for grafting citrus fruits is very good to propagate by budding.

All citrus fruits, except for the usual budding, reproduce well by budding with a shield, lateral grafting into the cleft, grafting with a cuttings, double budding, etc. The techniques and techniques of budding and grafting are the same as in ordinary gardening. Seedlings grown by budding or grafting begin to bear fruit in the 3rd - 4th year.

It is preferable to obtain planting material for lemons by cuttings: it is most accessible to amateurs, the entry into fruiting is accelerated, the plant comes out more dwarf, which is especially important in indoor gardening. Acceleration of cuttings can be carried out at any time of the year. Lemons are best cut in boxes or flower pots filled with loose, nutritious substrate, sand or perlite. The optimal composition of the soil for rooting lemon cuttings: a layer (10 - 12 cm) of soil, consisting of 4 equal parts of forest humus, coarse sand, sod land, rotted manure. On this substrate, washed sand is covered with a layer of 5 - 6 cm. Take cuttings only from fruiting indoor plants (September-October). In the fall, use the shoots of spring growth, and in the spring (April) - autumn, which take root especially well