How to grow a dragon eye at home?

Delicious "dragon eyes" - longyan 龙眼 are sold in China. The botanical name of the plant is longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour., Or Euphoria longana Lamk.). It belongs to the family Sapindaceae... Many tourists visiting the countries of Southeast Asia taste the fruits of its related plants such as rambutan, lychee and pitbata. When gathered in bunches, longan balls look like nuts with a thin cinnamon-colored skin. Its color ranges from yellow to reddish brown. The inedible hard peel is easy to crack and peel off. Inside is a seed - a shiny bone that is enveloped by a white pulp, arillus. It is because of this vitreous layer that people willingly buy "dragon eyes", which are considered tasty and healthy.

Dragon eyes, or longan

How is longan eaten?

Longan fruits in China are sold in huge supermarkets, tiny shops, markets and street vendors. The counters display small wicker baskets with "dragon eyes" or boxes (pallets), from which people pick the fruits themselves and put them in plastic bags. They do this carefully, freeing the bunches from the twigs and choosing the largest and ripe "nuts". Throw away rotten or cracked skin. Longan's sales season in Beijing runs from summer to autumn.

The white, vitreous flesh is called arillus, or roofing, seed-bearing. This fleshy formation around the dark seed is juicy, tasty, sweet, and aromatic. It is best to store longan fruits in a cool place. They can stay in the refrigerator for about a week (depending on the degree of ripeness). At the beginning of summer on sale you can stumble upon unripe "eyes", which are better not to eat right away, but to hold for some time at room temperature. In the fall, you are more likely to buy overripe fruits that are poorly stored and quickly sour.

The fruits are eaten raw. I saw how the Chinese are happy to suck the pulp instead of candy. Desserts, sweet soups and a variety of drinks are prepared from "dragon eyes". In addition, they are dried and canned. The fruits are also used in confectionery production.

Dragon Eyes, or Longan

How are dragon eyes useful?

Longan fruit is rich in vitamins.In addition, they contain organic acids, iron salts, calcium and phosphorus. In scientific publications, there is information about the antioxidant properties of pulp. Chinese doctors recommend longan to protect liver cells and to improve overall tone and performance.

"Dragon's eyes" improve vision, normalize sleep. They are considered an excellent natural remedy for reducing anxiety levels, soothing anxiety and related problems (for example, rapid heart rate - tachycardia). It is also an antioxidant. Cosmetologists advise women to feast on the fruits of longan more often. They are very good for the skin. They say that even crow's feet are smoothed.

A bit of botany

Longan is cultivated in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. In the wild, this tall, spreading evergreen tree is rare. Less vigorous evergreen trees are cultivated, with a height of 10 to 20 meters. There are varieties adapted to the climate of a particular region. China is doing a lot of breeding work, which exports planting material to neighboring countries.

Growing longan indoors

Indoor plant lovers are unlikely to deny themselves the opportunity to plant a longan seed (seed) in the ground and grow a beautiful formed exotic tree at home. In order for the seed not to dry out and shrink, it must be lowered into the ground as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then you can slightly dry the kernel of the fruit, and then wipe its surface with a soft cloth to avoid mold. After that, wrap in foil or put in a small box, previously wrapped in paper napkins. The germination of fresh seeds is very high.

At landing the seed is buried 2/3 (lightly sprinkled with soil) or placed shallow in the ground. The white spot should remain on the side. This will allow the thick root to immediately go straight down (after 4 - 10 days), and the sprout to rise up without the slightest curvature (after 6 - 12 days from the moment of planting). It happens that during germination, a young sprout is confused with a root that has lost its direction. However, soon leaves appear on the "spine", and it becomes clear to everyone that this is an escape.

I was told that germination fruits bought at the very beginning of the season are much lower. Perhaps they do not have time to mature. Sometimes the seeds that have been extracted from fruits acquired far from the country in which the tree grows and bears fruit also germinate more slowly. Most likely, "dragon eyes", torn off immature, are on sale so that they do not deteriorate during transportation.

A cold windowsill is not the best place to germinate longan seeds. The temperature should be around 24 - 25 ° C. Great if bottom heating is possible. A stand placed on a warm battery will do.

Seeds germinate quickly and amicably. Especially when the casing has been carefully prepared with sandpaper or slightly scratched with a sharp knife. You can do without it. The seedlings are large and "gluttonous". It is better to plant them in such a deep glass or pot in which they can develop without picking before the first transfer to a larger container. It is desirable that at first the seedling be covered with a transparent jar or grow up in a room greenhouse.

When growing, it is important to pay attention to regularity of watering... Drying out of the soil (like that of lychee seedlings) can end in failure. Minimum loss of leaves. Longan is not only a thermophilic, but also a moisture-loving plant. The ratio of air temperature, soil and humidity is also important. Good is necessary lighting, at least a place on a light windowsill. Any drafts in the cold season are deadly.

Longan in room conditions can be affected by mealybugs and scale insects. The best way to prevent spider mites is to spray them frequently with warm water.The tree formed by pruning begins to bear fruit as early as 4-7 years. But few people manage to wait for the harvest. This exotic plant has never managed to adapt to irregular watering, icy air from an open window on a frosty winter day and other accidents that are difficult to avoid in everyday life.

Over the past few years, many exotic plants have settled on the windowsills of Russian houses. Now it's time to talk about a fruit with a truly oriental character - the dragon's eye. It is pleasant to look at, moreover, it is ready to pamper the owner with delicious fruits. What conditions must be provided for an overseas guest?

The dragon eye's real name is longan. Fans of travel to Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka or China have probably seen its fruits in the shops of local merchants. When mature, they resemble small (about 2.5 cm in diameter) tennis balls. The almost perfect round shape and rich color range of these fruits draws considerable attention to them.

In fact, yellow, spotted, dark red and piebald longans differ only in the color of the rind (it is hard, but easily peeled off). Having removed this natural "armor", in all fruits we will find a translucent whitish pulp, through which a dark bone shines through. The most skilled glassblower would not have achieved such a gentle, free overflow of colors with which an open fruit pleases us. This is truly a dragon's eye! Beautiful and mysterious.

What is it eaten with?

Longan fruit tastes juicy and sweet, with a slight hint of musk. Rich in B vitamins and minerals: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese and calcium.

The traditional question is - what is it eaten with? - has many answers. Soups, snacks, liqueurs, sauces for fish dishes - what is not prepared from the dragon's eye in oriental cuisine! The simplest modern recipe is a long cocktail: juice squeezed from watery fruits is mixed with crushed ice, poured into a beautiful glass and decorated with a straw. This simple drink tones up, perfectly quenches thirst, and, in addition, protects the figure, because longan is a very low-calorie fruit.

Landing rules

How to get a longan in an apartment? The easiest way to grow a dragon's eye is from a bone. In this case, preference should be given to the one that is taken out of the ripe fruit. As the popularity of these fruits has increased, tasty longans can be found in major Russian supermarkets. Or do not miss the opportunity and bring back from the trip.

So, from the eaten berries, you need to carefully clean out the remnants of the pulp, rinse the selected bone with water and plant as soon as possible. If this is not possible, wipe it thoroughly, dry it, wrap it in paper napkins and store it in this state for no more than 2 weeks.

You shouldn't bury the future longan deeply. Ideally, the lower part of the bone is inserted into the ground - the top is only lightly sprinkled. In this case, the white speck, from which the root will go, must necessarily touch the soil.

We create a favorable atmosphere

Longan loves a wet land, the atmosphere around is light (for example, on a not cold windowsill).

The container for the seed should be quite wide and deep - to match the size of the future tree. A mixture for exotic plants with drainage (river sand and small pebbles) under it is suitable as a soil.

Since the sprouting longan is afraid of drafts, you can build an impromptu "greenhouse" for it from a transparent jar or plastic cup.

The optimum temperature for the dragon's eye is not lower than 22-25 ° C. If in your house the thermometer drops lower, it is advisable to put a special heating mat under the pot with the future tree.

They love. Wet soil. High temperatures (22-25 ° C). Good lighting. Regular spraying with water from a spray bottle. Wide, spacious containers.

Does not love. Drafts. Lack of moisture in the soil and air. Low temperatures. Short daylight hours.Cramped containers.

Errors due to inexperience are possible

Irregular watering is very dangerous for our overseas guest. Even an adult, strengthened plant, due to the dryness of the soil, sheds its leaves and dies.

Low lighting. Closer to winter, longanu begins to sorely miss the sun's rays. In cold seasons, the plant should be illuminated with an energy-saving lamp.

A short pot can also harm the dragon's eye by damaging its root system and depriving it of the necessary moisture.

Lack of spraying can provoke the appearance of a spider mite. To prevent this from happening, it is worth treating the longan with a spray bottle every day.

Faded hopes. If your longan suddenly stopped growing, do not despair. With proper care, these "breaks" are only part of his growing up.

Right choice

The most useful are "ripe" fruits - those that have already lain a little on the counter. These fruits taste sweet and juicy, while their freshly picked "cousins" are a little bit tingling.

When buying a whole brush of longans, one should be sampled: most likely, the rest of the bunch will taste the same.

At room temperature, the overseas fruit will last a maximum of two to three days. In hot weather, the only way to preserve it is to put it in the refrigerator. Longan can be stored there for about five days.

how to grow a dragon eye is a fruit

1. Dragon fruit, pitaya, or pitahaya -
   the common name of the fruit of several species from the Cactaceae family, mainly from the genus Hylocereus (sweet pitaya) -
   But the Dragon's Eye - (Dimocarpus longan) - the insides of the fruit are like hard jelly through which the bone is visible - it reminded the natives of an eyeball.
   You can grow from a stone only if the fruit was not hypothermic during transportation to the store. If you brought the fruits from the trip, it's just great. .. We eat the fruit, take out the bone. You need to plant immediately after removing them from the fruit, otherwise after a couple of days they lose their germination.
   Here's an interesting experience:
   “I ate the fruit, and immediately planted the seeds. In a tall glass I poured ordinary earth (not peat), and on top of the sand 1 cm. Into this wet sand I pressed the bones halfway, sideways. I closed it with a lid and put it on the battery pipe. A week later I looked - the bones gave out a thick root, a week later a sprout with two three-fingered leaves began to grow.
   Now it is standing on the window under the lamp, but clearly it needs more light - it is stretched out. One bone sprouted so quickly, and the other was delayed because it moved from the battery to the window, and it is cooler there. And so it grows.
   I don’t fall asleep. The pot needs a deep one, because I planted one in a small one, and then I look - the leaves dried up, the root rested against the bottom and there was not enough moisture. Well, I poured it up to the neck and now it is moving away, it began to grow new ones. But slowly, all the same, they need an increased temperature. "-
2. I think it will only remain a dream.

   “Dragon's Eye - (pitahaya, pitaya, lun yan, dragon fruit, pitaya).
   These are the fruits of a cactus. Dragon's eye is the Russian version of the name of this fruit. International name Dragon Fruit.
   Quite large, oblong (palm-sized) fruits that are red, pink or yellow on the outside. Inside, the flesh is white or red, dotted with small black seeds. The pulp is very tender, juicy, slightly sweet, with an unexpressed taste. It is convenient to eat with a spoon, scooping out the pulp from the fruit cut in half.
   The dragon eye is useful for stomach pains, diabetes or other endocrine diseases.
   Harvesting seasons all year round. "

   This is how the bees pollinate the blooming cactus.

3. Yes, it is a cactus fruit. On an industrial scale, I've seen it grow in Thailand. Like grapes. The concrete posts between them are not wire, but also concrete lintels. I grow at home from seeds. Has not bloomed yet. It is grown like any shade-loving cactus.
4. Longan (Vietnamese.Dragon eye) is the fruit of the evergreen longan tree (Dimocarpus longan), common in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. The name comes from the Vietnamese city of Long An, where this plant is cultivated to this day.
   The juicy pulp of longan has a sweet, very aromatic, nephelium-like taste with a distinctive flavor. The color of the strong, inedible outer shell of the fruit ranges from mottled yellowish to reddish. Like the Chinese lychee, the longan fruit contains a hard dark red or black seed.
   Materials provided by the Wikipedia project - the free encyclopedia.
   but there is also a dragon fruit - this is completely different this is such a cactus, it is in many houses, mainly in our houses it blooms red, but there is also pink and white and the fruit is called PAPAYA

Longan: growing at home from a bone

Today, such exotic as longan (the Chinese name for "dragon's eye") can be tasted not only while traveling in eastern countries, but also here - it appears more and more often in large supermarkets.

The fruit has many beneficial properties: it cleanses and rejuvenates the body, strengthens the immune and cardiovascular system, and improves brain function. Having tasted the "dragon's eye" once, they want to feast on again and again. For more details, see the article about longan.

And what to do with the bone? For those who like to acquire green "exotics" it will not be difficult at all to grow a longan at home - it looks very decorative, and with persistent efforts, there is hope to wait for the harvest.

Accustomed to the mild subtropical climate, the plant is absolutely not capricious and easily becomes indoor.

What you need to know before boarding

The most convenient way to grow the "dragon's eye" is from the bone. Seed germination is highespecially considering the following points:

Fully ripe fruit seeds germinate better than unripe fruit. Therefore, it is recommended to take "planting material" from fruits purchased directly from Thailand or other Asian countries. Longan is supplied to our stores "greenish", therefore, the chances that the seed will sprout are much less.

Sometimes seeds from under-ripe fruits still germinate, but they take more time to do so. You should not give up, it is important to continue watering for at least two weeks.

It is not always possible to germinate the nucleoli of fruits purchased at the beginning of summer., our labor can be wasted. The reason is the same: the longan season is just beginning and it does not have time to fully mature.

Seed germination directly depends on their freshness. If, when we eat the "dragon's eye", it is possible to immediately stick the bone into the ground - this option is optimal.

It is even allowed to "throw" the future longan to another subtropical plant (it is important that the soil composition is suitable), and then dive the shoots.

Being away from home, we are unlikely to be able to plant a bone right away.

The algorithm of actions in this situation is as follows:

• we clean the core from the remnants of the pulp and dry it during the day in the open air, avoiding direct sunlight;
• we carefully wipe it with a cloth so that there is no mold;
• wrap in several layers of napkins and pack in foil;
• put in a box and close tightly.

In this form the bone can last up to 2 weeks and we will deliver it to the place of "residence" without any problems.

A dried seed that has been left outside the fruit for a long time will not germinate.

How to properly prepare a bone

Experienced growers recommend planting longan seed without any preliminary preparation, as soon as it is extracted from the fruit. To speed up germination, the bone is placed in water at room temperature for 3 days, and then kept in the refrigerator for another 2 days.

There is also another way. A plant growth stimulator is added to warm water and the longan kernels are left in solution for 6 to 8 hours. After that, you can land.

However, not everyone has the patience and is able to withstand the torment of the unknown, waiting for the seed to sprout. It is much easier to constantly monitor the process, carrying out germination without soil. It is desirable that we have at least 5 seeds in our arsenal.

Seed germination:

1. After enjoying the fruits of the longan, we extract the nucleoli from them, put them on a paper napkin and leave them for 1 - 2 days.
2. Next, wrap the seeds in a damp cotton cloth, lay out the resulting "packages" on a tray and place them in a plastic bag. It is not worth using cling film as a greenhouse, since periodically the planting material will have to be moistened.
3. The tray is placed in a warm place. Usually the roots hatch after 7-14 days. It is very important that the seeds are constantly in a humid environment, therefore, the cloth, as it dries, is sprayed from a spray bottle.

To make longan take a good start

Like other inhabitants of the subtropics, the Dimocarpus longan tree needs warmth and high humidity... It is especially important to provide comfortable conditions for young, still fragile shoots.

To begin with, let's put our bone in the ground correctly:

1. Find a small light speck on the dark seed. So that the root and stem grow in the right direction, this "mark" should be on the side when landing.
2. We spread the bottom of the pot with a thick layer of drainage: small pebbles plus river sand, and then fill in a suitable soil. It is best to purchase a ready-made potting mix for exotic plants..

   If we intend to plant several seeds in one container, it should not be too small, since there is a possibility of a large number of seedlings. They need space to grow and get stronger.

3. We place the seed shallowly - one and a half its height, sprinkle with a thin layer of earth and be sure to water abundantly... You can lightly rub the surface with sandpaper before planting or scratch it with a knife - it will be easier for the sprouts to break through.
4. The room temperature must be at least 24 ° C. In winter, you can place the seed pot on the shelf above the radiator.
5. Longan does not like drafts very much. Therefore, the container with seeds is covered with a mini-greenhouse made of polyethylene or a plastic cup.

   Every day, the impromptu "greenhouse" is cleaned for a short time to provide fresh air.

6. Longan shoots resemble a small loop, light green, almost white. Inexperienced gardeners often mistake the stem for a root that has not sprouted correctly and may even try to remedy the situation. This is by no means necessary. In a few days, the "loop" will straighten and the first two leaves will appear on its crown.

How to care for seedlings

Longan sprouts are very vulnerable. It is undesirable to dive them too early, so as not to damage the roots and weaken the seedlings. If possible, it is better to immediately plant the seeds in separate, small-sized containers.

The first two weeks, the seedlings are actively growing. However, when they reach a height of about 15 cm, they slow down, which can cause anxiety. The owners begin to actively "feed" the plant, but in fact, this "behavior" is quite normal.

During this period, the root system is formed and strengthened.

What young plants definitely need:

• long-term lighting, at least 12 hours a day;
• regular watering and spraying;
• warmly;
• top dressing;
• a spacious pot, where there will be no tightly powerful and branched roots.

Most Longan at any age afraid of drafts and dry air... He feels good both in the southeast and southwest windows, where there is a lot of sunshine.

However, you need to make sure that the plant is not near the balcony or in the area of ​​the open sash.

It is recommended for seedlings to make a greenhouse - this is the best protection against all the troubles associated with the climate of our apartments, unlike the subtropics.

The most comfortable temperature for a longan during the growth period is 22 - 25 ° C. If the room is cooler, it is better to put a special infrared mat under the exotic pot.

Water the plant as the soil dries. It is also necessary to regularly spray the leaves. The quality of the water requires special attention. Ideally, it should be purified, free of chlorine, for example, well or rainwater.

During the cold season, when there is not enough natural light, the plant is placed under a fluorescent or LED lamp... Backlighting is best done both in the morning and in the evening.

Longan must be fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, especially during the period of intensive development. However, it is important to observe the measure and not over-stimulate the plant, so as not to get the opposite effect.

"Adult" longan: how to grow it and wait for the harvest

The house tree needs to form a beautiful crown. Pruningas in the case of lychee, better to produce after a yearwhen the plant gets stronger. In the future, it is necessary to provide uniform illumination so that the branches grow symmetrically.

Watering as the topsoil dries up and spraying the leaves is still an important factor in longan wellbeing. It is not difficult to notice that he does not have enough water - the tree begins to shed its leaves. But overflow is not needed either: the roots will begin to rot.

If brown spots appear along the edges of the leaves, most likely the plant is already suffering from excess moisture. In this case, it is necessary to loosen the soil well in order to provide air access to the deep layers and thereby dry them out.

You do not need to plant grown trees immediately in a spacious pot. There is a danger of flooding them. It is more correct to transplant longan as it grows. If the root is very long, it should be pinned.

The plant is "fed" regularly, throughout its life. However, the "dragon's eye" has a special period that requires completely different conditions of detention.

This is the time from the end of November to March, when he rests and gains strength before active growth, and in nature, flowering and fruiting.

Dormant period

Like lychee, starting in late autumn, Longan has a period of rest for three months... At this time it is necessary:

1. Reduce the room temperature to 14 - 16 ° C. Of course, this is not always possible, but it will not be difficult to cover the battery in the place where the longan stands.

   In no case should you open windows for ventilation in winter without first removing the capricious inhabitant of the subtropics from the window sill. Sometimes one breath of cold air is enough for a robust-looking, luxurious plant to die.

2. Longan loves water, but not during rest periods. If in the summer it is even allowed to "fill in" a little, in the winter the soil condition must be monitored very carefully. Since the plant "drinks" much less, with an excess of moisture, there is a high probability of root rot.
3. In no case should the longan be deprived of additional lighting, otherwise it will not be able to get stronger for the spring revival.
4. Top dressing during the dormant period needs minimal.

Pests

The three main enemies of the subtropical "exotic":

• scabbard
• mealybug
• spider mite

The last pest is well protected by abundant spraying of the leaves with warm water.

The scabbard, the appearance of which on the plant is evidenced by the numerous brownish tubercles, is best simply washed off with soapy water. And then use insecticides for further prevention.

The mealybug, which leaves characteristic sweet dew on the branches and leaves, is similarly destroyed. To prevent this pest from appearing at all, the plant must not be overdried.

Harvest

So, we found out if it is possible to plant a longan at home and how difficult it is to care for it. But the main question remains open: will the tree give a harvest? Unfortunately, there can be disappointment for amateur gardeners.

Yes, with careful care and compliance with all the necessary conditions, at 4-7 years of age, longan blooms and gives the first ovary... There will be few fruits on it, although their number directly depends on the size of the plant.

In the southern regions, where the climate is close to subtropical, for example, on the Black Sea coast of Russia, longan can be grown in large tubs, exposed to the open air in summer. Here, the opportunity to achieve a harvest is much higher.

If the plant is at home all year round, it is most likely should be perceived as decorative, not fruit... This is the main difference between Longan and its closest relative, the lychee. The Chinese plum is quite capable of making us happy with the harvest in an ordinary city apartment.

Longan, moreover, is less resistant to unusual weather conditions and rarely survives to fruiting.

Does it mean that we need to give up and get away from the idea of ​​growing it? Of course not. After all, the very process of emerging from the stone of a unique exotic tree is fascinating and can bring a lot of positive emotions.

Therefore, we will definitely try. First, the fruit itself tastes, and then it is grown from the seed. Good luck with your experiments!

This video contains various photos of the growing process:

Longan, or

page "China" Chinese cuisine "" Eyes of the dragon ", or longan: useful exotic that you can try to grow at home

Delicious "dragon eyes" - longyan 龙眼 are sold in China. The botanical name of the plant is longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.

, or Euphoria longana Lamk.). It belongs to the family Sapindaceae... Many tourists visiting the countries of Southeast Asia taste the fruits of its related plants such as rambutan, lychee and pitbata. When gathered in bunches, longan balls look like nuts with a thin cinnamon-colored skin.

Its color ranges from yellow to reddish brown. The inedible hard peel is easy to crack and peel off. Inside is a seed - a shiny bone that is enveloped by a white pulp, arillus.

It is because of this vitreous layer that people willingly buy "dragon eyes", which are considered tasty and healthy.

Dragon eyes, or longan

How is longan eaten?

Longan fruits in China are sold in huge supermarkets, tiny shops, markets and street vendors.

The counters display small wicker baskets with "dragon eyes" or boxes (pallets), from which people pick the fruits themselves and put them in plastic bags.

They do this carefully, freeing the bunches from the twigs and choosing the largest and ripe "nuts". Throw away rotten or cracked skin. Longan's sales season in Beijing runs from summer to autumn.

The white, vitreous flesh is called arillus, or roofing, seed-bearing. This fleshy formation around the dark seed is juicy, tasty, sweet, and aromatic. It is best to store longan fruits in a cool place.

They can stay in the refrigerator for about a week (depending on the degree of ripeness). At the beginning of summer on sale you can stumble upon unripe "eyes", which are better not to eat right away, but to hold for some time at room temperature.

In the fall, you are more likely to buy overripe fruits that are poorly stored and quickly sour.

The fruits are eaten raw. I saw how the Chinese are happy to suck the pulp instead of candy. Desserts, sweet soups and a variety of drinks are prepared from "dragon eyes". In addition, they are dried and canned. The fruits are also used in confectionery production.

Dragon Eyes, or Longan

How are dragon eyes useful?

Longan fruits are rich in vitamins. In addition, they contain organic acids, iron salts, calcium and phosphorus. In scientific publications, there is information about the antioxidant properties of pulp. Chinese doctors recommend longan to protect liver cells and to improve overall tone and performance.

"Dragon's eyes" improve vision, normalize sleep.

They are considered an excellent natural remedy for reducing anxiety levels, soothing anxiety and related problems (for example, rapid heart rate - tachycardia).

It is also an antioxidant. Cosmetologists advise women to feast on the fruits of longan more often. They are very good for the skin. They say that even crow's feet are smoothed.

A bit of botany

Longan is cultivated in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. In the wild, this tall, spreading evergreen tree is rare. Less vigorous evergreen trees are cultivated, with a height of 10 to 20 meters. There are varieties adapted to the climate of a particular region. China is doing a lot of breeding work, which exports planting material to neighboring countries.

Growing longan indoors

Indoor plant lovers are unlikely to deny themselves the opportunity to plant a longan seed (seed) in the ground and grow a beautiful formed exotic tree at home. In order for the seed not to dry out and shrink, it must be lowered into the ground as soon as possible.

If this is not possible, then you can slightly dry the kernel of the fruit, and then wipe its surface with a soft cloth to avoid mold. After that, wrap in foil or put in a small box, previously wrapped in paper napkins.

The germination rate of fresh seeds is very high.

At landing the seed is buried 2/3 (lightly sprinkled with soil) or placed shallow in the ground. The white spot should remain on the side.

This will allow the thick root to immediately go straight down (after 4 - 10 days), and the sprout to rise up without the slightest curvature (after 6 - 12 days from the moment of planting).

It happens that during germination, a young sprout is confused with a root that has lost its direction. However, soon leaves appear on the "spine", and it becomes clear to everyone that this is an escape.

I was told that germination fruits bought at the very beginning of the season are much lower. Perhaps they do not have time to mature.

Sometimes seeds that have been extracted from fruits acquired far from the country in which the tree grows and bears fruit also germinate more slowly.

Most likely, “dragon eyes”, torn off immature, are on sale so that they do not deteriorate during transportation.

A cold windowsill is not the best place to germinate longan seeds. The temperature should be around 24 - 25 ° C. Great if bottom heating is possible. A stand placed on a warm battery will do.

Seeds germinate quickly and amicably. Especially when the casing has been carefully prepared with sandpaper or slightly scratched with a sharp knife. You can do without it. The seedlings are large and "gluttonous".

It is better to plant them in such a deep glass or pot in which they can develop without picking before the first transfer to a larger container.

It is desirable that at first the seedling be covered with a transparent jar or grow up in a room greenhouse.

When growing, it is important to pay attention to regularity of watering... Drying out of the soil (like that of lychee seedlings) can end in failure. Minimum loss of leaves.

Longan is not only a thermophilic, but also a moisture-loving plant. The ratio of air temperature, soil and humidity is also important. Good is necessary lighting, at least a place on a light windowsill.

Any drafts in the cold season are deadly.

Longan in room conditions can be affected by mealybugs and scale insects. The best way to prevent spider mites is to spray frequently with warm water. The tree formed by pruning begins to bear fruit as early as 4-7 years.

But few people manage to wait for the harvest.

This exotic plant never managed to adapt to irregular watering, icy air from an open window on a frosty winter day and other accidents that are difficult to avoid in everyday life.

How to grow longan at home

In recent years, the people of the post-Soviet space have greatly enriched their knowledge (and skills!) In cooking, and also discovered many different previously unfamiliar products. However, some still keep their secrets, which it would be nice to reveal.

These riddles include fruits from the Sapindova family: pulasan, longan, lychee, aki, rambutan, corlan and a funny sounding mammonchillo.

The thing is that it is almost impossible to find such fruits in the free sale, in the recipes according to which even exotic dishes are prepared, these fruits are rarely used, so only people who have traveled to Asia can tell about them.

Meanwhile, there is an opportunity to make an interesting experiment: it is relatively easy to grow the same longan at home, but then you can try this fruit yourself and brag to your friends.

In fact, this is the name of a tree that grows, and almost everywhere, in Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam. In Asian countries, it is called Lam Yai.

And in translation from Chinese the name is translated as "dragon's eye".

The fruits growing on it have a dense but thin skin; it protects the fruit well from infections and insects, but at the same time it is easily peeled off, which is an additional bonus for fruit consumers.

In the early years, Longan was grown almost commercially by Indians and Sri Lankans. Then it gradually spread to nearby countries. Where longan can be bought, it is sold in bunches. Moreover, the most delicious is the one that not only from the branch, but has already lain a little in a warehouse or in a store.

Useful exotic

Why is it proposed to grow longan at home? This is just a storehouse of positive qualities. Women simply have to fall in love with him: the fruit has a magical effect on the skin.

At the same time, it also stops general aging, contains a lot of necessary microelements and vitamins and contains compounds that perfectly protect the liver from the chemicals and toxins it processes. Longan is also invaluable for those who are losing weight: no fats, no proteins.

Simply by eating this fruit, you can get rid of dizziness and fatigue, relieve stress and nervous tension, improve sleep and get rid of fever. All these reasons are quite conducive to attempts to cultivate longan at home.

How to choose the right and most beneficially eat longan

If you managed to find a place where they sell this wonderful product - remember it! At least until you figure out how to grow your own longan. However, remember that you and the seller have different interests, and you need to look after yours.

Choose the fruit correctly, that is, first of all, reject clusters, on the berries of which there are cracks.

It is advisable that you are allowed to taste one berry, since depending on where the longan was grown, it can be too sour or too sweet.

If you want to enjoy the gifts of Asian nature longer - keep the fruits in the refrigerator. This way they won't go bad for almost a week. In the warmth (and not in summer), three days is the limit.

Longan can be eaten fresh as a stand-alone product - this is the most popular Thai way. But it is especially good with coconut milk and rice (always sticky). Alternatively, boil dried longan with sugar and combine with ice. The drink refreshes, quenches thirst well and awakens appetite.

It is also good with ice cream and salads; the filling for pancakes and pies is also wonderful. Longan is simply irreplaceable in sauces (especially fish). And for medical purposes, it is used for diarrhea - it stops diarrhea almost instantly, and even disinfects the intestines.

How to Enrich Your Home Garden: Bone Care

It is almost impossible to buy the seeds of this tree; and if you find them, the price will obviously not please.

So if you come across a fruit in a supermarket, think about it: shouldn't you grow a longan from a bone? It's not very difficult, but very entertaining.

The only "ambush": fruiting will have to wait eight years (at least). Or you will have to look for an already fruiting tree and graft a petiole from it.

So, let's imagine that you managed to find (buy, steal, exchange) a tree bone, from which a longan will subsequently grow. Growing at home begins with proper handling of the planting material.

That is, the bone must be thoroughly rinsed, the un-eaten fruit residues must be cleaned off, a pot with moistened earth must be prepared and the bone must be pressed into it. This should be done not very deeply and not too superficially - about 4 centimeters (one and a half "growth" of the bone).

The pot is wrapped in plastic wrap, which is removed every day for ventilation; the soil is kept moist. The bone can hatch from a week to four.

You can speed up this process. This recommendation is especially good if, in your opinion, the fruit has been stored in a store or in a warehouse for a long time. In order for a longan, grown at home, to ascend successfully, it is worth soaking the bone for about three days, and then putting it in the refrigerator for five days.

How to protect sprouts

Not less than 2 weeks later, seedlings will appear. They will grow rapidly for the same amount of time, and then the growth will slow down significantly. By that time, the sprout will be 15 centimeters long.

Do not worry about stopping growth - this is a plant that rises slowly. However, this applies to all stone fruits. Console yourself with the thought that you have already got hold of a longan in your home greenhouse.

Growing this plant at home in the future does not differ much from most others.

If fruits have already appeared

It will take several years to wait, so be patient. However, sooner or later this moment will come, and you need to be prepared for the correct handling of fruits. The best solution would be to dry them.

All the beneficial properties and taste of the fruit are preserved, and they can be used after many years.

At the same time, the option of harvesting dried fruits that are familiar to us will not work here: first you have to cook the fruits, and only then dry them - in the oven or naturally (as circumstances permit).

In short, if you have the opportunity and you are not against the "apartment" garden work, try to grow longan. The photo shows well that even without fruit, it is quite capable of decorating your collection of indoor plants.

Growing longan at home from a bone

Indoor garden owners are increasingly trying their hand at growing exotic trees. What you can not find on their windowsills - feijoa, avocado, passion fruit, papaya, dates, kiwi, tangerines, grapefruits, pomegranates, kumquats.

Those who like to solve non-trivial problems should pay attention to longan, a plant from the Sapindov family, whose representatives have not yet gained great popularity among flower growers.

For many of them, breeding them is simply not available, since the fruits of these crops, from which seeds can be removed for planting, are difficult to get.

Botanical reference

The Chinese name for Longan fruit sounds poetic but intimidating. However, tourists do not take courage, and they are happy to feast on the "eyes of the dragon" (longyan). For the population of Southeast Asia - China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand - this fruit is a familiar and necessary part of the diet, like its closest relatives: lychee, pets, rambutan.

It ripens on evergreen trees with a spreading crown. Uncultivated Longan varieties grow very tall. But in the wild, they are rarely seen.

In nurseries and private gardens, shorter varieties are cultivated, representatives of which reach a height of 10-20 m. Among them there are also those that are intended for cultivation in a specific region.

Chinese breeders are most actively working on the development of new varieties of culture. Thanks to their efforts, the seedlings of this fruit tree are exported to other countries.

Fruits on a longan grow medium-sized, they have a rounded shape and are collected in bunches. Outwardly, the fruit resembles a nut. It is covered with a thin but dense rind, colored dark yellow or reddish brown.

It is unsuitable for food, but it will not be difficult to free the fruit from it: the shell quickly bursts, exposing the edible glassy pulp - arillus. It is also called roofing and seeding. It is white, juicy and has a special aroma.

A large and shiny dark bone is hidden under the sweet pulp.

Store the fruit in the refrigerator, where it can stay fresh for a week, but only if not overripe. The purchase of longan fruit must be approached carefully. If they are immature, and at the beginning of summer it is these berries that are most often sold, they should not be eaten.

To fully enjoy their unusual taste, the fruit is allowed to lie down for a couple of days at room temperature. With the arrival of autumn, the risk of acquiring overripe fruits increases.

It is better to eat them right away, since they are not stored for a long time, almost immediately turning sour.

Seed preparation

When a fruit bought in a store or brought from a vacation is eaten, its seed is planted in a pot. It will not be difficult to grow a stately tree out of it, attracting admiring, and somewhere envious glances of guests at home.

Experienced growers advise placing the seed in a nutritious soil immediately after it has been peeled from the pulp. The germination rate of fresh crop seeds is much higher.

When the seeds lie down a little, they shrink and dry out, and growing a tree from them becomes more difficult or even impossible.

If you can't put fresh seed in the pot, you should try to save it for planting.

• First, the seed is slightly dried.
• Wipe the shell with a soft cloth to prevent mold.
• Wrap in foil or paper napkin.
• They are placed in a small box, where they are kept until disembarkation for a maximum of 2 weeks.

The seeds prepared in this way germinate well. There is a little secret, following which will allow fresh seeds to sprout faster. The bone is kept in water for 3 days, and then placed in the refrigerator. It is planted after 5 days.

Even if the fruit in which it was was not the first freshness and was stored for a long time before purchasing, such processing will help the sprout to hatch. They also practice soaking the seeds before planting. After adding a growth stimulant to warm water, bones are placed in it.

After 6-8 hours, they are removed from the solution and placed in the ground.

Some growers prefer to plant already germinated tree seeds. After being removed from the fruit and peeled, they are dried for 1-2 days by placing them on a paper napkin. Then the bone is wrapped with a piece of wet cotton cloth.

The package with planting material is placed on a pallet, which is placed in a plastic bag. It remains only to wait for the appearance of the root. It needs warmth and constant moisture to germinate. Therefore, the fabric is periodically moistened by spraying from a spray bottle.

After 1-2 weeks, a root will appear from the bone, then it can be planted in a pot.

In order for an attempt to get an exotic tree at home to end successfully, it is important to choose the right fruit from which the seed is taken.

If it was bought in early summer, the chances of pecking the sprout are low, because the fruit did not have time to fully ripen. It has been noticed that seeds obtained from fruits that are sold far from their homeland sometimes germinate slowly.

The explanation is simple.To prevent the fruit from spoiling during long-term transportation, they are picked unripe.

Landing features

There is a small speck of white on the longan bone. When landing, it should look to the side. If the seed is positioned correctly, then 4-10 days after being placed in the ground, its powerful root will unhindered downward. The sprout will appear from the ground after 6-12 days.

Sometimes you have to wait a month. He will be naked and completely straight. Many growers get scared when it appears, thinking that they put the seed in the soil incorrectly and instead of escaping from it the root appeared. But soon leaves will form on the sprout, and all doubts will dispel.

Longan needs a loose and fertile soil with a pH of 5-6. It is better to purchase it ready-made. A nutritious substrate for exotic plants is suitable for the future tree. The bottom of the pot is covered with a thick drainage layer of small stones and coarse sand. Longan does not need a deep landing.

At home, the bones are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, immersed in it for two-thirds of the length. They need warmth to germinate. The air in the room should be warmed up to 24-25˚C. It would be even better to provide the seeds with additional heating of the soil from below. The pot can be placed on a stand, and the pot itself can be placed on a warm radiator.

From above it is tightened with plastic wrap, which is briefly removed daily to ventilate the mini-greenhouse. The soil in the pot must be moist.

Advice

The germination process can be facilitated and accelerated for the seeds. To do this, before planting, their shell must be lightly rubbed with sandpaper or carefully scratched with a sharp knife. But even without such preparation, the fruit gives quick and friendly shoots.

Young plants are large, with thick roots. Longan loves soil rich in nutrients, so you will have to feed the seedlings often. For planting seeds, it is better to take separate containers - deep and wide cups or pots.

They will develop well in them, and they will not need a pick, as a result of which not all plants are accepted. At first, young longans are very vulnerable, so at home it is better to place the seedlings immediately under a transparent jar or in a mini-greenhouse.

When the seedlings grow up and get stronger, they are transplanted into a wider and deeper pot, carefully rolling over, while trying not to damage the root system.

Their development has its own characteristics. At first, it is characterized by intense growth. But after 2 weeks, when the height of the seedlings is about 15 cm, it will almost stop. After that, they will grow slowly, but this is normal.

For development, seedlings need a long daylight hours (12 hours). If it gets dark early, the lack of light is compensated for the plants artificially using a lamp.

The soil in the pots must be kept moist at all times, and the foliage of the seedlings is regularly sprayed.

Tree care

Longan is unpretentious. Breeding it does not require specific knowledge and skills from the owner of the indoor garden. But growing it on the windowsill will be successful only if the tree is provided with 4 conditions:

• good lighting;
• constant warmth;
• high soil moisture;
• deep pot.

Water it regularly, preventing even the slightest drying out of the soil. At best, it will end with the tree remaining naked, throwing off all the leaves, at worst, it will die. Do not be afraid to overflow the plant.

Excess moisture will definitely not harm him. The window sill on which the longan pot stands should be light. With a lack of sunlight, not a single fruit will ripen on its branches. Longan also needs regular feeding.

Organo-mineral compositions are suitable for him.

Winter for a tree is a dormant period when it falls asleep, accumulating strength for fruiting. It lasts 3 months. Therefore, at the end of autumn, the tree begins to be watered less often. During this period, the temperature is most comfortable for him in the range of 14-16˚C.The lighting level is left unchanged.

Longan needs warmth throughout its life cycle. Even mature trees are afraid of cold winds and drafts. In the wild, these seemingly invulnerable giants die when temperatures drop to -2˚C.

This greatly complicates the cultivation of the culture at home, excluding any ventilation in the autumn-winter period.

In the indoor garden, longan can suffer from pests:

• mealybug;
• scabbards;
• spider mite.

To prevent them from destroying the tree, you need to periodically carefully examine its leaves. Having found pests, they are fought with the help of special preparations. For preventive purposes, the crown of trees is sprayed with warm water.

If repeated frequently, this simple procedure will protect longans from spider mite infestations. Formative pruning gives the tree a beautiful and well-groomed look. It tolerates it well. The first ovaries on a Longan are formed in the 4-7 year of his life.

But not every owner succeeds in picking ripe fruit from its branches.

The exotic beauty of Longan, along with its relative unpretentiousness, captivates many growers. But its fruits are also incredibly beneficial.

They are rich in vitamins and carbohydrates, contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, as well as riboflavin, which provides the body with energy and helps to cope with stress and intense physical activity.

These nondescript balls have high antioxidant properties, helping to maintain youth and health.

Fruits ripened on homemade longan will relieve fatigue, eliminate dizziness, invigorate, and increase vitality. It is the best natural remedy for general weakness and pallor. And the absence of fats in them allows you to safely include the fruits of the tree in the diet, even for those who are on a low-calorie diet. For the sake of all this, it is worth trying to grow a longan in an indoor garden.

Longan: growing at home

The evergreen tropical Longan tree grows in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Its juicy, sweet fruit tastes somewhat like grapes. The whitish transparent pulp with a black or red bone inside in the section resembles a dragon's eye and this is how the name of the fruit is translated from Chinese.

Longan: description and useful properties

The longan fruit is small in size and resembles a small potato. Its juicy flesh is covered with a thin, inedible rind that is easy to clean with your hands. The pulp has a pleasant, unobtrusive grapefruit aroma.

The fruits contain less than 1% of proteins, about 18% of carbohydrates, as well as such useful substances:

• calcium;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• iron;
• manganese;
• zinc;
• copper;
• vitamins C, B1, B2, B3;
• bioacids.

Eating longan is beneficial for skin health and youthfulness.

The fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine because it is believed that when dried, it has a calming effect on the human nervous system.

• Fresh fruits are eaten to raise tone, relieve fatigue, dizziness and heart palpitations.
• Phenols are found in the pulp of longan, which have a healing effect on liver cells, reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy on the body.
• The fruits have anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. It is useful to eat them for gastrointestinal disorders, blurred vision and fever.

In China, not only the pulp of the fruit is considered healing, but also the seeds, leaves and flowers of the longan.

The seeds, according to traditional healers, can absorb snake venom if applied to the site of the bite. In a crushed form, they are used to reduce perspiration and as a hemostatic agent.

The nuances of growing at home

When grown in an apartment, Longan rarely bears fruit and is rather capricious.This thermophilic plant does not tolerate air temperatures below -2 ° C, therefore, it cannot be grown on a personal plot in central Russia.

Tubs with a plant in the summer are taken out to an open loggia or to a garden, since longan is useful for fresh air and an abundance of sun. In winter, it must be protected from drafts and cold.

The plant does not tolerate dry land at all and consumes water in large quantities. Care must be taken to ensure that there is good drainage in the planting tub. Top dressing is added in the form of granules or liquid. They can be applied all year round, since the plant does not have a dormant period. In winter, longan stops growing a little, but does not shed leaves.

Planting material and planting dates

For planting, use the bones of a ripe longan. They have 100% germination when taken from fresh, ripe fruit. It should be noted that the shelf life of ripe fruits does not exceed 5 - 6 days, so unripe fruits are picked for export. And their seeds may not germinate well or not at all.

It is advisable to buy longan for seeds in those countries where it is cultivated.

Longan can also be grown from cuttings and seedlings. Various varieties and varieties are sold in China. Planting dates in indoor conditions are not tied to the season, but seedlings planted in spring develop best.

Growing soil and container

The plant has no special requirements for the soil. For its normal development, a universal soil with neutral acidity is suitable.

A volumetric container is needed for growing, since the tree has a large, well-developed root system.

Longan is a plant that needs an annual transplant, during which the planting capacity increases as the roots grow.

After watering, the soil must be loosened so that it has good permeability, is light and fertile.

The seeds are planted in small containers with universal soil or in peat tablets. It is advisable to place each seed in a separate planting container. This is not difficult to do, since the seeds are quite large.

When planting, the seed is placed in the ground with a light spot to the side and buried in moist soil by 1 cm. You can cover the seed with a transparent jar until a sprout appears, but this is not necessary.

Crops and seedlings care

Seedlings after planting the seed in the soil appear rather quickly, within a week.

1. They need an air temperature of about + 24 ° C.
2. When the seeds hatch, the sprouts will need bright lighting. You can use a round-the-clock illumination with a fluorescent lamp in the first decade of seedling development. On short winter days, they must be highlighted so that the plants grow strong and do not stretch out.
3. Watered often with filtered water at room temperature. Saplings, like adult plants, are very fond of moisture, and if it is lacking, they stop developing, they can shed their foliage and die.
4. The soil must be constantly moist.
5. They also maintain high air humidity by spraying the leaves of the seedling with a spray bottle.

Picking

It is advisable to plant longan seeds in separate deep glasses, because these exotics grow quickly. In this case, the dive can not be done, and when the seedling grows up, it is simply moved into a large planting container, without destroying the earthen coma.

Longan tree care at home

In indoor conditions, the plant suffers especially from drying out of the soil in the pot, poor lighting and drafts. But with skillful longan care, a pretty evergreen tree with large leaves can grow.

For the plant, it is necessary to allocate a place at the lightest window, often spray, water and fertilize with dressings for decorative deciduous indoor crops.

It is advisable to alternate mineral and organic supplements. In warm weather, the intensity of dressing is the same as that of most indoor plants - 2 times a month.

Fruiting period

The fruiting period begins at the 3rd or 7th year of the tree's life. In indoor conditions, the tree does not reach large crown sizes due to the limited space for root growth. The height of an adult plant grown in a room is about 2 meters. In nature, however, these trees reach more than 10 meters in height.

Under indoor conditions, it is difficult to achieve longan fruiting; there is no available information about the fruits obtained by someone. In southern regions with a warm tropical climate, the tree bears fruit successfully in the garden. The fruits appear in large clusters, they are harvested in summer.

What to do if longan leaves turn black

At home, longan can be attacked by insect pests, like other indoor plants. Especially carefully you need to observe the plant in the summer, when it stands outdoors in the garden or on the loggia.

Dry air encourages spider mites to multiply. The appearance of an insect on a plant can be detected by a thin cobweb entangling the leaves.

Simply spraying the leaves with water does not fix the problem; acaricides must be used. Fitoverm is a relatively safe preparation with acaricidal and insecticidal action.

It helps to kill not only spider mites, but also scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and thrips.

Lovers of exotic plants will be interested in growing a healthy fruit from a small seed. The fruiting of an indoor tree will be a real triumph, but even if this does not happen, its appearance will not disappoint amateur flower growers. The large green leaves make Longan quite attractive to grow at home.