How to pinch a tangerine tree at home: pruning and shaping rules

The light smell of tangerines creates a mood, reminds of childhood, brings the New Year home. By growing this plant, unusual for the Middle Strip, you can bathe in a gentle cloud of delicate aroma all the time, creating a unique aura of comfort and well-being. However, like all citrus fruits, it requires attention and care. It is important to know the features of watering, how to pinch, prune a tangerine tree, when to transplant.

Why pinch tangerines?

On window sills, in rooms, on the veranda, single-stemmed crops often, instead of comfort, create a feeling of loneliness.Sometimes they just don't have enough space. Considering that a full-fledged tree growing on the southern plantations of the world can reach four meters in height, at home they try to limit the growth of its length.

Indoor tangerines are best formed as low bushes that form beautiful crowns. This will help the plant to develop without focusing strength in one direction, make it look attractive, and free it from dried “bald” branches.

Trim the tips of the tops, remove twigs growing inward, thin out very dense areas, experienced gardeners also recommend for the normal formation of ovaries, and then fruit ripening.

Superfluous and early buds also try to pinch so that the plant can develop evenly, giving each of its particles vitality and energy.

Required tools

Before proceeding with the operation, it is better to prepare and disinfect the instruments in advance.

Select pruning shears, pruning shears or a sharp budding knife.

The important components of the process include means for treating an open wound of a plant (garden var, tree resin, paint on natural drying oil).

Tangerine pruning timing

It is advisable to prune at home in late February, early March, when the plant is actively growing and developing.

However, the procedure is sometimes carried out in the fall. At the same time, artificial lighting is added as much as possible.

The first pinching is done when the tangerine releases the fourth, fifth or sixth leaf. At this moment, the tree is already reaching twenty to forty centimeters.

On each new branch, after the appearance of the fourth leaflet, the tips are removed.

Krona is formed during the first three or four years. Further, the process continues, but not so often.

Tangerine pruning technology

After the appearance of the fourth leaf, the owner of room exotics, while shaping the crown, tries to carefully remove, cutting off above the bud, part of the branch stretching upwards. The wound is treated with garden pitch or wood resin, covered with plastic wrap or tape. Let the cut heal. As a rule, the plant is not touched for three to four weeks. The film is then removed.

Together with the extra length, strong shoots are removed from the tree, growing from the very root, taking away strength from the rest of the plant.

Branches pointing inwards or strongly inclined to the side or down are also tried to be cut so that the tangerine does not look neglected.

A month later, new shoots are carefully examined. Weak branches are removed. Stronger ones are left for the plant to develop further correctly.

To open or close the crown (with heavily spreading branches) use a cut on a bud, taking into account the rule for choosing an external or internal bud, respectively.

The main trunk is subjected to pinching, pruning. Three or four branches are left from the side branches.

Further care

In summer, the tangerine is taken out to the veranda, trying to give him the opportunity to bask in the gentle rays of the sun. Watering is done carefully so that drops do not fall on the flowers, twice a day. Periodically add top dressing.

In the colder, winter period, the plant is transferred to a room with a temperature of twelve to sixteen degrees, allowing it to rest. This is the dormant time for the tree. Water it twice a week. Feeding is not done.

As the tangerine grows, it is transplanted, giving it a looser pot that matches the size. This is done by the transfer method. If transplantation is not possible, two-thirds of the soil is renewed.

First year plants sometimes bud. They are carefully removed so as not to waste the strength of the tree. If necessary, some of the ovaries are left.

Initially, the tangerine tree is positioned in such a way that it receives enough light, but cannot be burned and shed leaves.

Pinching the ends of the shoots, pruning the upper part of the tangerine, together with watering and fertilizing appropriate for the season, allow you to create a beautiful strong tree-bush that pleases not only the eyes turned to it, but also brings delicious fragrant fruits .

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