Mango is a delicious exotic fruit that can be found on the shelves of our stores. The plant is native to the tropics, where the weather is hot and humid all year round. Many beneficial substances are found in the fruits of the mango tree. The question is often asked: is it possible to grow a fruit at home? What conditions need to be created in an apartment in order to grow a healthy tree that will fully bear fruit?
Mango is grown from seed or from ready-made sprouts sold in specialized nurseries. The sprouts take root quickly enough. During adaptation, they do not require special attention. Mango can also be grown from the seed inside the ripe fruit. Success in germination can be achieved only if you follow certain rules.
Growing mangoes at home
The core of the eaten fruit is usually discarded immediately. There is even an unjustified theory that mango seeds contain poison. In fact, the bones are completely harmless, but they have no taste. It is more expedient to use them as planting material.
Even at home, a mango can grow from an ordinary seed. The condition and appearance of the fruit from which it is planned to extract the core should be almost perfect. Otherwise, the seed will not sprout, no matter how much effort the owner puts in. A well-ripe fruit is chosen. The pulp is determined by touch. In a ripe fruit, the pulp is easily separated from the stone. The fruit is first washed in cold water, then cut into pieces with a sharp knife.
On a note! Fresh fruit is recommended. The frozen seeds are practically useless. The low temperature disturbs the grain structure. Old fruits won't work either. Mango, which is brought from warm regions in early summer, is considered the best option.
The mango seed, separated from the pulp, is immediately planted. Do not leave it overnight or store it in the refrigerator.
The seed is peeled from the shell to speed up the germination process. In some cases, when the shell is not very hard, it is quite easy to split the bone. Under the shell is an oval-shaped grain that looks like a bean. The extracted "bean" is treated with fungicidal preparations in order to prevent the development of fungal infections and other pathogenic spores.
If several embryos are hiding inside, choose the one that has a more intense green color and an even shape. Then the probability of germination of the embryo will be higher. If you leave a weak embryo, the chances of seeing the culture germinate are very slim.
Sometimes the bone is so hard that it doesn't even lend itself to a knife. By subjecting the core to strong mechanical pressure, you risk crushing the inside. The mango pit is placed in a transparent container or jar of room temperature water. Keep the container in a bright place, for example, near a window. In order for the bone to soften, it is stored in this way for 2-3 weeks.The liquid is periodically drained because sediment accumulates at the bottom of the container. Otherwise, the water will start to sour.
While the seed is being prepared, a flowerpot is selected for the future plant. Under natural conditions, mango reaches up to 45 m. The planting capacity should be roomy. In the future, it will be possible to transplant less often, which will save the tree from unnecessary stress. Be sure to lay drainage material on the bottom. It is allowed to use special purchased granules or fine crushed stone. Due to the presence of a drainage layer, it is possible to avoid stagnation of water in the soil and, therefore, save the roots from decay. As a substrate, the usual universal soil of a neutral environment is suitable.
Measurement of soil acidity is carried out using a special device. Instead of a pH meter, disposable paper indicators are used, which, in contact with acidic soil, turn a certain color. Depending on the quality of the indicator used, the hue changes in 1-15 minutes.
Landing options
The stone is dipped into the soil in different ways. If both sides are practically the same, the "bean" is placed sideways. The seed, from which a tiny sprout breaks through, is immersed in the ground in a horizontal direction.
Sprinkle "beans" only a quarter, the rest should stick out above the surface. Finish planting with abundant watering. When the substrate absorbs moisture and settles, the soil is poured into the pot to the desired level.
To create optimal conditions for the growth of mangoes, cover the container with the bone with glass, plastic or a plastic bottle neck. Ventilate every 2-3 days, pushing the edges of the shelter for a few minutes. Air procedures will protect the seed from decay.
The pot is placed closer to the light. It is preferable to place containers near windows on the south side of the building. Good natural light will speed up the growth of the sprout. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks to germinate. The bottle or glass is removed. After that, the mango gradually begins to acquire leaves.
Sprouted saplings
Mango is obtained not only from the seed. Some gardeners purchase already germinated seedlings. They are grown in nurseries, where they are preliminarily grafted. If properly cared for, the mango produces tasty and full-bodied fruits. Wild specimens produce fruit that is bitter and unfit for food or do not bloom at all.
Germinated seedlings have an important advantage, namely, they are characterized by rapid growth, quickly adapt, and are resistant to a number of diseases that pose a danger to fruit trees.
Care advice
If you choose the right pot for growing, at the first stages there will be no need for a transplant. While the plant takes root and builds up its mass, it is better not to do transplantation measures. When the bush reaches the age of one year, the mango is planted in a permanent flowerpot. The wider and more spacious the flowerpot, the longer the plant can stay in one place. The culture does not tolerate transplantation. Often after that, the leaves lose their turgor pressure and fall off.
The plant fully develops if it is possible to create conditions for it that are characteristic of the regions from which this fruit originates. Mango does not tolerate overdried substrate and withers at low air humidity, therefore, the seedlings are provided with abundant moisture. In the room where the pot with perennials is located, maintain a humidity level of at least 70%. Frequent spraying of the leaves is not necessary. Excessive moisture can lead to mold formation, which threatens to spoil the whole fruit.
Mango grown on a windowsill is fertilized with vermicompost or other nitrogen-containing dressings. They are usually used to feed citrus fruits and persimmons. A tree that develops in open ground is fed with organic compounds.The substrate is enriched with organic matter several times throughout the year. To prepare the solution, use manure or rotten leaves.
Important! Fertilizers must include nitrogen. Special mango fertilizers are rarely found in horticultural stores, so traditional palm fertilizers are allowed.
There should be a constant source of light near the mango tree. It is recommended to place the pots on windowsills that receive as much sunlight as possible during the day. Additional lighting is provided in winter. For these purposes, fluorescent lamps are suitable.
The culture takes the pruning procedure calmly. Bushes at an early age are shaped according to their own preferences. Indoor specimens, which then do not plan to be sent into open ground, need systematic pruning. The top of a tree that has reached a height of 1 meter is pinched. As a rule, a couple of leaves are removed by pinching them together with the buds.
Obtaining fruits at room conditions
Compliance with all the rules for caring for a mango tree does not mean that the plant will bear fruit. Only grafted seedlings are capable of flowering and fruiting. The dignity of wild bushes is represented only by spectacular foliage. Grafted mangoes should be looked for in nurseries or botanical gardens, or try to graft the plant yourself by budding. Before that, you need to get a kidney from a specimen that has already borne fruit.
Features of the mango vaccination
The procedure is performed with a sharp, sterile knife. Together with a piece of wood, carefully cut out the kidney with a blade. Then a light T-shaped cut is made on the surface of the bark of the ungrafted tree, the edges are pushed back and the cut kidney is placed inside. The site is wrapped around with electrical tape. The fixing material is removed when the bud is firmly attached to the seedling.
Mango blooms for the first time a few years after vaccination. Fragrant fruits ripen for three months. The grafted plant is regularly fed. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are added to the irrigation water. At the stage of flowering and ripening of the crop, fertilizers are applied constantly.
It will not be difficult to cope with caring for a mango in an apartment if you follow the above recommendations. To get sweet fruits, only two conditions must be fulfilled - to plant the tree and do not forget to feed it.
