Growing citrus fruits at home. Growing citrus fruits at home

Let's analyze the flower grower's letter:
“I bought a delicious lemon, and in a month it dropped all its fruits and leaves. There is one branched driftwood in a pot. In general, the driftwood turned out to be very decorative, I love it, I water it and spray it, I hung a light bulb over it, it burns around the clock It’s hot at home, 28 degrees in winter, so the snag reminds me of African saxaul. It’s a very soulful plant. It’s like saying to me: “I’d rather die, but I won’t grow on you!” I’ll teach you politeness! - I tore the snag out of the pot, didn’t even shake off the peat from the roots, and transplanted it into a large bucket, made holes in it, poured half a pack of expanded clay into the bottom, and piled special lemon soil around it. And what do you think? the vile plant did not appreciate my care, there were no leaves, even though I feed it monthly and apply a special fertilizer, “Lemon”, I spray it with water every day in the evening and water it in the morning. I came to the conclusion that this is completely shameless. a creation of nature, and that it is impossible to be kind to it. Starting tomorrow, I will begin to apply repression to this snag: I will turn off the lamp and give it a suggestion: if in a month it does not produce a single leaf, I will tear it out of the pot and throw it away. This is not a plant, but just an ungrateful bastard! "

Dear fellow gardeners, do not make such mistakes under any circumstances!
I want to describe in detail the care regimen for citrus fruits so that you don’t have problems with them. And I will tell you about this using the example of the given letter.

Let's consider reasons for leaf loss in citrus fruits:
1. If you put the plant on the window, then you do not need to periodically move it to another place; Citrus fruits are one-stop-shop plants.
2. The most common mistake is that the pot of citrus fruits should not be “twisted” much by 180 or 90 degrees. In this case, the leaves turn yellow and fall off - the tree dies. Every 10 days you need to turn the pot 10 degrees (no more), and preferably counterclockwise.
3. When you find yourself in an unusual climate, i.e. When moving from a store or greenhouse to an apartment, citrus fruits can also shed leaves.
4. If there are drafts in the apartment, the citrus leaves will definitely fall off.
5. If you over-moisten the soil in winter time- it turns sour and, as a result, citrus leaves turn yellow and fall off.
6. If you plant a small plant immediately in a bucket, and even more so in a tub, then in a week the leaves of the tree will turn yellow, and after another 1.5 weeks it will fall;
7. Many people don’t know this, but based on their many years of experience, I want to warn you: under no circumstances should you place citrus fruits near a microwave oven. Otherwise, not only will the leaves fall, but the tree will die.
8. Citrus fruits lose leaves and fruits due to improper feeding and replanting.

If in winter the leaves of citrus fruits begin to curl, turn yellow, fall off, and the shoots dry out, then the tree drops unripe fruits. If a plant with fruits was purchased in winter, then it will definitely drop the fruits (especially if the tree is imported), and then part of the leaves (or all the leaves). When purchasing citrus trees in winter, I recommend removing them most fruits (or better yet, all of them), remove emerging flowers and trim fruit-bearing shoots by 1/3.

Before rehoming your pet, make sure it is needed right now. transfer. Roots coming out of the drainage are not a reason to replant. Gently move away upper layer land. If you see that the top of the earthen ball is entwined with many roots, do not rush in this case either. Pass the stem of the tree between your index and middle fingers, tilt the pot slightly and try to pull out the earthen lump by lightly tapping the bottom. If it is easy to pull out an earthen ball heavily entwined with roots, and if it is autumn, do not replant the tree until mid-February.
If spring comes, then you can transplant the citrus tree into a slightly larger container than the previous one.
If the earthen ball is not strongly entwined with roots, replanting will be needed only next spring (regardless of the current time of year).
Teach: citrus fruits love not transplantation, but transshipment!

I do not recommend replanting citrus fruits in winter or autumn: the tree does not have time to adapt, and winter has already arrived. So it begins to wither and get sick in winter - especially if there are mistakes in care. To “reanimate” citrus fruits in winter, you need to pour previously prepared soil from under the oak tree on top of the old soil (in a layer of 2-3 cm) - the tree will quickly “come to its senses”.
As drainage, you need to pour 1.5-2 cm thick expanded clay onto the bottom of the pot.

Now about soil. The most best land- from under the oak tree. Oak has great energy power; The soil must be taken carefully without damaging the root system of the tree. Use part of the soil taken from under the oak tree to transship citrus fruits, and leave the remaining soil “in reserve” - in case the citrus fruit foliage begins to curl, turn yellow, or fall off (especially if this happens in winter). After all, in winter it is difficult to obtain this soil: in the forest the ground is frozen, and, in addition, there is knee-deep snow. This is where “in reserve” comes in handy.

You can also use the following soil composition for citrus fruits:

1-2 parts of rotted leaf soil from under the oak tree;
- 1 part rotted manure (horse);
- 1 part of turf land from meadows where clover grows;
- 1 part coarse river sand;
- 0.5 parts wood ash hardwood;
- 4 parts lake silt.

In fresh, nutritious soil, citrus fruits develop a good root system.

For glaze citrus fruits are completely unsuitable for water freshly taken from the tap (it contains a large number of chlorine, which they don't like). It is better to water citrus fruits with settled water to which vinegar has been added (a few drops per liter of water); they respect it very much.

Citrus fruits need regular feeding. They need:
- nitrogen(ensures rapid growth). Thanks to nitrogen, citrus leaves acquire a rich green color;
- phosphorus(thanks to phosphorus, the seedling begins to bear fruit faster).
- Phosphorus is also needed for the ripening of fruits and young wood; potassium

(the normal and timely ripening of young leaves, shoots, and fruits depends on potassium). With a lack of potassium, citrus fruits take on an ugly shape and often fall off before they are ripe. In addition, potassium supplements help increase resistance to various diseases.

Citrus fruits should be fertilized according to the following scheme: (Menu plan for the summer months):
apply from May to October inclusive
- 1st and 15th - manure (100 g of manure per liter of water; use a two-week infusion);
- 8th number - egg shell (infusion in water for two weeks);
- 20th - blood from meat, poultry, fish (dilute in half with water and pour; then pour plain water on top); - 23rd number - ash; the most best ash
from potato tops, sunflowers or straw (1 tablespoon per liter of water for irrigation);

- 27th - pond sludge (150-200 g per liter of water).
Menu plan for the winter period:
- 1, 10, 20, dates - natural fertilizer "Ideal" for feeding from November to May (2 caps per 1.5 liters of water);
- on the 15th - blood from meat, poultry, fish (dilute in half with water and pour; then pour plain water on top);
- 25th - ash (1 tablespoon per liter of water for irrigation).

I advise the author of the above letter:
1. Read all recommendations carefully and correct your mistakes.
2. Since you planted the tree in a large container, do not replant it for three years.
3. Feed the plant according to the above scheme.
4. Be careful with the soil - do not over-moisten it.
5. In the summer, take the citrus tree to the balcony and continue spraying.
6. In the spring (somewhere in early March), add 2 generous handfuls of manure on top;
7. Turn on the backlight only at night, and not for the whole day.

Fruiting lemons, tangerines and other citrus fruits abundantly bloom, which leads to weakening of the tree. Therefore, flowers located nearby should be thinned out, leaving larger ones - those on which the ovary is better developed.

Preference should be given to fruits sitting on short branches - fruitlets.
On long branches, fruits grow more slowly.
It takes several months for the fruits to ripen. There are so many ovaries that there is an active shedding of young ovaries and fruits that have not yet filled with juice. The fruit fall can be so strong that the soil under the trees is completely covered with small fruits. That's why
It is recommended to regulate fruiting. Immediately after flowering, pick off a number of young ovaries. I do not recommend buying trees with fruits in the store. It is better if you buy only a flowering tree. But if, nevertheless, a tree with fruits comes home to you, then proceed as follows:
1. try to find out how old the tree is;
2. Pick all the fruits (do not spare them);
3. Cut the branches on which there were fruits in half;

4. Spray the plant more often; 5. The soil should always be moist. And now - advice for everyone: do not expect the impossible from a citrus tree!

In winter, citrus fruits most often do not bloom at home. Be patient and do everything according to the instructions. If you do everything correctly, your citrus pets will be happy appearance

and harvests. Good luck! All about citrus fruits

on the website website

All about exotics

on the website website

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In practice, over the years, it has become clear that land does not have that much influence for citrus cultivation. The biggest influences are light, heat and humidity; in comparison with them, the composition of the earth has no significant significance.

The purpose of the substrate in a flowerpot is to create sufficient conditions for plant roots to take in water, nutrients and air in a small space.

Briefly, when growing citrus fruits, you can follow the following rules:

1. The flowerpot should not be large. Soil that is not used by the roots, especially wet soil, causes rot and turns sour. The plant withers and drops its leaves. (My experience - I planted a small lemon in a 15-liter flowerpot. It stood on the veranda all summer - in the wind, rain, sun, even hail broke the leaves. I watered it quite abundantly, with the addition of a weak infusion of chicken droppings. So I watched the plant and gave him what he lacked. The lemon became so strong and big - everyone was surprised. It’s not scientific, but it’s true in small flowerpots, and the growth is also small).

2. An abundance of water is harmful to the plant. Needs good drainage. When replanting a plant, select a pot that is a couple of centimeters larger in size. The shape of the flowerpot should be such that there is room for the root ball and it can easily “slip out” of the flowerpot when needed (my experience is that the same plant in a large flowerpot does not need to be replanted, the plant is not stressed: there is enough land, it is spacious and good) .
3. In between waterings, let the soil dry out (not dry out).

When growing a plant in an apartment, you need to spray it every day (just not in the sun). Drying is very dangerous for a young plant. But even if it drops all its leaves, there is no need to throw it away, the leaves can grow back.

A moistened bag is placed on the plant, and the leaves will not take long to appear. The plant accepts not only water but also fertilizers well through its leaves.

If there is any doubt whether it is necessary to water it or not, it is better to spray the plant, adding not only fertilizers to the water, if necessary, but also pesticides (just not in the evening or in the sun).
Watering, of course, depends on the growing and growing conditions. Lemon is ideally placed outdoors, where the plant enjoys dew, fog, and raindrops. The plant really likes it. And also for practice - sometimes the plant is overwatered and water flows over the edge of the pan; To prevent this from happening, you can water through a tray and pour into it as much water as the plant absorbs. If necessary, this procedure can be repeated after several waterings. Some gardeners thereby promote the growth of roots, which need to reach water (my experience is to water only with rain or melt water and always with a small amount of the fertilizer that the plant “requests”).

4. Vases. Clay containers allow air to pass through, but they dry out quickly. Plastic holds moisture but does not allow air to pass through. Wooden containers have both positive properties, but they are not durable. The roots of the plant breathe air that passes through the bottom of the flowerpot, so drainage of the flowerpot is required, and no water should remain in the pan after watering. The flowerpot is selected according to the size of the plant, the composition of the substrate, and the place where it will stand (the black flowerpot heats up in the sun). In a large plastic flowerpot, you will have to drill side holes so that the plant can breathe (my experience is that I did not drill holes in a large flowerpot; however, I periodically stick thin wooden sticks into the flowerpot). If you use a wooden flowerpot, you cannot treat it chemical compounds

Over time, the roots of the plant rest against the walls of the flowerpot. In wooden flowerpots, it is these thin roots that suffer from drying out - then the edges of the leaves dry out (this is often the reason for the drying out of the edges of the leaves). When growing citrus fruits, gardeners most often use square containers - they save space, provide a microclimate (near standing plants protect each other from overheating, loss of moisture, convenient for spraying leaves). In large flowerpots, the top layer of soil is periodically replaced. Any flowerpots should be protected from sunlight.

Place.

Choosing a place for citrus fruits is one of the important tasks. It is dangerous to place a plant on a windowsill in an apartment, both in winter and in summer. In winter, radiators are heated, and they are most often located under the windowsill. Cold air from the window cools the substrate and roots, which causes them to rot. Dry and warm room air dries out the leaves, and we water the plant more often. Where the plant stands, the batteries need to be covered with something or a humidifier installed. The flowerpot needs to be raised so that its bottom does not cool.

Lemon is a plant that loves a warm and fairly sunny place; loves the greenhouse very much. (My experience is that after spring frosts and until autumn frosts, lemons stand on open place- steps of the veranda). When the nights are cold in the fall or the temperature difference between day and night is large, I cover the plants with agro-film at night. They stand on the south side of the house, covered from the north by a wall. Citrus fruits are very resistant if trained to this early age
, you just need to look at the leaves - they indicate the problems the plant has.

When a plant is taken outside after winter, it is necessary to gradually accustom it to open sunlight - if you are not used to it, there may be burns on the leaves.

Light. Sufficient lighting intensity is one of the the most important conditions
Still, in winter, problems arise - you need to reduce the temperature and watering, otherwise the plant begins to grow unhealthy: due to lack of light, the branches become elongated and the leaves become smaller. This is a problem for apartments. The plant, although growing, may later shed its leaves and even die, having lost too much reserve energy. The only way out is to find a balance between watering, air humidity, temperature and lighting. This is when additional lighting may be needed. By the way, direct lighting is not necessary for citrus fruits; they do well in diffused bright light, but they cannot tolerate long shadows.
In the summer, when the plants are standing outside, at noon sometimes you have to cover them and create temporary shade from the intense rays of the sun.

Temperature.

Beginning amateur citrus growers often imagine that in their homeland citrus fruits grow in very warm conditions that we cannot create. It's true - citrus fruits love warmth and in our climatic conditions everyone catches Sunbeam

. After all, on native plantations the average annual temperature is 16-18 degrees, the average fruit ripening temperature is 9-15 degrees. In places of natural cultivation, the average temperature of the coldest month is 7-14 degrees. So what temperature is acceptable in our conditions? Citrus fruits are hardy; in the absence of flowers or fruits, they can remain in sub-zero temperature

, as well as up to 50 degrees of heat (this can happen in a greenhouse or on a windowsill). This, of course, inhibits the development of plants, and with longer exposure it can destroy them. Just as a temperature difference of 8 degrees between irrigation water and substrate can put a plant in a state of shock, so quickly transferring a plant from a dark place to bright light - from a house under direct rays of the sun - can destroy the plant.

Temperature influence:
Vegetation and fruit growing: 22-24 degrees;
- Flowering: 14-16 degrees;
- Setting fruit flowers: 22-24 degrees
- The ovaries fall off at a temperature of 30 degrees;
- Fruit ripening: 14-18 degrees;
- Seed germination: 20-25 degrees;
- Wintering: 5-10 degrees;
- Active spring growth: 12 degrees;
- Growth stops below 12 degrees and above 38 degrees;
- The water temperature for watering and spraying citrus fruits should be 1-2 degrees higher than the substrate temperature (if the water is 8 degrees warmer or colder than the substrate, the plant will get stressed);

- The air temperature should be 1-3 degrees higher than that of the substrate.

Transpiration is the evaporation of moisture by a plant through its leaves; 98% of the water passing through a plant is lost to transpiration. This is of great importance when growing citrus fruits. The leaves of the plant must be clean, free of dust, without spraying with leaf shine, etc. At high temperatures and wind, the intensity of moisture evaporation increases 6 times compared to normal weather. Sometimes, it would seem that all conditions have been created for the plant, but it begins to shed its leaves. One of the reasons is a failure in the balance of fluid passage in the plant.
Air humidity at 22-24 degrees: 60-70%;
Air humidity in winter: 40-50%.
The water should be soft, without chlorine. Ideally, soft, fresh rainwater (it contains air, is slightly acidic, pH 6-6.5). Clean rainwater collected 15 minutes after the start of rain.

Some tips for growing citrus fruits in an apartment.

Many examples show that growing citrus fruits indoors is quite possible.

Of course, more attention needs to be paid to them, especially in winter. All problems of citrus fruits when grown in apartment conditions increase significantly, but citrus fruits tend to adapt.

You can grow citrus fruits in an apartment:
Whole year;
- take it out into the air;

- if you find a place for wintering (about 10 degrees).
The positive side is that plants are less prone to fungal diseases, because fungi do not like dry air, unless we ourselves bring these diseases home from somewhere.
In apartments, the temperature is too high (sometimes the same day and night), low humidity - this is also harmful for humans. When caring for plants, it is advisable to bring the air humidity to 60%; this is beneficial for plants and humans.

All citrus fruits require a winter rest at low temperatures. In an apartment, plants enter a dormant period due to a lack of light intensity, which can kill the plants. Wintering takes place in a cool place (10 degrees) with minimal watering, because dormant roots do not accept moisture and will begin to rot. The leaves are sometimes sprayed. Wintering conditions depend on the type of citrus fruit. Citrus fruits can be kept in a dark room for three months - in the basement, garage, staircase

In a cold room, when plants hibernate, watering and spraying stops, since at low temperatures they get enough moisture from the air.

Of course, fertilizer also stops. Plants should not be left to overwinter in areas with chemical fumes. When checking plants, they should not be allowed to dry out.

Warm winter.
If the plant overwinters in a warm room, place it in the brightest place and reduce watering. We shorten young immature branches, since in the spring they will be lost anyway, and in winter they will burden the plant.

We isolate the plant from the batteries; We organize everything in such a way that warm air currents do not reach the plant. We also protect the plant from cold air currents; a cold pot and dry, warm leaves will lead to the death of the plant.

In winter, we spray the plant through the leaves more intensively than water it.

The solution can be made slightly nutritious.

Plants spend more resources in winter than they can take. If they grow, they stretch out, because they want to get more light and moisture. We have to do additional lighting. In the spring we add moisture when we see that the plant is waking up; Little by little we begin to feed. Citrus fruits do not like the same temperature night and day. At night you need to either ventilate the room or turn down the heating. Still, these are unnatural conditions for citrus fruits -
heat

wintering and dry air.

In winter, the more dangerous thing is not the overdrying of the substrate, but the general decrease in plant fluids.
If citrus leaves begin to dry out in winter, there is no need to rush to water the plant, as the resting roots will begin to rot. All attention should be focused on air humidity, spraying and spraying water around the plant. You can place the plant in an aquarium or next to another plant (but not on another flowerpot); you can attach a plastic bag over the plant.
Planting and transplanting.
Transplantation is an inevitable process, after which we look at the plant as if it were a critically ill patient, for whom any stress can result in death.

Citrus fruits are replanted in early spring before the beginning of the growing season (during the dormant period). Then the plant is brought into a lighter and warm room

, gradually increasing heat and light. When the first signs of growth appear, increase the moisture and only then fertilize.
If the plant will overwinter in a warm place, you can replant it in the fall, if the soil is warm enough and rooting occurs before November. Summer replanting is possible only without damaging the root ball, between two periods of growth;

then keep the plant in the shade. In winter, citrus fruits can be replanted with the destruction of the earthen clod, since the roots are inactive at this time; this is unacceptable for plants without leaves at temperatures below 12 degrees. Plants are replanted if they were purchased in a store and if necessary (diseases, soil contamination, etc.) at any time, after replanting, taking all measures to save the plants. The rules for transplanting citrus fruits are the same as for other plants. If the roots are damaged, they are disinfected. Planting is done in a moist substrate, since the plant is watered only the next day. When transplanting, a certain amount must be left on the roots.
old land

, since bacteria live in it, facilitating the absorption of nutrients by the roots. If this cannot be done, you need to take some soil from a flowerpot of another citrus.
The plant is planted at the same level, preventing the base of the neck from falling asleep.

After transplantation, the plant is shaded; There is no need to change other conditions to avoid stress. Citrus trees need quite a lot of attention; mistakes are not easy to correct. The critical period after transplantation is 6 months.

If the volume of roots decreases during replanting, take a smaller pot. Then we trim the crown in proportion to the roots. Pruning the crown does not harm even with minor damage to the roots. If after replanting the plant appears unwanted branches with leaves - let them grow, let the plant breathe - this promotes root growth. They can be trimmed later.
Trimming.
The rules for pruning citrus fruits are similar to the rules for pruning fruit trees. There may be different purposes for pruning, so there will be differences in timing and methods. The main goal is to form a crown and keep the plant in good shape.

Pruning is carried out during the life of the plant to rejuvenate it, stimulate the growth of lower branches, thin out the crown, during transplantation, to obtain a bountiful harvest, etc. The opinion that pruning has
direct influence

for the harvest, erroneously; it only rejuvenates the plant.

Fertilizing and pruning plants have a close relationship. A well-fertilized plant requires less pruning and will produce a larger harvest. On the other hand, pruning can reduce the yield so as not to overload the plant. Excessive pruning slows down the growth of citrus fruits, so you need to find harmony between pruning and harvest. It also depends on the type of plant; Some citrus fruits have a tendency to thicken the crown.

You can consult a specialist about the specifics of pruning citrus fruits. Fertilizer.

Fertilizer helps the plant develop, but it is not a way to “pump up” the plant in hopes of a miraculous result. Fertilizer is selected carefully so as not to harm the plant; especially since the plant has a rest period, which may be disrupted.
General rules
fertilizers:

Do not fertilize dry soil;

- Take into account temperature, growing season; - Frequent watering or rain washes away fertilizers. The plant itself says what it needs. There are many rules for this that experienced flower growers know. (If you spray a plant with beer, it not only nourishes, but also shines. Some citrus pests really don’t like beer).

Plants at

constant care

They usually feel quite good. After transplantation, citrus fruits do not need feeding for two months.

What does citrus do for your health? Its smell kills bacteria and viruses; Its essential oils have a positive effect on humans. Plants, not just citrus fruits, absorb harmful secretions, which are emitted by surrounding devices. Plants have a positive effect on the psyche and health of their loved ones.

So... If we want to propagate our citrus fruits:
We sow citrus seeds and then graft, propagate citrus fruits by cuttings.
If the plant does not bloom, you can graft a sprig of flowering citrus onto it;

In winter, citrus fruits most often do not bloom at home. Be patient and do everything according to the instructions. If you do everything correctly, your citrus pets will be happy appearance

and harvests. Good luck! the fruits will be like those of the mother plant.

on the website website

All about exotics

on the website website

Types of citrus fruits are recognized by their leaves. on the website website Citrus flowers- edible flowers of citrus plants, the birthplace of which scientists consider Southeast Asia. Most species prefer subtropical or tropical climates and do not tolerate even the slightest frost. In any case, citrus fruits prefer to grow in well-lit and moist places. The most important feature of these plants is their uneven growth. First the plant enters the phase

active growth , and then there comes a period of dormancy, when the shoots do not grow, but the wood ripens. The next stage of growth begins only after the dormant period of the shoots ends. Citrus fruits are flowering woody plants, representatives of the Rutaceae family. The most famous citrus fruits are lemons, oranges, and tangerines. Lemon is interesting plant, the fruits of which are consumed during colds. The plant is of Asian-Pacific origin. Wild lemons are unknown to science, but the familiar yellow fruits are grown on plantations. To date, it is unknown who and when created this hybrid, so it is possible that humans were not involved in its appearance. Lemon is a tree with hard, large leaves (see photo). Lemon flowers have an attractive creamy hue, thin petals and a pleasant aroma. Lemon leaves have a fairly long lifespan: one leaf lives up to 3 years. When physically exposed, a fresh leaf emits a rich lemon smell, which is due to

high content essential oil in this part of the plant.. Its flowers are somewhat smaller than lemon flowers. Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of this plant. The tree and fruit got their name due to the fact that this citrus was available only to Chinese nobles - tangerines. In China, these orange fruits are treated with special reverence. Tradition to meet New Year with tangerines appeared due to the fact that on Chinese“a couple of tangerines” and the word “gold” are consonant. As a sign of gratitude, the Chinese presented each other with several tangerines so that the coming year would be financially prosperous. Now the main suppliers of this citrus fruit are Georgia, Abkhazia, China, Morocco, and Ecuador.

Growing at home

Some citrus plants can be grown at home. In any case, they will need to create an optimal climate. Indoor citrus fruits are different interesting feature bloom several times a year. If the plant is grafted, it should bloom almost immediately. Flowering of seedlings occurs only after four to five years. Some seedlings practically do not bloom or bloom only in the twelfth to fifteenth year. For the plant to bloom, it is important to maintain optimal temperature– about 15 degrees Celsius, and air humidity should reach 70%.

Citrus flowers are bisexual and in many varieties they are self-pollinating. In order for the fruits to set better, they should be subjected to artificial pollination. The fruit does not always form in place of the flower. The ovary is considered complete if it reaches 2 cm. The fruits ripen in five to nine months. It depends on the plant variety. If the fruits are not picked, they will remain on the tree until the next harvest. Interestingly, the color of the peel does not play a key role and is not considered a sign of fruit ripening. In tropical climates, ripe fruits may remain green. In addition, fruits with green skin contain more vitamin C than fruits with yellow skin.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of citrus flowers are due to the presence of biologically active substances in their composition. Citrus plants contain essential oils that have a beneficial effect on the human body.

The calorie content of flowers is 0 calories, so they can be part of the diet. Flowers will help diversify your diet and at the same time allow you not to greatly exceed the number of calories consumed. In addition, they have a pleasant aroma and taste and do not need salt at all, which is important for some diets.

Citrus flowers contain essential oils that give them a recognizable aroma. In small quantities, oils have a beneficial effect on the body and help with work. internal organs. For gastronomic purposes, only fresh flowers without traces of pests and plant diseases are used. Only such flowers will benefit the body.

Use in cooking

In cooking, citrus flowers have found use as edible flowers. This category also includes flowers of plants such as rose, nasturtium, lavender, and chrysanthemum. The concept of “edible flowers” entered our lexicon not so long ago, although flowers have been used for gastronomic purposes for a long time. Each flower has its own distinctive taste characteristics. Nasturtium flowers, for example, have a peppery flavor and are added to salads and other dishes as a seasoning. Rose is considered a real floral delicacy. Its petals are candied and used to prepare dessert dishes.

One of the most delicious options for preparing flowers is candiing them. To get sweet flowers, just get this product in the supermarket and prepare it according to one of the recipes. Flowers are covered with whipped egg white and sprinkle with powdered sugar, then leave them for several hours to harden. Once the flowers have hardened, they can be used to decorate desserts, including jellies, cakes, and pastries. Flowers are perfect for decorating alcoholic cocktails and other drinks.

Small inflorescences can be frozen in ice cubes and then used to make drinks.

Flowers can be added to salads, sandwiches and other snacks. They are great for making jam.

The disadvantage of using this product is its scarcity, because even in large supermarkets edible citrus flowers are extremely rare.

Benefits of citrus flowers and treatment

The benefit of this product lies in its balanced composition. The aboveground part of plants secretes so-called phytoncides - volatile biologically active substances. The phytoncides of citrus plants can be compared in strength to the phytoncides of onions or garlic. These substances increase the body's defenses. Citrus fruits contain essential oils that kill many harmful bacteria. It is known that lemon oil neutralizes pneumococcus, staphylococcus, and typhoid pathogens in just 15 minutes. Official medicine recognizes the ability of essential oils to purify the air and boost immunity. Doctors recommend consuming lemons during a cold to provide the body with vitamin C. Phytoncides effectively protect against viruses and have a beneficial effect on a person’s condition after long illnesses.

Citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamin C, which gives them their characteristic sourness. Thanks to this, they are useful for colds. Ascorbic acid in citrus products has a special property: even after heating, such products still remain healthy. This advantage allows you to consume citrus fruits not only fresh, but also as jam and preserves.

Citrus fruits also contain vitamin P, a plant bioflavonoid that is powerful antioxidant. Bioflavonoids protect cells from oxidation and prevent aging processes. Vitamin P is beneficial for the cardiovascular system. It is simply necessary to modern man against the background of intensified formation of free radicals, as it is used for the prevention of cancer. Vitamin P strengthens the walls of blood vessels, making them more elastic. Regular consumption of foods rich in bioflavonoids improves blood circulation and normalizes blood pressure. Vitamin P is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis.

In addition, citrus flowers are excellent aromatherapists. The flowers of bitter orange - neroli - are especially distinguished in this sense. Their aroma has a calming effect, relieves stress and nervous tension. Inhale flower petals orange tree(or the essential oil obtained from them) are recommended for depression or psycho-emotional agitation, which is very important given our rhythm of life.

Harm to citrus flowers and contraindications

This product can cause harm to the body due to individual intolerance. Citrus fruits are one of the most common allergens, therefore, they should not be used by people prone to allergic reactions. At the first signs of intolerance to a product, it should be excluded from the diet and contact your doctor.

Only flowers collected in ecologically clean areas and grown without the use of chemicals can be eaten.

All citrus fruits are light-loving plants. Orange, tangerine and grapefruit houseplants prefer south windows. Lemon can tolerate slight shading, and windows facing southeast are most suitable for it.

For citrus fruits, you need to provide long daylight hours every day. They need 12 hours of light. The local climate fully satisfies the need for lighting only in the spring-summer period.

The citrus family does not tolerate even the slightest frost.
These plants tend to grow unevenly. This feature can be clearly monitored in the active and passive periods. First, the plant grows - it forms new shoots and leaves. And with the onset of autumn, the plant stops growing and its wood begins to ripen. And only after this, in the spring, new shoot growth is activated again.

Most citrus plants are capable of blooming and producing fruit several times a year. A grafted plant, or grown from a rooted cutting, can bloom quite quickly. In nature, seedlings bloom around the fifth year, and some varieties can wait up to 15 years. But in room conditions seedlings bloom very rarely.

For fertilization of citrus flowers, which can be of both sexes, the favorable temperature is +18C and humidity 70%. Some citrus varieties can be self-pollinating. But to be sure, you need to help the plants using a soft brush. Not all ovaries remain on the plant after flowering. Some of them fall off.

Citrus diseases

Fruit indoor citrus y (Citrus), unlike homemade pineapples, are quite suitable for consumption. Moreover, they have a milder taste than the fruits of wild trees, and therefore are more preferable for allergy sufferers. Citrus fruits are grown at home also because of their unique aroma, which fills the room with freshness. If you don’t yet have citrus at home, we recommend paying attention to this plant. Caring for citrus fruits at home is not difficult, and the result will exceed all your expectations. Well oh beneficial properties citrus fruits needless to say - this is an excellent plant for the prevention of colds.

Family: Rutaceous, light-loving, moderate moisture.

Many representatives of the Citrus genus are grown indoors.

They grow quickly, bloom beautifully, and the fruits in most cases are tasty and healthy. These are mainly low-growing evergreen trees with a spreading crown and large emerald leaves with a glossy surface. When examining them in the light, a large number of small glands, rich in essential oil. Each leaf lives for about 3 years and the growth and development of the entire plant and the ripening of fruits directly depend on their condition.

Very elegant leaves of Fortunella, or nagami kumquat(Fortunella margarita) variety "Variegata" - green-white or green-yellow. Citrus flowers are small, white or cream, arranged singly, in pairs or in small clusters. They may not be visible behind the abundant foliage, but the characteristic delicate and quite intense aroma will draw your attention to the plant. The fruits of various types citrus fruits are different. Everyone is familiar with ordinary bright yellow lemons with lumpy skin.

The largest and most delicious lemons are indoors citrus plant "Ponderosa"(Citrus Limon Ponderosa), and the most productive - lemons Meyer(Citrus Limon Mejer).

The Buddha's Hand citron has very original fruits.

The earliest ripening and most prolific of indoor citrus fruits is tangerine, or reticulated citrus (Citrus reticulate). The fruits of this indoor citrus tree small, orange-red with an easily peeled peel, juicy sweetish pulp and no seeds at all.

A spherical yellow or red fruit indoor orange(Citrus sinensis) with a dense peel and sweet and sour pulp ripen the longest (up to 9 months).

Caring for citrus fruits at home

In winter, citrus fruits are kept in a bright, well-ventilated room at a temperature of +4.+8 °C. Oranges are the most heat-loving citrus fruits; they require a higher temperature, within +13...+18 °C. In summer, it is better to take the plants outside and place them in the sun, in a place protected from drafts. When caring for citrus fruits, watering should be moderate but regular; drying out the earthen clod is not allowed. At the same time, good drainage is necessary to avoid stagnation of water at the roots. During the heating season and on hot days, all these plants should be sprayed regularly. Forming a beautiful crown is not so much an aesthetic requirement as it is a necessity to speed up fruiting. Formative pruning and pinching are carried out throughout the year - after the appearance of 3-4 leaves, the growth point is pinched.

Caring for indoor citrus fruits during the period of active growth involves feeding once every two weeks, alternating if possible mineral fertilizers with organic ones. Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method in the spring: young plants are replanted annually, at the age of 4-5 years - every other year, over five years - once every three years. A soil mixture of turf soil, compost and sand (1:1:1) is best suited for planting citrus fruits. The described plants reproduce well by seeds, which are sown immediately after they are removed from the fruit. The prevailing opinion that wild animals grow from seeds has not been confirmed. Just plants propagated by seed method, begin to bear fruit after about 8 years. Citrus obtained from cuttings enter the fruiting stage somewhat earlier. Cuttings are cut in March-April or at the end of June-in the first half of July, rooted in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1) for three weeks at a temperature of +25 °C.

Beneficial properties of indoor citrus trees

Citrus essential oils have a beneficial effect on nervous system: relieve mental stress, eliminate anxiety, help fight loss of strength and depressed mood, promote concentration and improve memory. They relieve spastic pain and restore impaired blood circulation. Their bactericidal effect in various inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system is also known. Citrus fruits and juice are rich in vitamins. And the plants themselves, especially at the time of flowering and fruiting, look very elegant and improve your mood.