We grow an exotic lychee tree on the window
Some people believe that growing an exotic fruit at home is a pipe dream. However, daring gardeners broke the established stereotype and received a cute lychee tree with its unique fruits as a reward. To do this, it is enough to figure out the basic rules for growing a plant and a nice overseas guest will settle at the window.
External characteristics of the tree
- "Paradise Grapes";
- "Fruit of Love";
- "Chinese Cherry";
- Ligi;
- "Lisi";
- "Chinese plum".
The lychee tree belongs to the Sapindovye family and is perfectly cultivated at home. In an enclosed space, the plant can reach 2.5 meters in height, which is quite acceptable for a houseplant. On the territory of Russia, fruit is also grown in gardens. Moreover, it is carefully protected from frost and dry winds. These extreme conditions lead to loss of foliage and cracks in the trunk and branches.
Lychee has oblong fleshy leaves of a slightly shiny character. The color is dark green. The main vein runs along the center of the plate, from which there are branches in different directions. This "embossing" is considered the highlight of the overseas guest. In shape, the leaves resemble an elongated ellipse, lowered to the base of the plant.
The egg-shaped fruits of the lychee tree are small, approximately 4 cm in diameter. Outside, they are covered with a pimply skin. They taste like berries grapes or plums, as indicated by the different names of the tree.
The exotic lychee fruit is widely used to treat various heart diseases, obesity problems and hematopoiesis.
Home Growing Secrets
Since the plant has a number of beneficial properties, many grow it as a houseplant. However, for this, the following aspects should be considered:
- air temperature in the living space;
- competent watering regime;
- soil composition for planting.
The process of how to grow a lychee tree at home begins with acquiring the fruit itself. The ripe fruit is cut, removing the stone from it. After that, it is thoroughly washed and planted in prepared soil.
It is advisable to immediately lower the stone into the soil, since it quickly loses its germination. To achieve the ultimate goal of growing a lychee tree, it is best to use multiple seeds.
When the bone is already in the ground, the container is covered with a plastic bag to create a greenhouse microclimate. Then the container is placed in a warm place and the first leaves are expected to appear. Typically, after 2 or 3 weeks, the first greens will rise from the soil. During this period, the film is removed so that the plant can actively develop. It is from May to early September that the lychee tree needs to maintain the correct temperature regime, which does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius.
When the first shoots appear, the room temperature should be within 25 degrees.
After the formation of green shoots, they must be watered moderately every day. Thus, conditions are created that resemble the natural environment in which the lychee tree grows. Over time, the seedlings will rise up to 20 cm above the soil. From this moment, the root system of the plant begins to develop, which slows down the growth of the ground part of the fruit.
So that the roots can grow freely in different directions, it is advisable to transplant the seedling into a voluminous container.
Rules for the careful care of exotic fruit
When the tree begins to take root and rise above the ground, it needs to be provided with enough light. The ideal place for him is a large window sill. It is important that the plant has access to lighting for 12 hours a day. In winter, wise gardeners use artificial lighting.
Home care for a lychee tree provides for competent watering. The plant does not like extreme drought, as well as excess moisture. Therefore, it is advisable to constantly monitor him. If the humidity in the house is low, the seedling should be sprayed with a spray bottle. For this, the water is first defended in order to clear it of large impurities and bring it to room temperature. Otherwise, the plant may suffer.
It is important to feed the plant in a timely manner. The first time this should be done 3 months after planting. To do this, use a top dressing that is rich in minerals. The next dose is applied when the tree is 1 year old. After another year, fertilizers poured into the ground every 2 months. Thanks to competent feeding, a magnificent lychee tree will grow in the house, as shown in the photo provided.
The plant is only pruned in the first two years to give it a beautiful shape. Subsequently, only dried branches or foliage are removed. If you do frequent pruning, the process of formation of paniculate inflorescences is disrupted. This means that the fruits will not appear soon. Despite this, many gardeners admire the lychee tree at home. It might be worth trying to grow an exotic tree and enjoy the taste of the overseas fruit.
My lychee is starting to bloom on the windowsill. What to do with it next?))))
Just keep looking after him as you did before. This is a rather rare occurrence for an indoor lychee, which means that he likes everything. If you're lucky, the fruit will set, but most varieties will not bear fruit without cross-pollination.
And what kind of firm does your lychee have?))) Many people complain that it does not bloom, often it depends on the manufacturer. From Agronova, I also began to bloom recently. Although I did not even expect)