If you want to plant a mango tree, plan generously. Even as a house or balcony plant, the mango tree can grow up to two meters tall and requires a correspondingly large pot and enough space.
How do I care for a mango tree as a houseplant?
To care for a mango tree as a houseplant, you need a tall planter, slightly acidic and well-drained soil, a warm location and low-lime irrigation water. You can propagate it with cuttings or seeds from a ripe fruit.
The right location
The mango tree likes it warm and moist. As a houseplant, it looks particularly good in the kitchen or bathroom. Here it finds the high humidity it needs to thrive.
In summer you can also put your mango on the balcony or terrace if it is at least two years old, even temporarily in the blazing sun. It can also tolerate cooler temperatures in the short term, so it can stay outside overnight.
The best potting soil
Mango trees don't like lime, so the potting soil should be slightly acidic. Waterlogging must be avoided at all costs. Ensure that excess irrigation water drains well and use well-drained soil for young plants. Older mango trees can also tolerate slightly loamy soil. A mixture of coconut fiber (€14.00 on Amazon), garden soil and compost in approximately equal parts is ideal.
The right plant pot
Mango trees are deep-rooted, meaning their roots grow less widely, but very deeply. For this reason they need a tall pot. To give the tree enough stability, the planter should not be too light. Otherwise, your mango could tip over in a strong gust of wind.
Repotting the mango tree
Mango trees do not need to be repotted often, but planting them in the garden is not recommended as the plants are not frost hardy. If your mango tree is around 30 to 40 centimeters tall, you should repot it for the first time. After that, it just needs to be repotted if the planter becomes too small.
Propagate the mango tree
Since a mango tree rarely bears fruit in our latitudes, growing it for harvesting and propagation from your own seeds is almost impossible. However, you can grow a new mango from the pit of a ripe store-bought fruit or try propagating using a cutting.
Place the cutting in growing substrate and place it in a warm, bright place. Always keep the substrate well moist. Ideally, the soil temperature is constantly around 22 to 30 °C. The best way to provide your cutting with these conditions is to grow it under foil or in a greenhouse.
The most important things in brief:
- choose tall, heavy plant pots
- slightly acidic, well-drained soil
- warm location
- low-calcium irrigation water
Tips & Tricks
Mango trees in Central Europe are only ornamental plants; they do not find a suitable climate here as useful plants.
