The bushy-growing mandarin with its elliptically shaped, dark green, glossy leaves and the bright orange-colored fruits is a distinctive tree that is wonderfully suitable for keeping in a pot and conjures up an exotic flair on the balcony at home. However, the tangerine is not that easy to care for.
Why is my tangerine tree losing its leaves?
If a tangerine tree loses leaves, this is often due to a lack of light, incorrect overwintering, waterlogging or root rot. A plant lamp, optimal winter conditions, less watering or a root cut and fresh substrate can help.
Lack of light
If the tangerine tree drops its leaves, care errors are usually the cause. In particular, the tropical plant is not affected by a lack of light. Especially towards the end of the winter season, when the tangerine is already weakened, it often loses its leaves. In such cases, providing more light can help. A special plant lamp (€79.00 at Amazon) that provides light for at least eight hours a day is ideal. As soon as the days become brighter and longer in spring and the plant is outdoors from June, it will sprout again quite reliably.
Avoid leaf drop in winter
Mandarins prefer to overwinter in a cool place - around 10 °C is optimal - and bright. The general rule is that the warmer the plant is, the brighter it has to be. Of course, you can also overwinter your tree in a comfortable living room, but then you have to provide permanent extra lighting with a plant lamp. In this case, the lamp should deliver around 10,000 lux so that the tropical tree is sufficiently supplied.
Waterlogging
Like all citrus fruits, the mandarin tree is very sensitive to waterlogging. If the substrate is too moist, the roots rot and the plant drops its leaves. These can no longer be adequately supplied and therefore represent ballast. You should only water the mandarin tree when the top layer of soil has already dried. It must also be ensured that excess water can drain away quickly and unhindered. That's why a drainage layer several centimeters thick needs to be in the pot, and the soil should also be loose and permeable. The water must not stand in any coasters.
First aid for root rot
If your tangerine tree is affected by root rot, with a little luck you can save it with the following first aid measures:
- Take the plant out of the pot.
- Carefully remove the soil stuck between the roots.
- Perform a root pruning.
- Use sharp scissors or a knife to remove any rotting or damaged roots.
- Plant the tangerine tree in a new pot with fresh substrate.
- First fill a thick layer with expanded clay or lava stone.
Tips & Tricks
A newly purchased tangerine often throws off many or even all of its leaves. This is annoying, but completely normal - this is how the sensitive tree reacts to stress. To reduce this, leave the pot with the tangerine alone for the time being: do not repot it, do not move it constantly and do not turn or turn it.