We grow an exotic lychee tree on the window. Lychee fruit: growing from the stone

Lychee is tropical fruit, which can be bought at the store or grown independently from the bone. In nature, lychee grows mainly in countries with a subtropical climate, but today it is successfully bred even in places where the climate is radically different from the subtropical one. For this, plants are planted in moist and well-heated greenhouses.

How lychee grows in nature

The best lychee is considered to be the one grown in Chinese provinces Fujian and Guangdong. The proximity of the sea on the one hand and the presence of rivers on the other hand create optimal conditions for fruiting lychee trees. In addition to China, this fruit is found in India, Pakistan, Burma, Taiwan, and Hawaii.

The lychee tree grows very spreading and with a dense green mass of foliage. Its height sometimes even reaches 30 m, but such specimens are quite rare in nature. Usually the crown of trees grown in special gardens is not higher than 10 -15 m. Lychee blooms with inconspicuous white or yellowish flowers resembling umbrellas. These umbrellas are collected in large oblong inflorescences up to 60-70 cm long. Of the huge mass of flowers of one inflorescence, only 10-20 pieces survive to the stage of a ripe fruit, i.e. berries on each bunch are tied and ripen quite a bit. But thanks to the huge number of clusters on one tree, it seems to be strewn with bright red fruits.

How lychee grows - berries

Lychee berries have a dense red, orange red-orange pimply shell - it is inedible. Inside the shell is a delicate white pulp, reminiscent of the pulp of white grapes, but more dense. The taste of lychee is sweet and slightly tart. Some varieties have a pronounced wine taste, some are more neutral. Inside the pulp, the lychee has a rather large bone that can be planted in a pot.

How lychee grows in an apartment

In greenhouse farms, the lychee tree is propagated by cuttings, therefore, with sufficient care, fruits appear. At home, this plant can be grown from a bone only in decorative purposes, i.e. it will not bear fruit. However, if you have a ripe lychee, keep the pit and try to grow the original green bush.

Pour drainage into a small pot, and a layer of light flower soil on it. Moisten the earth well and put a bone on it. Fill the bone with soil - 1 cm thick. Cover the pot with polyethylene or a piece of glass - be sure to leave a gap for air access. Water the soil once a week with water at room temperature.

After 2-3 weeks, when a tender sprout appears in the pot, remove the shelter. Keep the plant in a bright, warm window, but protect it from direct sunlight. When the lychee has 8-10 leaves, transplant it into a larger pot. You can also take the soil that is intended for indoor flowers. As the bushes grow, transplant the lychee into a larger pot. You can do this once every one and a half to two years.

Caring for an exotic plant is constant watering, spraying and maintaining a constant temperature in the room at 22-25 degrees.

You can learn about lychee grown from a stone at home from this video.

The article will tell you in detail about how to grow an exotic plant at home - lychee, as well as how to care for it.

The fruit called "lychee" is very unusual and is considered exotic. Someone calls him a fruit, others say that lychee is a berry. Be that as it may, lychee not only has a pleasant and rich taste, but also great benefits. The benefit of the fetus is that it has a unique biochemical composition - a mass of vitamins and trace elements.

It is immediately worth noting that the lychee is not a large fruit, its diameter is approximately 3-4 cm. The weight of one berry does not exceed 15-20 grams. A feature of the exotic fruit is its dense and slightly prickly peel, which covers the juicy and jelly-like pulp.

The color of the pulp is milky. Inside the pulp hides a large seed of dark Brown color. The taste of lychee is very pleasant. The ripe fruit has a sweet hue with a slight sourness. If you try to find a comparison with other fruits, then the taste of the pulp is somewhat reminiscent of cherries and pineapples. The aroma of the pulp is very fresh and sweet.

Lychee is a fruit common in Asia: China, Japan, India, Thailand. In these countries, the lychee is often called the "dragon's eye" for its visual similarity to the eye: a white apple and a black eye. For its beneficial and nutritional qualities, lychee has gained popularity in folk medicine. Many even consider it an aphrodisiac for its rich zinc content, and therefore lychee is a must-have treat on the tables of newlyweds.

Frequent use of lychee can have a beneficial effect on all body systems, increasing body tone, improving vascular function, “killing” cholesterol and lowering sugar. The great merit of litchi is the ability to regulate the water-salt balance in the body, relieve swelling and promote weight loss.

IMPORTANT: Not only the pulp of the fruit is eaten. Healing decoctions are prepared from the lychee peel. The bone, for example, in Vietnam and China is fried with spices in oil, raw lychee bone is considered poisonous.

Lychee: whole fruit, pulp and stone

Lychee: cut fruit

Lychee pulp without peel. It is best to peel litchi with a sharp and thin knife.

Lychee fruits on a tree, twigs

Tree with ripe lychee fruits

Is it possible to grow lychee from a seed on a windowsill, like a house flower?

Lychee is exotic, but very beautiful plant, which has not only bright red fruits, but also graceful glossy leaves: elongated, pointed, long. The plant is accustomed to grow in warm Asian countries, but subject to all conditions, it is also possible to grow a small lychee on your windowsill.

It is important to know that you can only grow lychee from the seed that was in the fresh berry (dried and canned fruits will not work). Of course, homemade lychee will often not be able to please you with abundant fruits, but, nevertheless, under close attention and your careful care, you can find a beautiful plant.

Lychee plant with fruit at home

How to choose a pot, land for planting lychee?

After you eat the lychee pulp itself, try to remove the stone as carefully as possible so as not to spoil or damage it. In order to grow something you will need a small pot, no more than 8-9 cm in diameter.

Before planting, be sure to make a sufficient number of holes in the bottom of the pot so that the water does not stagnate in it and does not allow the plant to rot, draining completely. You can put a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot (special pebbles that retain moisture, but let water through). Before planting, prepare the “right” soil for lychee - a mixture of earth and peat.

IMPORTANT: It is best to choose a lychee pot that is made of natural material, for example, from clay or ceramics. In a plastic pot, the plant can "suffocate".

Lychee: domestic "adult" plant

Lychee bone: how to germinate and plant?

It is important to know that when planting, it is necessary to put not one, but approximately 4-5 litchi seeds into the ground. This is done quite simply: a bone is inserted vertically into soft soil with a finger, no more than 2-3 centimeters deep. From above there should be no more than 1-1.5 cm of soil. The likelihood that the sprout will sprout is high.

After that, moisten the soil and tighten the pot with polyethylene (food wrap fit better Total). This will allow the sprout to be in constant moisture and it will not be able to dry out. For the first time, the pot should be placed in a warm, but not the sunniest place (next to the battery, for example).

The time it takes for the sprout to sprout is 1.5-2 weeks. During this time, it is important to check the pot, adding moisture if required. The soil should never be dry. Tighten the pot with foil each time. After a sprout appears on the surface, the film can be removed and the plant placed on the eastern windowsill (there should be little sun).

Lychee fruit - how a plant grows in a pot, at home: photo

After the sprout sprouts, you should carefully care for your lychee. First of all, temperature matters. young plant a temperature regime of 23 to 25 degrees is required. The first few weeks after the sprouts appear on the surface, the lychee grows quite quickly and actively, their height can reach 20 centimeters.

However, after violent growth in the "first months of life", the plant "stops" and stops growing in size. The reason for this is the strengthening of the root system. The roots are so strong that if you have grown the plant in a plastic cup so far, you may notice it burst.

Lychee needs light for about 12-15 hours a day, but he "does not like" direct sunlight. In the cool season, provide litchi with additional illumination. Make sure that the lychee does not dry out, as the plant does not tolerate dry soil at all. Litchi should be watered as the topsoil dries out.

Lychee does not need to be watered cold water, best suited settled and room temperature. Raise the humidity in the room as often as possible and spray the plant with a spray bottle. Feed with organic fertilizers only mature plant not "younger" than 3-4 months.

Video: "Lychee - growing at home"

Instruction

The small and oval fruits of the plant are covered on top with a red skin dotted with pointed pimples. Inside is a jelly-like light pulp that tastes like grapes. If you have tried lychee at least once in your life, then you probably know that there is a dense dark brown bone inside.

Separate the stone from the pulp and wash thoroughly, wrap in a damp cloth and leave in a warm place for a week. Remember that the fabric should never dry out, constantly moisten it warm water. After a week and a half, the bone should swell a little, now it can be planted in a small pot () with fertile soil.

Lychee grows best in acidic, well-drained, and rich in organic matter soil. If the bone is first split, then the sprout from the seed will appear faster. Make a small indentation in the center of the pot, plant a seed and sprinkle with a two-centimeter layer of earth. Pour with warm and settled water.

Periodically loosen the soil so that the roots receive enough oxygen. Do not water the plant too often, as the capricious lychee seed will not tolerate an excess of moisture and will slowly rot. For irrigation, use water at room temperature, which has settled for one to two days. When a sprout appears, apply fertilizer. Buy in a special store organic fertilizers for exotic plants, dilute according to the instructions.

When the sprout reaches a height of ten centimeters, carefully transplant it into a pot with a larger diameter. Lychee can also be fed with manure, compost or mineral fertilizers. Regular fertilizing prevents soil depletion and promotes abundant flowering of the tree.

In the first two years of life, pruning of the tree is used to give it a neat shape. Create conditions close to nature. Lychee prefers to grow in humid climates, so spray the plant with a spray bottle two to three times a day.

From a small grape seed bought in the market, you can grow a real vine! In order for your own grapes to bear fruit in your house, you need to know the secrets of planting this plant.

Instruction

Bones for seeds are best taken from new varieties that are resistant to disease. The seeds themselves are taken from well-ripened berries, separated from the pulp and washed under running water.

After washing, the bones must be put in a wet nylon bag, then lowered into a regular plastic bag and put in the refrigerator. Periodically, the bones must be taken out and washed. After one to two months, the seeds will begin to crack, which is the main sign of readiness for planting.

The hatched bones must be placed on a damp cloth and put to the battery for a couple of days. As soon as white roots appear, you need to plant them in fertile soil(1 part sand and 2 parts humus) to a depth of 1.5 cm. The pots must be placed in a warm, sunny place - optimally on.

Graft a cutting from a fruiting lemon. The tree is grafted when the trunk becomes as thick as a pencil. You need a piece of twig with a bud that you insert into a T-slit in your plant. Make an incision at a height of 10 cm from the pot. Wrap the junction with a film so that water does not get in. The kidney must remain in the air. If after two weeks the kidney turned green, then it was a success. Then cut the plant above the new bud.

Provide lemon tree moist air and soil, a cool place, but without drafts. Then you will receive flowers and fruits from a well-groomed tree.

Related videos

note

If your lemon is already an adult and has not yet been grafted, and you decide to hurry things up and get a harvest from it, then graft a cutting from a fruit-bearing tree onto some branch of the same thickness.

Lemons do not tolerate chlorine, water for irrigation must be well defended.

Useful advice

For good development the crown of the tree must be turned to the light with different sides. But only a little bit, so that the lemon makes a complete revolution along its axis within a year, otherwise, with a sharp turn, the plant may shed its leaves.

Mango- very beautiful evergreen from the eastern regions of India. The height of a tree in nature is twenty to thirty meters. The leaves are very beautiful, glossy, elongated. Young leaves are light green or red, which gives the tree decorative look.

Instruction

Tree in early spring. Flowers unusual: small, pinkish or yellowish. Panicle inflorescences pyramidal shape, about forty centimeters long. The period from the appearance of flowers to the ripening of fruits is from three to six months.

Rinse the stone and plant in a small nine-centimeter pot with a mixture of soddy and humus soil. Sprouts appear in two to four weeks.

Pots should be kept at a temperature of about twenty-four degrees. Annually, the plant is transplanted into a larger pot. A five-year-old tree is transplanted every three years. In winter, additional spraying is required to prevent the plant from drying out. In spring and summer additional complex fertilizer. Mango tolerates well, its crown can be anything. With proper care, mango will delight you with flowering in November-December.

Related videos

Grow from bones homemade wood simply. The main thing is to follow all the rules and recommendations for planting and care. As a rule, citrus trees, such as lemon, grow well at home.

You will need

• - lemon pit;
• - soil;
• - capacity;
• - fertilizers.

Instruction

Prepare a bone from a ripe lemon fruit. To do this, immediately after you extract it, place the seed in water. Thus, it will not dry out and will be suitable for planting.

Prepare the soil and planting container in advance. To do this, purchase a small clay pot with a diameter of 8-10 cm. Fill it with a layer of drainage. Top the container with sand and humus.

Immerse the lemon seed to a depth of 2-3 cm. Pour the soil with plenty of water at room temperature. Cover the container glass jar or plastic wrap. 30-40 days after planting, you will have the first sprout. Water during this period as needed. Do not forget to observe the thermal regime - 20-25 degrees.

When a sprout appears, organize proper care behind the plant. Remember: lemon wood does not tolerate dry soil and drafts. Optimal location plants serve as a window sill on shady side. During the period of active fruiting and flowering, do not turn the container with wood m.

Lychee is a tropical evergreen tree. Lychee leaves have an oblong pointed shape. The tree bears fruit: its small red fruits are similar to strawberries, but with white flesh and a large brown stone, ripen within 120-130 days after flowering ends. The lychee fruit is sweetish, with a pleasant smell, slightly astringent, tastes like grapes. In height, lychee can reach 35 meters. The tree is propagated different ways, but how to grow litchi from a bone, we will describe below.

Lychee at home

Many gardeners are wondering if it is possible to grow lychee from a stone at home. To be honest, this is a fairly simple task - you just need to buy a lychee fruit in a store and separate the pulp from the stone. Then wrap the seed tightly with a damp cloth and leave it like this for 5-7 days, periodically dripping water onto the seed to ensure constant moisture. After the specified time, the seed will swell and it can be planted in a pre-prepared flowerpot with soil and peat. Do not forget to make holes in the pot and put a large drainage on the bottom to avoid moisture stagnation. Plant several seeds at once - this will increase the chances of growing a plant. Before planting, the seed can be pricked - so the sprout will sprout faster. Do not immerse the seed too deep, 1-1.5 centimeters is enough. Pour the earth with soft warm water and cover from above plastic cup. Place the pot in a dark and warm enough place, even near the battery. Every day, look under the glass and water, preventing the soil from drying out.

Subject to all recommendations, seed germination will occur 2-3 weeks after planting. When you see the first thin stalk, remove the cup from the pot and rearrange the last one in a shaded place. As you can see, litchi can be grown from a seed.

Proper watering and fertilizing

After the appearance of the first 4-5 leaves, the plant can be transplanted into a larger flowerpot. Spray lychee twice a day with a siphon - after all, this is a tropical plant that is used to constant moisture. Do not expose the tree to direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves will begin to dry and the lychee will wither. Watering should be moderate, without drying out, but also without excessive soil moisture.

1-2 times a month it is necessary to feed the tree with mineral fertilizers or manure. This will enrich the soil with useful substances and will promote flowering, and subsequently fruiting. Ripe fruits must be picked immediately, because overripe, they lose their great taste and begin to darken.

In the first year of a plant's life, it is necessary to prune, forming beautiful crown. If the lychee does not bear fruit, do not worry - at least the tree will be a great addition and decoration to your interior.

The benefits and uses of lychee

It has been scientifically proven that the use of lychee fruits contributes to the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract, helps to get rid of constipation and relieve excess weight. Lychee fruits can be eaten not only fresh, but also dried and dried. These fruits are perfectly preserved in canned form, they are added to ice cream, excellent soft drinks and even wine are made from them. Seasoning from lychee fruits will be an excellent addition to meat or fish.

Due to the rich vitamin composition, lychee fruits are recommended for use in vitamin deficiency and weakened immunity, as well as for the prevention of atherosclerosis. However, do not forget that the excessive use of this fruit can lead to unpleasant bloating or cause an allergic reaction.

So is it possible to grow a lychee from a bone? Following all the above recommendations - undoubtedly, yes. Just be patient and you'll see for yourself.

Many exotic plants can be obtained from seeds. How to grow litchi from a bone at home, we will consider the photo below. In nature, it is an evergreen fruit tree reaches a height of 10-30 m! Medium-sized elongated fruits with a red skin have a sweetish taste. The skin is completely strewn with pointed tubercles. The peel is easily separated from the pulp, which tastes like grapes. The fruit slightly knits the mouth. If you plant a dark brown oval-shaped seed in the ground, a sprout will hatch from it.

Growing lychee

In Southeast Asia, Chinese lychees are the most common fruit. Common names, in addition to those already mentioned, are liji, lasi, fox, Chinese plum.

Bone removed from store-bought fruit is quite viable! Don't sow a large number of seeds, because most of them will sprout. Procedure:

	Use fresh bones for landing. Because they quickly lose their germination.
	Prepare a small container with drainage holes to drain excess water. Arrange at the bottom expanded clay or broken red brick drainage¼ height.
	Prepare a nutritious garden soil and peat substrate in a ratio of 2:1. deepen several seeds per 1 cm into the ground, water.
	Germination requires a greenhouse effect, so the container needs shelter plastic or glass jar. If a suitable container was not found, build a frame and cover it with cellophane. Seeds germinate through 2-3 weeks in a dark and very warm place, such as under a radiator.
	The temperature must be within 35 ºС. As the seeds germinate, make sure that the ground was always wet. Be sure to daily short-term ventilation of the greenhouse.
	After the emergence of sprouts greenhouse removed. The container is placed in bright place with air temperature 25 ºС. When the plants get stronger, they need to dive into permanent containers.

• FROM May to September lychee actively growing and requires abundant watering.
• FROM September to the end of February he has a period rest. Watering at this time is reduced.

Care rules

If you provide the plant with favorable conditions for growth, you can count on fruiting:

Under favorable conditions, lacy will produce a bountiful harvest every year. As they ripen, the fruits are immediately harvested, preventing them from overripe. Otherwise, they will darken and become tasteless.

Lychee disease: leaves do not grow and turn yellow, causes (video)

What are the benefits of lychee fruits

Their healing and nutritional properties have been known since ancient times. The composition contains folic, ascorbic acid and other vitamins, glucose, fructose, pectins, proteins. Fruit rich in minerals, the most valuable of which are iron, phosphorus and potassium. Lacie will not harm dieters as it calorie content of these fruits - 66 kcal per 100 g. Lychee is most often consumed raw. Fruit can be boiled compotes, make jams.

In folk medicine, the fruit is used to restore the gastrointestinal tract, recovery of cardio-vascular system, regulation of metabolism.

Lychee: video review of an exotic fruit (video)

As you can see, it is not difficult to grow litchi from a bone at home. It is much more difficult to provide him with suitable conditions for the formation of fruits. Photos of plants hint that cute exotic trees will find a place on a bright windowsill in the house and your heart!

For understandable reasons, there was a wrong opinion that exotic fruits cannot be grown at home. Practice shows that it is not so difficult if certain rules are followed. The lychee fruit is just one of those plants that can be cultivated on their own, enjoying its fruits and excellent appearance. It is worth a little understanding of the features of growing this foreign guest at home.

What you need to know about Lychee

There are quite a few names for such an interesting plant. Lychee fruit is also called differently Chinese plum or Chinese cherry. In nature, lychee can reach 30 meters in height. Naturally, growing litchi at home does not allow the plant to develop to such sizes: in most cases, its height is a maximum of 2.5 m. But usually lychee does not grow to such sizes on the windowsill. Therefore, he will not need much space if the owners want to grow a tree on their own.

Small fruits appear on the lychee, the diameter of which rarely exceeds 4 cm. The shape of the lychee berry is oval, while they themselves are covered with a bumpy peel. In many ways, the taste of such fruits is similar to that characteristic of grapes. Actually, this fact is also reflected in the alternative name of this plant. Many interesting beliefs and myths are associated with lychee. Therefore, all lovers of Chinese culture have now become interested in plants. But how exactly to grow it at home? Now this is what needs to be sorted out.

How to grow lychee at home

There are quite a few aspects that must be observed when growing such a tree. You will have to pay serious attention to the air temperature in the room, the quality of irrigation, the composition of the soil in which the plant is planted. But it’s worth starting with planting, which is not as difficult as with many other plants. AT general view imagine the cultivation of Chinese grapes as follows.

1. Planting litchi at home

As is clear, the correct fit largely determines how well the lychee will develop in the future. You should start by buying the fruit itself. Regular fruits that can be purchased at the store will do. The fruit is peeled, the bone is removed from it, and then it is washed well. Without waiting for the bone to dry, it is placed in a container with soil. It is better to use several seeds at once to increase the likelihood of good seedlings.

The first shoots appear about 15 days after the lychee is planted in the ground. Every day before shoots appear, the soil must be watered. In addition, it is necessary to maintain a suitable temperature. It is about +35°C. Accordingly, you will have to keep containers with bones under the sun. To speed up the appearance of sprouts, the container is also covered with cellophane or polyethylene.

So that when planting litchi, growing at home does not deliver big problems, immediately after the emergence of sprouts, you need to carefully maintain the temperature at a level of a maximum of + 25 ° C. AT suitable conditions sprouts will grow very quickly. Usually they soon reach a height of 20 cm. After that, the aerial part of the lychee stops growing. But its root system is constantly developing. So that the roots do not meet resistance as they develop, the tree should be transplanted into a large pot from the previous small container.

1. Proper care of lychee fruit

When the tree gains strength, it is necessary to provide it with the right conditions for further development. There are several points here that require special attention. First of all, you need to provide suitable lighting for the lychee. It should be taken into account that such exotic fruit loves the light. Perfect option- constantly keep it on the window if the daylight hours last at least 12 hours. In winter, as is clear, this is impossible. To in winter time Lychee also received sufficient lighting, it must be provided with additional illumination.

Following important condition good development of the tree is associated with its watering. Here it is necessary to act very carefully, since both drought and too abundant watering are dangerous for lychee. In this case, you can be guided by the state of the land in the pot where the plant is grown. As soon as it becomes a little dry, you need to immediately provide moisture. It is also desirable that the air in the room was humid. If the air humidity is low, the plant must be periodically treated with water from a sprinkler or spray bottle. The water that is used for watering or spraying the fruit must be well-settled. Too cold or too hot liquid will not work. Its temperature should be at room temperature so that the plant does not get damaged. Otherwise, the root system may stop growing after a while.

And, finally, for litchi, the temperature in the room plays a fundamental role. Even in winter, it should not fall below +20°C. Since lychee belongs to heat-loving varieties, growing this plant at home is often associated with difficulties. It will be possible to accelerate the growth of Chinese grapes if daylight hours are used to the maximum in spring and summer. It is necessary to keep lychees on the window at all times if a particular side of the house is under the sun all the time. In this case, the tree will receive a sufficient amount of lighting and will be able to develop faster.

1. Fertilizing Lychee at Home

Now it’s worth talking a little about how to fertilize this fruit. Sometimes it seems to gardeners and gardeners that lychee can grow more actively if fertilizers are applied as often as possible. In fact, it is also necessary to fertilize this fruit correctly and in small volumes. It is especially important to be careful when fertilizing the plant in the first year of lychee development. The first time you can use top dressing after about 3 months from the moment the tree sprouts. A small amount of top dressing, rich primarily in minerals, is used. After that, you need to leave the fruit without fertilizing until it is at least a year old. And from the second year of life, lychees are fertilized every 2 months. In this case, the likelihood that the plant will develop actively will be as high as possible. It remains to be reminded that excessive fertilizer for this tree is also dangerous, so you should not use too much fertilizer.

Some rules for caring for lychee

It would be helpful to go into more detail on how to secure the lychee. Better conditions for growth. The main point in this case concerns hydration. The natural habitat of this plant requires the presence of moist air throughout the year. It is best for litchi to grow at home, in which this feature is respected. The ideal option is to use a humidifier constantly. In this case, the lychee will be able to grow normally, receiving sufficient moisture.

Fluctuations in air temperature are possible, but still they should be characteristic of a particular time of year. In summer, the lychee is accustomed to the fact that the temperature is consistently around 25-30°C. In winter, it may be less, but not significantly. If the owners themselves become hot from constant attempts to heat the air in the room, it is better to use local heating with an infrared lamp. It is not necessary to point this type of lamp directly at the plants, but it is quite possible to place it next to the fruit. If such rules are taken into account, it will be possible to provide suitable conditions for your “pet”.

Lychee fruit - a tropical guest in an ordinary apartment

This plant does not present any incredible requirements for growing. Therefore, you can safely grow it at home or in an apartment. Then the lychee will delight with delicious fruits, although not immediately. It remains to be patient to wait for the fruit to appear. And then you will be able to enjoy the taste of Chinese grapes, not bought in a store, but grown on your own practically on the windowsill.

Some people believe that growing an exotic fruit at home is a pipe dream. However, brave gardeners broke the established stereotype and received a pretty lychee tree with its unique fruits as a reward. To do this, it is enough to understand the basic rules for growing a plant and a nice overseas guest will settle on the window.

The external characteristic of the tree

AT vivo The tree is found in China and Thailand. It grows to a height of 30 meters and bears fruits that look like cherries or small plums. There are other names for the tree, such as:

• "Paradise Grapes";
• "Fruit of love";
• "Chinese cherry";
• "Leegee";
• "Lisi";
• "Chinese plum".

The lychee tree belongs to the Sapindaceae 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. At the same time, it is carefully protected from frost and dry winds. Such extreme conditions lead to the loss of foliage and the appearance of cracks on the trunk and branches.

Lychees have oblong, fleshy leaves with a slightly shiny character. Color is dark green. The main vein runs through the center of the plate, from which there are branches in different directions. Such "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 ovoid fruit of the lychee tree small size, approximately 4 cm in diameter. Outside, they are covered with a pimply skin. The taste is reminiscent of grapes or plums, as indicated by the different names of the tree.

Exotic lychee fruits are widely used to treat various heart diseases, obesity problems and hematopoiesis.

Home Growing Secrets

Since the plant has a number of useful properties, many grow it as a houseplant. However, for this, the following aspects should be taken into account:

• air temperature in the living room;
• competent watering regime;
• soil composition for planting.

The process of how to grow a lychee tree at home begins with the acquisition of the fruit itself. 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 capacity. To achieve the ultimate goal of growing a lychee tree, it is best to use multiple seeds.

When the stone 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. As a rule, after 2 or 3 weeks, the first greens 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 be observed correctly. temperature regime, which does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

When the first shoots appear, the temperature in the room should be within 25 degrees.

After the formation of green shoots, they must be moderately watered every day. Thus, conditions are created that resemble the natural environment in which the lychee tree grows. Over time, the seedlings will rise above the soil up to 20 cm in height. 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 freely grow in different directions, it is advisable to transplant the seedling into a large 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 the windowsill big window. It is important that the plant gets access to lighting 12 hours a day. AT winter period 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 desirable to constantly monitor him. If the house has low humidity, the seedling should be sprayed with a spray bottle. Water for this is first defended to be cleaned of large impurities and brought 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 top dressing, which is rich in minerals. The next dose is applied when the tree is 1 year old. After another year, fertilizers are poured into the soil every 2 months. Thanks to proper feeding, a magnificent lychee tree will grow in the house, as shown in the provided photo.

Cut the plant only in the first two years to give it nice shape. Subsequently, only dried branches or foliage are removed. If you do frequent pruning, the process of formation of paniculate inflorescences is disrupted. So, the fruits will not appear soon. Despite this, many gardeners admire the lychee tree at home. Maybe you should try to grow an exotic tree and enjoy the taste of overseas fruits.

Lychee transplant - video

Several legends about the love of the rulers of the Middle Kingdom for this fruit have survived to this day. One of them tells how Emperor Xuanzong, whose capital was in northern China, for the sake of a beautiful concubine, Yang Guifei ordered messengers to deliver daily a basket of freshly picked lychee from the southern provinces, which are considered the most useful. we have a separate article. The beauty was filled with such gratitude to the noble admirer that she later became his devoted wife.

Why shouldn't the emperor start cultivating lychees in his own capital, instead of organizing a costly treasury courier delivery from the south, some will ask. Turns out, capricious tree feels good only in subtropical latitudes and the sharply continental climate of northern China does not suit him.

The second known to us is connected with this feature of the plant. ancient legend. Another Chinese emperor, the famous reformer Wu-di, who ruled in the north-west of the country just at the time of the discovery of lychee, wanted the magnificent southern fruits to grow on his lands. But no matter how hard the court gardeners fought, the seedlings brought in did not want to be accepted. Then the angry emperor executed innocent servants.

What a pity that then there were no supermarkets where you can buy overseas fruits from anywhere the globe. And no difficulties with cultivation or delivery.

Botanical reference

Chinese lychee (lichee) evergreen tree Sapind family.

How and where does it grow

Height in natural conditions reaches 20 m, the crown is wide, the leaves are paired, lanceolate, the inflorescences are very reminiscent of lush "candles" horse chestnut. The country of origin of the lychee is clear even from its name. However, today the cultivation of useful fruits in industrial scale In addition to China, India, Japan, Thailand, South Africa, Israel, Brazil and the Philippines are also involved.

The limited distribution area is explained by its demanding soil (it must be moist and fertile) and climatic conditions. The plant is suitable only for subtropics with their mild summer and dry, fairly cool winters. In the equatorial zone, trees do not bear fruit due to too high humidity and the absence of seasonal temperature differences, which is necessary for abundant flowering and the appearance of an ovary.


The plant can be propagated by seedlings or vegetatively. The second option is more often used, since in this case the first fruits from the trees can be harvested after 4 years, and not after 10, as when planting seedlings. Every year, the lychee bears fruit more and more actively, and the peak of productivity falls on the 20th year of its life.

The fruits have a slightly elongated shape with a dense skin covered with pineal outgrowths of a bright pink, coral or red hue. White (rarely creamy) juicy pulp of jelly-like consistency is well separated both from the peel and from the inside of the bone.

In the cut, the lychee is very beautiful. The poetic Chinese have long called it "the eye of the dragon." Indeed, the skin covered with pimples, the translucent flesh and the dark, oblong bone together are very reminiscent of the mysterious look of a mystical animal.

Is it a fruit or a berry?

looking at the branches chinese lychee, densely strewn with small (up to 4 cm) reddish fruits, which are similar in shape and color to our strawberries, many people think that they are dealing with berries. But it's not. Lychee is a stone fruit, similar in structure to a plum, peach or apricot.


This similarity was first noted by the Spanish Bishop Juan González de Mendoza, who wrote the history of China for Europeans in the 16th century. The priest had never been to the Celestial Empire, but relied on the information of his fellow countrymen - missionaries, who repeatedly mentioned a certain “fruit that looks like a plum, even in large quantities not burdening the stomach. This is exactly how the lychee is described by Mendoza. FROM light hand bishop, the fruit received a second, European name - "Chinese plum".

When ripe

The season for selling fruits begins in June and lasts all summer, and sometimes until mid-autumn. At this time, you can buy fresh, ripe lychees without fear of "running into" spoiled or stale goods. But in Russian supermarkets, these fruits can be bought even in January, for example, imported from Thailand and Madagascar.

Attention!

When buying, pay attention to the color of the fruit. Copies with a brownish skin, or slightly greenish, are unsuitable for food. In the first case, they are overripe and begin to deteriorate, in the second, they have not yet reached the condition and can cause digestive disorders, especially in children. .

Lychee ripens in late May - early July. The fruits are grouped on a branch of 3 - 15 pieces, they are plucked like that: all together to increase the shelf life. Fruit separated from the stalk begins to rot after a few days, so do not be surprised to see that in the store they are sold with twigs and leaves.

Although outwardly the fruits resemble plums, the consistency and sweetness of the pulp bring them closer, rather to grapes. According to some, lychee - something between strawberry, raspberry, bergamot and apple. Another fruit is a little tart, with a light, pleasant sourness and a delicate aroma of rose jam.

To fully understand the taste of lychee and not be disappointed in this overseas product, especially for those who try it for the first time, you need to buy specimens of bright red, not pale pink. The brighter the color of the fruit, the sweeter and more aromatic it is.

How to grow at home

A whimsical inhabitant of the subtropics, oddly enough, feels great as a houseplant. In order to grow your own, home-made Chinese plum, it is enough to buy it in a store, eat it with a planting and not throw away the stone.

Landing algorithm

Getting a sprout is very simple:

1. We take only lychee bones cleaned from pulp (it is undesirable to keep them extracted from the fruit for a long time, germination is reduced), wrap them in a natural damp cloth and place them in a dark, warm place for a week. You need to make sure that the seeds do not dry out.
2. Seeing that the bones have increased in size, we select 4 - 5 of the largest and most swollen, after which we proceed to planting.
3. In a pot of unglazed ceramics, we first pour a layer of drainage, and then a universal soil mixture mixed with peat in a ratio of 2:1. Important: Our container should be small (8 - 9 cm in diameter) with a few holes for good drainage. Stagnation of moisture will inevitably lead to the death of the sprout. It is undesirable to use plastic containers - they will not allow the roots to breathe.
4. Having loosened the soil well, we place the lychee seeds to a depth of 1.5–2 cm. You can additionally pierce the bones.
5. We cover the pot plastic cup or we build some kind of greenhouse from improvised means and cling film. We place the container in a warm place, away from the sun, for example, on the floor near the battery (if it happens in winter). Do not forget to regularly moisten the soil, providing the seeds with favorable conditions for germination.
6. The result of our efforts will be visible in 2-3 weeks. As soon as the first stalk appears, the makeshift greenhouse should be removed, and the pot should be placed in a more lit place. Direct sunlight must still be avoided. East or northeast windows are preferred.

Attention!

During this period, correct, regular watering of the plant is very important. Usually the soil is moistened every other day, when it upper layer dries up. Water should be soft, settled and not too cold.

young plant care

With proper care, lychee sprouts quickly gain strength. After the appearance of 4-5 permanent leaves, our exotic ward can be transplanted into a larger pot.

What to look for:

1. The plant needs to be provided with regular sufficient watering but it is important not to overdo it. To create a suitable microclimate, the leaves are sprayed from a spray bottle with a frequency depending on the dryness of the air in the room.
2. The temperature in the room where the Chinese plum is located should not fall below 20ºС.
3. The soil in the pot is periodically loosened, both to provide air access to the roots, and to eliminate excess moisture.
4. Young shoots need light for at least half a day. At the same time, the lychee pot is still placed in a shaded place, away from direct sunlight. In winter, you should take care of artificial lighting.
5. Litchi are contraindicated in drafts. It is not recommended to place it on the door-window line or at the open sash.
6. 1 - 2 times a month, the Chinese plum is fed. Liquid mixtures for "exotics" are used as fertilizers. But you can make them only at 3 - 4 months of plant life.

   Attention!

   In winter, top dressing is not carried out.

7. After growing rapidly during the first weeks, the lychee "slows down" and begins to develop root system. It becomes so powerful that it will easily destroy a cramped pot. Therefore, the plant must be transplanted at least three times in the first two years, gradually increasing the volume of the container.

   The period of active growth of litchi falls on May - September. At this time, it should be plentifully watered and sprayed. In addition, a container filled with water is placed next to the tree to increase the humidity of the room. In autumn and winter, the lychee is at rest, watering should be reduced. It directly depends on the comfort of the plant during the “rest” whether fruiting will occur and how plentiful it will be.

8. To form a beautiful crown, the upper branches are regularly cut in the first year.

Harvest from your home lychee tree can be harvested as early as the third year. Further, under favorable conditions and careful care, the plant bears fruit regularly.

Let's just warn you: a bountiful harvest from a roomy Chinese plum is not worth waiting for. The emerging fruits are plucked as soon as they reach full ripeness. If this is not done in time, the fruit will darken and become unfit for food.

Lychee is one of those exotic foods that you should include in your menu. Today they are no longer a rarity and are quite acceptable. you will find some recipes. Try it - it's delicious, healthy and unusual!