Grow mango tree indoors easily. This tropical fruit tree is much liked by people of all ages and groups because of its taste, texture, color, and sweetness.
In this article we will take you through the process of growing mango trees inside, what conditions will suit them best, and finally the important care tips and tricks that will help you to be successful in this endeavor.
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How to Grow a Mango Tree Indoors from Seed
To grow a mango tree indoors from seed, first get the best available seeds, prepare the soil for sowing the seeds in a pot, and then ensure that the plant is getting adequate aftercare and optimal growth conditions. You may also have to tackle any growth-hindering issues.
1. Get the Best Seeds
The first step in the process is to get the seeds for the mango tree. As mentioned earlier, the mango comes in many different varieties, almost more than a hundred so choosing which type of mangoes you want to grow is crucial at this stage.
Each different variety has a different taste, texture, shade of yellow and orange, and, most importantly the seed. So you will need to choose the one according to your taste and preference.
You can get them in the summer and wait all year for them, or you can grow them in your house and try to get them earlier, as the process of growing a mango tree is not as hard as it may seem.
For this, you can first taste the different varieties so you have an idea and then get to the seeds. For one plant, one mango seed will be enough. When you get your seed, remove the husk from around the seed and soak it in a glass of water. This process is the initiation of seed growth and acts like rejuvenation of the seed back to life.
Now, you should aim to take the seed out and wrap it in a moist tissue and keep it moist until you are absolutely ready to put it in a pot. This is because we do not want our seed to go dry, and once it is dried, it is lost.
2. Prepare the Soil
Now, in this step, you must start preparing the soil in which the seed will be sown, and for this, you will need a large enough pot with good fertile soil for the mango tree to grow in. You can choose a clay pot, a plastic pot, or a terra cotta pot for the tree, but make sure that it is the appropriate size.
The best time to pot a mango seed is spring time so plan your plant potting around that time for best results later on. You can go ahead and mix your soil with clay, loam, and sand for the best mixture of soil for a mango tree.
As you will water the plant regularly, you will need to consider the drainage of the pot you use. For this, you must try to be cautious, which is why it is best that you use gravel at the bottom of the plant before soil. This will help in drainage and will minimize the risk of root rot.
A happy tree is one which has a good room to spread its roots and absorb nutrients so measure the size of your pot correctly. A mango tree should be repotted every 12 months so keep that in mind.
3. Sow the Seeds
After you have done so, you can move to the next step, which is to put the seed that you kept moist in the tissue in the pot that has the soil mixture. The seed should now have developed into a seedling and is at the most appropriate time to be potted.
Put the seedling in the middle of the pot, at least three inches deep, and fill it with the rest of the soil mixture, and you must lightly tap the soil after.
4. Apply After Care
A mango tree requires a good amount of sunlight all through the day. It requires about eight to 10 hours of direct sunlight. Position your pot where it can get uninterrupted sunlight and also good airflow.
It will also require a good amount of water, so water generously and after watering wait for the roots to absorb water and then sprinkle again. Try to fertilize the soil every other month and stick to the sunlight routine. An indoor mango plant will only bear fruits when it is taken very well care of, so the care you give is necessary.
A normal mango tree can take up to eight years to fully grow and produce flavor and juicy mangoes, with the right requirements being given to it as it is growing. This is the case when the mango trees are not propagated via cutting but through seed or the mango pit.
In case the mango tree is grown from a seedling, it may take somewhere between three and five years for the plant to grow and produce fruit, but meanwhile you should give the proper care.
So clearly, the process of growing it via cutting is so much better and quick as compared to the propagation via mango seed. However, it depends on you, how you take this forward, and what process you choose.
5. Tackle the Issues
The most common problem with growing a mango tree is that the growth of the tree can be easily stunted by the lack of nutrients, even in the smallest amounts. You can easily curb this problem by using fertilizer or soil with more nutrients.
The other most common problems affecting the mango trees include waterlogging, pest and insect infestation, bad weather, and limited plant care.
Fortunately, most of these problems can be eliminated with some pre-planning and causes, and yet again, all you need to do is implement them before your mango tree starts to grow.
The most reckless insects that hinder and destroy the growth of a mango tree are known as the mango gall midges. These midges are tiny insects that are found near mango trees all around the world. These insects feed on the plant tissue.
They cause abnormal growths on the side of the trees, which uses most of their nutrition, leaving the rest of the trees weak, and it would have a hindrance to grow. They target all parts of the mango tree, like the roots, stems, branches, leaves, and fruit.
The main way that you can save your tree from these tiny attackers is by spraying the insecticides and pesticides beforehand so that they do not get time for growth and reproduction.