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Lychee trees are native to the subtropical climate of southern China, where the long summers are hot and humid. Although the climate in Germany is rather unfavorable for lychees, the plants can usually be cultivated indoors or in a greenhouse without any problems. The very slow-growing plants make a pretty, exotic room decoration.

Only use the seeds of ripe fruit for cultivation

The lychee consists of an elongated, brown, shiny core surrounded by pearly flesh and a hard but thin skin. However, before you can plant the core, you first have to carefully free it from its shell, being careful not to injure it in the process. It is important to only use seeds from ripe fruits. You can recognize ripe lychees by the fact that no green or greenish shimmering areas can be seen anywhere on the fruit. To be on the safe side, you can leave the fruits selected for breeding at home for a few days after you have bought them and let them ripen. The skin of the lychees then quickly turns brown and shrivels.

Plant the seed

Now remove the shell and the pulp and wash the brownish, shiny core carefully in lukewarm, running water. Then soak the core for about 24 hours in water that is also at room temperature and if possible stagnant. This preparation will eventually facilitate germination. You can then plant the seed core in a small plant pot with loose substrate (potting soil mixed with coarse sand is best) about one to two centimeters deep. Place the pot in a light and warm, but not sunny location. Keep the soil moist but not wet. A spray bottle works best for this. The core will start to germinate in about 30 days.

Under these conditions, a lychee also feels at home in Germany

  • Lychees like a bright but not sunny location
  • It should be warm, with the optimum room temperature being 25°C.
  • Lychees like high humidity: do not water your lychees with a watering can, but with a spray bottle.
  • Only fertilize lychees a little! A small amount of fertilizer per month is sufficient - in winter there is no fertilizer at all.
  • Young lychee trees can also stand outside in summer. However, slowly accustom the plant to the sun, otherwise the leaves will burn.

You will probably never get fruit from your lychee plant. Lychee trees grow very slowly and usually only bear fruit between the ages of 10 and 25 years. However, fruit would be possible if your tree is freestanding (not in a pot!) in a year-round air-conditioned greenhouse.

tips and tricks

Don't worry if your lychee doesn't seem to grow for two or three years. That's not unusual. Then please do not fertilize more often or more than usual, because that only damages your plant. Naturally slow-growing, lychee does not require many nutrients.

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Trees