Every average plant lover now has yucca palms and co. at home. Orchids, carnivorous plants and olive trees are no longer special either. Try something completely new instead: grow a lychee tree! Everything you need to grow lychee can be found in any supermarket.

Cultivation of a lychee tree

The lychee tree originally comes from the subtropical regions of southern China and from there began its triumphal march around the world. You can grow a tree relatively easily from the seeds of the lychees available in the supermarket. All you need is one or more seeds of ripe fruit. You can tell whether a lychee is really ripe by the color of its skin. This should be as dark as possible, and no green or greenish areas should be visible. Soak the core in warm water for 24 hours and then plant it in a loose, nutrient-poor substrate. Keep the soil moist. Within about 30 days you will see the first tender green peeping out of the earth.

The optimal location

In the subtropics it is warm and very humid all year round. The short winters, on the other hand, are comparatively dry. In our latitudes, a lychee would die outdoors, it's just too cold and uncomfortable. Only in the warm summer months do the sensitive plants feel comfortable in a sheltered spot in the garden or on the balcony. Otherwise, you should ensure a bright and warm location all year round. It is particularly important that the temperature does not fall below 12 °C, and additional lamps should provide sufficient light, especially in the winter months.

The right substrate

Lychees need loose, permeable and slightly acidic soil with a maximum pH value of 7. In addition, the soil must not be too nutrient-rich, otherwise the roots cannot develop well. A mixture of loamy garden soil and coarse sand is most suitable. Alternatively, you could also mix potting soil, sand and clay in equal parts. It is also important that the soil you bring in is free of harmful germs. Therefore, you should sterilize the self-mixed substrate in the microwave.

Care of the lychee tree

While growing a lychee tree from the seed is quite uncomplicated, further care is all the more demanding. Lychees are very sensitive and only grow under optimal conditions.

Proper watering and fertilizing

If you want to plant lychees, you should know that they only need a little water and fertilizer. Water your tree regularly with low-lime rainwater, preferably using a spray bottle. On the other hand, you should only fertilize every four to six weeks and only very sparingly with a low-salt fertilizer. An organic fertilizer is best.

Repot a lychee tree

Repot the seedling for the first time as soon as it already has three to four leaves. Choose a pot that the lychee tree can stay in for the next few years. However, since the tree grows slowly, the pot does not have to be large. Instead, it is more important that the pot has a drainage system, because lychees do not tolerate waterlogging. Do not remove the seed core when repotting, as the plant will continue to feed on it for some time.

tips and tricks

Once your lychee tree has grown larger and older, you can propagate it. Usually, lychees are not propagated from their seeds, but from cuttings, even on plantations. You can also try this at home. Place the cutting in a glass of water until it develops roots. Then you can plant it.

Category:

Trees