Mangosteen or purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a delicious tropical fruit, native to Southeast Asia. Also, it has a juicy delicate texture and smooth sweet flavor. Hence, most fruit lovers like to grow mangosteen plants in their gardens. Before plant mangosteen seeds or plants you should have some background knowledge about it.
So, keep reading to know each and every important fact about the mangosteen plant.
What season does mangosteen grow?
At the beginning of the rainy season is best to plant mangosteen plant. Also, the pit should have enough space to grow the root system. Therefore planters dig around 4 x 4 x 4 feet pit for that. Moreover, it should enrich with organic matter and topsoil.
Further, you can spread some coconut husks or fronds near the pit. It helps to retain moisture in the soil. Also do not injure the root system while planting. In the beginning, plants need moderate wet conditions to grow well. However, dry weather just before flower blooming and during flowering encourages a good fruit set.
How long does it take to grow a mangosteen tree?
Generally, wild mangosteen varieties fully mature within 30-45 years. But the trees may reach fruit-bearing after 6 years. Further, mangosteen usually propagates by its seeds. Because vegetative propagation is difficult in this plant. These seeds can germinate within 14-21 days under favorable conditions.
Can I grow mangosteen indoors?
Yes, you can grow a mangosteen plant in an indoor container as long as you provide favorable conditions to them. Generally, it needs a quietly large space to grow very well. Furthermore, you should concern about the light requirement of the plant when you grow those indoors.
First, you should take a pot that suits to plant mangosteen trees. This pot should have 18-24 inches in diameter and more than 20 inches in height. Because the mangosteen root system does need enough space to grow in the pot. Also, the pot should have adequate drain holes. These drain holes facilitate better water drainage.
Besides pot size, you should highly concern about the type of soil. Because well-draining soil is an essential thing to mangosteen plants. Hence, a mixture of sand, soil, and perlite is recommended to fill indoor pots to plant mangosteen.
Further, Lightning is a basic need of every plant. Proper lighting is a major secret of photosynthesis. Usually, plants use this photosynthesis procedure to produce food. Thus, if you going to plant mangosteen indoor, you should pay more attention to that.
So, you should place your pot in a place that has enough sunlight. A location near to the window or bright sunny solarium is best for plant growth. Further, 12 hours of bright sunlight encourage tree growth.
If you are going to grow a mangosteen plant indoor, make sure to lightly soak the potting soil. Then do not water again until the top 2 inches of the soil are getting dried. The watering frequency will depend according to the location, light conditions, and climate conditions.
How tall does a mangosteen tree grow?
Mangosteen is a slow-growing plant. Generally, it can reach around 9-10 meters (31-32 feet) height in the wild. Moreover, favorable conditions encourage the plant growth rate. Mangosteen is a tropical plant. Thus, it needs the same conditions to grow well in a foreign location.
They cannot grow when the atmosphere temperature is below 40oF and above 100oF. As a result of this mangosteen cannot survive in most of the world.
What kind of fruit is mangosteen?
Mangosteen is a round-shaped fruit that has white color flesh. Moreover, this inner flesh covers with the thick outer layer. Further, this fruit size is the same as the orange size. It means mangosteen fruit size is ranging from 1 to 3-inch diameter.
As tropical fruit mangosteen has a fruiting season. Generally, people pluck their harvest 2 times per year. Mangosteen tree gives 200-300 crop as a very first crop. But the well-grown tree can give around 1000-3000 harvest for one season.
Further, the unripe fruit has a light green color outer layer and rough white color flesh. Hence unripe mangosteens are inedible. But when it ripens, this light green outer layer covers into the purple-red color. Also, the inner after ripe the inner flesh has a delicious tangy flavor.
The mangosteen flowers are rose pink. The immature mangosteen fruit is attached to the center of the flower. So, people consider this fruit as a queen of tropical fruits. Averagely mangosteen flowers have a 5cm diameter
In addition to these factors, mangosteen is rich in nutrients. It relatively consists of low calories and high essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
Mangosteen inner flesh includes vitamin C, folate, and thiamine. Also, it is rich in manganese, copper, magnesium, and fiber. Moreover, these nutrients help to control blood sugar, improve the immunity system and maintain healthy skin. Further, their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to destroy cancer cells.
So, you can purchase this high nutrias delicious fruit from the local fruit stores or supermarkets. Further, there are fresh, canned, or dried mangosteen products are available in the market.
How do you take care of a mangosteen plant?
Every living creature needs some specific care to grow up well. These plant requirements can satisfy by person or nature. Here I mentioned the most important conditions that you maintain properly to have a healthy plant.
Climate
Mangosteen is a tropical plant. Thus, it cannot tolerate in super cool and extremely hot climates. Therefore you should aware of the climate preferences of mangosteen trees before grow. You can grow them in a 40oF-100oF (4 oC -37oC) temperatures. But ideal temperature range from 77oF-95oF (25 oC -35oC).
Water
Watering is an essential thing at the initial stages of the plant. Thus, you should pay proper attention to the plant for the first three years. Moreover, mangosteen young plant needs consistent watering during dry seasons. Because In dry season soil has not enough moist. Therefore root system needs extra support from the outside.
But do not overwater your mangosteen plant. Overwatering can kill the plant because the root system does not like much water. Furthermore, once the mangosteen tree attains good growth, you do not have to care much about watering. Plant root systems are well established in this stage. Hence, it can be self
Humid
Further, it needs high humid conditions to grow well. Also, mangosteen trees need at least 1250mm rainfall annually. Good rainfall encourages plant growth.
Location
Being a tropical tree, the mangosteen plant enjoys both direct sunlight and filtered sunlight. Therefore you should plant it in a place that has enough sunlight. The 10 to 12 hours of direct sunlight is ideal for them. But if it is not possible, select a spot that plants can get sunlight a minimum of 5-6 hours per day.
As well as these factors, you must be careful about your indoor mangosteen plant. Because it also needs enough sunlight to grow well. Therefore place it on your indoor garden, balcony, or near the window. Further, sunlight not only encourages plant growth but also motivates food productions.
Soil
Generally, mangosteen plants prefer rich organic soil. But it can survive in sandy loam or clay soils too. In addition to these factors, this plant do even better in soil with a slightly acidic pH.
Space
Generally, mangosteen plants need some space to grow well. Because it can reach around 10-12 meters in height. If you are going to plant it in your garden dig a 4x4x4 pit for that. Further, you can add organic matter to that pit. These organic matters may encourage plant growth at early stages by providing nutrients.
Pests and diseases
Mangosteen contains bitter latex. Because of that pests and diseases rarely affect the tree. But some caterpillars may appear on leaves. They may eat healthy immature leaves. Hence, you can manually remove them.
How do you fertilize mangosteen?
Fertilizers playing a major role in plant growth. Thus, feed your mangosteen plant with N, P, K solution that consists of compounds at 16, 16, 16 ratios. Also, you can use the 20, 20, 20 (N, P, K) ratio too.
Fertilize them every 4-5 months period. The important thing is you continue the fertilization routine properly until the tree turns 3, 4 years old. After that, you can add fertilizers one or two times per year.
Alternatively, you can use organic produce organic fruits by using organic fertilizers. The fish emulsion, cow dung, or compost are the recommended organic fertilizers for mangosteen plants.
Further, do not forget to take care and add sufficient fertilizers once the tree establishes itself. In addition to these facts, it is important to follow fertilizer label instructions. Because over fertilizing can burn or kill your mangosteen tree.
Is mangosteen easy to grow?
Yes, the Mangosteen plant is easy to grow if environmental conditions perfectly match their desirable levels. Especially as tropical plants, they need moderate temperatures between 40 oF -100oF. Also, this plant needs soil that consists of more clay and little silt.
Sandy alluvial soils are not suitable for mangosteen. Further, if the soil does not perfectly match their requirements, it directly affects the fruit yield.
