- After you plant a tangerine sapling, wait until new growth appears before you fertilize it. Once your tree starts to put on new leaves, feed it from February to October, spacing the feedings every six weeks. Once the tree is three years or older, space the feedings to every three months. Feed a one-year-old tree 1 cup of a fertilizer with 8 to 10 percent nitrogen; two-year-old trees will need 2 cups; and trees three years and older will need 4 cups at each feeding. Keep the fertilizer away from the trunk and water well after each feeding.
- Tangerine trees kept in containers need to be fed once a month from February to October. Because brands vary, follow the manufacturer's directions regarding how much fertilize to apply with each feeding. Water the tree after each feeding to work the fertilizer into the soil. The growth of tangerine trees slows in the winter, especially if kept indoors, so do not feed your tree from November to January.
- A balanced fertilizer with a nutrient label of 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 is suitable for your tangerine tree if it also contains micro-nutrients such as iron and magnesium. A better choice is a fertilizer specifically intended for citrus trees. This type of fertilizer contains the balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that is best for your tangerine and contains other nutrients vital to your citrus tree's health.
- Slow or weak growth during spring and summer is a sign that your tangerine has a nitrogen deficiency. If your tree fails to flower or set fruit, it may either be receiving too much nitrogen or too little potassium and phosphorus. If your tangerine's leaves turn yellow but the veins remain dark, the tree is lacking iron. Leaves with yellow splotches signal a zinc deficiency.
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