There’s a misconception that mango trees don’t do well in pots, but the opposite is true. Not only can a mango tree be perfectly content in a pot, but get things right and that tree will really thrive. Here are six tips to keep in mind when growing mango trees in containers:
Give it Plenty of Sun
Since mango trees are native to the tropics, they need plenty of sun. Ideally, this means at least eight hours of sun a day.
However, don’t worry if there isn’t one spot in your garden that receives this much sun throughout the year. One of the advantages of growing a mango tree in a pot is that you can easily move it around your garden to follow the sun each season. If you plan on doing this, then go for a lightweight pot material, such as GRC.
Use the Right Pot
As mentioned, GRC is a great pot material if you’re looking for something robust yet not too heavy.
However, size is also important. Since mango trees are deep-rooted, use a container that offers depth. Pick something that’s just slightly larger than your tree’s current root ball, but be prepared to pot it up every couple of years.
Don’t Confine it to an Indoor Environment
It’s true that mango trees can be grown indoors as houseplants, but these tend to only live for a few years. To extend the lifespan of your mango tree, make sure that it gets plenty of outdoor time too.
By all means, bring it indoors if you experience cold winters (it won’t be able to tolerate freezing temperatures), but move it back outside come spring. No matter how much care you give to a mango tree houseplant, there’s no replicating the benefits of fresh air, natural light, rainwater, and insects.
Know When to Water
Although mango trees are quite drought-tolerant, this only really applies to trees growing in the ground. The soil in a pot will dry out so much faster, which should never be allowed to happen when there’s a mango tree growing in it.
Insufficient water will affect flowering and fruiting, while also weakening your tree. While mango trees do appreciate alternating periods of dry and wet, total dryness should always be avoided.
Feed it During the Growing Season
A mango tree growing in the ground has access to so many different nutrients. However, a pot-grown tree is limited to whatever happens to be in that pot.
Since nutrient intake directly affects growth, keep nutrient levels topped up during the growing season by feeding your tree every 2-4 weeks. Use a balanced fertiliser until your tree starts flowering. Then, switch to a fertiliser with higher levels of phosphorus and potassium.
Help it Through the Winter
Pot grown trees tend to be more vulnerable in the winter than those growing in the ground. As mentioned, mango trees can’t tolerate freezing temperatures, or even constant low temperatures.
One option would be to bring your tree indoors over the winter. However, if this isn’t possible, try placing it into a black pot – the black will help to absorb and conserve heat around the roots. Loosely wrapping some fleece or bubble wrap around your tree will also help to provide some extra protection.
Summary
Many simply don’t consider mango when trying to choose a new potted garden tree, but this is one that really can do so well in a container. Treat it right and it’ll flourish, rewarding you with heavy crops of juicy mangoes year after year.