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As you know, at home, some trees do not take root badly. They make quite beautiful ornamental plants, but some of them also have very interesting useful properties. The tropical muraya tree is able to please the household not only with a delicious aroma that even one inflorescence can fill the whole room with, but also with delicious medicinal berries. In Russia, this plant is often found at home, which is why it is worth talking about it in more detail so that it becomes even more widespread. The flower requires specific care, but its medicinal properties are literally forced to cultivate many at home. Look at the muraya flower in the photo, which shows the decorative value of the culture: 
Tropical areas are considered to be the birthplace of Muraya. These are mainly the islands of Java, Sumatra, some areas of India and Indochina. The plant received its name from Carl Linnaeus in honor of his student Junach Andreas Murray. Thus, the more correct name is “mureya”, but “muraiya” has become fixed in everyday life and we will appeal further. When young, muraya shoots are quite flexible, but with age they become stiffer and rather smooth to the touch. Thus, the plant becomes a tree or shrub of the Rut family. Some flower growers note that muraya is very similar to some citrus fruits. In the photo below you can see exactly what. 
Muraya leaves that are not pornographic can have 5 or 7 elliptical leaflets - it depends on the species, of which there are only 12 in nature. The leaves of this plant are quite dark green in color, have a leathery surface and a pleasant specific aroma. Many compare them with lavrushka, if only because they are similar in structure and are also used as spices. Muraya panicled (room) differs from those species that grow in the wild in that it has oval-shaped leaves. 
Muraya also differs from citrus fruits in flowering, usually it is white or cream-colored inflorescences with a strong and very pleasant aroma. In diameter, such a flower can reach no more than 2 cm. After flowering, fruits are formed on the plant that do not exceed 3 cm and are very similar to hawthorn berries. They are edible and, as experts say, contain biologically active substances that have a beneficial effect on the overall tone of the whole body. The fruit is oval in shape and dark red in color, as you can see in the photo below. 
In fact, with proper care, the flowering and fruiting of this tree can be observed throughout the year. But, the smell from it is so strong that not all households may like it, so be careful when choosing such a houseplant.
Useful and healing properties of muraya: a real home first aid kit
The muraya tree is a real home first aid kit, it has such huge amount useful and medicinal properties that it is simply impossible to list everything in a row. Let's focus on the most important of them, and also find out to whom such a plant is contraindicated and whether it can harm a person. As they say in Japan, a plant such as muraya should grow only in imperial courts, as its aroma allows you to awaken the mind, and children born next to this perennial are distinguished by a sharp and quick mind. In fact, in these words lies the most important useful property of this shrub - the quick ability to relieve headaches. Some muraya owners use the leaves of this plant for these purposes. By chewing them, you can easily get rid of migraines, especially for weather-dependent people.
In addition to headaches, the root, inflorescence petals, bark, help with pain during a cold. Yes, in traditional medicine you can find a recipe for a decoction of muraya flower petals, which can be used to rinse your mouth and throat during a sore throat. The aroma that this plant exudes is very useful for people with cardiovascular diseases and weather-dependent. A fairly large amount of vitamins is concentrated in the perennial fruit. Muraya berries are used to maintain general tone, but they are most often recommended for people with diabetes, as they help reduce blood sugar levels. The use of a large number of fruits can lead to intoxication with some of the elements contained in them and oversaturation of the body, so you should not get carried away with them. 
Another healing property of muraya is its antifungal and anti-inflammatory effect. This allows the use of essential oils of this plant and decoctions from its parts, even in official medicine. As for the harm that this plant can cause, it is possible only with individual intolerance to certain elements. In addition, as mentioned earlier, muraya flowers have a rather bright aroma that may not be to everyone's taste. 
Reproduction and cultivation of muraya cuttings and seeds at home
In order for a plant to please with its medicinal and beneficial properties, you need to learn how to grow it and propagate it if necessary. At home, doing this is quite simple, since there are only two pretty simple ways. The first is the propagation of muraya by cuttings, the second is by seeds. At the same time, even a young plant is not so whimsical that it is quite easy to propagate and grow it yourself.
To begin with, let's look at the first, rather popular way of propagating muraya - cuttings. They must be cut in the fall, this is done as follows: the shoots are carefully cut and placed in water until the roots form. After that, we plant in the soil, which can be peat or sand. It should be remembered that only those plants that have already reached the age of one year should be propagated in this way. If it is younger, then it is better to resort to propagation using seeds. They are harvested from the fruits of muraya, after which they are immediately planted in separate pots with sandy soil. The sowing depth should not exceed 0.5 cm. If observed at 22-25 degrees, then the first shoots will appear within 1-1.5 months. During the growing season, moderate watering is necessary. 
Indoor muraya is a plant whose homeland is the mountains, so from the very beginning of growth it is necessary to create a microclimate. To do this, it is necessary to observe not only the temperature balance, but also the humidity of the air. In the case of cuttings, you can cover the sprout with a jar, glass or cling film. The same can be done when propagating muraya with seeds at home. 
Proper care for muraya at home and photos of beautiful indoor plants
As mentioned earlier, with proper care, muraya can delight with its fruits and fragrant flowers all year round. But even in spite of this, indoor plant considered rather unpretentious, even knowing the fact that it is tropical. In the photo below you can see how beautiful Muraya can be in room conditions if you follow all the rules for caring for her.
First of all, look at muraya as a tropical mountain plant, where it grew in conditions high humidity air. In no case should you place this tree next to the batteries that will dry it. A plant regularly sprayed with water from a spray bottle will grow and bloom quite well. Also, it is worth paying attention to the fact that Muraya is a rather light-loving plant, but from direct sun rays it can die, as they will leave burns. In the hot season, it is best not to take the tree out into the fresh air, especially if it is also windy. In any case, when caring for muraya at home, avoid wind and drafts. In the summer, during active growth, it is necessary to do top dressing; complete fertilizers for house plants can be used as it. In spring, muraya is transplanted into soil with a high compost content. In warm weather, the tree can be kept outdoors in the yard or on the balcony. 
As for watering, it should be moderate, muraya does not tolerate stagnant moisture in a soil coma, therefore, before planting this plant, drainage and holes at the bottom must be made in a pot. In order to water the plant, melted soft water should always be stored. It is done in this way: water is collected in bottles and settled for at least a day, so that all heavy impurities, such as lime and salt, settle. 
The temperature regime for muraya is usually advised in the range from 18 to 23 degrees. In winter, the temperature should not exceed 18 degrees, as this is the period when the plant is gaining strength for a new life cycle. In ancient Chinese legends, muraya is described not only as a beautiful tree or bush with a pleasant aroma, but also as a healing plant that allows you to get rid of many diseases. The plant belongs to the rue family. It reaches a height of one and a half meters, has beautiful, rich, green foliage, white flowers and reddish-brown berries.
Types of muraya
Muraya is not exactly a typical houseplant. This is a tree with white-yellow bark and feathery leaves. It blooms with white flowers, after which small berries are tied. Initially green, they ripen to red or brown. A feature of Muraya is its amazing aroma, if you get closer to it, you can feel the citrus smell with hints of jasmine. In addition, the berries of this plant can be eaten, they have a spicy, slightly sweet taste. However, eating too many of them is not recommended, it is better to limit yourself to 4 berries at a time. After have a hard day it is useful to eat muraya berries, they will give strength and relieve fatigue, as well as calm and increase efficiency.
There are several types of muraya, but only two of them can grow indoors: panicled muraya and exotic muraya. Exotic muraya grows more like a tree than a bush. It looks very much like a paniculata, which grows in a bush. The leaves are small, the flowers are white, and the berries are red, fleshy, small no more than 2 cm. People also call it orange or fragrant muraya for a slightly citrus aroma.
Home care
Despite the fact that the plant reaches a height of one and a half meters, the muraya branches are quite fragile and can break without support, for this reason it is necessary to organize a support next to the pot that can support the branches, especially when berries or flowers appear on them.
Caring for this plant is not difficult, but requires constant watering, and maintaining a certain microclimate in the room.
Muraya content temperature
Muraya can be attributed to exotic plants, so the air temperature in the room in which she is located plays one of the most important roles for her survival. In summer it is necessary that it fluctuate within 20-25 degrees, and in winter it should not be lower than 16 and not higher than 18 degrees, otherwise the leaves will begin to wither, the plant will grow very slowly, berries will not appear, like flowers. Muraya does not tolerate heat, so it is better if the temperature is lower than normal than higher.
Muraya breeding
Unpretentious Dutch (panicle) muraya is usually sold in flower shops, it grows quickly, does not require special care, but rarely blooms and bears fruit. For this reason, it is better to grow another, exotic muraya. It can be found either with friends or in the market. This type of tree propagates by seeds from fruits. Each fruit contains two seeds. It should be remembered that the shelf life of such seeds is not more than a month, but it is better to plant them in the ground immediately after removing them from the berry, so they will be accepted faster. Plant seeds in moist soil and constantly maintain the temperature and humidity in the norm. After about a month, the seeds germinate, and after four months they will begin to bloom.
In addition to seeds, you can propagate the plant with cuttings, just plant it in the soil and wait until it is accepted, however, the cuttings are often defective, and are taken for a long time. It is easier to propagate muraya with seeds.
Landing muraya
Muraya refers to those plants that do not need a lot of free space in the pot. The container should be cramped so that by filling it with the root system, the plant can begin to grow up, develop branches and leaves, and bloom.
The most favorable land for muraya will be a mixture of ordinary garden, store soil, peat and sand. Before planting a plant or transplanting it into a new land, it is necessary to treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate or specialized agents that will destroy all harmful microorganisms.
Muraya transplant
Muraya should be transplanted annually. The root neck should not go deep into the pot, otherwise the tree will cease to bear fruit and bloom. During transplantation, drainage is important, it should be at least a third of the pot so that the water does not stagnate.
Watering and feeding muraya
An important point in caring for muraya is watering. There should be a lot of water, this plant loves water, so you need to water it often right under the root, as well as spray and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. But it is necessary all the time to ensure that the water in the pot does not stagnate, otherwise the rhizomes may begin to rot. It should be watered only with settled water at room temperature.
Feed the plant once a month. To do this, it is better to choose mineral components that do not contain chlorine, since it is detrimental to this plant.
Muraya lighting
Like any tropical plant Muraya loves diffused but bright light. Direct sunlight can spoil the leaves, so you should not put it on a window where the sun shines all the time, or you should darken the window, hang gauze there, stick a blackout film. On hot summer days, you can let the plant “breathe” with fresh air. Open the window or take the muraya to the balcony, and again, do not forget about the blackout from the sun and it is advisable to avoid drafts.
In winter, lighting is just as important for this tropical guest as it is in summer. If it is very cloudy outside for several days in a row, turn on the lights in the room so that the plant gets enough light. If you wish, you can buy a special lamp for plants and place it directly with the plant, so that if necessary, do not turn on the light in the entire room, but get by with this small amount of lighting.
Peculiarities
- A few years ago, muraya was just an exotic name for an interesting, overseas plant, and only recently went on sale. Now you can decorate any apartment with such exotic.
- The fruits, as well as the leaves of muraya, are used in medicinal purposes. The leaves can be chewed, ground into a powder, used to boost the immune system, for pain relief, or as a flavoring condiment. The berries contain vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, potassium, they perfectly tone the body, help to cope with fatigue.
- Muraya has long been used in cosmetology to revitalize the complexion, tone the skin and strengthen the hair.
- During flowering, the aroma of the plant spreads throughout the apartment.
- Blooms throughout the year.
Muraya is a charming houseplant that is valued not only for its flowering, but also for its delicate aroma, reminiscent of the smell of jasmine. The peculiarity of a flower is that it blooms all year round while setting fruit. Thanks to this, on one bush you can simultaneously observe buds, flowers, and berries. Although muraya among flower growers is reputed to be capricious, it should be started at home, because by creating suitable conditions for it, you can achieve continuous flowering and enjoy the wonderful aroma.
Origin and description of muraya
Muraya is a shrub or small tree belonging to the Rutaceae family, along with well-known citrus fruits such as lemon or mandarin.
The plant was first discovered at the end of the 18th century in the Himalayas by the Swedish naturalist Murray, after whom it got its name.
Under natural conditions, muraya is found in Southeast Asia, in particular in Sumatra, Taiwan, in the mountainous regions of China, in India and Nepal. In addition, it can be seen in the northern part of the Australian continent.
The bush is small, on average, muraya grows up to two meters in height. Thin and flexible stems are covered with light gray bark. Leaf blades are leathery, shiny and smooth to the touch. On one leaf there are several dark green leaves of an elongated shape.
Snow-white flowers consist of five petals bent back. They are collected in racemose inflorescences and exude a wonderful aroma, reminiscent of the smell of jasmine. Muraya fruits are small, oval. Outwardly, they resemble tiny oranges. elongated shape. Inside each of the fruits is a large yellowish pit.
Types and varieties of muraya, popular in indoor floriculture
Botanists described ten species of muraya, but only two of them are cultivated as a houseplant.
- Muraya Koeniga (chokeberry). It is an evergreen plant native to India. Muraya Koenig has pinnate leaves, on which there are from 11 to 21 lanceolate leaf blades. A feature of the species is that not only flowers, but also leaves have a strong aroma, due to which they are used in cooking and cosmetology. In India, they are used to make curry seasoning, which is why chokeberry muraya is often called the "curry tree". For indoor floriculture this species is quite capricious, it requires special humidity and lighting.
- Muraya panicled (exotic). Under natural conditions, the flower grows in the southern regions of Asia and in the northern part of Australia. It is this plant that is most often found in home flower collections. The leaves are not as large as those of chokeberry muraya, they reach a length of 7 - 12 cm. Each has 7 to 11 small leaf blades. The flowers are painted in a snow-white or cream shade. The fruits are bright red. During flowering, panicled muraya exudes a pleasant aroma, for which the flower is popularly called "orange jasmine". This species blooms quite late, at 5–8 years of age. However, hybridizers have bred new varieties of muraya paniculata, the flowering of which occurs in the first six months after planting the seeds. This is a dwarf muraya, whose growth in adulthood does not exceed 50 cm. Among modern varieties you can highlight Min-a-min, Minima and Dwarf Compact.
In stores, panicled muraya is often sold under the name Dutch, this is not a variety of muraya, it's just that they began to call panicled muraya, supplied from the Netherlands.
Chokeberry, panicled (or Dutch) and other types of muraya in the photo
The size of dwarf muraya does not exceed 50 cm Muraya paniculata is most often cultivated in room conditions. The fruits, leaves and flowers of black muraya are edible. They are used in cooking, pharmacology and cosmetology. The crown of dwarf varieties of muraya is spherical, the bush is fluffy, so it is not necessary to form a plant. Dwarf varieties of muraya are ideal for growing on a windowsill
Conditions necessary for muraya depending on the season - table
| Season | Lighting | Humidity | Temperature |
| Spring Summer | The flower is pretty light-loving plant. However, muraya does not tolerate direct sunlight. The ideal option will be located on an east or west window. In summer it is necessary to shade from the scorching sun. | Humidity does not really matter, muraya can tolerate the dryness of the air in the room, but on very hot days it needs to be sprayed with warm water twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. | +22–25 degrees |
| Autumn winter | A bright place is required, but despite this, Muraya must be additionally illuminated with fluorescent lamps. | Spray the flower every 2-3 days or place the pot on a tray with wet expanded clay, moss or pebbles. | +15–17 degrees |
How to transplant muraya?
Soil for "orange jasmine"
The soil should be loose, light, with neutral acidity or slightly acidic, not too nutritious, because in nature muraya grows mainly in mountainous areas, and ascetics do not really like greasy soil. An ideal substrate for growing an exotic beauty is a mixture of humus, turf and leafy soil, taken in equal parts. Coarse-grained sand (1 part) should be added to them for looseness, as well as a little vermiculite and perlite.
If it is not possible to compose the substrate yourself, you can use ready-made universal or special soil for citrus fruits. But it is necessary to put a couple of tablespoons of perlite or vermiculite in it for greater friability.
Choosing the Right Muraya Container
The flowerpot for muraya should not be too wide and deep. In order for the “orange jasmine” to bloom well, a rather cramped pot is needed, the roots of the flower must completely wrap around the earthen ball. At each subsequent transplant, choose a container about 2 cm larger than the previous one.
Muraya makes a beautiful bonsai. If you want to grow a bizarre tree, choose a shallow ceramic bowl for it.
Muraya transplant - step by step description of the process
Young muraya specimens require an annual transplant, which should be scheduled in early spring, when the flower begins to actively grow.
Adult bushes are transplanted every three years (provided that the flowerpot has become too small and the roots look out through the drainage holes), and in the intervals between the procedure, you can simply replace upper layer soil in a pot on a fresh substrate.
How to plant muraya at home - video
Muraya care at home
Features of watering and top dressing
In summer, muraya needs abundant watering. However, the plant does not like excessive dampness, so immediately drain the excess liquid from the pan, avoiding moisture stagnation. An important nuance is that the flower does not tolerate chlorine, so use only settled water.
Muraya is fed all year round, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. Humate is perfect as an organic, and from preparations containing minerals and trace elements, choose complex fertilizers for citrus fruits. In winter, continue to fertilize, but the concentration nutrients double down.
When watering and fertilizing, follow the golden rule: it is better for murai to underfeed and underfill than to overdo it.
How to prune and form a crown
To give the bush a magnificent shape and enhance branching, experienced flower growers recommend pinching the shoots at the very beginning of the growing season. To do this, you need to shorten the main shoot, and when it gives side branches, they also need to be pinched. The procedure should be repeated three times with an interval of three to four weeks.
Please note that dwarf varieties of panicled muraya do not need to be formed, since the plant itself grows into a lush bush.
How to make it bloom and bear fruit
The beautiful muraya does not have a pronounced period of rest. It can bloom and bear fruit all year round, while the plant does not need pollinators, it is self-fertile. Snow-white fragrant flowers bloom for 1-2 days, and then form a fruit that ripens within four months.
If the room is sufficiently humid and warm, then muraya blooms and sets fruits without additional effort. However, if the weather is too hot and the air is too dry, the pollen becomes sterile and unviable.
Sometimes it happens that the plant "refuses" to bloom. A little stress will help stimulate the appearance of buds. Move the flower in winter to a cool place, with a temperature not higher than +17 degrees, reduce the amount of watering and top dressing. After a month, move the muraya to a sunny place and water it abundantly, in one or two weeks buds will appear on the flower.
The consequences of improper care for muraya - table
| Problem | Possible reason | How to fix the situation |
| Muraya leaves faded, stained or turned yellow. The edges of the leaf blades curl, plant growth slows down. |
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| The tips of the leaves dry out, the flower stalks fall off. | Very dry indoor air. |
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| Leaf blades turn yellow and fall off. | Wrong watering. |
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| The leaves dry in the center and along the edges. | Sunburn. | Move the muraya container to a place with bright but diffused light. |
Muraya pests and diseases
If Muraya is provided with excellent care and acceptable conditions of detention, she practically does not get sick and is not annoyed by pests. However, in dry air, the flower is affected by spider mites and shield aphids. And with excessive dampness, muraya suffers from root rot and chlorosis.
| Diseases and pests | signs | Reason for the appearance | Treatment and prevention measures |
| Chlorosis | The leaves turn yellow, they turn pale or stained, and the growth of muraya slows down. | Excess chlorine in the soil and lack of trace elements, especially iron. | Make sure that the irrigation water and fertilizers do not contain chlorine. You can additionally feed the plant with preparations with a chelated form of iron. For example, microfertilizer "Orton Micro-Fe". |
| root rot | Leaves and shoots begin to turn black. Mold appears on the root collar. | Waterlogging of the substrate. | A flower affected by root rot should be removed. As a preventative measure, water the muraya properly. Avoid stagnant moisture. |
| spider mite | The leaves wither, turn yellow, then they die off and fall off. On the reverse side of the leaf blade, you can see a thin cobweb. | Dry indoor air. | Actellik will help get rid of spider mites. Dilute it according to the instructions and carefully spray the muraya, trying to get droplets of the solution on the top and inner side leaf, as well as on all shoots. After processing, put a bag on the plant. Repeat the procedure three times with a frequency of once every seven days. To prevent spider mite infection, regularly moisten the air around the muraya. |
| Shield aphid (shchitovka) | Brown tubercles appear on the leaf blades and shoots of muraya. The leaves become paler, they wither, then completely dry out and fall off. | Insufficient humidity in the room. | The mechanical processing of muraya helps to get rid of the shield. Scrape off the bumps and wash all parts of the plant with a swab dipped in soapy water. After that, spray the flower with Aktellik, diluted according to the instructions. Periodically inspect the flowers located next to the muraya. Isolate them immediately if they are infested with the pest. |
Features of reproduction of muraya
"Orange jasmine" propagated by vegetative method and seeds, while the cuttings take root quite difficult, so the seed method is preferable.
Muraya from seeds - a step-by-step description of the breeding process
The germination of muraya seeds is lost very quickly, so only fresh planting material should be used for propagation. The ideal option would be to use a seed from a freshly picked fruit, but you can use seeds sold in stores, you just need to pay attention to the date of manufacture, it should not exceed 1 year.
The longer the muraya bones are stored, the lower their germination.
Reproduction of muraya by cuttings - a step-by-step master class
Muraya can also be propagated by apical cuttings. They root rather poorly.
Of the ten cuttings, only a few will give roots.
Muraya is a rather rare and little-known tree for housewives, but a popular and beloved tropical plant among aesthetes and gourmets from floriculture. This exotic perfection can grow in your apartment too. Murraya is not only attractive in appearance and exudes an amazing aroma, but is also a healer and aroma therapist for her master. Read more about caring for muraya at home.
Murraya flower got its name in honor of the Swedish scientist, professor of botany and medicine, by the name of Murray. Sometimes there are abbreviated names of this plant - Muraya or Murray. Housewives also affectionately call her Murka. Red Murka or Black Murka, depending on the color of its ripe berries.
For the shape of the flowers and their fragrance, flower growers call the Murraya tree Orange Jasmine. For the savory taste of the leaves of chokeberry Murraya Koenig, it is called the Curry Tree. It is also called the Tree of Emperors, Fragrant Tree, Exotic Murray and Japanese Myrtle.
Muraya is a native of Japan and Southeast Asia. It is found in Taiwan, China, India. Even in Australia it can be found. In Japan, for many centuries, murrayu has been actively used to decorate gardens. And everywhere about this miracle - the plant composed legends. In Japan, the Muraya tree is called Japanese myrtle. For a long time it was intended for the elite, it was grown only in the gardens of Japanese emperors, who had to inhale the aroma of Murraya flowers every day to maintain their health and produce healthy offspring. Legend has it that for trying to carry beyond imperial palace this plant or its seeds, the guilty one was decapitated. Ordinary Japanese were forbidden to grow Muraya on pain of death.
In ancient China, during the time of the great emperors, this tree was valued and protected like its owners, who believed that it was able to give youth and eternal life.
Muraya belongs to the Rutov family and is the closest relative of citrus fruits. Under natural conditions, about 10 species of this plant grow. For cultivation at home, breeders bred special low varieties of the panicled species of Muraya and Muraya chokeberry. Paniculata Murraya is called Dutch by some, ours or ordinary by others, and exotic Murraya by others. This is the same plant, but it grows, often, in different ways for everyone.
Beneficial features
Description
Muraya - evergreen perennial, which can live in your house for quite some time. In room conditions, Murraya is grown in the form of a bush or tree. The size also varies from 30 cm in dwarf varieties to one and a half meters. The stem and shoots of an adult plant are covered with a smooth yellow-gray bark. In young specimens, the shoots are slightly pubescent. The branches are thin, elastic, easily bent. Gradually they stretch out, forming a dense lush crown. Tall specimens of room Murraya should be tied to a support, as its branches are still fragile. At first, the flower grows slowly, but as soon as it root system will master the entire space of the pot, the active growth of the ground part of the plant will begin. Even miniature varieties of room Murraya grow a few cm every year. The leaves of Murraya are complex, oval or elliptical in shape, dense, shiny, consist of 5-7 dark green leaves. The size of one leaf is from one to nine cm in length and from half to 6 cm in width. Total length complex sheet sometimes up to 12 cm. The leaf plate is slightly bent along the central vein. Muraya blooms in favorable conditions conditionally twice a year.
The fruits of the first flowering have not yet ripened, and the plant is again in bloom. Paniculate inflorescences are formed on the tops of young shoots. Corollas consist of five white petals with a diameter of one to one and a half cm. Long petals open wide, as if demonstrating the appearance of filiform stamens in the center of the flower. After they are pollinated, fruits appear. Depending on the variety, they are red or black, covered with a shiny smooth skin. From a distance, the fruits of Murraya look like hawthorn berries. Their maximum length reaches 2 cm in red berries. Black berries are smaller. Each berry contains two or one long seed. Murraya fruits ripen within four months. They are generally edible and healthy, with a savory, sweetish taste. We do not recommend eating all the berries at a time. But three or four pieces are very useful to eat after a hard day - they will relieve fatigue, give you new strength, you will have working capacity again, calm your nerves. The fruits of the chokeberry Murraya have poisonous seeds, do not swallow them. A feature of this houseplant is that it stands decorated almost all year round with both flowers and fruits of varying degrees of ripeness. The aroma of some species is similar to jasmine, others smell like lemon, and others smell like orange. But all exude a marvelous aroma of freshness and bliss.
But, keep in mind this feature of Murraya. Store bought, it is usually of Dutch selection. It is unpretentious, grows well in room conditions, but you can wait a long time for its flowering and not wait. If this is your case, we advise you to ask around your friends - maybe someone has a blooming specimen of our usual, our murray. Get a cutting, or better, a bone, and grow your own Tropicana. A plant obtained in this way will very soon delight you with its flowering and delicious berries.
Species and varieties
As we mentioned above, there are about ten types of murray in nature, but only three of them can be grown indoors.
This species is the most popular and often found because of the beauty and decorativeness of a sprawling, fast-growing bush. It reaches a height of one and a half meters. In an adult plant, the stem is woody. Bright green leaves are oval in shape, reach 15 cm in length. They are located along the entire length of the shoots. At abundant flowering large (up to 8 cm) corymbose inflorescences with small white flowers bloom on the tops of young shoots. After pollination, orange-red berries appear. They are edible, have a pleasant sweetish taste and an intense aroma of citrus fruits, for which panicled murraya is sometimes called orange jasmine.
Murraya paniculata begins to bloom only in the fifth or eighth year of its life.
Varieties of the panicled Murraya species:
- Minima is a small flowering tree up to 60 cm high. It is often used to create bonsai;
- Min-a-min is a shrub up to 1 m high, with a dense beautiful crown of small, up to 2 cm long, leaves;
- Dwarf Compact - this miniature tree has a height of 10-15 cm and leaves with a diameter of up to 5 mm.
Murraya Koeniga
This type of Murraya is popularly called the Curry Tree. Its pinnate leaves are elongated. The shape of the leaves is lanceolate, pointed at the end. They are used in curry spice mixture. The flowers in multi-flowered corymbs have a light cream hue, and the berries, ripening, turn black in color. The fruits of the chokeberry species of Murraya are eaten with caution - its bones contain poison!
This type of Murraya begins its flowering in the second - fourth year of life.
Murraya pygmy
Murraya pygmy
It is this dwarf species of Murraya that is most in demand among exotic lovers. It was not possible to trace the origin of this plant variety. This is a small bush, 50 - 70 cm in height. In the first half of the year of his life, he blooms, and blooms, almost all year round, even in winter. At the tops of its shoots, buds are simultaneously tied, ovaries appear, flowers open, new buds form, fruits appear - this continuous process does not stop either in winter or in summer. All types of Murraya self-pollinate. Berries ripen in 2-3 months.
Murraya indoor flower care
Muraya is a very wayward plant. Even seedlings of the same plant, growing up, behave differently. Some grow neatly, in a compact bush, and begin to pick up buds after the appearance of the first pair of true leaves. And others wave from a meter, but they don’t think to bloom. Plant care is not very laborious, but knowing some of the nuances will help you not only grow this wonderful tree, but also get enough of the aroma of its flowers and taste the Murraya berries.
Murraya growing temperature
For Muraya, a temperature of 25 - 26 ° C is considered comfortable in summer and slightly lower in winter. In principle, room temperature throughout the year will be just right. Minimum temperature content should not fall below 12°C. In the warm season, you can put a flower pot on a balcony or veranda protected from rain and wind. But, sharp cooling and cold drafts have a negative effect on the delicate greenery and flowers of Murraya. Take care of your miracle tree!
Lighting
It should be bright, sunny, but, better, scattered. Direct sunlight is not contraindicated - the shoots respond well to the sun's rays falling on them in spring and autumn. However, on hot summer days it is better to put the flower pot deep into the room, and ventilate the room more often. Best Places- on the southeast or southwest window sills. If you have only southern windows, then a light openwork shadow should fall on the plant. If your flower stands on the balcony in summer, then it is also better to keep it closer to the wall so that the midday sun's rays do not burn the delicate greens and Muraya petals. However, if your flower, so to speak, from birth is on a natural sunlight, he is used to it, and his leaves will not fade from the sun.
The duration of daylight hours all year round should be at least 12 hours, and better - all 14 hours. Therefore, in autumn and winter time year, your Murka will definitely need additional lighting with a fluorescent lamp or a phyto lamp. By the way, Murraya is good with artificial lighting, can grow and bloom with prolonged artificial light.
Watering
Murraya is an active and constantly blooming flower. in spring and summer time, that is, during its active growing season, it needs regular and abundant watering, daily spraying and wiping the leaves from dust at least a couple of times a month. In autumn and winter, watering should also be done, but moderately. Muraya can endure temporary drying with loss of turgor, but if you allow the leaf plates to dry out, the plant may die. At the same time, you can lose it from waterlogging and prolonged stagnation of water in the root system, if you constantly fill in the soil that has not yet dried out in a pot. Try to regularly and evenly moisten the soil near the flower. Do not let water stagnate in the pot pan, be sure to drain excess water.
Ambient humidity
Murraya tolerates well normal humidity city apartments. Even in winter, during the heating season, the plant develops normally. If the air in the room is too dry, we recommend spraying tropical beauty from a small spray gun more often. It is better to take soft, settled water, otherwise, from hard water, on beautiful leaves Muraya will form ugly lime stains. In the summer, you can bathe the plant under a warm shower.
soil and pot
For growing Muraya, loose nutrient soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is used. She does not like greasy heavy soils. Keep this in mind if you want to prepare the soil yourself. In its composition should be in equal proportions sod and leaf ground, leaf humus and sand (as baking powder). Moreover, young plants should have a little more sand or other baking powder (vermiculite or perlite). To prevent diseases and pests, decontaminate the soil prepared by yourself (calcine, or steam, or spill with potassium permanganate). In order not to bother - buy a ready-made soil mixture in the store for citrus plants.
Choose a pot for planting of such a size that by the time the plant blooms, the root system has filled it thoroughly. In a tight pot, Murraya blooms more readily and more abundantly. We remind you that a drainage layer and several drainage holes are required at the bottom of the pot.
Flowering and fruiting
As you have already seen - Murraya is very unusual plant. At one time, there are buds, flowers, ovaries, and even fruits of varying degrees of maturity on it. Amazing, isn't it? This flower does not have a pronounced dormant period. Although the flowers stay on the branch for no longer than three days, more and more buds are constantly blooming, berries appear from the first flowers - and so almost all year round. The fruits of Murraya are tied easily, because this plant is self-pollinated. Sometimes, heat or too dry air makes the pollen unviable. You have to figure it out for yourself when the flowering doesn't bear fruit. Provide the flower with favorable conditions for fruiting and you will enjoy fragrant berries.
top dressing
Adult plants begin to feed during the growing season, flowering and the formation of ovaries. Once or twice a month is enough. It is not worth overfeeding Murka. You should also not use fertilizers that contain chlorine, because of the risk of a disease such as chlorosis.
But you will also see the lack of nutrients in the soil by the leaves of the plant - they will begin to turn yellow, and the set fruits will fall off. In the spring, you can feed with liquid fertilizer "Emerald", the rest of the time, use "Growth". Top dressing during the setting and bearing of fruits by Murraya, use a special one for citrus plants. Suitable "Flower Happiness" from Fasco, only in a reduced dose than recommended. You can also use special top dressing for bonsai - they are selected in the optimal ratio of macro and microelements, necessary for the plant. But ordinary, complex fertilizers for flowering plants are also suitable.
pruning
Murraya easily lends itself to crown formation, she tolerates a haircut painlessly. Leave skeletal branches, and periodically remove young shoots. Just do not cut all its branches at once. Form the crown gradually, during its active growth from the end of winter and all spring. By shortening long shoots, you stimulate the emergence of new, side branches. The crown becomes thicker and more magnificent. If you want to grow Murraya in the form of a tree, shorten unnecessary lower branches gradually. At first, the flower pot will stand on a table by the window, and when Murraya grows up and you form it in the form of a tree, the flower pot can already be placed on the floor. The crown will just be at the level of the window, and natural light will be enough for it.
If you did not want to cut off the tops of the shoots with the buds that appeared and left the plant without pruning, the decorativeness of the flower can suffer greatly. Elongated branches will form inflorescences only at the ends, and the middle of the plant may become bare. Waiting for Murraya to bloom is also useless - it will bloom constantly. On the branches now and then buds, then berries will form.
If you purchased Murraya for medicinal purposes, then you need to cut only the old ones, yellow leaves and shoots to keep the healthy parts of the plant. Here you can choose which plant you need - decorative or medicinal.
Miniature cultivars of Murraya do not need to be pruned regularly. But she tolerates the formation of a crown to her taste normally. You can even create a bonsai tree to please yourself and surprise your guests!
On young, not yet strong, Murraya bushes, which are about to bloom, it is also necessary to pinch the tops with buds. So you save the strength of the bush for growth and re-flowering. This operation may have to be repeated more than once, as the young Murka will again pick up buds. But, until the plant gets stronger and gains vegetative mass, until it grows up to about 20 - 30 cm in height, its shoots need to be pinched. Brew torn leaves and buds with tea - both healthy and tasty!
Transfer
Young plants are transplanted every spring into a larger pot so that Murraya has room to grow the root system. Too much big pot you should not take it, as the capricious beauty loves to bloom in a cramped pot. That is, by the time it blooms, the root system of the flower must master all the space allotted for the roots. This will be a signal to build up the ground part of the plant, and the formation of numerous buds.
Adult specimens are transplanted less frequently, once every three years. For them, the procedure for replacing the top layer of soil in a pot is sufficient.
Transplant Murraya by transferring the plant, along with an earthy clod, into a new, slightly larger pot. Do not allow the root neck of the flower to deepen. Be sure to put a 3-5 cm drainage layer on the bottom of the pot, then pour in some of the new soil and, only then, place your Murraya there. Fill with earth all the voids in the pot. Shake the pot slightly if necessary. Use the soil for growing citrus houseplants. Pour the flower with warm settled water and put it in a shaded place to adapt and relieve stress from transplanting.
reproduction
Propagation with seeds
Seeds of indoor Murraya species can be purchased at specialized stores. But it’s better if you collect or give you seeds from a plant that you like, which is actively developing, constantly blooming and strewn with delicious beautiful berries - then the guarantee that you will get what you want increases many times over.
For growing Muraya, the seeds of those fruits that have sung on the branches for 4 months are suitable. However, Murray Koenig's black berries ripen in two months. No need to wait until the berries fall off on their own - then they will already be overripe and not suitable for planting. Try to remove ripe berries from the bush in time. Keep in mind that the seeds lose their viability quickly, so they should be sown immediately, shortly after harvest. If it is necessary to save the seeds for some time, this must be done directly in the berries, which are slightly dried and stored in paper bags.
And so, if the berries are ripe, eat the pulp or just wash it off, releasing the seeds. Clean the pulp carefully. Rinse the peeled seeds in a strainer under warm running water, and place them in a cup with Bordeaux liquid or some other fungicide for 2 to 3 hours (possibly overnight) for disinfection. Then rinse again with running warm water.
We draw your attention to the fact that seeds Green colour hatch faster than beige seeds, and brown seeds do not germinate at all - they are either rotten or not developed.
Select good ones appearance seeds. Place them on a layer of wet foam rubber in a greenhouse under the lid - the seeds should hatch before planting! The temperature for this is high, up to 30 ° C. Seeds germinate in different ways. It will take three to seven days. At this stage, you will see how your seeds germinate. For further germination, choose only seeds with good fast germination. Seeds with bad roots or not at all started to grow - throw away without regret.
Prepare containers for planting seeds. Deep containers with lids or any pots will do. You can plant each seed in its own disposable cup with a drainage hole in the bottom, and then place all the cups in a plastic box and cover it with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Do it the way you like. Fill the containers with a wet substrate from a mixture of peat and sand. You can use ready-made soil for citrus plants. Spread the seeds on the surface, press them into loose soil half a centimeter deep. Cover with a lid or film, put in a bright place. The seed germination temperature should be 25-30°C. If there is not enough heat and light, place a planting container under a phyto lamp. After two to three weeks, almost all seeds will germinate. Now the lid of the container must be slightly opened for a short time, the landings must be ventilated and hardened. If necessary, spray with warm water from a fine spray bottle. Usually, seedlings develop actively. If any sprout fails to free itself from the shell, help it with tweezers, only carefully. When 2 true leaves appear, transplant them without picking into separate pots. Dwarf varieties of Murraya form buds in 3 to 6 months, flowering of the usual, or Dutch, Murraya will have to wait.
Reproduction using shoots (cuttings)
Rooting cuttings is more laborious and less effective than seed propagation. It is necessary to choose shoots without buds or wait until they fade. And for a flower like Murraya, which blooms and bears fruit for most of the year, this is problematic. For reproduction, such a one-year-old shoot is suitable, which is already half lignified, with two to three leaves. Treat the lower cut of the shoot with root and place for rooting either in a glass of warm, settled water, or immediately in a wet mixture of peat and sand under the film. For rooting, choose a bright warm place (25 - 30 ° C). After one and a half to two months, you will see young shoots, which means that the cuttings have roots. Gradually accustom the seedlings to the open air, remove the film for a short time at first, then longer. After a few days, the film can be removed completely.
A rooted cutting in a glass of water is also transplanted into a pot with a soil mixture suitable for growing flowering citrus plants according to all planting rules.
Diseases and pests
This plant is very hardy. It rarely gets sick, and is almost not affected by pests. With careful and caring care for an exotic beauty, there should be no problems with growing it.
Possible flower problems:
All this is not desirable - the tender leaves and flowers of Murraya can suffer greatly. Keep pests out of your home!
We introduced you to an amazing indoor plant, domestic Murka, which constantly gives the owners joy and well-being. All its merits cannot be counted! Exotic, decorative, unusual decoration the interior of your home, an air purifier, a rich citrus aroma in all rooms, a free doctor and a carrier of tasty and healthy berries all year round - this is all in one indoor flower named Murraya. Try to grow this exotic miracle yourself from a small seed or cutting, and you will feel the pride of the grower and the envy of the guests of your house.
Growing this beauty as a houseplant is easy if you follow the basic rules of care.
Below you can see murray in the photo along with flowers:
Murraya flower at home feels great. Muraya needs minimal care. Panicled including.
How to care? Even a beginner gardener can do it. After need transplanting, watering, fertilizing and pruning murrayi. It is very important to provide the plant with the right location and good soil.
pruning
Murray pruning is best done at the end of February. To do this, each branch is shortened into two knots. Cut only those branches on which at least 4 leaves grow, as well as shoots growing inward. Dwarf murray does not need pruning.
Watering
Murraya needs abundant watering in summer (3-4 times a week), and moderate in winter (once a week). Reduce watering in September. Should not be allowed stagnant water in a pot.
This can cause root rot and death of the plant. But excessive drought is also harmful. Murraya is watered only clean, filtered water without chlorine content. For the plant, daily spraying is very important.
Important! Avoid getting water on the flowers - they can crumble.
Fertilize murraya monthly, and during flowering - twice a month. Only use once organic fertilizers, and the other - only mineral.
As the latter, you can use complex fertilizers for bonsai or citrus fruits.
Attention! Do not overfeed the plant.
Landing
Planting murrayi is carried out in a small pot, with many drainage holes. You don't need to buy a large tank. Murraya will not grow in it until the roots completely fill the pot.
You can make the soil for murray yourself. To do this, you need to take a sheet, sod land, peat and coarse sand, in a ratio of 2:2:2:1.
You can take ready-made soil for citrus plants or succulents, but after adding coconut fiber or perlite to it.
For a young murray, the soil should be light and loose, and for an adult, it should be denser and heavier. Be sure to lay on the bottom of the container drainage, about 1/3 of the volume. The soil can be disinfected with potassium permanganate.
Transfer
Young murraya needs an annual transplant. An adult plant is enough to transplant every 2-3 years. The rest of the time, you can simply update the topsoil.
Important! Replant the plant without exposing the roots, along with an earthy clod.
Pot choose 1-2 cm more the previous one. The root collar does not need to be deepened much so that the murray does not hurt.
Growing from seeds
Murray seeds for planting should be fresh, because they quickly lose their germination. It is best to place a pot with a plant on western or eastern window.
Murraya grows flowers within 3-5 months after planting, and blooms for a very long time, from March to October. After that, there are large orange-red berries. It is the bones of these berries that are the seeds.
reproduction
Murray can be propagated cuttings and seeds. The plant reproduces poorly by cuttings, and they take root for a long time. They are cut from the top of the shoot and rooted in wet sand, under the film.
A month later, roots appear, and the murray is transplanted into a separate pot.
The seeds of the plant are cleaned of pulp, dried and planted in spacious containers filled with prepared soil. They are left in a well-lit place, at t + 23-25C, covered with glass, periodically sprayed.
Across Couple of weeks the first shoots of murraya will appear. They are seated in small plastic cups.
Temperature
Attention! Murraya cannot stand high temperatures.
The optimal condition will be a temperature not higher than + 25C in summer, and about + 15-17C in winter. The plant does not like drafts or sudden temperature changes.
Lighting
Attention! Lack of light, as well as excess, is harmful to murray.
From direct sunlight, it should be slightly shaded.
But daylight hours must be at least 14 hours. Therefore, if necessary, murraya is illuminated with special lamps.
Benefit and harm
Muraya and beneficial properties are almost synonymous. Murraya is not considered in vain medicinal and curative plant. It is widely used in folk medicine.
Medicinal properties
If you chew fresh murraya leaves, you can get rid of headache and toothache, cure stomatitis. Well they help to cope with insomnia and gastritis.
Applying leaflets to diseased joints with arthritis or arthrosis relieves swelling and pain.
Gargling with a decoction of murraya leaves perfectly treats the throat with sore throat. The use of a tincture of murraya leaves with the addition of rosemary helps to lower blood sugar levels, relieves arrhythmia and improves the functioning of the circulatory system.
Berries murrays also have benefits. It is enough to eat 3-4 things a day to forget about fatigue and reduce pressure. Due to the high content of antioxidants, these berries can significantly prolong youth and slow down the aging process.
The delicate aroma of murraya flowers has a calming effect, reduces the risk of lung and heart diseases. According to beliefs, growing murray at home will ensure family well-being and good luck in love.
Diseases and pests
With proper care, murraya virtually disease free, and is extremely rarely attacked by pests.
Attention! When watering with chlorinated water, an unpleasant disease develops - chlorosis.
From excessive watering, the plant may appear root rot and powdery mildew. Of the pests, the greatest danger to murrayi is spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies and aphids.
You can protect the plant from the attack of spider mites and whiteflies by spraying it with infusion of garlic (40 g of crushed cloves per liter of water) or onions (10 g per liter).
The treatment of murraya leaves with soapy water or a decoction of cyclamen tubers helps well. You can use a decoction of tomato tops (half a kilo per liter of water). The resulting mixture is boiled for 20-30 minutes, a little laundry soap is added and murraya leaves are processed.
It is better to get rid of scale insects on a plant by treating the leaves with kerosene. The procedure is carried out very quickly and carefully so as not to burn the leaves.
After that, the kerosene is washed off with soapy water. A soap-oil solution helps in the fight against scabies. To prepare it, you will need 10 grams of soap and 2 times more engine oil.
The solution is thoroughly whipped, and murray leaves are treated with it. The plant is covered with a film for several hours, after which it is washed with water. A week later, the treatment is repeated.
Aphids are "afraid" of onion and tobacco infusion (40g per liter of water), a decoction of yarrow or celandine. If folk remedies do not cope, then you can use proven drugs: Karbofos, Fitoverm, Aktara. They do not have a detrimental effect on the murray.
When chlorosis appears, the plant can be treated chelated iron, and use only purified water for irrigation and spraying.
If murray drops leaves, what should I do? This is caused by lack of light or temperature fluctuations. It is necessary to rearrange the plant to a more lit place or use a photo lamp, provide protection from drafts.
Why does muraya not bloom? If the flower does not bloom for a long time, then a transplant and top dressing will be required. Due to the lack of nutrients in the soil, strong root growth, plant growth may slow down.
On the video you can see the features of flower care:
Growing murray is not at all difficult, not requiring special skills and knowledge. This exotic beauty is unpretentious in care, undemanding to the conditions of detention and reproduces well by seeds.
