As you know, some trees do not take root well at home. They make quite beautiful ornamental plants, but some of them also have very interesting beneficial properties. The tropical muraya tree can delight household members not only with its delicious aroma, which even one inflorescence can fill the entire 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 literally force many to cultivate it at home. Look at the Muraya flower in the photo, which shows the decorative value of the culture:

Tropical regions 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 use it further.

When young, muraya shoots are quite flexible, but with age they become stiffer and quite smooth to the touch. Thus, the plant becomes a tree or shrub of the Rutaceae family. Some gardeners note that muraya is very similar to some citrus fruits. In the photo below you can see exactly what.

Non-pinnate leaves of muraya can have 5 or 7 elliptical leaflets - this 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 bay leaves, if only because they are similar in structure and are also used as spices. Muraya paniculata (indoor) differs from those species that grow in the wild in that it has oval-shaped leaves.

Muraya also differs from citrus fruits in its flowering; usually these are 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, the plant produces fruits not exceeding 3 cm and 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 can be seen 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 household members may like it, so be careful when choosing such a houseplant.

Useful and healing properties of muraya: a real home first aid kit

The murayi tree is a real home first aid kit; it has such a huge number of useful and healing properties that it is simply impossible to list everything. Let's focus our attention on the most important of them, and also find out who such a plant is contraindicated for and whether it can harm a person.

As they say in Japan, a plant such as muraya should grow only in imperial courts, since its aroma allows one to awaken the mind, and children born next to this perennial are distinguished by a sharp and quick mind. In fact, these words contain the most important beneficial property of this shrub - the quick ability to relieve headaches. Some Muraya owners use the leaves of this plant for these purposes. Chewing them can easily get rid of migraines, especially for weather-sensitive people.

In addition to headaches, the root, inflorescence petals, and bark help with pain during colds. Thus, in folk medicine you can find a recipe for a decoction of the petals of the muraya flower, 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 people. Quite a large amount of vitamins is concentrated in the perennial fruit. Muraya berries are consumed to maintain overall tone, but they are most often recommended for people with diabetes, as they help lower blood sugar levels. Eating 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 medicinal 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 only possible if there is an individual intolerance to certain elements. In addition, as mentioned earlier, Muraya flowers have a rather bright aroma, which may not be to everyone’s taste.

Reproduction and cultivation of muraya by cuttings and seeds at home

In order for a plant to please you with its medicinal and beneficial properties, you need to learn how to grow it and propagate it if necessary. It’s quite easy to do this at home, since there are only two fairly simple ways. The first is the propagation of muraya by cuttings, the second by seeds. At the same time, even a young plant is so unpretentious that it is quite easy to propagate and grow on its own.

To begin with, let's look at the first, quite popular method of propagating muraya - by cuttings. They need to be cut in the fall; this is done as follows: the shoots are carefully cut off and placed in water until roots form. After this, we plant it in soil, which can be peat or sand.

It should be remembered that only those plants that have already reached one year of age can be propagated in this way. If it is younger, then it is better to resort to propagation using seeds. They are collected from muraya fruits, after which they are immediately planted in separate pots with sand soil. The sowing depth should not exceed 0.5 cm. If kept at 22-25 degrees, 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 mountains, so from the very beginning of growth it is necessary to create a microclimate. To do this, it is necessary to maintain not only temperature balance, but also air humidity. 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 by seeds at home.

Proper care of 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 despite this, the indoor plant is considered rather unpretentious, even knowing the fact that it is tropical. In the photo below you can see how beautiful Muraya can be indoors if you follow all the rules for caring for it.

First of all, look at muraya as a tropical mountain plant, where it grew in conditions of high air humidity. Under no circumstances should you place this tree next to radiators, which will dry it out. 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 it can die from direct sunlight, as it will leave burns. During the hot season, it is best not to take the tree out into the fresh air, especially if it is also windy weather. In any case, when caring for Muraya at home, avoid wind and drafts.

In summer, during active growth, it is necessary to fertilize; you can use complete fertilizers for houseplants. In spring, muraya is transplanted into soil with a high content of compost. 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 coma of soil, so before planting this plant, you need to make drainage and holes in the bottom in the pot. In order to water the plant, soft melt water should always be stored. It is done in this way: water is collected in bottles and left to settle for at least a day so that all heavy impurities, such as lime and salt, settle out.

The temperature regime for muraya is usually recommended 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 gains strength for a new life cycle.

The majestic emperors of Japan for many centuries were a symbol of supreme power and justice in the East. The emperor's word was more than law, and any of his whims were fulfilled in the shortest possible time. And, of course, the rulers had some of the best chambers, clothing, food and decorations in the world. It is therefore not surprising that almost 500 years ago, when Japanese travelers came across a group of small plants in the foothills of the Himalayas, which were fragrant like divine nectar, and their fruits relieved fatigue and brought peace to the soul, these trees were immediately taken to the emperor's palace. And soon, previously unknown to anyone, Muraya began to bear the title of imperial tree, and was grown exclusively for the gardens and chambers of Japanese rulers. According to legend, the wonderful smell of Muraya helped people to be closer to the gods, clarifying and strengthening their minds, giving the body new strength and confidence, and providing the descendants of the person who inhaled the aroma of Muraya with strong and strong-willed personalities.

Today, Muraya has retained all its properties, which then amazed the Emperor of Japan, and that is why this plant remains one of the rarest and most desirable for many gardeners. It is worth warning you that Muraya seeds and cuttings of which are very rare, will reward your expectations. If you want Muraya to grow in your home, you need to work hard so that the plant takes root and begins to bloom and bear fruit. Where to get this Muraya flower and how to care for it are very important questions. If this is your first time encountering this plant, the best solution would be to use top cuttings, as they take root best in new conditions. Muraya is not easy to care for. It is curious that, unlike other mountain plants, Muraya develops extremely quickly, so it is quite possible that 3 months after planting you will admire the flowers of the plant and inhale their aroma. The plant should not be replanted very often; the best option would be to replant it after Muraya becomes cramped in her current pot, which happens (for young plants) at intervals of a year. Mature plants that are almost fully developed should be replanted every two to three years.

The Emperor's Tree of Japan - Muraya flower - how to care for it so that it pleases you? It is very important that Muraya loves the sun, but in addition, too much sunlight can destroy it, since the leaves and flower stalks of the plant are extremely unstable to burns. Following this, the plant needs a sunny place, shaded if necessary, to avoid drying out and death of the tree. Another rule for caring for a Muraya flower is proper watering. Muraya prefers abundant, but not frequent, since in the natural mountain habitat this is the prevailing cycle of soil moisture. Just like in the mountains, the air in the room where Muraya is located should be well humidified, since dry air, along with direct sunlight, is detrimental to the plant. It would be a good idea to give the plant a warm shower from a sprayer once a week, or rinse the leaves with warm water. Now let's move on to the seasons and plant cycles. Summer is the most active period for the development of Muraya, during which it is best to transplant or reproduce. Autumn, like spring, is a time of preparation for winter/summer. Important! Muraya flower how to care for it during these periods? Now is the time to feed and fertilize the plant to prepare Muraya for change. Winter is a time of rest, when the plant “sleeps”; the temperature in the room where Muraya is located should not fall lower than 17 degrees Celsius. It is noteworthy that the fruits of Muraya are a unique medicine, the use of which is practiced in modern Japan, as well as ginseng in China. The ripe fruits are bright red in color and can be consumed either in their natural form or by preparing a decoction based on them, which will relieve almost any pain and bring peace to your thoughts.

There are many plants in the world that are quite rare and little known to the average person. One of them is Muraya, which represents the Rutaceae family. Under natural conditions, about 10 species of this plant are found. It has the greatest representation in China, Taiwan, India, as well as in most of the southern Asian region. This beauty is not uncommon in Australia.

Description of Muraya

A photo of a plant allows you to evaluate only its decorative properties. However, it is important for any gardener to obtain complete information about the plant.

Representing a group of evergreen shrubs, muraya is a rather low-growing plant, which usually grows in the form of a bush. During the growing season, it develops a thin and flexible trunk with light gray bark. During the season, muraya produces smooth, fleshy leaves that are dark green in color. Their characteristic shape is round or oval; there are no special figured cuts that are inherent in maple leaves.

Among the representatives of the Rutov family, one of the popular fruits is the tangerine:

The main decoration of the Muraya indoor plant are white flowers, reaching a diameter of 80 cm. Their feature is the presence of five clear petals, reminiscent of a star. Muraya is very similar to a lily due to its unusual shape. Another common characteristic is that this plant has petals that are gracefully folded back. When flowering comes to an end, a small fruit begins to ripen. It is edible and contains a small seed inside. Usually before the stage of technical maturity of the fetus it should take about 4 months.

If you create comfortable growing conditions for muraya, its flowering and fruiting can continue throughout the year without interruption. This is what makes the plant unique: you can often observe how buds, open flowers and ripe fruits hang on the plant at the same time.

Caring for a muraya flower

In principle, when growing a muraya flower at home, it does not cause much trouble to the grower, but in order to avoid problems, it does not hurt to take into account some features.

The soil

If you want Muraya to thank you with beautiful flowers and tasty fruits, then it is best to grow it in loose and slightly acidic soil. The most suitable soil for it is prepared from the following components:

• grain and leaf soil;
• humus;
• clean river sand of coarse fraction.

The listed components are taken in the ratio 2:2:2:1. However, flower growers are not always able to obtain the necessary components for planting soil. In this case, ready-made citrus soil, which can be purchased at the store, can help them.

Before use, it will not hurt to add ready-made soil for muraya add special baking powder. For example, you can use coconut fiber. Perlite can also be a good alternative. But when choosing soil for a plant, it is necessary to take into account its age: the younger it is, the looser the soil mixture should be. Therefore, when growing young plants, it is recommended to fill the pot with soil, which should contain more loosening substances. Then you can count on beautiful and long flowering.

Feeding the flower

To avoid unexpected surprises during the growth and flowering of muraya, it is recommended to fertilize at least once a month. The best effect is achieved by alternating application organic and mineral fertilizers. You can provide a flower grown from seeds with the necessary nutrients using a special composition for bonsai.

But we must not forget that all feeding should be done in moderation. After all, the harm to this indoor plant will be much more serious if you feed it than if it does not receive enough necessary nutrients. If you did not take this point into account, then be prepared for the fact that the plant will gain a lot of leaf mass, but it will produce very few flowers. They are the main decoration of muraya, for which it is grown.

When choosing fertilizers for muraya, you need to take into account that they do not contain chlorine. Such fertilizing is dangerous for the plant because it increases the risk of developing chlorosis.

At home, due to improper care, the beautiful azalea, which blooms in winter when it snows outside, suffers from chlorosis:

Watering

In summer, when it gets especially hot, more abundant watering is necessary. However, if you select the wrong mode, it may harm a houseplant. Overmoistening is especially dangerous for muraya, because it will not be able to grow normally in conditions of a stagnant swamp. Such miscalculations can lead to rotting of the root system, and subsequently the plant may die. You need to be attentive to muraya in cool times and in winter, when watering is reduced. This must be done to maintain optimal substrate moisture.

It is also equally important what kind of water is used for irrigation.

• it should be soft and settled;
• In addition, it must not contain chlorine, so using tap water is unacceptable;
• To soften the water, you can add a little citric acid or apple cider vinegar to the water before watering.

Any errors in watering of this houseplant may cause the leaves to turn yellow. If no action is taken at this moment, the plant may remain completely bare.

Air humidity

It seems surprising, but this representative of the humid southern tropics, although not for long, feels quite comfortable in low air humidity. However, Muraya will not be able to grow continuously in such conditions, so it is necessary to take measures to correct the situation. Otherwise, it may cause the tips of the leaves to dry out. Muraya of the Min variety reacts especially sensitively to this, in which flowers and buds begin to fall off in dry air.

Therefore, it is necessary to be very attentive to the plant when growing it in rooms where it is hot and stuffy for a long time or where radiators are turned on. During such periods it is necessary to carry out regular spraying of leaves from the sprayer. Also, to maintain optimal humidity, it is useful to place the flower pot on a tray filled with damp expanded clay or other drainage.

Lighting

Considering that Muraya is native to the southern hemisphere, it responds positively to the abundance of light. Therefore, to create the most comfortable growing conditions, it is recommended to place it in a well-lit area. However, it should be ensured protection from the scorching midday sun. Therefore, this indoor plant will feel best if it is provided with a sufficient amount of diffused light during the care process.

• It is recommended to keep the pot where muraya grows on windows facing east or west;
• when growing muraya from seeds on a south-facing window, shading must be carried out regularly during the midday hours;
• The most unsuitable place for growing muraya at home is the north side. Due to the lack of lighting, the muraya will quickly begin to feel uncomfortable and begin to shed its leaves. The problem of lack of lighting can be solved by illumination with a fluorescent lamp. This procedure will make the plant feel more comfortable. After all, it grows best when the daylight hours are as long as possible.

The modern species diversity of flowers is represented by many groups, and each of them contains extraordinary plants. One of these in the Madder family is gardenia, a flower of extraordinary beauty and tenderness:

Temperature

Despite the fact that muraya is a heat-loving plant, extreme heat can harm it. Therefore, in summer, for a flower grown from seeds, it is necessary to maintain a room temperature of 25 degrees, and in winter - no higher than 17 degrees. Strong temperature fluctuations, both up and down, should be avoided. You need to be especially attentive to black muraya, which is extremely negatively affected by drafts.

Conclusion

It would certainly make sense for lovers of exotic plants to pay attention to muraya, which, with proper care, can please domestic flower growers with its beautiful flowering. Therefore, if you are truly interested in Muraya, then you just need to adhere to growing rules so that she pleases you with beautiful buds throughout the year. But for this you will have to take very careful care of the muraya, because it is equally dependent not only on the quality of the soil, but also on watering and lighting.

If you want it to retain its attractive leaves and flowers for as long as possible, then during the care process you will have to maintain the optimal temperature depending on the time of year.

Muraya flower

Muraya is an evergreen plant belonging to the Rutaceae family. Its natural habitat is the islands of Java and Sumatra, as well as the tropical forests of India. The green part of the plant is often used in cooking. The white flowers of this exquisite plant are somewhat reminiscent of jasmine.

Caring for Muraya at home

Muraya is an amazing plant. The life cycle of an indoor flower is long. Caring for a muraya depends entirely on its growth stage. At the very beginning of its life, the development of a domestic tree is somewhat slow. Then, as the root system of the plant grows, there are more and more branches, they stretch out and form a chic lush crown. Caring for Muraya does not require much effort, but nevertheless has its own specifics. In one year, the plant can stretch several centimeters.

If the plant is cared for in accordance with the requirements, then the indoor flower will delight you with both its beautiful appearance and its refined natural aroma.

Muraya lighting

Muraya, like many other “inhabitants” of the home garden, favors sunlight. However, direct rays have a detrimental effect on the condition of the flower. The leaves begin to lose their natural color and fall off. To prevent this destructive process for the plant, you should immediately shade the indoor flower.

New Year's video recipe:

Important to remember! The ideal place to place muraya indoors is windows on the west or east side of the building.

The muraya located on the south side of the house should be shaded on hot summer days. If the indoor flower is placed on the northern part of the building, then it is necessary to provide additional lighting.

The ideal light for Muraya is diffused.

Temperature

Muraya, like many other indoor plants, is sensitive to the temperature in the room where it grows. Therefore, you should remember a few simple rules, thanks to which you can grow a healthy and beautiful plant in your home.

• During the spring-summer period the flower growing temperature should range from +22 to +25 degrees. Many plant growers prefer to take the flower out into the fresh air in the warm season. Here you should be careful and not place the muraya in the sun. In addition, with the onset of winter frosts, the plant should be brought back into the house.
• in winter Muraya will feel comfortable if the room temperature is set at +15 degrees. We understand that it can be very, very difficult to regulate such conditions in a room, especially at the height of the heating season. But don’t be afraid, because you can simply turn off the battery in the room where your winter garden is located. Or place the muraya away from the central heating radiator and provide additional lighting.

Important! Compliance with temperature conditions is very important for the normal cultivation of muraya. If these requirements are not met, the indoor plant will begin to hurt and wither.

Watering muraya

A bright representative of the Rutov family is very sensitive to soil moisture. Again, as with other indoor plants, the intensity and volume of watering completely depends on the season.

• in winter The plant should be watered occasionally, focusing on the degree of drying of the top layer of soil. The volume and intensity of winter watering differs significantly from the summer regime.
• In summer Muraya should be watered frequently and abundantly.

The general rule for watering for any season is to avoid drought or waterlogging of the soil. Too frequent and excessive watering leads to the development of root rot. On the contrary, insufficient watering can lead to yellowing and falling leaves.

Irrigation water quality

Water for irrigation plays one of the most significant roles in caring for indoor flowers. If the grower does not pay enough attention to this point, then the muraya will react negatively to the neglect of this moment: it will begin to shed its leaves, fade, and lose its decorative properties.

Water requirements for irrigating muraya:

• it must be defended. Chlorine impurities have a detrimental effect on plant development;
• water should be taken exclusively soft;
• an alternative to (temporary) settled water can be artesian or boiled (cooled) water;
• The water temperature for irrigation must be at room temperature. Systematic moistening of the soil with cold water will lead to the death of the plant;
• To soften the water, you can add a little vinegar and citric acid to it.

Indoor air humidity

It cannot be said that Muraya is too picky about the level of humidity in the room. If the actual level is slightly lower than the conditions for growing the plant require, there is nothing to worry about.

Worth remembering! Excessively dry air in the room can cause the muraya's flower stalks to fall off and the leaves to dry out.

• To ensure that the muraya does not lack moisture, it is worth spraying it regularly with a spray bottle. The quality requirements for water for spraying are the same as for water for watering plants. It should be at room temperature, settled and warm.
• An ordinary saucer of water placed in close proximity to the indoor plant will help increase the humidity in the room. You can also place a tray with wet expanded clay next to the indoor flower. Another alternative option is to use a humidifier.

Remember! It is especially important to monitor the desired level of humidity in the room during the heating season.

Soil for muraya

The brightest representative of the Rutov family prefers to grow in loose soil. The reaction should be slightly acidic. Many novice plant growers often wonder how exactly one can prepare good soil for muraya? If you have difficulties and you simply don’t know where exactly you can buy all the ingredients for preparing soil, you can purchase ready-made soil at a flower shop.

It is important! The soil for citrus plants is suitable as soil for growing muraya.

To prepare your own soil, we will need the following ingredients:

• turf land (2 parts);
• leaf soil (2 parts);
• humus (1 part);
• coarse sand (1 part).

Feeding Muraya

Muraya should be fed, like most other indoor plants, once a month. In the winter months, the flower should be fed much less frequently: about once every month and a half. Muraya does not have a pronounced dormant period, so the plant should be fed year-round.

Basic principles of feeding muraya:

• Systematicity. The houseplant should be fed regularly and in accordance with the allotted time intervals. Too frequent or, on the contrary, insufficient nutrition of an indoor flower can lead to a slowdown in its growth, the development of diseases and even the death of the plant. Many plant growers note that it is better to underfeed the plant rather than provide it with fertilizers too often. Excessive application of fertilizing leads to rare flowering of muraya and excessive growth of leaves.
• Complexity. You should not give preference to only one type of fertilizer, completely excluding others. You should alternate the application of organic and mineral fertilizers.
• High quality. Before applying any fertilizer, you should make sure that it is really of high quality. For example, you can purchase the Bonsai complex as a mineral fertilizer.

Reproduction of Muraya

A bright representative of the Rutov family can be propagated in two ways:

• Cuttings. To propagate a cutting, cut off the lignified shoot in half. Then the cuttings should be rooted. This can be done in soil, sand or even water. Whatever your preference, any environment should be carefully prepared. Leave the water to stand, disinfect the sand and soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Rooting of cuttings occurs on average after three weeks. You should wait a little and then transplant the plant into a permanent pot.
• Seeds. Many plant growers practice this method of propagation at home. Seeds can be purchased at a flower shop. They will be already prepared for planting or assembled yourself. Comfortable temperature for planting is 20-25 degrees. The first shoots will appear in about 2-3 weeks.

Diseases and pests of muraya

News that will really please plant growers: Muraya gets sick very, very rarely. The main cause of root rot, wilting, drying and falling leaves is improper care. If all the recommendations that we have covered in this article are followed correctly, then the indoor flower will grow and delight its owners with a delightful appearance for many years.

Pests that regularly attack muraya include: scale insects and spider mites. As with diseases, damage to a houseplant is quite rare. Flowers weakened by any factors often suffer. Control pests using insecticides.

In addition to its delightful decorative properties, muraya also has medicinal properties. It can increase the tone of the body, relieve fatigue, and is used in the fight against coronary disease and hypertension. In addition, it is from the leaves of this “Indian princess” that one of the most popular spices, curry, is prepared. Exquisite muraya will delight you not only with its wonderful appearance, healing properties, but also with its refined aroma.

Muraya is a fairly rare tree and little known to housewives, but a popular and beloved tropical plant among aesthetes and gourmet gardeners. This exotic perfection can grow in your apartment. Murraya is not only attractive in appearance and exudes an amazing aroma, but is also a healer and aroma therapist for its owner. Read more about caring for Muraya at home.

The Murraya flower received its name in honor of a Swedish scientist, professor of botany and medicine, named Murray. Sometimes there are abbreviated names for this plant - Muraya or Murraya. 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 aroma, flower growers call the Murraya tree Orange Jasmine. Due to the piquant flavor of the leaves of the aronia Murraya Koenig, it is called the Curry Tree. It is also called the Emperor Tree, Fragrant Tree, Exotic Murraya and Japanese Myrtle.

Muraya is native to Japan and Southeast Asia. It is found in Taiwan, China, and India. You can even find it in Australia. In Japan, Murraya has been actively used to decorate gardens for many centuries. And everywhere legends were made about this miracle plant. In Japan, the Muraya tree is called Japanese myrtle. For a long time it was intended for a select few, 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 attempting to take this plant or its seeds outside the imperial palace, the head of the culprit was cut off. 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 could give youth and eternal life.

Muraya belongs to the Rutaceae family and is the closest relative of citrus fruits. About 10 species of this plant grow under natural conditions. For growing at home, breeders have developed special low varieties of the paniculate species Muraya and Muraya aronia. Some people call paniculata Murraya Dutch, others - ours or ordinary, and still others - exotic Murraya. This is the same plant, but it often grows differently for everyone.

Beneficial features

Description

Muraya is an evergreen perennial plant that can live in your home for quite a long time. In indoor conditions, Murraya is grown as a bush or tree. The size also ranges from 30 cm for dwarf varieties to one and a half meters. The stem and shoots of an adult plant are covered with smooth yellow-gray bark. Young specimens have slightly pubescent shoots. The branches are thin, elastic, and bend easily. Gradually they stretch out, forming a thick, lush crown. Tall specimens of indoor Murraya should be tied to a support, as its branches are still fragile. At first, the flower grows slowly, but as soon as its root system has mastered the entire space of the pot, active growth of the above-ground part of the plant will begin. Even miniature varieties of indoor Murraya grow by several cm every year. The leaves of Murraya are complex, oval or elliptical in shape, dense, shiny, and consist of 5 - 7 dark green leaves. The size of one leaf varies from one to nine cm in length and from half to 6 cm in width. The total length of a complex leaf can be up to 12 cm. The leaf blade 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, but the plant is still in bloom again. Paniculate inflorescences form at the tops of young shoots. The corollas consist of five white petals with a diameter of one to one and a half cm. The long petals open wide, as if demonstrating the appearance of thread-like stamens in the center of the flower. After pollination, fruits appear. Depending on the variety, they are red or black, covered with shiny smooth skin. From a distance, Murraya fruits 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, as a rule, edible and healthy, have a piquant, sweetish taste. We do not recommend eating all the berries at once. But three or four pieces are very useful to eat after a hard day - they will relieve fatigue, give you new strength, you will be able to work again, and your nerves will calm down. The seeds of the Aronia Murraya fruit are poisonous, do not swallow them. The peculiarity of this indoor plant is that it stands decorated with both flowers and fruits of varying degrees of ripeness almost all year round. The aroma of some species is similar to jasmine, others smell like lemon, and others smell like orange. But everyone exudes a wonderful aroma of freshness and bliss.

But, keep in mind this feature of Murraya. Bought in a store, it is usually of Dutch selection. It is unpretentious, grows well in indoor conditions, but you can wait a long time for it to bloom and not see it. If this is your case, we advise you to ask your friends - maybe someone has a flowering specimen of our usual Murraya. Get a cutting, or better yet, a seed, and grow your own Tropicana. A plant obtained in this way will very soon delight you with its flowering and delicious berries.

Types and varieties

As we mentioned above, there are about ten types of Murraya in nature, but only three of them can be grown indoors.

This species is the most popular and frequently encountered due to the beauty and decorativeness of the spreading, fast-growing bush. It reaches a height of one and a half meters. In an adult plant, the stem becomes woody. The bright green leaves are oval in shape and reach 15 cm in length. They are located along the entire length of the shoots. With 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 paniculate Murraya is sometimes called orange jasmine.

Murraya paniculata begins to bloom only in the fifth to eighth year of its life.

Varieties of the paniculata species Murrayi:

• 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 leaves up to 2 cm in length;
• Dwarf Compact - this miniature tree has a height of 10-15 cm and leaves with a diameter of up to 5 mm.

Murraya Koenig

This type of Murraya is popularly called Curry Tree. Its feathery leaves have an elongated shape. The leaf shape is lanceolate, pointed at the end. They are used in curry spice mixtures. The flowers in multi-flowered corymbs are light cream in color, and the berries, when ripe, become black in color. The fruits of the chokeberry species Murraya are eaten with caution - its seeds contain poison!

This type of Murraya begins to flower in the second to fourth year of life.

Murraya dwarf

Murraya dwarf

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. It blooms in the first half of the year of its life, and blooms almost all year round, even in winter. At the tops of its shoots, buds are simultaneously formed, ovaries appear, flowers open, new buds are formed, fruits appear - this continuous process does not stop either in winter or in summer. All Murraya species are self-pollinating. The berries ripen in 2 – 3 months.

Caring for indoor Murraya flowers

Muraya is a very capricious plant. Even seedlings of the same plant behave differently as they grow. Some grow neatly in a compact bush and begin to produce buds after the first pair of true leaves appear. And others grow up to a meter tall, but don’t even think about blooming. Caring for the plant is not very labor-intensive, 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 comfortable temperature is considered to be 25 - 26°C in summer and slightly lower in winter. In principle, room temperature will be just right throughout the year. The minimum temperature should not fall below 12°C. In the warm season, you can place a flower pot on a balcony or veranda protected from rain and wind. But, sudden cold snaps 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, diffused. Direct sunlight is not contraindicated - shoots respond well to exposure to the sun's rays in spring and autumn. However, on hot summer days it is better to put the flower pot deeper into the room and ventilate the room more often. The best places are on south-eastern or south-western window sills. If you only have 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 rays do not burn the delicate greenery and petals of Muraya. However, if your flower, so to speak, has been exposed to natural sunlight since birth, it will get used to it, and its leaves will not fade from the sun.

The duration of daylight all year round should be at least 12 hours, and better yet, all 14 hours. Therefore, in the autumn and winter seasons, your Murka will definitely need additional lighting using a fluorescent lamp or a phyto lamp. By the way, Murraya responds well to artificial lighting and can grow and bloom under prolonged illumination with artificial light.

Watering

Murraya is a flower that actively and constantly blooms. In spring and summer, that is, during its active growing season, it requires regular and abundant watering, daily spraying and wiping the leaves from dust at least a couple of times a month. In autumn and winter you should also water, but moderately. Muraya can tolerate temporary dryness with loss of turgor, but if you allow the leaf blades 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 pour soil that has not yet dried out in the pot. Try to regularly and evenly moisten the soil of the flower. Do not allow water to stagnate in the pot tray; be sure to drain excess water.

Ambient humidity

Murraya tolerates the normal humidity of city apartments well. Even in winter, during the heating season, the plant develops normally. If the air in the room is too dry, we recommend spraying the tropical beauty with a small spray bottle more often. It is better to take soft, settled water, otherwise, from hard water, unsightly limescale stains will form on the beautiful leaves of Muraya. In summer, you can bathe the plant under a warm shower.

Soil and pot

To grow Muraya, use loose, nutritious soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. She does not like fatty heavy soils. Keep this in mind if you want to prepare the soil yourself. It should contain equal parts of turf and leaf soil, leaf humus and sand (as a leavening agent). Moreover, young plants should have a little more sand or other leavening agent (vermiculite or perlite). To prevent diseases and pests, disinfect the soil you prepare yourself (calcine, or steam, or spill with potassium permanganate). To avoid the hassle, buy a ready-made soil mixture for citrus plants in the store.

Choose a pot for planting of such a size that by the time the plant blooms, the root system fills it thoroughly. In a cramped pot, Murraya blooms more readily and abundantly. We remind you that at the bottom of the pot there must be a layer of drainage and several drainage holes.

Flowering and fruiting

As you have already seen, Murraya is a very unusual plant. At the same time, there are buds, flowers, ovaries, and even fruits of varying degrees of maturity. 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 new buds are constantly blooming, berries appear from the first flowers - and so on almost all year round. Murraya fruits set easily, because this plant is self-pollinating. Sometimes, heat or too dry air makes pollen unviable. You must understand this yourself when the flowering does not bear fruit. Provide the flower with favorable conditions for fruiting and you will enjoy the fragrant berries.

Top dressing

Adult plants begin to be fed during the growing season, flowering and formation of ovaries. Once or twice a month is enough. You should not overfeed Murka. You should also not use fertilizers that contain chlorine, due to 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 fruits that have set will begin to fall off. In the spring you can feed with liquid fertilizer “Emerald”, the rest of the time use “Growth”. When Murraya is setting and bearing fruit, use special fertilizing for citrus plants. “Flower Happiness” from Fusco is suitable, only in a smaller dose than recommended. You can also use special fertilizers for bonsai - they contain the optimal ratio of macro and microelements needed by the plant. But ordinary, complex fertilizers for flowering plants are also suitable.

Trimming

Murraya can easily be shaped into a crown and can be trimmed painlessly. Leave skeletal branches and remove young shoots periodically. Just don’t cut off all its branches at once. Form the crown gradually, during its active growth from the end of winter and throughout the spring. By shortening long shoots, you stimulate the appearance of new lateral branches. The crown becomes thicker and more magnificent. If you want to grow Murraya as a tree, trim off unnecessary lower branches gradually. At first, the flower pot will stand on the table by the window, and when Murraya grows up and you form it into a tree, the flower pot can be placed on the floor. The crown will just be at the level of the window, and it will have enough natural light.

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 decorative appearance of the flower may 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. Every now and then buds and berries will form on the branches.

If you purchased Murraya for medicinal purposes, then you only need to prune old, yellow leaves and shoots to preserve healthy parts of the plant. Here you can choose which plant you need - ornamental or medicinal.

Miniature Murraya varieties do not need to be pruned regularly. But she tolerates the formation of the crown to her taste normally. You can even create a bonsai tree to your delight and the surprise of your guests!

On young, not yet strong, Murraya bushes that are about to bloom, it is also necessary to pinch the tops with buds. This way you will save the bush’s energy for growth and re-blooming. This operation may have to be repeated more than once, as young Murka will again gain buds. But until the plant gets stronger and gains vegetative mass, until it grows to approximately 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 its root system. You should not take a pot that is too large, 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 occupy all the space allocated for the roots. This will be a signal for the growth of the above-ground part of the plant and the formation of numerous buds.

Adult specimens are replanted less frequently, once every three years. For them, the procedure of replacing the top layer of soil in the pot is sufficient.

Transplant Murraya by transferring the plant along with a lump of earth into a new pot, a little larger in size. Do not allow the root collar of the flower to go deep. Be sure to put a 3-5 cm layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, then add some new soil and, only then, place your Murraya there. Fill all the voids in the pot with soil. If necessary, shake the pot slightly. Use the soil to grow citrus indoor plants. Water the flower with warm, settled water and place it in a shaded place to adapt and relieve stress from replanting.

Reproduction

Propagation using seeds

Seeds of indoor Murraya species can be purchased in specialized stores. But it’s better if you collect or are given seeds from a specimen of 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. There is no need to wait until the berries fall off on their own - then they will already be overripe and unsuitable for planting. Try to pick ripe berries from the bush in time. Keep in mind that the seeds quickly lose their viability, so they need to be sown immediately, soon after collection. If you need to save the seeds for some time, this should 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 simply wash it off, freeing the seeds. Scrape off the pulp carefully. Rinse the peeled seeds in a strainer under warm running water, and place them in a glass with Bordeaux mixture or some other fungicide for 2 - 3 hours (overnight is possible) for disinfection. Then rinse again with warm running water.

We draw your attention to the fact that green seeds germinate faster than beige seeds, and brown seeds do not germinate at all - they are either rotten or not developed.

Select seeds that look good. Place them on a layer of damp foam rubber in a greenhouse under a lid - the seeds should hatch before planting! This requires high temperatures, up to 30°C. Seeds germinate in different ways. It will take three to seven days. At this stage you will see what germination rate your seeds have. For further germination, choose only seeds with good rapid germination. Seeds with bad roots or that have not started to grow at all - throw them 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 film to create a greenhouse effect. Do it the way you like best. Fill the containers with a moist substrate made from a mixture of peat and sand. You can use ready-made soil for citrus plants. Spread the seeds over the surface and press them half a centimeter deep into the loose soil. Cover with a lid or film and place in a bright place. The seed germination temperature should be 25 – 30 °C. If there is not enough heat and light, place the planting container under a phyto lamp. In two to three weeks, almost all the seeds will germinate. Now the container lid needs to be opened briefly, the plantings must be ventilated and hardened. If necessary, spray with warm water from a fine spray bottle. Usually, seedlings develop actively. If a sprout fails to free itself from the shell, help it with tweezers, but be careful. When 2 true leaves appear, transplant them without picking into separate pots. Dwarf varieties of Murraya form buds within 3 - 6 months; the flowering of ordinary, or Dutch, Murraya will have to wait.

Reproduction using shoots (cuttings)

Rooting cuttings can be more labor-intensive and less effective than seed propagation. It is necessary to choose shoots without buds or wait until they bloom. But for a flower like Murraya, which blooms and bears fruit most of the year, this is problematic. For propagation, a one-year-old shoot that is already half woody, with two to three leaves, is suitable. Treat the lower cut of the shoot with root and place it for rooting either in a glass of warm, settled water, or immediately in a damp mixture of peat and sand under a film. For rooting, choose a bright, warm place (25 - 30°C). In 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 first for a short time, then longer. After a few days, the film can be removed completely.

The rooted cuttings in a glass of water are 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 highly resilient. It rarely gets sick and is almost never affected by insect pests. With careful and careful care for this exotic beauty, there should be no problems with its cultivation.

Possible flower problems:

All this is not advisable - the delicate leaves and flowers of Murraya can be seriously damaged. Keep pests out of your home!

We introduced you to an amazing indoor plant, the domestic Murka, which constantly gives its owners joy and well-being. All its advantages cannot be counted! Exotic, decorative, unusual decoration for the interior of your home, an air purifier, a rich aroma of citrus fruits in all rooms, a free healer and a bearer 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 gardener and the envy of the guests of your home.