Grapefruit - an evergreen plant from subtropics. Refers to the genus Citrus. It grows in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Argentina, China, in several countries in the Middle East. The main popularity of this citrus came in the XX century, when the fashion on the grapefruit diet appeared. Today they try to grow this tree at home. On the intricacies of gardening and the benefits of this plant will tell in the article.
Botanical description
This evergreen tree, as a rule, grows to 5-6 m. But there are specimens up to 13-15 m high. The crown of the tree is thick, rounded, sometimes conical. The leaves are dark green in color, have an ovate, oblong shape, reaching a length of 15 cm. 
The tree blooms in white. The flowers are large, with a diameter of 5 cm, pyatilepestkovye. Grapefruit fruits are spherical, slightly flattened along the central axis, reaching 10-15 cm in diameter. Their skin is thick, up to 1.5 cm, the pulp is sour-sweet, with a pronounced bitter shade.
Now there are about 20 grapefruit varieties, which can be divided into 2 groups: white (or yellow) and red. In the former, the flesh has a yellowish tinge, and in the latter, a characteristic is characteristic: the redder the pulp, the sweeter it is.
Did you know? The English name grapefruit (grapefruit) is derived from a combination of two words: grape (grapes) and fruit (fruit), due to the fact that grapefruit fruits sometimes grow in clusters, like grapes.
Exists room grapefruit. He, like his wild brother, is evergreen, only grows up to only 2 m in height. Another feature of it - tiny spines on the twigs. Flowers and fruits are the same. The peak of ripening room grapefruit falls on November.
Chemical composition
Vitamins in fresh pink grapefruit:
- Riboflavin (B2): 0.02 mg;
- ascorbic acid (C): 44 mg.
Minerals in fresh pink grapefruit:- calcium: 9 mg;
- iron: 0.2 mg;
- magnesium: 12 mg;
- phosphorus: 15 mg;
- potassium: 162 mg;
- sodium: 1 mg;
- Zinc: 0.05 mg.
Nutritional value and calorie
Nutritional value per 100 g of fresh pink grapefruit:
- water: 86-89 g;
- proteins: 0.5 g;
- fats: monounsaturated (0.013 g), polyunsaturated (0.024 g);
- carbohydrates: 9.2 g
Energy value: 39 kcal / 163 kJ.Learn more about the beneficial properties of such fruits as: lychee, suite, longan, kumquat, actinidia, loquat, zizifus, physalis, citron and okra.
Beneficial features
The antioxidants in citrus can lower cholesterol levels. Enough to eat 1 fruit per day, so that the amount of cholesterol in the blood was always normal. This "diet" is very important for the cores, people with circulatory disorders.
Grapefruit juice can increase the acidity of the stomach, so it is recommended to use it for those who suffer from low acidity. 
Inositol (vitamin B8) prevents the accumulation of fats and toxins in the liver, and also helps to remove harmful substances from the body.
Naringin accelerates metabolic processes, improves the bowels, improves digestion. It is this element that helps to lose those extra pounds.
Grapefruit has a low glycemic index, which naturally affects the decrease in blood sugar levels.
Important! You should be extremely careful when eating grapefruit along with certain medications. A number of fruit components come into action with medications, which can lead to overdose. Therefore, in such a case, you should consult a doctor.
Extract from the seeds of the fruit endowed with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Because of this, it is often added to antiviral drugs. Extracted from seed oil is widely used in cosmetology and perfumery. 
Growing up
Indoor grapefruit is usually grown to decorate a veranda or a winter garden. Most often for these purposes use varieties "Dukan" and "Marshal".
In its natural habitat, an evergreen plant is accustomed to a humid hot climate with many sunny days a year. Therefore, you need to really try to create for him a suitable microclimate at home.
Landing rules
In any grapefruit, bought in the store, contains a sufficient number of seeds that can be used for germination.
It is advisable to choose a ripe sweet fruit and find in it a couple of the largest seeds of the correct form. Special preparation before planting seeds do not require. 
Selected seeds are immersed in a special citrus substrate to a depth of 2-3 cm. The soil should be slightly damp. If it is not possible to purchase a substrate, then you can mix sand with humus or floral soil with peat and sand, and bury the seed in this mixture. To create a certain microclimate for germination, a potted stone is covered with a bag or glass. The soil should be wet all the time. Place the pot in a warm sunny place.
The time of appearance of the first shoots depends on the variety of citrus and can take from 1 week to several months. As soon as the first pair of leaves has blossomed, empty the pot from cellophane or glass and leave it in a bright room, but in a place where direct rays cannot reach the pot.
When the tree grows to 10-13 cm, it must be transplanted into a large container. When transplanting, be careful with the root system - it is very delicate and fragile. 
If you decide to increase the number of citrus trees or do not want to wait a long time until shoots appear, then you can breed grapefruit using cuttings.
It is interesting to read about home cultivation of citrus crops - poncirus of three-leaf, lemon, calamondin, citron, orange tree and mandarin, as well as its diseases and pests.
They are desirable to take from fruit-bearing trees. Suitable for planting cuttings should be more than 10 cm in length. It is planted in wet river sand without clay, previously disinfected with boiling water.
The lowest leaflets need to be cut. In order for the sprout to become quicker, its cut can be processed with a special compound for accelerated growth. Deepen the sprout into the soil by 2 cm. It is advisable to plant the cutting not in a pot, but in a plastic bottle cut in half.
At the bottom, make a few holes for drainage, and the top - cover the stalk. Place the future tree in a bright, warm place, water regularly. Replant the tree should be at the appearance of root processes.
Lighting and site selection
Grapefruit belongs to the light-loving plants. It needs a 10-12 hour light day, so it is advisable to mix it by the window from the south, east or west side, or on the balcony. If it is possible to place the plant only on the north side, then around you need to place lamps for additional lighting. They will be needed in the period of decrease in daylight.
Important! The tree does not like it when it is moved from place to place or simply turned. It can "take offense" and throw off part of the foliage, color or ovary.
Sprinkling sapling
Spraying a grapefruit seedling is necessary to create a special microclimate around the plant. Spraying the tree, you moisten the air around it, which means that the leaves will lose less moisture due to evaporation from their surface.
Special attention should be paid to transplanted or rooted trees. Such plants are very sensitive to the slightest climate change.
It is recommended to spray citrus daily 2-3 times a day with water at room temperature.
Substrate and fertilizer
The best soil for a plant is a mixture of sod, leafy soil with humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1. Be sure to need a drainage of expanded clay, gravel or foam. They cover the bottom of the pot in a layer thickness of 5-8 cm.
The soil should be loose, well ventilated and with a sufficient number of macro-and micronutrients. An important element for normal growth is iron. 
Therefore, you can put a few nails on the bottom of the pot. Do not allow the soil to be supersaturated with calcium: the element prevents the entry of trace elements into the plant.
Temperature
Freshly planted seeds should be kept at a temperature of 25 ° C and above. You should also protect them from drafts. In summer, grown sprouts will be comfortable on the balcony outdoors. The main thing - do not allow direct sun exposure. In autumn and winter, the plant will feel good in a bright, cozy room with a temperature of 5-6 ° C and moderate humidity.
Humidity and watering
If the edges of the leaves began to dry out, it means that the plant lacks moisture and the air in the room is very dry. Carefully monitor the humidity of the air: it should be on average 50-60%.
In winter, it is enough to water the plant once a week. In the summer - more often, 2-3 times for 7 days. The amount of water needed for irrigation is established empirically. If you pour in too much water, then it should go through the drain.
You may be interested to read about how to make drip irrigation of improvised means or plastic bottles with your own hands, as well as learn about the benefits of automatic watering.
Observe the condition of the soil under the tree. If it has dried out and hardened on the surface, then after a couple of days you can water it again. Do not allow rotting roots. Grapefruit is very sensitive to the composition of the water - it is not suitable for chlorinated water. Use thawed or rain water, slightly warmed. In extreme cases, boil tap water and let it cool, or let it stand for a few days.
Transfer
Indoor grapefruit transplanted annually. As soon as it becomes crowded in the pot, it is necessary to replant the tree in a larger container. 
If you planted the plant in the largest capacity that can be purchased, then now twice a year you will need to remove the top layer of soil, and in its place pour a new mixture of soil and humus.
This will restore the mineral reserves of the soil.
We impart
By grafting room citrus trees you can bring the beginning of their fruitful period. The graft can be taken from a similar fruit tree, or from another species.
Usually grafted "peephole" or cutting. The best time for vaccination is the period from mid-April to early May, when the active movement of the sap in the plant begins. It is possible to vaccinate in August. The key to a successful "operation" is cleanliness, speed, accuracy. To ensure that everything goes as best as possible, you should prepare all the necessary items in advance.
For the "eye" inoculation, select the most mature kidney, carefully cut it with the bark and place it on the rootstock (the plant that is being inoculated). Be sure to try to combine the cambium layers of stock and scion.
Vacuum the top with a special tape and cover with cellophane. A kidney survives after a couple of weeks. A successful inoculation will be indicated by a yellowed petiole. 
When grafting the cutting on the stock, cut a branch that has been previously wiped from dirt. Make the cut horizontal. Next, make a longitudinal incision on the bark from the cut to the bottom by 1.5-2 cm. Remove the bark slightly and place the cutting into the cut.
Press the bark back to the branch and wrap the vaccination site with a special tape. Also create a special microclimate and periodically ventilate the place of "operation". The successful completion of the manipulations will be indicated by yellowed and fallen leaves from the cutting. If they dried up and turned black, then nothing happened.
Diseases and pests
The most common pests of homemade grapefruit are the red spider mite, scytworm and mealybug. The appearance of this scourge is evidenced by yellowed foliage, its deformation, fall. On the leaves from the bottom side there appear small holes, similar to the holes from the needle prick. Brown or gray-brown tiny spots may also appear - these are pest eggs. The foliage is covered with a thin web, sticky bloom.
To overcome the attack will help processing:
- soap solution derived from 30 g of soap and a drop of dish detergent; everything is mixed in 1 bucket of water;
- an oily solution of a few drops of rosemary essential oil diluted in 1 liter of water;
- alcohol solution (calendula tincture).
Read more about how to deal with spider mites and shields on houseplants.
In any of the listed solutions, a cotton pad is moistened and the whole plant is wiped with it, pests and their waste products are removed.
Then you can spray the tree with the remaining solution. If home remedies do not bring the desired result, you should purchase chemicals in garden stores.
Often a grapefruit tree affects viral or fungal infections. These include gommoza, or gum therapy. It primarily affects the bark at the base of the plant. It quickly dies off and disappears, and in its place a light yellow liquid is seen.
In order to overcome the attack, the diseased bark is cut off and the affected areas are treated with garden pitch or Bordeaux mixture.
Growing problems
Grapefruit is a very sensitive and capricious plant, so all the problems that may arise during its cultivation will be associated with non-observance of climatic conditions. So, if in winter, when the plant should “rest”, the temperature in the room will be too high, then the growth of the tree may resume, which will lead to its exhaustion.
Did you know? The first name of the grapefruit was "forbidden fruit". He was given by the Welsh botanist-priest Griffiths Hughes in 1750.
Failure to comply with the norms of watering will lead to the fall of the foliage, flowers and fruits. Without proper feeding, there will be no vigorous growth.
Fruit storage conditions
Ripe fruits are stored for long. Maturity affects the shelf life: the more ripe the fruit, the less it lies. It is best to store grapefruit in the refrigerator. In such conditions, it can lie for up to 10 days, then begins to dry out and lose its taste and flavor. 
If you want to stock up on fruits for the future, then collect the immature fruits, place them in a room with a temperature of 7 to 12 ° C and humidity of 85-95%. In such circumstances, grapefruits lie more than one month.
As you can see, it is possible to grow a grapefruit at home, but it is very troublesome and painstaking. It is necessary to wait more than one year until the tree can bear fruit. And before that, you need to care for him, like a baby.
