Murraya is a tropical exotic, quite popular in our country, which takes root well in the room. The plant not only pleases with a beautiful crown and flowers, it gives edible fruits. Different parts of murraya are also used to prepare cures for many diseases, which is another reason to get this green beauty. The birthplace of the plant is Japan, where it has been actively used for decoration of gardens for several centuries. You can make a Japanese-style garden at home or in the greenhouse. It is enough to know a few simple secrets, then caring for Murray will not be difficult.
Botanical Description
Murraya is a perennial evergreen shrub of the Rutov family. The genus is widespread in Japan, India and the Malay archipelago. Under natural conditions, the plant prefers to climb higher along rocky slopes.
Indoor murrayas take the form of a shrub or tree height from 30 cm to 1.5 m. The shoots are covered with a smooth yellow-gray bark. Thin branches retain elasticity for a long time and are easily bent. Petiole leaves are bright green. The pinnate foliage consists of 5-11 shares. The total leaf length reaches 12 cm. The oval or obovate leaf plate has smooth edges and is slightly bent along the central vein. The size of one lobe is 1–9 cm in length and 0.5–6 cm in width.
In favorable conditions, Murraya blooms twice a year. Paniculate inflorescences bloom on the tops of young shoots. Some species are decorated with flowers and fruits throughout the year. The plant received the second name "orange jasmine" for the shape of its flowers and delicate aroma. The corolla consists of 5 white petals, its diameter is 1-1.5 cm. Long petals open wide, and filiform stamens protrude from the center.
After pollination, fruits are formed - red or black oblong berries. They ripen within 4 months after flowering. Each berry contains 1-2 elongated seeds. The length of the fruit, covered with smooth, shiny skin, is 8-20 mm. The fruits of most Murraya species are edible.
Species and varieties
The genus Murraya contains more than a dozen species, but in our country only a few of them can be found.
Murraya paniculata (exotic, panic). This variety is recognized by flower growers as the most beautiful, therefore it is especially popular. The plant is a sprawling, fast-growing bush. In the natural environment, its height can reach 3 m. Bright green oval leaves up to 15 cm long are located along the entire length of the shoots. The flowering is plentiful, large corymbose inflorescences blossom on the tops of young branches. After pollination, orange-red berries appear. Their flesh has an intense citrus flavor. Varieties:
- Minima - a small flowering tree with a height of 40-60 cm is used to create a bonsai;
- Min-a-min - shrubs with a dense crown up to 1 m high;
- Dwarf Compact - tiny trees with a height of 10-15 cm with leaves up to 5 mm in diameter.
Murraya Koenig (Aronia). A shrub or a short tree of this species in nature reaches a height of 3 m. Foliage and shoots have an intense spicy aroma, so they are often replaced with curry seasoning. The plant is also known as the "curry tree." Large corymbose inflorescences consist of white fragrant flowers. After pollination, black berries are tied. The fruits of this variety are not consumed.
Murray propagation
Murraya propagates easily and does not require much effort. There are two main ways for this: seed and vegetative.
Sowing seeds. Seeds quickly lose their germination, so you need to sow them immediately after harvest. If you need to send the seeds or store them for a while, this is done right in the berries. The fruits are slightly dried and stored in paper bags. After cleaning the pulp, it is necessary to immediately produce crops. For planting, pots of sand and a small amount of garden land are prepared. Seeds are deepened by 5-10 mm and left in a bright place at a temperature of + 22 ... + 25 ° C. After 2-3 weeks, almost all fresh seeds will sprout. Plants develop quite actively. With the advent of 2 real leaves, they are transplanted in separate pots without a pick. Dwarf varieties produce buds in the first 6 months, but ordinary or Dutch murraya blooms in 7-10 years.
Rooting cuttings. Cuttings are more laborious and not so effective. You must wait until flowering is over or select branches without buds. For reproduction, one-year-old semi-lignified shoots with 2-3 leaves should be cut. The bottom cut of the cuttings is treated with root and rooted in moist sandy peat soil or water. To prevent the plant from evaporating too much moisture, it is covered with a transparent cap. Rooting is carried out in a bright room with an air temperature of + 26 ... + 30 ° C. The process lasts 1-2 months. When the plant has roots and young shoots, the shelter is gradually removed. You need to accustom seedlings to open air within 1-2 days.
Cultivation and care
Caring for Murraya requires little effort, it will master the florist even with little experience.
Lighting. The plant loves the sun, it develops well and blooms only in well-lit rooms. Shoots normally respond to direct sunlight. However, in too hot weather, it is recommended to ventilate the room more often or to put a pot of murraya in the back of the room. In winter, additional lighting with phytolamps may be required to provide 12-14 hours of daylight hours.
Temperature. Murraya does not need to artificially lower the temperature in winter and during dormancy. The optimal indicator for an adult plant is + 18 ... + 25 ° C throughout the year. In summer, you can put pots in fresh air, but do not forget to protect the plants from drafts and cold snap. Murraya reacts to any adverse conditions by shedding flowers and leaves.
Humidity. The flower easily adapts to indoor air humidity and can develop normally even during the heating season. He also perceives spraying and bathing. It is important that water droplets do not collect in the flowers. If the liquid is too hard, ugly calcareous stains may form on the leaves.
Watering. Murray will have to be watered often, especially during the period of growth and flowering. Earth should dry only on the surface. However, it is important to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the ground. The fluid should be well cleaned, softened and have room temperature.
Fertilizer. Feeding should be used with caution. The plant reacts poorly to their excess. Organic and mineral complexes alternate. Fertilizers are applied to the soil in liquid form every month. You can use special compositions for bonsai. In them, micro- and macroelements are optimally selected.
Transfer. Murray should be transplanted every 1-3 years. The younger the plant, the more often the procedure is carried out. Thin rhizome is sensitive to any damage, it leaves deep enough, so the transplant is carried out by transhipment. It is important to prevent deepening of the root neck. The pot is chosen quite deep and slightly wider than the previous one. At the bottom of the tank, stones, shards or brick chips are always laid out.
The soil. The soil for planting Murraya must be loose, nutritious and have a neutral reaction. You can buy a citrus soil mixture in a store or make it yourself from the following components:
- turf soil;
- sheet soil;
- deciduous humus;
- sand.
The proportion of sand increases when young plants are planted.
Pruning. From an early age, Murray should be pinched to get a thicker crown. Miniature varieties do not need regular pruning, but normally tolerate molding. From them you can create beautiful bonsai trees. Large varieties must be cut more often, otherwise the plant may exceed the dimensions of the room. It is recommended to leave skeletal branches, and young shoots to periodically remove.
Diseases and pests. With improper care, Murraya suffers from chlorosis and undergoes root rot. All damaged areas must be trimmed and fungicide treated. Plant parasites rarely attack. Most often, spider mites, scutes, whiteflies, aphids or nematodes are found. Insecticide treatment helps against pests.
The use of murraya
In the garden and at home. A pot with blooming murraya will be a wonderful decoration of the room, and a large bush will complement the garden composition. However, Murrayas do not winter on the street, they absolutely can not stand frosts and even severe cooling. Indoor murraya will fill the room with a pleasant aroma. Plants are also known as excellent air purifiers.
In folk medicine. Murraya's healing properties have been known since ancient times. The fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Their use helps to strengthen immunity, preserve youth and normalize the composition of the blood. Decoctions and dishes with Murray berries normalize blood sugar levels, help fight hypertension and strengthen the heart muscle. But the leaves and young shoots have analgesic and healing properties. A decoction of just one sheet is used to rinse with stomatitis. From the same disease chewing leaves helps. Also, a decoction of them is used for gastritis, tonsillitis and toothaches.
In cooking. In addition to the berries themselves, which can be eaten raw or added to sweet dishes, curry tree leaves are used. They are fried in oil, added to minced meat, soups, stews and fish. It is with fish and seafood that the seasoning is especially good. Food with such an additive acquires a special aroma and sophisticated taste. Buds can be used when brewing tea.
In cosmetology. Murray based oils are most widely used. They are added to cream, shampoo, balm, as well as aroma lamps for soothing inhalations. Powdered wood is used as a whitening and cleansing mask for the face and other parts of the body.
