How to Care for a Mangosteen Plant
The Mangosteen tree is a tropical evergreen tree, which grows in ultra-tropical locations such as Southeast Asia. While growing Mangosteen trees in North America can be very difficult (as they require consistently warm temperatures to thrive), caring for a Mangosteen tree once mature can be achieved with a few simple gardening techniques. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Rejuvenate the soil around your Mangosteen tree once a year with organic soil that is rich in nutrients. Mangosteen especially thrives in laterite or loam-based soils. If you are unsure which soil to purchase for your Mangosteen tree, ask the advice of an expert at your local gardening store. Because the Mangosteen tree is so rare, especially in North America, you should tell him that you are looking for a soil that is good for tropical fruit trees that require high humidity, full sun and very moist soil.
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Keep the Mangosteen tree away from any parts of your landscape that may be susceptible to high gusts of wind or saltwater spray (if you live in a coastal region). The easiest way to do this, other than replanting your Mangosteen tree, is to simply plant another tree in the path of the Mangosteen tree to block the wind or salt spray
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Water your Mangosteen tree regularly. Because it is an ultra-tropical plant, it needs to have conditions that are similar to that in the tropics, which means it needs high humidity, low drought, and moist soil. You may need to water your tree once or twice a week, depending on how moist your soil is. Test the soil first to makes sure that it is draining properly. You should feel a wet soil, but it should not be flooding the top of the soil.
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Fertilize your Mangosteen tree once at the end of the spring. Fertilize with a high-nutrient organic fertilizer that is suitable for most tropical fruit trees.
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Tips & Warnings
Mangosteen trees almost never survive in any conditions that are prone to drought and cold. Seedlings consistently die when exposed to conditions under 40 degrees Fahrenheit and over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless you have the optimal conditions for this tree, it may be wise to choose another type of fruit tree for your landscape or garden.
