Mastic, ideal for low maintenance gardens

Mastic leaves

The mastic is an evergreen shrub that supports practically everything: sea breeze, drought, calcareous soils, and can even survive light frosts. It is, therefore, a plant that does not require any special attention, ideal for low maintenance gardens, and also for growing in pots to decorate the patio or terrace.

If you do not want to complicate with the care of the plants, or if you do not have much time, mastic is a very good option .

Origin and characteristics of the mastic

Pistacia lentiscus on the beach

The mastic, whose scientific name is pistachio lentiscusIt is native to the Mediterranean region, where it grows in dry and stony bushes. It grows to a height of 1 to 5m, although in cultivation it is not usually allowed to grow more than 2m. If there is something that really stands out about this plant, it is its smell: it smells a lot like resin; but do not worry, it is not toxic .

This is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are male feet and female feet. It has leathery, paripinnate compound leaves, with up to 12 deep green leaflets. The flowers are very small, red in color, and the fruit is a 4mm diameter drupe that, when ripe, is black.

What are their cares?

Mastic fruits

Do you want to have a copy in your garden or patio? Provide the following care:

Location

In cultivation it needs to be in an area where the climate is mild, with a temperature range between 38ºC maximum and -4ºC minimum. In the event that the frosts are more intense, you can take advantage of it and keep it indoors during the winter. It must be placed in a place where the sun shines directly, or in semi-shade.

Irrigation

It resists drought very well, but not waterlogging. Bearing this in mind, if it is kept on the ground, it should be watered little: once a week; instead, if it is potted, it will be advisable to water it a maximum of two times per week

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Pistacia lentiscus, or mastic, growing in its natural habitat

If you are going to have it on the ground, It is not necessary. But if, on the other hand, you are going to have it in a pot, it will be highly recommended to fertilize it from spring to autumn with liquid organic fertilizers, guano being highly recommended. You can also use the seaweed extract fertilizer from time to time, but you should not abuse it as it is very alkaline.

Soil or substrate

It is not demanding, as long as the soil where it will grow has a pH between 6 and 7.5. In acidic soils or substrates, it will not grow well due to lack of calcium.

Planting or transplanting time

The ideal time to plant it in the garden will be in spring. If it is grown in a pot, and since it has a rather slow growth, it will be enough to transplant it to a 4-5cm larger pot every 2 years, following this step by step:

  1. The first thing to do is fill the new pot to a little less than half with universal growing substrate mixed with 30% perlite, washed river sand or similar.
  2. The mastic is then removed from the »old» pot, tapping the container if necessary so that the plant can come out easily.
  3. Afterwards, it is introduced into the new pot, in the center. If you see that it is above the edge of the container or very below, remove or add substrate. Ideally, it should be about 0,5cm below so that the water is not lost when watering.
  4. Finally, the pot is finished filling and it is watered thoroughly.

Pruning

Ripe mastic fruits

The mastic is a shrub that can be pruned in late winter or early spring to give it the shape you want. Of course, it is very important to use pruning shears previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol. In addition, it is also advisable to seal the wounds with healing paste, especially if they have been produced on lignified branches (made of wood).

Multiplication

  • Seeds: they must be sown in spring in a pot with a universal growing medium. Difficult and irregular germination, which can take from 2 to 4 months.
  • Cuttings: in autumn or spring branches that measure more than 1cm thick must be cut, the base impregnated with rooting hormones and planted in a pot with a substrate such as vermiculite, which should always be kept slightly damp. If all goes well, the cutting will root after 2 months.
  • Aerial layering: in spring a bark ring can be removed from a branch that is 1cm thick or more, moistened with water and impregnated with rooting hormones. Then, all that remains is to wrap it in black plastic filled with moistened black peat. It should look like candy. It will root in approximately 7-8 weeks.

Rusticity

Withstands cold and frost up to -12ºCand maximum temperatures of up to 40ºC. One of the most interesting plant, without a doubt.

What are the uses of mastic?

  • Ornamental: it is a plant that although it is very common to see it in the Mediterranean fields, it is very decorative and very easy to care for. It can be kept both in a pot and in the garden, as an isolated specimen or in groups.
  • Culinary: an aromatic gum is made from its latex, known as mastic or mastic, which is used as chewing gum.
  • Medicinal: It is used in dental medicine to relieve toothache, but also against bleeding wounds or insect bites. In addition, it is used against diarrhea, gonorrhea and leukorrhea, and to relieve the symptoms of gout, rheumatism and pulmonary colds.

Can it be grown as bonsai?

If you don't have a garden, you can always make a bonsai out of your mastic

Image – Animabonsai.com

The truth is that yes. As it has such small leaves and an easily controllable growth, the mastic is a suitable plant to be worked as bonsai. The care is as follows:

  • Location: outdoors, in full sun or semi-shade.
  • Irrigation: frequent, every 2 days in summer and every 5-6 days the rest of the year.
  • Subscriber: from spring to early autumn with bonsai fertilizers following the indications specified on the product packaging.
  • Substratum: a good mix is ​​70% akadama with 30% kiryuzuna.
  • Transplant: every two years, in spring.
  • Wiring: whenever necessary with anodized aluminum wire. You have to check it from time to time to prevent it from digging into the crust.

Where can you buy?

It is a plant that you can find for sale in nurseriesespecially in those that specialize in forest species. They also sell it in online stores.

Its price will depend on where you buy it and the size it is, but generally a 30cm high copy costs about 4-5 euros.

View of the male mastic flowers

The mastic is a very ornamental shrub plant that will look great both on the terrace and in your private paradise.

Mastic, ideal for low maintenance gardens

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