When and how often does the orange tree have to be watered?
Regular and even watering with lime-free water is especially important during the growing season; best to water once a day. In winter with almost frost-free overwintering and less light, the orange tree needs significantly less water - one watering process per month is sufficient here.
also read
- Repotting the orange tree properly - step by step
- The orange tree - a pretty houseplant with great demands
- How to plant an orange tree
How do I fertilize correctly?
Like all other citrus trees, oranges need many nutrients during the growing season. In the case of potted plants, the first application of fertilizer should be given at the beginning of budding in spring (usually in March). Thereafter, nutrients will be regularly supplied until September. You can fertilize with a liquid fertilizer, which is applied once or twice a week with the irrigation water from the start of budding. At best, the fertilizer should contain a nutrient mixture with nitrogen / phosphorus / potassium in a ratio of 3: 1: 2.
What to do if the leaves change color
If the leaves of the plant slowly turn more and more yellow, this may be due to a pest infestation, root rot, a lack of water or a lack of nutrients. The beautiful deep green leaf color is only created by adequate nitrogen fertilization. Furthermore, watering with lime-containing water can block the absorption of nutrients, which is why you should always water with water that is low in lime (e.g. rainwater).
Which pests can occur and what can I do about them?
On the orange tree, especially if it is kept in the room, occur particularly frequently
- Scale insects
- Aphids
- Mealybugs and mealybugs
- Spider mites
- as well as various fungal diseases.
The treatment is carried out with a fungicide or, in the case of pest infestation, with potassium soap.
What to do when the orange tree sheds its leaves
A complete loss of leaves in frost-free wintering is almost always the result of a location that is too warm and / or too dark. Another reason may be that the plant was once kept too dry, so that the leaves have already rolled up on the outer edge. After the subsequent good watering, all the leaves are often thrown off, but the tree usually sprouts again.
When and how do I cut best?
In principle, orange trees can be cut at any time. In the case of large potted plants that are to be moved from their summer to winter quarters, it is advisable to cut them beforehand. Remove all branches that do not fit into the desired shape (usually spherical crown). In addition, twigs that grow into the interior of the crown are removed on this occasion and shoots that are growing too densely or lively are isolated. In addition, all dead wood should be cut out.
Wintering oranges
The amount of light available in German regions in winter is not sufficient to allow an orange to continue to grow healthily. If you want to overwinter your orange tree in your apartment, please note the following: Choose the coolest room for this. If the room temperature is higher than 12 ° C for at least 12 hours a day, plant lamps must be installed as additional lighting. The fewest problems arise when the orange trees cultivated in the tub are overwintered at temperatures of around 5 ° C at night and up to 15 ° C during the day.
Tips & Tricks
The so-called de-sharpening is much gentler than a radical shape cut for the orange tree. Simply remove the tips of the new shoots as soon as they have reached the desired length.
