Orange tree on the windowsill - the secrets of growing and fruiting
Content
Description and characteristics of homemade orange
Homemade orange is a fairly compact tree. The plant reaches a height of 3 m, while in natural conditions the minimum height is 7 m. In addition to its direct purpose - fruiting, the plant copes well with the role of a decorative element. A neat bush with bright orange fruits will refresh any interior.
The plant has a surface type root system. It is characterized by the absence of the usual fibers, which are considered a kind of "conductor" of nutrients. Instead, this role is played by special mushrooms, which are located at the tips of the roots. Thus, a symbiosis is established between the orange tree and these microorganisms.
On the branches of an orange tree, rich green leaves flaunt. They contain a large amount of essential substances, so with light squeezing, the leaf begins to exude a pleasant citrus aroma.
The fruit plant looks especially aesthetically pleasing during the flowering period, that is, in the spring. Then the branches are covered with rather large flowers. In most cases, they are white, but there are varieties with red inflorescences. Unfortunately, they fall off after a couple of days.
Video "How to grow indoor orange in the house"
This video will show you how to care for an orange tree at home.
Orange varieties for home cultivation
For the successful cultivation of a tropical plant, it is worth choosing varieties that are suitable for home conditions:
- Washington Navel. Perhaps the most popular among indoor orange lovers. The height of the tree can reach 2.5 m. After planting, the crop appears, as a rule, after 2-3 years. The variety is characterized by rather large fruits.
- Pavlovsky. It belongs to the smallest varieties, since the height of the trunk does not exceed 1 m. The first fruits will have to wait a long time, but their appearance can be accelerated by careful care, especially lighting.
- Gamlin. The most unpretentious tropical tree variety. Fruits are medium in size, sourish in taste.
How to grow a citrus tree from a seed
The process of growing a seed fruit plant is quite simple. However, it requires adherence to the correct algorithm of actions.
Preparing the seeds
So, deciding to plant a bright plant on your windowsill, you should take care of high-quality seeds. They must be ripe and fresh, and have a symmetrical shape. To "play it safe", you can use seeds from different fruits.
To begin with, the grains should be carefully removed from the fruit and removed from the remaining pulp. Warm running water will help to clean them thoroughly. Next, the seeds must be placed in water with the addition of fertilizer (Energena, Epina).It is important to follow the instructions carefully in this procedure. In the solution, the seeds should be from 7 to 12 hours.
Sowing seeds
For planting, you need to choose a capacity of no more than 100 ml. Plastic containers from yogurt or sour cream will be suitable. It should be remembered that each bone must have its own "pot". If the seeds are planted in a common wide container, you need to keep a comfortable distance for future shoots - 6-7 cm and 4 cm from the walls of the container. It is recommended to deepen the seeds 1.5 cm into the ground.
Soil is considered to be a crucial point in the process of growing an orange tree at home. It can be found in specialized flower shops. On the package with earth must be indicated "for citrus fruits". Experienced gardeners can prepare the substrate with their own hands. To do this, it is enough to mix ordinary soil from the garden and peat in equal parts.
The seed pot is placed on the southern windowsill. To create the most "tropical" conditions, the container is placed on a small layer of foam. It will protect fragile seeds from drafts and cold windowsill. By the way, the presence of light at this stage of the development of an orange is not at all necessary.
To create a comfortable microclimate, a plastic bottle cut from the bottom is installed on the pot. Moreover, the gardener will be able to regulate the degree of ventilation by unscrewing or twisting the lid.
To maintain the required humidity level, the container is covered with cling film, which will not trap the light.
Sprout transplant
The first shoots appear, as a rule, in 1.5–2 months. During this period, the plant should be provided with additional lighting to stimulate growth. However, this condition is necessary only if the planting was carried out in the fall-winter.
When several formed leaves appear on the sprouts, you should pick the plant. The main condition in this procedure is considered to be careful handling of the roots, especially when the stem is removed from the soil.
The orange should be planted in individual containers not exceeding 12 cm in diameter. Planting in a large pot will lead to stagnation of moisture in the ground, followed by rotting of the root system.
For sprouts, a different soil composition is needed: sand, peat, leaf humus, turf. All components are connected in the same parts, but the sod land should be taken 2 times more. The grown shoots, the height of which is 30 cm, must be transplanted again. The composition of the soil is identical, with one clarification: the turf now needs 3 parts.
A pleasant bonus for the root system of a tropical tree will be a small amount of clay in the substrate. With each new transplant, the volume of the flower pot should be increased by 3-5 cm.
Conditions for growing an orange at home
In order for a tropical tree to grow quickly and soon bear the first fragrant fruits, it is important to take into account some of the rules for keeping a pet.
Lighting
The orange tree is very fond of light. However, direct sunlight injures the delicate leaves of the plant. Therefore, the pots should be installed on the western or eastern window sills - there is the most comfortable diffused light. In winter, the plant needs even more light. Therefore, the gardener needs to take care of additional lighting in advance.
Temperature and humidity
The most comfortable air temperature for the successful growth of a houseplant is:
- in winter - 10-13 ° C;
- in summer - 18-28 ° C.
In summer, the orange can be placed outdoors, but the area must be protected from drafts. With the onset of cold weather, the pot is placed on a glazed balcony or southern windowsill.
Plant care
A gardener who wants to regularly feast on ripe tropical fruits should take care of proper care of the fruit plant.
Watering and spraying
The plant is hygrophilous, but does not tolerate stagnation of liquid. The first thing that will help to avoid this is high-quality drainage and timely soil moisture. It is recommended to water the soil:
- in summer and during the heating season - once a day;
- the rest of the time - as the earth dries up.
It is worth spraying a tree in summer and during the heating season every day, in autumn - a couple of times a week.
Top dressing
From early spring to mid-autumn, the orange must be fed every 2 weeks. For this, a special ready-made fertilizer is used. You can prepare top dressing yourself. To do this, it is necessary to combine 20 g of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers and 15 g of potassium salt. The mixture should be dissolved in 10 liters of settled water. A solution of manganese or vitriol is added to the composition once.
Transfer
The transplant must be carried out every 2-3 years, in the spring. For this, the transshipment method is used. This ensures maximum protection of the root system from possible injury and damage. Each subsequent pot should exceed the previous one by 3-4 cm in diameter. For the soil, a composition of sod, sand, leaf humus is used. The presence of drainage is considered a prerequisite.
Crown formation
Crown care is directly related to the fruiting rate of the tree. To properly form the crown of an orange tree, it is necessary to pinch those branches that have reached 20 cm in length. Weak, damaged or deformed shoots are also cut.
Pests and diseases
The most common pests of tropical plants are aphids, scale insects and spider mites. They usually appear after the plant has been outdoors for a long time. That is why gardeners are advised to regularly inspect stems and leaves for parasites.
If they were discovered, it’s time to declare war. This will help chemicals, such as "Fitoverma", or folk methods of struggle. These include garlic broth, a solution of tar or laundry soap.
How to get fruits at home
As a rule, trees grown from seed do not retain the characteristics of the parent plant. They either do not bear fruit at all, or they are very weak and not quite high-quality fruits. Therefore, it makes sense to resort to vaccination. The procedure is of two types:
- Classic. Using a seedling of a fruiting orange.
- Budding. It is characterized by the "implantation" of the bud of a fruiting tree.
The second option is considered the least traumatic for the orange plant. However, before proceeding with the procedure, it is important to make sure that the pet is healthy and at least 2 years old.
By the way, almost any variety of citrus fruits can be grafted. They usually do not reject related species.
Citrus trees are not just an exotic home decoration, but also a direct supplier of delicious and sweet fruits. A novice gardener needs to understand that oranges grow for a long time. Therefore, wanting to one day feast on your own tropical harvest, you need to be patient.