To keep orange trees kept in containers he althy, young plants should be repotted annually and older container plants should be repotted every two to three years, depending on the ratio of crown volume to pot size. During this time, the substrate is often already heavily decomposed and used up, the root ball becomes felty and the roots begin to grow out of the pot holes.
How do you repot an orange tree?
Repotting an orange tree should be done at the end of the winter break or at the beginning of the growing season. Choose a new pot that is about a third larger than the root ball, loosen the ball and remove old soil. Place the ball in the pot, fill it with substrate and water vigorously.
The right time
Ideally, the orange tree is repotted at the end of the winter break / at the beginning of the growing season, because at this point the roots begin to grow vigorously again and can therefore grow into the new substrate more quickly and easily. Due to root activity, repotting in autumn makes little sense; It is also better not to carry out this measure during the growing season.
Preparing for repotting
Before you start repotting, you should look at the roots. You can decide which new pot size is right based on the root size and their growth. You can also use this opportunity to remove pests and pull out stubborn weeds. The new planter should be about a third larger than the root ball. This will sit high enough in the new pot so that the surface of the earth is at the same level as before.
The optimal substrate
The substrate should be chosen more or less roughly depending on the size of the plant. A young plant that is moved annually can be placed in finer soil. An older and larger solitaire, on the other hand, should be in coarse soil. It is transplanted less frequently and by remaining in the substrate for a longer period of time, it becomes muddied and the risk of the orange tree roots suffocating increases.
Repotting the orange tree step by step
And this is how you proceed when repotting an orange tree:
- First, the pot is loosened by tapping roots that are attached to it.
- For large pots, hold the trunk and lift the plant.
- Small pots, on the other hand, are removed from the root ball overhead, the stem sticks out between the fingers.
- Tap the root ball with the pot on the palm of your hand to loosen the roots.
- Carefully pull off the pot.
- Loosen the bale.
- The top, unrooted layer of soil is removed.
- Substrate containing clay should be flushed out.
- Fill the new plant pot with a drainage layer and then about two centimeters of substrate.
- Put the bale in the pot.
- Fill it all around with soil and work it in thoroughly.
- Finally, tap the outside of the pot all around to allow the soil to trickle into the last cavities.
- Water the orange tree vigorously.
Tips & Tricks
Place orange trees that have grown at an angle into the pot with an angled root ball to realign the crown.
