The evergreen orange tree impresses with its even growth, its strong, green leaves and its fragrant flowers all year round. The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe admired the beauty of the orange tree - so it's no wonder that the tree is so popular as a houseplant.
How to care for an orange tree as a houseplant?
To care for the orange tree as a houseplant, place it in the sunniest south-facing window, water and fertilize it regularly and overwinter it cold but frost-free at 10-12 °C. Check the plant for pests and prune if necessary.
Only keep the orange tree in a pot
In our latitudes you should never plant an orange tree - the cold-sensitive tree would not survive the winter. Therefore, keeping them in a container is the best choice, and oranges - similar to olives - really appreciate fresh air and sunshine. So if you have a balcony or terrace, put your little tree out over the summer - it will thank you for this blessing with a we alth of flowers.
Orange tree as a houseplant
When grown indoors, the plants should be kept in the sunniest place on the south window all year round. Due to the limited lighting conditions even in summer, oranges develop larger and thinner leaves - so-called shade leaves - which then cope better with the given lighting conditions even in winter. Indoor oranges should be occasionally showered or sprayed all over and regularly checked for pests, especially spider mites. Oranges kept exclusively indoors are often attacked by all kinds of pests, especially if the tree is kept warm over the winter.
Overwintering the orange tree properly
In winter there is not enough natural light for an orange, which is why many trees react by shedding their leaves towards the end of this time. To prevent this, you can install additional plant lamps (€79.00 on Amazon) or keep the tree cold - but frost-free! – overwinter. To do this, place the orange tree in a little or unheated room or in the stairwell or in a greenhouse. The location should be around 10 to 12 °C warm and as bright as possible. If an orange otherwise needs a lot of water, you should only water it once a month in winter. In addition, there is no need to fertilize during the winter break.
Tips & Tricks
Orange trees grow very quickly and can reach an impressive size within just a few years. Therefore, you should prune the plant regularly and ensure there is enough space. Citrus plants like these feel particularly at home in bright winter gardens.