Orange tree, lemon tree, tangerine tree - the decorative citrus fruit trees are at home in warm regions. In our cold winters they would freeze to death in the open air. You must therefore bring the trees into the house or conservatory over the winter.

Overwinter citrus fruits in a cool and light place

Suitable winter locations are:

  • Unheated conservatory
  • Hallways with large windows
  • Unheated living rooms facing south
  • Garden houses with windows

    • It is important that the temperatures do not rise above a maximum of eight degrees, as the tree then wakes up from hibernation and hardly bears fruit in summer.

    In addition, the place for the tree must be as bright as possible. If you only have dark rooms available, install plant lamps so that the trees get at least ten hours of light.

    Check for pests and diseases before wintering

    If the citrus fruit tree has spent the summer on the terrace, you should examine it closely for pests or symptoms of disease.

    Remove spiders and insects and also look for snails and their clutches. When wintering indoors, pests spread quickly and damage not only citrus.

    This also applies to diseased trees. Cut off affected branches and leaves before storing.

    Be careful when watering

    Citrus fruits need little water in winter. Use your fingers to check whether the top third of the soil is dry and only then water with lukewarm, low-lime water.

    Make sure that the water does not accumulate at the bottom of the roots. If the tree loses its leaves, you have given too much water or the root ball suffered from waterlogging.

    No longer change winter location

    Think carefully about where to place your citrus tree. Once the tree has been in one place for a few days, it should not be moved or turned. A change of location can lead to leaf loss.

    Get a citrus tree out of hibernation

    After the winter break, slowly acclimate the citrus to outdoor life again.

    First place them in a shady place sheltered from the wind. Gradually move the bucket more and more into direct sunlight.

    tips and tricks

    Place warming insulation under the pot of the citrus tree. Styrofoam plates or coconut mats (€21.90) are well suited. As a result, the root ball does not cool down as much when it is standing on a stone floor.

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    Category:

    Vegetable garden