Cultivating an orange tree in a normal room all year round often fails, mostly due to incorrect care and / or too little sunlight. Like all citrus plants, an orange tree is not necessarily suitable as a houseplant, as it should be on the balcony or in the garden at least during the summer months and has to hibernate cool in winter.
All-year room culture
It is not advisable to cultivate indoors all year round, as this will damage your orange tree sooner or later. A self-grown young plant should, at least in the first few years, stand in the sunniest place on the south-facing window and slowly get used to the summer fresh air culture. A pure room maintenance is problematic for three reasons:
1. Light intensity is not sufficient indoors
Even if it seems very bright to us humans, in the light conditions in many living rooms an orange feels like it is in the dead of winter. The sunlight is heavily filtered by the modern multiple glazing and is therefore simply not sufficient in intensity. Outside, however, the orange tree can stand in the blazing sun for hours - of course if you get used to it - and so absorb a lot of light and warmth.
2. Winter quarters are too warm
For light reasons, oranges need a cool winter break in a cool but frost-free and bright room. Oranges that are kept as houseplants shed their leaves towards the end of winter due to lack of vigour. In addition, the weakened plants are often plagued by pests, especially spider mites.
What you should pay attention to in a pure room culture
If you still want to keep an orange tree in room culture all year round, you should heed the following things:
- Provide a light, airy space.
- Avoid drafts.
- Give your orange tree enough space - the plant will quickly grow to a height of two metres.
- Do not turn and move the pot too often.
- Use a spray bottle to ensure high humidity - this keeps spider mites away.
- Water and fertilize the tree regularly.
- Air the tree out at the open window on warm and windless days.
- Provide a cool hibernation.
- If necessary, provide an additional light source, such as one or more plant lamps.
The plant lamps can burn for up to nine hours a day and thus stimulate an optimal day and night rhythm.
tips and tricks
If you have no way of overwintering your orange tree, you can give it to your favorite nursery. These often offer a professional overwintering service for tropical plants.