Orange on the windowsill - it's possible
The first orange trees appeared on the territory of Russia in the 17th century. At first, these were wild-growing varieties, and over time, breeders bred special citrus fruits intended for indoor cultivation. After all, this culture not only gives tasty and healthy fruits, it also has a very beautiful decorative appearance. Can anyone not like a neat green tree with shiny leaves, which retains its appearance all year round, and in addition still beautifully blooms and bears fruit ?!
Room orange at home feels very comfortable and, in principle, does not require much. With minimal effort, it is quite possible not only to get a lush tree, but also to wait for the harvest from it.
For the orange to bear fruit, it is recommended to use the seeds of indoor plants for planting. Seeds from store fruits are "street" varieties that usually do not bear fruit at home without grafting.
What does an orange need for active development? Experienced flower growers know the answer and are happy to share their experience with beginners. The ideal conditions for growing indoor orange are:
- nutritious soil;
- bright lighting;
- abundant watering in summer and moderate in winter.
What kind of earth is right for an orange?
All citrus fruits tend to grow very slowly. Until a young plant grows a root system and fills the entire pot, growth shifts will be subtle. For this reason, small containers should be used for small seedlings grown from seed or planted cuttings. At first, an ordinary, loose, universal substrate for flowers is quite suitable as a soil.
Until the orange is mature, it should be replanted twice a year, increasing the size of the pot.
A mature tree needs heavier soil and additional fertilization. To plant an adult bush, you should mix:
- 1 piece of garden land;
- 1 part of humus;
- phosphate fertilizers (e.g. horn shavings);
- some sand.
Sun Fruit - Sunshine
In nature, an orange grows in the sun, and in the apartment it also needs to be allocated the most illuminated place. This is where the southern window sill comes in handy, which is contraindicated for most flowers. But the orange tree will feel comfortable on it, with the exception of perhaps the peak of the summer period.
If the south window from the street is not shaded by trees, for the summer it is better to take the orange pot outside or rearrange it away from direct sunlight, since their scorching effect through the glass only intensifies and can harm the leaves.
Features of watering depending on the season
In hot weather it is almost impossible to pour an orange - it loves moisture very much and gratefully accepts frequent and abundant watering.
It is categorically impossible to use hard water for watering citrus plants.
With the onset of autumn, the irrigation regime will have to be changed. At low temperatures, an orange reacts sharply to both overflow and drying out of the soil. Therefore, it is important to wait until the top layer of the earth dries well, but does not dry completely, and only then can you water the bush.