When it comes to having plants at home, trees don’t even have to be exclusive to a garden. In fact, we can also have them at home. One of the most beautiful is the orange tree. But do you know how to take care of a potted dwarf orange tree?
We are going to give you the keys so that you know how to have a dwarf orange tree in your home, from its characteristics to those treatments that can make it bloom and also have small oranges. Would you dare to do it?
Contents
Characteristics of the dwarf orange tree
The Citrofortunella mitis This is the scientific name that alludes to the dwarf orange tree. However, in the market it is easier to know it as Calamondin, Naranjito del Obispo, Naranjito de San José or Chinese orange.
It is characterized by a small size compared to the normal orange tree. The most beautiful thing about it are its flowers, the white orange blossom, which looks a bit waxy to the eye. When you get closer, you see that the shape is a star and they also give off a very pleasant aroma. After these flowers come the fruits, which are usually green and flattened at first, then turn orange and riper. In fact, when they’re ready, you can pick them up and eat them, but it’s not easy because their taste is very, very sour and bitter, and not everyone tolerates that.
Regarding its branches and leaves, it is quite leafy and keeps its leaves all year round (except in the event of very low temperatures or frosts, where they will fall).
How to care for a potted dwarf orange tree
Now that you know a little more in depth what it means to have a dwarf orange tree, now we want to focus on the care it will need and that you need to know for it to develop properly. They are:
location and lighting
The best location for a fruit tree is outdoors and in full light. However, we know that when you have a dwarf orange tree, it is normal for you to have it indoors.
If so, you should choose a location where it receives the most direct sunlight. In general, orange trees need about 6 hours of sunlight. In the case of a dwarf too, but it does not necessarily have to be direct since it does not need it so much, as long as it has light, it is enough to give it a few hours of sun.
As for the location, if you can put it on a terrace or similar, all the better because it prefers the outside inside the house (where it can wither more quickly and easily).
Temperature
Fruit trees are quite hardy. But the truth is that when temperatures drop, they can suffer a lot. For starters, jellies don’t handle them very well. The ideal temperature for this dwarf orange tree will be between 15 and 18 degrees. It can withstand much higher temperatures, but in case of low temperatures it is not recommended.
Substrate
The soil you buy a dwarf orange tree with may not be the best for them, or may be too compacted (and therefore causing the plant to die). For this reason, we will always recommend that you use a substrate that has a pH of 5-6 and has drainage. In addition, it must be very rich in nutrients because it will ask you for it.
Irrigation
The dwarf orange tree is a tree that needs to have soil that is always moist, but not to the point of flooding. Between waterings, you can let the substrate dry out a little, but not too much.
Being small, it requires more attention to watering, and this is one of the problems you can die of. This implies that in winter, and depending on where you live and the climate, you must water it 1-2 times a week, while in summer, if it is very hot, you must do it almost daily .
Subscriber
It is important to take into account the subscriber of the dwarf orange tree. And it is that, unlike orange trees, more will be needed. The normal thing is to add it once a month but, when it is dwarf, if it can be added twice a month it is much better because being in a pot, and also requiring more nutrients and needs, this fertilizer will help meet its requirements.
Cut
Like a normal orange tree, the dwarf orange tree will need to have the branches sticking out of the formation you want it to cut, as well as the ones that are drying out.
Likewise with the leaves, the dry or diseased ones are better to cut them to avoid affecting the whole plant.
When he puts in oranges and you take them out, if you cut you will help encourage him to bloom again and, with him, to have more oranges.
Of course, normally these are very acidic and not easy to eat (because of the strong flavor they have).
Plagues and diseases
Whitefly, spider mite or fungus are the main problems of dwarf orange trees. When you take care of it, you must have a prepared defense mechanism for these problems.
For example, if you see that the leaves are turning yellow and they have pitting, it is very likely that you are faced with the red spider mite and you need to spray an acaricide to get rid of it.
If you notice he has tiny whiteflies, then we are talking about the whitefly and you will need an insecticide.
Finally, in the case of fungi, they mainly affect the roots, causing rot. This can be caused by poor watering, and it is best to change all the soil and the pot, as well as apply a specific product to try to save the tree.
Multiplication
In the case of the dwarf orange tree, the most successful form of reproduction is none other than the seed. It is true that it is a long process, especially considering that it can take between 7 and 10 years to flower and bear fruit.
Moreover, during its growth, it can easily die if it does not receive the proper attention.
Now that you know how to take care of a potted dwarf orange tree, do you dare to use one?