Rules for growing an orange from a pit, planting and care at home
At home, not every hobbyist will dare to grow such an exotic culture as an orange. However, there are no special difficulties in this process. The main thing is to choose the right variety, prepare the seed material and provide the plant with competent agrotechnical care, which necessarily includes the prevention of diseases. Growing an orange from seed at home is an interesting and exciting process.
Varieties suitable for indoor cultivation
Not all citrus varieties are suitable for indoor cultivation. However, breeders have selected several varieties of oranges that thrive in apartment conditions, flower and, with special care, bear fruit.
gamlin
Gamlin belongs to the dwarf varieties of plants, not exceeding one and a half meters in height. The characteristic that distinguishes the orange from other varieties is its shiny orange skin.The leaves of the tree are light green in color, the fruits are medium in size and spherical in shape.
Pavlovsky
According to experts, the Pavlovsky variety is one of the best for growing in an apartment. The tree does not exceed 1 meter in height, which is convenient for placing on window sills. Under the condition of artificial pollination, the first oranges can be harvested after 7 months. The fruits of the Pavlovsk orange weigh about 80 grams and are spherical, slightly flattened.
washington navel
The orange variety belongs to the early ripening citrus varieties. Its height at home varies from 1 to 2 meters. The leaf plates are medium-sized and ovoid, dark green in color. The inflorescences of the culture smell good and have a pink-white tint. The weight of oranges reaches 300 grams with proper care.
How to prepare planting material
To get seeds, choose a fresh, large orange with a rich orange color. Maturity is determined by focusing on the friability of the pulp. The largest and densest seeds are chosen for planting. If you take light orange, empty seeds, sprouts will not appear, and the germination rate of dried material is very low.
Preparing a bone for planting in the ground involves several steps:
- The selected seeds are washed under running cold water to remove the remaining pulp.
- Stagnant water is prepared at room temperature and planting material is lowered into it for a day.
- To accelerate the germination of seeds, stimulants, for example, Epin, are added to the water. When using them, they are guided by the instructions on the product packaging.
Even without the use of growth stimulants, orange seeds germinate well, the main thing is that the upper crust softens well in water.
How to plant correctly
For planting orange seeds, separate plastic containers or cups are purchased. It is important that there are small holes in the bottom of each for the outflow of liquid after watering. The soil for growing an orange seedling is purchased in a specialized store or prepared independently.
The optimal soil composition is as follows:
- garden soil (2 parts);
- turf land (2 parts);
- river sand (1 part);
- non-acidic peat (part 1).
It is recommended to plant orange seeds according to the following algorithm:
- At the bottom of the prepared container, a layer of small pebbles or coarse sand is laid, which serves as a drainage.
- Soil is poured on top and lightly tamped.
- Make a depression of a few centimeters with your finger and put the grains in this hole. The distance from all walls of the pot is at least 3 cm.
- After that, moisten, but make sure the water is not cold.
- Fill with leftover soil and cover with plastic wrap or a glass.
- They are taken to a warm, dark place, periodically removing the shelter for ventilation and access to oxygen.
- The first shoots rise to the surface in a month.
Follow-up care rules
After germination, orange trees need to provide competent care, which includes watering and feeding, crown formation and preventive treatments that prevent the appearance of diseases and pests.
Lighting and temperature
Citrus trees are a resident of warm regions, so they need high temperatures even when grown indoors. During the growing season, its indicators are recommended in the range from 21 to 25. If the temperature exceeds this value, the orange will begin to actively build its green mass, and the fruit will not be bound. In winter, when the plant is at rest, the indicators are kept at 12-15 degrees. With the onset of the first days of spring, the temperature rises to 18 degrees and above, but they do this gradually.
Indoor orange loves sunlight, but reacts negatively to direct rays. East or west window sills would be an ideal placement option; on southern ones, it is recommended to shade the plant in the heat of the day to avoid leaf burn. In order for the crown of the seedling to be evenly illuminated by the sun's rays, the pot should be periodically turned in different directions.When summer comes, the container with the plant should be taken out to the balcony or loggia for airing.
Watering and spraying
On hot summer days, the tree needs regular irrigation. However, they do this carefully, avoiding the stagnation of liquid in the planting containers. After watering, excess water is drained from the pan, otherwise it will lead to rotting of the roots. In the event that an orange is sent to rest in a cool room for the winter, irrigation is reduced to 1 or 2 times every 30 days. If the tree is hibernating in a warm room, then humidification is carried out according to the same algorithm as in the summer.
For irrigation, take settled or filtered water at room temperature. If you moisten an orange with liquid from the tap, it leads to hypothermia of the root system and the plant dies. The culture does not tolerate dry air, therefore a container with water is placed next to it or spraying is carried out in hot weather.
Crown formation
It is necessary to start forming the crown of an orange when the tree reaches a height of 25-30 cm.
The work is carried out according to the following instructions:
- First, pinch the main stem at a height of 20-25 cm.
- On this stem, 3-4 branches should be left, which are also pinched to limit their growth.
- In the next growing season, when pruning, 2 branches of the second order remain, on which shoots of the third order will form.
- After that, in subsequent seasons, only weak, dried up and diseased branches are removed.
top dresser
Major nutrients are added throughout the spring and summer. The top dressing is done every week and a half.Special fertilizers for citrus fruits are purchased at the garden store. They are introduced in the concentration indicated in the instructions for use, immediately after irrigation of the tree.
It is recommended to use organic food for feeding no more than once every 3 months. In order to preserve the bright color of the foliage of indoor orange, iron sulfate is periodically added to the composition.
pest control
In the absence of proper care, orange trees infect pests, which should be dealt with as soon as possible so that they do not spoil the decorative appearance of plants.
Whitefly
Whiteflies actively eat the leaves and stems of oranges, which weakens and dies the crop. They appear in the event that the irrigation regime is not observed, the ideal conditions for their reproduction are high humidity and high temperature.
To combat whiteflies, Aktara or Agrovertin preparations are used, diluting them according to the instructions for use. If there are few pests, use folk remedies such as soapy water or garlic infusion.
Aphid
The insect sucks the juice from the orange leaves and the tree begins to wither. To combat it, we buy new generation insecticides that do not harm the plants. Of the folk remedies, spraying trees with an infusion of tobacco or marigold is effective.
Shield
As a result of scale insect exposure, orange leaves first turn yellow, then curl up and drop off. For the destruction of the pest, such drugs as Actellic or Phosbecid are used. According to folk recipes, the infusion of garlic or onion is effective.
Spider
Spider mites damage immature shoots and leaves. After exposure, they turn yellow and dry out.In this case, spraying with sulfur or any insecticidal preparation will be effective. If there are few pests, wipe the leaves with a cotton swab moistened with an alcohol solution.
Flowering and fruiting
If an orange tree is grafted, the first flowers will appear on it in 3-4 years. The buds are characterized by a decorative appearance and a pleasant aroma.
Wintering
If you do not provide the indoor orange with a full dormant period in winter, its lifespan is significantly reduced. After slowing down all vegetative processes, the plant is transferred to a cool room, where it is kept until spring, not forgetting to water it periodically.
Plant transplant
Until the beginning of fruiting, young oranges are transplanted annually.To do this, take a pot several centimeters in diameter larger than the previous one. After the appearance of the first fruits, this procedure is carried out every 3 years. This is done in the spring using the transshipment method.
Orange Tree Propagation Methods
There are several ways to raise orange trees at home.
Sun-flower seeds
Fresh orange tree seeds are planted in separate containers and cared for after germination, as for mature trees.
Cuttings
To grow a new orange specimen, they take branches from the crown of a plant from the previous or current year. The length of each cutting should be less than 10 cm. The plants are planted in a mini-greenhouse in coarse sand and covered with glass on top. As soon as the cuttings take root, transplant them to a permanent place.
Graft
Since a plant grown from seed does not retain its parental characteristics, it is necessary to vaccinate.This is done by grafting either a bud or a shoot from a cultivated plant. This helps hasten the onset of fruiting and enrich the flavor of oranges.
Solve common problems
Experienced gardeners share tips to help you avoid mistakes in growing oranges and get a healthy, fruitful tree.
Care errors
If you do not take care of the plant properly, it will not only not like the fruit, but it will also die. Overflow is considered the main mistake, in this case, the orange roots rot. Without the addition of nutrients, large and sweet fruits cannot be harvested.
Diseases
Orange trees suffer from several diseases.
Anthracnose
If the room is hot and humid, anthracnose, a fungal disease, attacks the oranges. The first sign is the appearance of dark brown spots on the leaves.
Leaves and branches of affected plants are cut off and the tree is sprayed with any fungicidal preparation.
Scabies
Bulging spots on any part of the crop indicate a disease such as scab. The damaged parts of the orange are removed and treated with any copper-containing preparation.
sooty mushroom
The appearance of this problem is provoked by harmful insects that secrete a sweet, sticky substance. Removing the affected parts of the orange and using copper preparations are ways to combat plant diseases.
Root rot
It is impossible to cure an infectious disease in oranges, therefore infected plants are destroyed.
Powdery mildew
With this disease, the plant slows down in growth, and a white powdery coating is noticeable on the leaves. For the treatment of oranges, 1 liquid Bordeaux or copper sulfate is used.
citrus cancer
Since such a disease cannot be treated, it is recommended as a preventive measure to spray the trees once a month with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Chlorosis
Orange leaf chlorosis results from a lack of iron. To remedy the situation, fertilizing the plant with a high content of this element is introduced.
Additional tips and tricks
To prolong the life of orange trees, be sure to send the plants to rest during the winter. Seeds for planting plants must be fresh, otherwise the first shoots will not appear soon.