Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree

The orange tree, also known as Citrus Sinensis, is a beautiful addition to any living room or patio. With its aromatic scent, beautiful white blossoms and small fruits of about 4 cm, this tree brings a touch of Mediterranean atmosphere to your living space. The orange tree originates from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean and thrives in a light to sunny location.

In terms of care, the orange tree needs regular watering, especially during the growth period in spring and summer. In addition, it is important to repot the plant annually and provide it with food, such as Ecostyle Citrus and Olive food. Pruning is usually not necessary often, but can be done if necessary at the end of the harvest season.

With its beautiful appearance, wonderful scent and easy care, the orange tree is a versatile plant that can be used both indoors and outdoors to brighten up your living space and add a touch of freshness. With the right care, this tree can be a beautiful addition to your garden or interior for many years.

The Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree likes a sip of water

The orange tree needs a lot of water during the growing season, from April to September. It is important to let the root ball dry out properly before watering again. During this period, it is advisable to water the plant 2 to 3 times a week. In the winter months, the orange tree needs less water and a dash of water once a month is sufficient. It is important to prevent too much water from remaining in the pot, you can do this by placing hydro grains on the bottom.

For the citronella plant it is important that the soil is kept moist regularly, especially during warm periods. Check regularly if the top layer of the soil is dry and water as soon as this is the case. Make sure that the plant has sufficient drainage, so that excess water can drain away well. In the summer months it may be necessary to water the plant more often due to the higher evaporation rate. Add water regularly and avoid letting the soil dry out completely.

Summer

During the summer it is very important that this plant, when it is outside, is kept well moist. Especially during the warm days it should be watered every day, so that the root ball is well moist. On the less warm days this can sometimes be skipped for a few days. This is so important because otherwise the plant 'drinks' moisture from its leaves, causing it to become dry and eventually die. This should of course be prevented.

Winter

When winter is just around the corner, the rules are reversed! If the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree is outside, it must remain dry so that the moisture does not freeze and damage the plant. The Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree does not suffer from a dry root ball during this period, it is in a kind of hibernation!
When the plant is kept indoors during the winter it should be kept slightly moist, so not soaking wet (as in summer), but just so that the root ball feels slightly damp.

General rules

In addition to the above guidelines, it is best to follow these rules:

First, give the plant a little water. If the soil is dry within 2 days, it means it needs a little more water. Adjust the amount of water until it still feels slightly moist between 2 and 5 days after watering, and almost dry after 5 days. If it feels very wet after 5 days, wait until it is almost dry and water again, but reduce the amount.

Spraying

We recommend that you spray the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree with water weekly. However, we do not recommend this during hot summer days, so that you do it either in the evening after sunset, or on days when the sun shines little, because the water droplets bundle the incoming sunlight into small points that become very hot. These cause the leaves to dry out, or even burn through.
Apart from the detrimental effect of bright sunlight on wet leaves, misting has beneficial effects for your Citronella - Citrus Tree - Orange Tree . Namely, it removes dust from the leaves, allowing them to better absorb sunlight and appear more beautiful, and it prevents certain types of pests.

Where is the best place to place the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree?

The orange tree likes a sunny location and thrives best in light to full sun. In spring and summer, the plant can be placed outside to brighten up the terrace, but make sure that the tree is not exposed to direct full sun for too long to prevent leaf burn. Citronella plants are sensitive to cold and should be moved indoors in frost to protect them from freezing.

The citronella plant prefers partial shade to full shade and does best in an area with less direct sunlight. Indoors, the plant can be placed in a room with indirect sunlight, or even in a lightly shaded corner of the garden.

Light

The Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree is a plant that likes a fair amount of sunlight. It likes to be in full sun or half shade, taking in all the light. Is it indoors? Then it wants a spot near a window or where light comes in. The Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree requires at least 1 to 3 hours of direct sunlight per day

Wind

Make sure that the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree experiences as little wind as possible. Wind can damage the leaves, causing them to die off more quickly. A little wind is no problem.

Temperature requirements

Minimum temperature 5 ℃ during the day
At night minimum 5 ℃

Repotting, why and when?

Repotting your orange tree is an important step in its care. Ideally, this should be done as soon as the spring temperatures start to rise and the plant starts to grow actively again. A good indication of when it is time to repot is when the roots of the plant have completely penetrated the pot. A good rule of thumb is that for every part of roots, there are four parts of branches and leaves. By measuring the branches and leaves of your orange tree, you can estimate how big the new pot should be.

Repotting the orange tree gives the plant more space to grow and develop further. It is therefore important not to overlook this step, as a pot that is too small can hinder the growth of the plant and ultimately damage its health. By supplementing the current potting soil with new universal potting soil and possibly adding some extra nutrition, you create an optimal growing environment for the orange tree.

The repotting process itself is quite simple, starting with carefully removing the orange tree from the pot and checking the roots for health and root development. Then place the plant in the new pot and fill it with fresh soil, making sure the plant is firmly planted and the roots are well covered. After repotting, water the orange tree thoroughly and place it in a bright, warm spot so that the plant can quickly recover and continue growing. Remember to feed and prune the plant regularly for optimal growth and flowering.

General rules

When the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree has taken root (often every 2-3 years) we recommend repotting it in the spring. If it is always inside, it does not matter. If it is outside, it is not a problem to repot it in the summer, but we advise against it in the autumn and winter, because it will not grow and take root optimally. This can make it somewhat weak, and possibly suffer damage from frost.

When you choose to repot your Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree, choose a nice pot that is twice the size of the root ball. Place a layer of hydro grains at the bottom of the new pot, for better moisture control. It will thank you for that. Fill this layer with some Mediterranean potting soil. This type of soil ensures that the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree roots optimally and is fed. Then you can place the root ball on the ground. Make sure that the top of the root ball is slightly below the edge of the pot. Aim for a difference of 2 to 6 cm. This difference ensures that the water does not run off the root ball when you water it.
Every year you should replace the top layer of soil, because it hardens and 'wears out' in nutrients, due to regular watering and because of the sunlight on the upper edge of the root ball.

Provide the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree with good nutrition

During the summer and spring periods your Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree needs to be fed well. Unfortunately, a good soil type is not enough for this. It certainly helps in certain needs of the plant. But to keep the leaves nice and deep green and strong, we recommend supplementing the nutrition with the specialized food [florentus]. Pokon is often recommended by other shops, but we advise against it, because .... Florentus is a product based on natural nutrients from many different sources, a mix of organic, vegetable acids and pure concentrates. It is the perfect 'fertilizer' for plants. Your plant is very grateful for this nutrition and will reward you with shiny deep green leaves and healthy strong roots.

When the leaves change color

The leaves can get black leaf tips. This can mean that too much water has been released. Brown or yellow leaves can mean that too little water is being released. We then recommend checking this and possibly adjusting the watering. We also recommend making the plant a bit more beautiful by simply cutting off the ugly tips with scissors.

It is also possible that the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree has been moved from a place with a lot/little light to a place with a different amount of light. This can also cause the leaves to discolour. The new leaves will be more resistant to direct sunlight.

How and when should you prune the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree?

The leaves of the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree will eventually wither. If this is the case with a leaf, you can simply cut the stem near the trunk. It is not a problem to prune an entire leaf with the stem of the plant. This is the way the plant forms its trunk.

How can I propagate the Citronella - Citrus tree - Orange tree?

The orange tree can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Propagation by seeds is a long process and requires patience, as the tree grows slowly. It is important to use fresh seeds and soak them before planting.

To propagate the orange tree by cuttings, you can cut healthy branches and place them in moist potting soil. Make sure the cuttings get enough warmth and light to root. It may take some time for the cuttings to develop roots, but with proper care they can grow into new orange trees.

Whether you choose to propagate by seeds or cuttings, it is important to water the plant regularly and provide it with sufficient nutrients. With the right care and attention, you can enjoy multiple copies of this beautiful and fragrant orange tree in your home or garden.