How to Grow Oranges Indoors

Grow your own oranges indoors.

One of the most attractive plants inside the house is an orange tree. Even if you never get a single orange on the tree, the attractive foliage is worth the time you take to grow it. If you happen to grow an orange tree indoors for the oranges, they are a bonus. Just like foliage, the flowers are incredible. Both the leaves and flower have a scent so you get a room freshener even before you grow oranges indoors.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Soil
• Perlite
• Broken clay pot or large pebbles
• Citrus fertilizer
• Sunny area
• Dish soap
• Alcohol
• Cotton ball
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Purchase a dwarf orange tree unless you have a very large room. If you try growing oranges indoors from seeds you save from grocery store oranges, you'll find that the tree will outgrow the house before it gets any oranges on it and even then may only have flowers and not fruit. There are two types of dwarf orange trees. The regular type that has a regular tree grafted to dwarf rootstock and those bred to be small and compact. Genetic dwarf trees appear thicker and more compact but still grow the normal size fruit indoor just like it's counterpart.

2. Plant in a pot that allows for growth. Eventually you'll need about a 15-gallon container for your 7 or 8 foot orange tree. If you plant the seedling in a 3-gallon pot, you'll have to transplant it once a year. Remember, if the plant is in too big of a pot, it won't bloom and you won't have oranges. If your orange tree is over two to three times taller than the pot height then you need to repot. Often you'll know when to pot because you start to see the root ball on the top of the soil.

3. Line the bottom of the pot with broken clay or large pebbles and make sure there's a hole for drainage. Use a mixture that contains perlite and organic material. Try African violet potting soil. Put down a layer of soil, put in the root ball and cover with soil lightly over the root ball. Make sure you center the tree so there's adequate soil on both sides.

4. Find special fertilizer for citrus plants. The fertilizer is NPK that stands for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also has micronutrients like boron and magnesium. Feed your plant a good fertilizer that contains the above ingredients plus minerals frequently. Follow the directions from the manufacturer when you purchase citrus fertilizer.

5. Water the plants thoroughly. Allow the water to drain onto the plate below and let it set for about 45 minutes, and then empty away the excess water. When the soil is dry two to three inches below the surface, it's time to water again.

6. Let there be light and lots of it. Orange trees grown inside need eight hours of direct light a day. Put it in the sunniest window you have so they get as much direct sunshine as possible. If you put them outside in the summer, try to protect them from the harsh midday sun. Keep them warm also. They like an area that has high humidity. If your home is dry, set the container on a plate filled with rocks and pour a little water into the plate to raise the humidity. They loose blossoms if they don't get enough. Mist the plants daily.

7. Help your plant pollinate. Brush the open flowers with a paintbrush and then brush another flower. This transfers the pollen and does the same job as a bee. If you find spider mites or other insects on the plant, a spray with dish soap and water or alcohol on a cotton ball rubbed on the plant rids them of the pests. You'll lose quite a few fruit before you have a successful orange. That's normal with orange trees grown indoors or outside.