What Your Orange Tree Actually Needs In April – For Large Fruits And Glossy Leaves Guaranteed
Five vital jobs for healthier citrus trees and juicy fruits
With their glossy leaves, fragrant blooms and stunning fruits well tended oranges trees make a dazzling statement. Ideal for growing indoors, or out if the climate allows they can add a glamorous, evocative and tropical note to planting.
These ancient plants originate from South East Asia and favor well draining soil, warm climes and plenty of direct sunshine. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, these citrus trees need constant temperatures of 55°F and 85°F and will not tolerate a hint of frost. They also need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to help the fruit develop and ripen, plus a short spell of cooler temperatures to sweeten the fruit, so it's no wonder that oranges have a tricky reputation.
Article continues belowGive Indoor Pollination A Helping Hand
Depending on the variety of orange, blooms will appear in spring or throughout the summer months, and will hopefully be pollinated, leading to fruit forming.
Due to the lack of insects, this can prove an issue with indoor plants, and if you wish them to fruit, you may need to lend them a hand.
‘Hand pollination is key for indoor plants if you want fruits,’ explains plant expert Sarah Logie. ‘To do this, simply swirl a tiny paintbrush, cotton swab, or even your finger from flower to flower to spread the pollen. Be sure to do this while the flowers are open.’
The best brushes for plant pollination have soft, natural bristle brushes and are available from Walmart.
As Content Strategist at FastGrowingTrees.com, Sarah is smitten with words and a fanatic for flowers, particularly cut florals and house plants. With a love for curating compelling content, she also enjoys furthering her plant knowledge along the way! A few of her favorite flowers include hibiscus, hydrangeas, peonies and dahlias.
Feed For Fresh Growth
Warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours wake plants from their dormant period and prompt them to get growing. Citrus trees are no exception.
'April is a great time to start feeding your orange tree as it begins to grow more actively,' says plant expert Annie Morton. 'Use a citrus fertilizer with extra nitrogen and important nutrients like magnesium and iron.
'Feed your tree every two to four weeks during spring and summer. Don’t skip feedings, because citrus trees quickly show pale, yellow leaves when they are hungry.'
Besides regular liquid feeds there are other ways to boost plant energy too. 'Adding a slow-release fertilizer can also help provide nutrients gradually over time as the tree grows,' adds plant expert Paris Lalicata.
'For added soil fertility, incorporate organic amendments like compost at the start of the season, which improves soil structure and promotes healthy root growth!'
Try a specific feed, such as Farmer's Secret Citrus Tree Booster from Amazon.
Annie has been an integral part of Hoselink since 2020, bringing her passion for gardening, sustainability, and connection with nature to life through the brand. After immersing herself in each of the product, customer and marketing departments over the last 5 years, Annie brings a wealth of knowledge on all things Hoselink and how the right tools can make your garden - and your life - more enjoyable.
Paris has been with The Sill for almost five years and heads up Plant Education and Community. A self-taught plant expert with over ten years of experience growing houseplants, she currently maintains an indoor garden of more than 200 plants in the northeast. Her passion is making plant care more digestible for budding plant parents and sharing the many benefits of having plants indoors.
Keep A Close Eye On Foliage
Orange trees can be sensitive creatures and often protest to any changes in their environment by losing leaf lustre and even by dropping leaves. The transition from winter to spring can prove a trigger point, so it's worth knowing what to look out for.
'It is normal for your orange tree to lose some leaves in April as it gets used to changes in light and temperature, especially if it spent the winter indoors and is moving back outside.' says Annie.
'But if you notice a lot of leaves falling off suddenly, it could mean the tree is getting too much water, is exposed to cold drafts, or has experienced a big change in its environment. Move the tree outside slowly to help it adjust, and check the roots and drainage if leaf drop continues.'
Plant hunger could be another cause, as Paris explains, 'For nutrient deficiencies, the leaves usually turn chlorotic, sometimes with interveinal chlorosis and eventually fall off. This happens to older foliage, but can also happen during fruit production as plants draw a lot of energy in for the fruit. Simply fertilize your orange tree throughout the spring/summer months to prevent this.'
Citrus Fertilizer Spikes are an easy feed option. And Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes can be found at Amazon.
Start Watering Regularly
Sun loving orange plants depend on well draining soil, as they cannot tolerate their roots sitting in water. While sinking a finger into the top inch of soil is an easy way to detect whether a potted plant needs watering, those planted in-ground can be more tricky.
'For in-ground plants, monitor the soil to make sure it stays on the slightly moist side,' says Sarah. 'Citrus plants won’t tolerate sitting in excess water. If you notice that spring rainfall is causing excess water to collect around your plants, try to divert the water or add substrate to the soil to increase drainage.'
Citrus plants are also fussy when it comes to mineral content and the PH of their water. 'Rainwater is preferable when available. It is naturally soft, slightly acidic, and at ambient temperature, which plants prefer. Tap water in hard-water areas contains lime, which can alter soil pH over time,' says Annie.
Increase drainage for container grown orange plants by adding clay pebbles from Walmart to a plant saucer and raising the container up on pot feet also available from Walmart..
Prune Out Dead Growth
April is the perfect time dig out the hand pruners and learn how to prune an orange tree. Remove any dead or dying branches by taking them right back to the main stem or a healthy bud, making a clean 45 degree angle cut.
Any crossing branches should also be taken out, as these can rub together and lead to disease taking hold. They can also crowd the center of the plant, reducing light and ventilation.
Mature plants may produce suckers at the base. These should also be cut away as they divert energy from the plant's main stem. Narrow bladed hand pruners, such as these from Amazon, handle the task with ease.
Hopefully by following this month's growing tips you will feel encouraged to add to your fruit collection. Exploring the best fruit trees to grow in pots is a great starting point, especially if space is tight.
There are other unusual fruits to grow including fragrant kumquat and the striking Buddha's Hand Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis.
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