Orange pits, a flower pot and a little persistence are all it takes to bring a little exoticism to a city apartment. To grow this citrus tree in an apartment, you need to consider 5 important nuances.
Seed planting
You can get started at any time of the year. The main thing is to choose large fleshy bones from ripe sweet fruits of the correct shape. It is important not to allow the seeds to dry out, otherwise they may not sprout.
Orange seeds should be wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a bag to create a greenhouse effect. Water should be added every two days to keep the fabric from drying out. Until they hatch, it is important to keep the seeds warm.
Sprout transplant
After 3-5 weeks, the germinated seeds can be transplanted into a pot with a special citrus soil. At the bottom of the container, it is necessary to pour expanded clay or other small stones to ensure drainage. For a start, it is better to choose small pots in which water will not stagnate. Better then transplant the tree.
Orange loves light, therefore, it must be grown on a window overlooking the sunny side. If planted in autumn or winter, you need to provide the sprouts with artificial lighting.
Watering and optimal conditions
Orange does not tolerate cold and drafts. He feels best at a temperature of +22. The ideal air humidity is 40%. In the heating season, it will not hurt to put a saucer with wet expanded clay next to the pot. And in summer, it is recommended to put the tree on the balcony every day (but protect it from sunlight).
You need to water the tree often. At the initial stage of growth, it is enough to simply spray it from a spray bottle. Later, the plant will require daily moderate watering (or every other day if the soil does not have time to dry). Water should be used settled, thawed or rainwater, slightly warmed up.
Crown formation
When the orange tree is about 20 cm long, you can start forming the crown. To do this, you need to pinch off a few sheets of paper on the crown.
Bloom
Don't expect your orange tree to flourish in the early years. The first buds can be seen after about 6 years, and then with proper pruning. It is better not to save them, but to pinch them off right away so that the young tree does not waste its vital resource on them.
As for the fruits, they can only be expected after 8-10 years. But they will be very small and most likely bitter (that is, inedible). To grow real oranges on the windowsill, at the age of 1-3 years, you need to graft a twig of a varietal fruiting plant to the tree.
