Orange

Growing citrus trees is a process with its own challenges. However, you can prevent a lot of them by maintaining and pruning your orange tree properly!

In general, it’s best to prune your orange tree either before the blossoms appear or before the fruit begins to show.

You will need to take off suckers, damaged branches, and branches that interfere with growth. Pruning your orange tree is not just for superficial purposes—it’s also crucial to keep it healthy.

If you’re not sure where to start, keep reading this simple guide to pruning orange trees!

Why Do You Even Need To Prune Your Orange Tree?

When you prune your orange tree, you need to make sure you know how to do it properly. If you take off too many branches (or don’t take enough), the health of your orange tree will suffer.

While there are general guidelines to follow when pruning trees in general, citrus trees also have certain requirements that other trees don’t.

A lot of people prune their trees to keep them looking nice and from becoming a neighborhood burden. While pruning your orange tree will accomplish that, there are many other reasons it’s a necessary task.

Pruning Will Enhance Your Orange Tree’s Longevity

While it’s not the first thing that might come to mind, pruning your orange tree will actually help it live longer.

If you’re going to put forth the time and effort to even have a citrus tree in the first place, it’s essential to take care of your investment!

Another thing that will help prolong your orange tree’s longevity is making sure that you plant it in the best possible place.

Pruning Helps Manage Sunlight Distribution

Carefully selecting which branches to remove helps your tree receive light equally throughout. Otherwise, some branches might not ever see the sun!

Remember, plants use the sunlight that reaches their leaves to convert nutrients into usable food. Ensuring the leaves on your citrus tree get enough light helps your tree stay healthy.

Here’s a bit more detail on why orange trees need full sun if you’d like more info on that.

Prevent Problems In Your Orange Tree By Pruning

If you notice problematic branches, removing them allows the rest of your tree to continue
growing healthily. That may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true!

Otherwise, your tree will spend unnecessary energy trying to repair and send resources to these damaged branches!

Pruning Gives You Bigger, Better Fruit Harvests

You might think that removing branches from orange trees results in less fruit. However, the opposite is actually true.

By pruning extra branches, you give your orange tree the opportunity to spend its energy growing more oranges. Not only that, your orange tree produces bigger, better fruit.

In short, if you want to get more oranges, better quality fruit, and want to keep your tree growing a long, healthy life, you need to prune it.

But what’s the best way to do this?

1. Choose The Right Time To Prune

If your tree is growing outdoors, you have a tighter timeline in which to prune your orange tree. This will also depend on where you live, and the climate in your area.

The short answer is you should prune your orange tree between February and April.

The more accurate answer is that orange trees in cool climates are best pruned when the weather starts to warm around the end of February, or even late March. If you live in a hotter climate, you can often start pruning earlier if the weather is right.

If you really have to prune in winter, only take off small branches. However, it really depends on your specific orange tree.

You can choose between two options: prune just after you see fruit beginning to appear or prior to seeing blooms on your tree.

For a deeper dive into timing, check out our full article on the absolute best time to prune large trees.

2. Get The Right Pruning Supplies

Once the time is right, you need to make sure you have the right supplies on hand. Most
gardeners have at least one set of pruning shears on.

However, to properly prune your orange tree, you should have a few different tools.

(Remember, you’ll be trimming branches of various sizes, and the shears you use for your rose bush can’t hope to take on a thick tree branch.)

You will need:

• Hand shears (for smaller branches under 1” thick)
• Pole pruning shears (these are necessary to remove branches higher in the canopy)
• Pruning saw (for use when removing much larger, thicker branches)
• Loppers (these are for moderately thick branches that need more force to remove)
• Safety glasses (you might not see this on every supply list, but they are crucial to
  keeping flying wood shards off the most sensitive parts of your face

While it may sound like a large investment, high-quality tools can last you throughout the lifespan of your tree (and are equally useful throughout your garden).

3. Clean Your Tools

Even if you purchase brand-new tools to prune orange trees, it’s still important to give them a good clean before you start.

Sure, you might think they’re clean because you don’t see any gunk or dirt on them. Unfortunately, microbes and other small pests can linger and go unnoticed.

If you do see some build-up on your shears, carefully wipe it off with a damp cloth, and dry
thoroughly. To sterilize your shears, isopropyl alcohol is the tried and true solution to use.

If you need further proof, the University of Florida touts this as the recommended method to sterilize gardening tools.

Note: While alcohol is useful for sterilizing gardening tools, it’s important to keep your tools well lubricated and treated to avoid rust. This not only keeps your pruning shears in good shape, but it also helps them smoothly slice through branches (preventing unnecessary damage to your tree).

It’s also a good idea to use clean protective gloves before you prune orange trees. This serves two purposes. First, it protects your hands from splinters, flying debris, and other accidents.

Second, it also helps prevent the potential spread of bacteria or pests to your tree. (This means, don’t use the same gloves you used for weeding last week to prune your orange tree today).

4. Assess Your Tree’s Pruning Needs

This is the part where a lot of gardeners struggle, and for good reason.

Now, there are some circumstances where you’ll know that certain branches need to be pruned off. For example, if you see a broken branch, you need to remove it before it causes further issues.

Or, if the tree is struggling to support the weight of a certain branch (and it is, therefore, likely to splinter or break in the future), pruning it can prevent damage before it happens.

In other cases, you may notice a sickly-looking branch. Again, that’s a branch that needs to go before it spreads damage to the rest of the tree.

Don’t Be A “Sucker”

Another part of your tree that needs tending? Suckers.

Because most orange trees (and citrus trees in general) are grafted from another plant (the rootstock), they often develop suckers, which are branches that often grow from the lower parts of the main stem of a tree.

It’s important to remove these as soon as you see them, lest they take essential resources from the main tree.

Remove branches that cross into the space of other main branches. Not only are these extra branches taking up sunlight from productive branches, but they can also run against or damage otherwise healthy branches!

Of course, there are also different steps you’ll take when pruning mature orange trees, versus pruning sapling orange trees.

Pruning A Mature Tree

Mature trees don’t often need pruning. In fact, pruning your mature orange try should be more of a rarity than a regular practice.

However, if you notice problematic branches or suckers, you still need to prune them to maintain your tree’s health.

It’s important to inspect your orange tree, even if it isn’t currently producing fruit.

Even if your tree is fully grown, you’ll still need to water it correctly. For a detailed guide on how, read our article on how often you should actually water an orange tree.

Pruning Saplings And Nursery Trees

These young citrus trees are where you really need to focus more on shaping and pruning.

The younger the tree, the less incidence of scarring and permanent damage from pruning and making large cuts.

When you prune a young orange tree, you’re removing extra, unnecessary branches that stray from the main branch of the bulk of the canopy. This is also a crucial time to inspect your tree and thin out weaker or sickly-looking branches.

There are a few other pruning tasks you’ll need to put on your checklist for a juvenile orange tree.

If you’re getting your orange tree from a nursery, this next part may, in fact, already be done for you. If not, you’re going to need to cut back the branches significantly. (Yes, it sounds harsh, but it’s best for the overall longevity of orange trees!)

Try to cut the branches as close to one-half and one foot as possible. Next is a guideline most new orange tree growers really struggle with. Cut off the first fruits.

You’re surely thinking, “but aren’t the oranges the reason I’m growing this tree?” And, of course, they are. However, if your young tree is focused on producing fruit, it’s spending its limited resources on creating a few oranges, rather than on vegetative growth.

Vegetative growth is the stage before plants begin flowering, fruiting, and reproductive stages. If any plant does not have enough vegetative growth, it ultimately won’t be able to produce as good of a harvest as a plant that has had time to fully develop through the vegetative stage.

5. Start Removing Branches!

Once your gear is ready and you’ve inspected your tree for areas that need maintenance, it’s time to get down to the real work: removing branches from your orange tree.

Before you get started, there are a few things you need to know. We’re going to discuss not only the different types and widths of branches you remove but also the tools you need to handle each.

There are a few categories of branches, according to diameter, that you need to consider.

Small Branches

We will consider branches that are thinner than one inch (about two and a half centimeters) in diameter to be “little”.

These can typically undergo pruning with a set of sharp, well-maintained, hand shears.

Medium Branches

Once stems and branches are thicker (up to a few inches in diameter) long-handled shears, often called loppers, are the tool to use.

Loppers often have larger blades, and the elongated handle makes it easier to gain the leverage you need to cut through woody growth.

Large Branches

To remove even larger branches, you will likely need to use a pruning saw. You can choose different lengths and shapes to best suit the needs of the branches you need to remove.

If you don’t feel comfortable using a pruning saw or climbing high on a ladder, remember that there is no shame in hiring an arborist!

6. Get Rid Of Suckers And Small Branches

You will want to start pruning the branches of your orange tree in an orderly manner. To keep track of where you are in the pruning process, many people choose to work from smallest to largest.

We will also follow the steps of pruning from the smallest branches to the largest. We will begin with the suckers.

Suckers are small shoots of growth that often appear near the base of your tree. Because many citrus trees are cultivated through grafting, it’s very common to see suckers on your orange tree.

Remove suckers as soon as you notice them. You can usually use a small pair of hand shears to snip them off near the base. If you allow them to grow, they often end up taking away nutrients from the rest of the orange tree.

When pruning a young tree, you will also remove smaller branches to help shape the tree.
However, when dealing with an older tree, removing smaller branches, especially those that emerge from larger branches, keeps your tree’s resources going to the most important parts.

7. Remove Larger Branches

There are multiple reasons to remove larger branches. One major reason is to keep other
branches and limbs healthy. As branches grow, they tend to damage, rub against, or even steal sunlight and other resources from the other branches.

Removing medium to large branches from the lower parts of the main trunk is often done to keep the orange tree looking good. In mature trees, these branches often don’t come back after pruning.

As you move to prune the canopy, you won’t often cut off an entire branch. The only
reason you would do this is the case of significant damage or illness.

Canopy branches can be harder to reach (and are often more established branches) so you’ll need to use your tools for big branches (many of these may be too big even for loppers, so a pruning saw or a pole saw may be necessary).

Special Considerations For Cutting Large Branches

If you’re pruning the canopy for maintenance, you only need to remove the last third of the branch. This keeps the shape of your tree intact and often frees up enough space to prevent issues with other canopy branches.

However, if you’re removing a branch that causes a lot of issues because it’s too overgrown,
you can remove the entire branch. You simply won’t have that branch available to produce fruit in the next growing season.

If you do need to remove the entire branch, make your cut just at the collar of the branch.

What is the collar? It’s simply the spot where the branch raises out from the main stem. The
reason to cut here is to encourage better healing and prevent issues that can result from
making drastic cuts.

8. Remove Damaged Or Dying Orange Tree Branches

When you remove damaged or diseased branches from your orange tree, you’re likely to be getting rid of larger branches. So you can keep the same tools at hand. Removing large,
damaged branches is a bit different than removing big branches to maintain the canopy.

You’ll also cut the branch differently. Rather than removing the outer third of the branch, you’ll take off the entire thing. And, rather than cutting the branch at the collar, you’ll remove the branch flush with the collar.

Basically, you’re cutting the entire branch off, and from the origin. When you cut off the branch, you should be able to see healthy wood from the main trunk or stem on the other side of your cut.

Because this is a very drastic cut, you may need to cover the remaining area with protective tree paint to allow your orange tree time to heal and prevent infection. You can also use a spray like the Tanglefoot Tree Pruning Sealer for convenience.

9. Remove Orange Fruit

There are two different instances in which you’ll remove the fruit: thinning out and harvesting.

Harvests can happen all at once, or a couple of times throughout the season, depending on the maturity of your oranges.

Don’t rely on color alone to determine when to pick an orange. Oranges are rarely the same perfect shade of orange you might imagine. Not only that, but different varieties of orange trees also produce fruits that have different coloring.

If you know how large your oranges should grow, you can use that as one indicator. Another way to tell if your oranges are ripe is by smell. Ripe oranges have a sweet smell that you can pick up as you walk around your tree.

It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking there’s one specific month in which you’ll harvest. Just as different varieties of oranges produce different fruit, they also have different timelines for a typical harvest.

For example, Valencia oranges may be ready in March, while Clementines are often ready around October. When your oranges are ready, you can easily pull the fruit from the tree by hand.

Of course, for fruits higher in the canopy, you may need a ladder or a tool like the Achort Fruit Picker Tool to help you grab oranges from the high branches.

Thinning Out Fruit Can Bring A Better Harvest

Thinning out oranges is just as important as pruning if you want a bountiful harvest. Those that are new to growing orange trees may find themselves aghast at the thought of removing fruit before it goes to harvest.

However, by sacrificing a few fruits early on, you do get a better harvest later.

Too many underdeveloped fruits put strain on the branches (which can also lead to damage). Not only that, but when you thin out fruit, you allow your tree the resources it needs to grow better oranges this season.

Simply remove some of the oranges when you notice them beginning to grow, and target those on branches if they seem to sag with too much weight. In the next growing season, you’ll notice a higher yield and better quality oranges.

The one exception to this rule is when you grow orange trees in containers. If growing orange trees indoors, only remove fruit as needed, and when ready to harvest.

If you’re thinking of growing a tree indoors, first read up with our article on the 7 easiest fruits to grow indoors.

Bonus: How To Prune An Orange Hedge!

Not all oranges come from the typical orange tree often we think of. While still technically orange trees, they can be grown as hedges!

Essentially, it comes down to selective shaping and pruning. You can prune your orange hedge in much the same way you prune an orange tree. However, you also use some of the techniques you do for pruning hedges.

With orange hedges, the goal is to allow sunlight to reach as many parts of the plant as possible. Keep branches near the bottom longer, and decrease their length as you near the top. This allows lower branches to continue receiving enough light to keep growing quality fruit.

We have all the info on the most common places where orange trees grow. Is your home located in one of these places?

Pruning Orange Trees—It Really Is That Simple

If you correctly prune orange trees, as we’ve shown in this guide, you can look forward to a tree with many good harvests to come. Remember, always use the right safety gear and clean tools. Then, just follow the simple steps above and enjoy your orange tree for all the years to come.

References

Burns, R. M., Boswell, S. B., & Atkin, D. R. (1970). Influences of skirt pruning on orange tree
yield. Citrograph, 55, 413-14.

Kallsen, C. E. (2005). Topping and manual pruning effects on the production of commercially valuable fruit in a midseason Navel Orange variety. HortTechnology, 15(2), 335-341.

Kumar, E. V., Srivenkataramana, T., & Sundararaj, N. (1985). Branch sampling for estimating
the number of fruit on a tree. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 110(3), 451-454.

All trees, especially fruit trees such as orange trees, require certain nutrients to grow big and strong. When those nutrients aren’t available, problems can and probably will arise.

While nitrogen is the most important nutrient for orange tree growth, there are other nutrients your orange tree needs to produce amazing fruit.

The best orange tree fertilizer has all of the main components (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and micronutrients such as zinc and magnesium.

If you’re growing an orange tree, you probably want it to produce lots of tasty fruit which will require specific nutrients. That’s where we come in, to make sure your orange Tree Journey is successful!

What Should Be In An Orange Tree Fertilizer?

Unlike most trees in your yard, your orange tree is going to need a little extra when it comes to fertilizer.

Since your tree is producing oranges, which requires a lot of input from the tree, you need to make sure you’re giving it everything it needs so you end up with some delicious fruit! That means giving it proper nutrients along with full sun. 

Here are the components that should be in any good orange tree fertilizer.  

How Your Orange Tree Uses Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most important element in fertilizers for orange trees. It is present in every cell of the tree which is why your orange tree will use more nitrogen than anything else. 

Nitrogen is used in making amino acids, proteins, and enzymes within your orange tree. It is required for many key functions of the cells including respiration, cell division, and growth of the tree. 

As important as nitrogen is, without other key nutrients present in the fertilizer you use, nitrogen will not be able to properly function within the tree.

Don’t forget to make sure your fertilizer has the other important nutrients required for optimal orange tree growth as well. 

How Your Orange Tree Uses Phosphorus

Phosphorus, like nitrogen, is present in all of your orange tree’s living tissues. Your orange tree requires phosphorus so it can photosynthesize and transport energy within the tree.

In order for your orange tree to produce and store energy while photosynthesizing, it needs to have enough phosphorus. 

Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus does not leach easily from the soil and therefore isn’t required in as large of quantities as nitrogen. Leaching is the loss of water soluble substances from the upper layers of soil due to precipitation carrying it deeper into the soil.

While phosphorus does not easily leach from soil, it can become less mobile in clay soils with excess iron, aluminum, or calcium. That’s why having properly balanced nutrients present in your soil and fertilizer is so important! 

Proper watering will also prevent leaching. For a detailed guide, read our article on how often you should water your orange tree.

How Your Orange Tree Uses Potassium

Potassium in your fertilizer is critical for fruit development on your orange tree.

If you don’t have enough potassium, your orange tree won’t produce as much fruit. The fruit will be smaller in size, and the overall quality of your fruit will suffer. 

Potassium is necessary for the formation of sugar and starches in your oranges which is why it can significantly impact the flavor and color of your oranges. 

Potassium can significantly limit the function of nitrogen, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough potassium to ensure your orange tree can use nitrogen efficiently. 

How Your Orange Tree Uses Nutrients

Other nutrients which significantly impact your orange tree, and the quality of its fruit, include boron, calcium, sulfur, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, and nickel. 

These nutrients are needed in much smaller quantities than nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but are still extremely important especially when it comes to your orange fruit quality.

Some of these nutrients help regulate cell functions while others are important for the development of tasty fruit.

By using a complete fertilizer made for citrus trees, you’ll ensure your orange tree gets all of the nutrients it needs! We’ll cover the details of the best fertilizers for your orange tree below. 

Soil pH Can Impact Fertilizer

Soil pH is just as important as fertilizer when it comes to plant nutrition. The soil pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral while lower numbers are more acidic and higher numbers are more basic. 

All plants have an optimal soil pH range. For orange trees, the soil pH is recommended to be slightly acidic between 5.5 and 6.5. 

If the soil pH is too high (basic) then some nutrients will bind to the soil and not be available for the plant to use. If the soil pH is too low (acidic) then nutrients may be available in excess which can cause nutrient issues as well. 

Now that you know how pH impacts the availability of nutrients to get from the soil to your orange tree, let’s discuss how you can tell if your tree has a nutrient problem.

Are you interested in learning more about soil pH, check out our article on why your trees might actually like acidic soil.

How Can You Tell If Your Orange Tree Has A Nutrient Problem?

As with most things, too much or too little of certain nutrients will cause problems for your citrus tree. Here’s how to spot a nutrient issue with your orange tree so you can address it quickly.

If you’re ever uncertain about what nutrients your orange tree needs, or doesn’t need, you can always have your soil or leaf tissue tested to find out exactly what’s wrong.

The University of California provides a great tool that explains how to collect soil and leaf samples for testing and how to interpret your results.

Nitrogen

A nitrogen deficiency in your orange tree will cause the leaves on the entire tree to turn yellow-green to yellow depending on how extreme the deficiency is. 

There are several other things that can cause orange tree leaves to yellow too. A nitrogen deficiency will cause the entire leaf to turn yellow with no distinctive pattern to the discoloration.

A nitrogen deficiency will lead to slower tree growth, reduced fruit production, and may reduce fruit size. 

Excess nitrogen leads to increased vegetation growth, delays the rate of fruit maturing, may thicken fruit peels and lower fruit sugar content. Excess nitrogen can also lead to a late flush of leaf growth in late fall which will be vulnerable to frost damage. 

Phosphorus

The most obvious symptom of phosphorus deficiency is seen in the orange tree’s fruit. The rind of the fruit will be thicker, the orange will contain less juice, and be more acidic. 

On rare occasions, phosphorus deficiency may cause the leaves to have a dull, bronze appearance, with the oldest leaves being impacted first. 

Excess phosphorus can cause there to be a deficiency in either copper or zinc by limiting their uptake in the orange tree. Excess phosphorus can also impact the fruit, decreasing its size and making the juice more acidic. 

Potassium

Potassium deficiencies in your orange tree can be difficult to detect. It will lead to reduced tree growth and smaller fruits. Rarely, the leaves can develop a yellow-bronze color, especially leaves closest to the fruit. 

The best way to detect a potassium deficiency is with a soil test or leaf tissue test. 

Excess potassium will impact the orange fruit quality, leading to thicker rinds and increasing the amount of acid in the fruit juice. 

Iron

Iron deficiency will also show in the leaves, with the leaf turning a lighter green except for the veins which will remain dark green. The light green will become more yellow if the problem is not addressed. 

Iron deficiencies can also cause new leaves to be smaller and can eventually lead to dieback of the tree. 

Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency will cause symptoms in your orange tree leaves. The damage will start as a yellow-green spot near the base of the leaf on either side of the midrib. 

The area will become larger and more yellow in color, ultimately turning the entire leaf yellow except for the tip of the leaf and an inverted v-shaped area near the base of the leaf.

Manganese

A manganese deficiency will turn the leaves a light green color except for the areas around the mid-rib and the larger leaf veins which will remain dark green. The light green areas will eventually turn a yellow-bronze color as the deficiency becomes severe. 

Zinc

Zinc deficiency will make small yellow blotches appear between the dark green veins on the leaf. 

If the deficiency is severe, the leaves will become increasingly yellow with the exception of the dark green veins. In the most extreme cases, the leaves can also become smaller and have a more narrow tip. 

Now that you know what your orange tree may look like if it has too much or too little of certain nutrients, let’s discuss the 5 best fertilizers for your orange tree!

1. Granular Fertilizers Are A Common Choice

Granular fertilizers are probably the most common type of fertilizer that most homeowners use for lawns, flowers, and gardens.

It is easy to apply and comes in all sorts of formulations at your local hardware or gardening center. 

Granular fertilizers can either be quick-release or slow-release. For your orange tree, we recommend using a slow-release fertilizer so that your tree has time to use all of the nutrients.

With a quick-release fertilizer, you’ll have to reapply it more often and some of it may wash out of the root zone before your orange tree can actually use it. 

Whichever formulation of granular fertilizer you use, make sure it is a complete fertilizer.

Complete fertilizers have the standard nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) but also have micronutrients such as magnesium and iron as well. 

Below is a table showing how many pounds of nitrogen the University of Florida recommends for orange trees per year based on their age. They recommend splitting up the total nitrogen needed per year into several different applications throughout the year based on the tree’s age as shown in row 2. 

The table also provides examples of how many pounds of three common fertilizers (6-6-6, 8-8-8, 10-10-10) you should use per application to meet the overall nitrogen requirements. 

Age of Tree	1	2	3	4	5+
# of applications per year	6	5	4	3	3
Pounds of Nitrogen per Year	0.15 – 0.30	0.30 – 0.60	0.45 – 0.90	0.80 – 1.0	1.1 – 1.4
Pounds of 6-6-6 per application	0.4 – 0.8	1.0 – 2.0	1.9 – 3.8	4.4 – 5.6	6.1- 7.8
Pounds of 8-8-8 per application	0.3 – 0.6	0.8 – 1.5	1.4 – 2.8	3.3 – 4.2	4.6 – 5.8
Pounds of 10-10-10 per application	0.3 – 0.5	0.6 – 1.2	1.1 – 2.3	2.7 – 3.3	3.7 – 4.7

When using a granular fertilizer, always follow the recommendations for how to apply it, which should be on the back of the bag, and always wear gloves. 

Most granular fertilizers will recommend that you spread the fertilizer around the tree but don’t let the fertilizer touch the trunk of the tree. You should spread the fertilizer evenly from the trunk and 1 foot past the drip line for each year of growth up to 10 feet. 

For example, if you have a 5-year-old tree, you’ll want to spread the fertilizer evenly under the canopy and then another 5 feet past the drip line. 

For best results, once the granular fertilizer is applied, it should be raked into the soil and then watered in.

This Miracle-Gro Shake N’ Feed Citrus Tree Fertilizer eliminates a lot of the measuring and guesswork required for some other granular fertilizers. It feeds for up to three months per application and includes the micronutrients needed for growing healthy orange trees. 

2. Fertilizer Spikes Make It Easy

Fertilizer spikes are probably the easiest form of fertilizer to use. You can simply place them in the ground where they will slowly release fertilizer for a certain amount of time.

However, there are a few drawbacks to using fertilizer spikes for your orange tree. 

Fertilizer spikes are only releasing fertilizer when it rains. If you aren’t getting rain on a regular basis, your tree won’t be getting nutrients on a regular basis and you’ll have to water them manually to get them to work. 

There is also a bit of debate on how far the fertilizer from a spike will spread through the soil. Since most spikes recommend a spacing of 3 feet or more, some growers worry that the fertilizer isn’t being distributed evenly throughout the root system. 

Drawbacks aside, if you don’t have a lot of time to invest in your orange tree, fertilizer spikes are a great option to minimize the amount of effort you’ll have to use when fertilizing your orange tree. 

These Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes only have to be placed twice a year! That can be a huge time saver compared to granular fertilizers. 

3. Liquid Fertilizers Are Known For Speed

Liquid fertilizers are another form of fertilizer you should consider for your orange tree. They can be especially useful if you need to get nutrients to your tree quickly. 

Since it is in a liquid form, your tree will have instant access to all the nutrients liquid fertilizer provides! This can be a huge benefit of using a liquid fertilizer if you’re dealing with one of the nutrient deficiencies we mentioned above. 

Since the nutrients from liquid fertilizers are available all at once, this usually means it will get used by the orange tree quicker and will require you to fertilize the tree more often. 

Most liquid fertilizers come in a concentrated form. You’ll have to add plenty of water, according to the directions, before you can apply it to your orange tree.

Make sure to follow the application directions exactly to avoid adding too much fertilizer to your tree at one time. 

If you’re interested in using a liquid fertilizer for your orange tree, EZ-gro Citrus Fertilizer has all of the essential nutrients your orange tree will need. 

4. Organic Fertilizers Cut Out The Synthetics

Organic fertilizers are derived directly from plant or animal sources rather than being produced synthetically.

Granular, spike, and liquid fertilizers are all available in organic forms. There are a couple of benefits to using organic fertilizers. 

By using organic fertilizers, you don’t have to worry about introducing any foreign toxins into the soil.

Using organic fertilizers also protects water sources in your area from any synthetic nutrients leaching out of the soil into the water. Anything that may leach out of organic fertilizers is all-natural and safe. 

Organic fertilizers are especially important if you live where other oranges are grown, like in our article, the 4 most common places where orange trees grow.

Organic fertilizers also tend to break down more slowly in the soil. While they tend to contain lower amounts of nutrients than synthetic fertilizers, you may not have to apply them as frequently because they will last longer in the soil. 

The downside to using organic fertilizers is that they do tend to cost more, and you usually have to apply more to get the same results. 

A great option for a granular organic fertilizer for your orange tree is Dr. Earth’s Organic 9 Fruit Tree Fertilizer. It contains the nutrients your orange tree needs as well as beneficial soil microbes which will improve root health.

5. Foliar Sprays Focus On The Leaves

If you’re noticing a nutrient deficiency in your orange tree, a foliar spray may be the quickest way to resolve it.

Foliar sprays are applied directly to the leaves of your orange tree.

Before attempting a foliar spray, you should consider if your orange tree is too large for you to properly apply it. You need to get good coverage over the entire tree canopy for the best results. If your orange tree is too big, you’ll need to stick to the other fertilizer options we’ve outlined above. 

If your orange tree is suffering from magnesium, manganese, or zinc deficiencies, a foliar spray may be the quickest way to help your tree.

Manganese and zinc are best delivered through foliar sprays in a sulfate form. They should both be applied at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per acre. 

If you decide to apply a foliar spray to your orange tree, make sure you follow all of the product directions and wear the appropriate protective clothing as recommended by the manufacturer. 

That’s A Wrap!

Providing your orange tree with the proper nutrients is critical to its overall health and production of delicious oranges. However, it’s not as simple as just throwing down a generic fertilizer around your tree. 

You’ll want to make sure you give your orange tree plenty of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as all of the other nutrients we’ve discussed here. 

Remember to check the pH of your soil! If the pH isn’t correct, it won’t matter how good your orange tree fertilizer is. You should take a look at our guide on the best places to plant an orange tree so you can choose a spot with the best soil types!

You can use granular, spike, or liquid fertilizers depending on your preferred method of application and how much time you’re willing to invest.

Either way, knowing what you know now about what nutrients your orange tree needs, you’re sure to have a productive orange tree to enjoy for many years!

References

Obreza, T.A. and Rouse, R.E., 1993. Fertilizer Effects on Early Growth and Yield of Hamlin’ Orange Trees. HortScience, 28(2), pp.111-114.

Obreza, T.A. and Schumann, A., 2010. Keeping water and nutrients in the Florida citrus tree root zone. HortTechnology, 20(1), pp.67-73.

Rasmussen, G.K. and Smith, P.F., 1961. Evaluation of Fertilizer Practices for Young Orange Trees. In Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (Vol. 74, pp. 90-94).

Orange trees are known for their ability to produce delicious fruit, among their other benefits such as the appealing look of the tree and the shade it can create.

When it is time to decide whether an orange tree is a right fit for you, though, you’ll want to look past the promise of fresh-squeezed juice. It is important to question whether your environment is right for growing this citrus tree! 

Orange trees grow their best when they receive 6-8 hours of full, unobstructed, sunlight on a daily basis. The direct sunlight that citrus trees crave is what helps them to bloom, grow taller, produce juicy fruit, sustain an even growth pattern, and more.

Hang out with us for a while to learn about the ins and outs of orange trees and sunlight. We’ll touch on the benefits of full sunlight, how to maintain an indoor tree, and even what happens if your tree receives the wrong amount of sunlight (too much or too little!)

Let’s get into it.

Why Is The Sun So Important To Orange Trees?

Different types of trees have different growing requirements, of course. Often, lots of sunlight is central to the success of a tree, but this cannot be counted on. Some trees grow lower, beneath taller species, and actually prefer less sunlight. 

It’s so important, for that reason, to do your research and make sure you understand the needs of your tree. You may find yourself wondering what the difference is, and why trees need such varying levels of sunlight. 

This need has a lot to do with the environment that species are from, as well as how they have evolved over time to best produce fruit, sap, or whatever other product they may provide. 

Photosynthesis Is How Plants “Eat”

There is a process you might have heard of, which helps plants turn carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water into glucose. Glucose is used as energy and is critical to the survival and productivity of plants. That’s photosynthesis for you!

The sun, then, is a very important player in plants’ abilities to grow and develop into mature, strong organisms.

There are hundreds of species of orange trees, many sources will say 400-600+, and that means that there is a range of needs that you might want to accommodate. 

Not sure how to get started? Reach out to a local arborist that is equipped to evaluate your specific orange tree. This will allow you to start out the right way. 

Orange Trees As A Grouping

With so many species, it would be unfair to focus on just a few. So, we’ll be talking about orange trees as a general grouping today. You can use this piece as a foundation, to build your species-specific knowledge on top of.

So, we will talk about orange trees as a general grouping. You can use this as a foundation, and learn more about whatever species of orange tree you end up choosing.

Full sunlight conditions are by far the best for orange trees, and any other citrus trees, really. This means that your tree should get 6-8 hours of full, direct sunlight each day.

You can read more about the sunlight needs of other citrus fruits in our articles on why lemons and limes grow best in full sun.

The reasons that orange trees rely on full sunlight are many, so let’s get into that now!

1. Sunny Conditions Promote A Healthier Orange Tree

Sunlight helps trees dry off after being watered, or sitting through the rain. The benefits of this are actually a big part of how successful an orange tree will end up being. 

Believe it or not, orange trees are one of the trees that don’t have to be watered too often. That’s why having an ample amount of sun to dry excess water is always important.

Head on over to our article to learn more about how often orange trees should be watered to ensure optimal health for your tree!

Let’s go over some of the reasons that branches and leaves getting full sunlight can help promote an orange tree that is overall healthier.

Resistance To Disease And Rot

When your tree gets wet and is unable to dry off, it becomes fertile ground for fungus to grow, which eventually turns to rot that could destroy the tree.

It can also lead to disease because your tree will be in a weaker state that does not allow it to fight off other issues. If your orange tree grows in the sun, the way that it is meant to, it will be more resistant to both disease and rot.

Avoiding Pests

Cool, damp areas tend to draw insects and other pests. This includes trees that have begun to rot, are too over-shaded, or are otherwise cool and wet.

The more water that sits on your tree, the more disease and rot that is possible, and thus follows the infestations that may occur.

This is a snowball effect that can quickly evolve and end up in your tree’s eventual demise.

Fruit With Stronger Skin

Another damaging effect of sitting water? The impact that it has on the fruit of your tree. Now, oranges are a bit of a different story than fruits with skin that is often thinner, like peaches, plums, and even apples.

However, even the thick skin of orange can succumb to sitting water. The peel may begin to crack or be weakened by sitting in water in a way that makes the fruit more susceptible to bugs and small animals getting to the fruit inside.

Unless this is your goal, to feed some local animals, you may want to avoid allowing water to sit on your oranges, when you can help it.

Of course, water is important, but, just like sunlight, too much can have negative effects just like too little can.

Setting Your Tree Up For Success

We like to recommend that you try out the CARPATHEN Drip Irrigation Kit as a way to avoid over, or under, watering your tree.

It’s ¼ tubing, drip connectors, and drip emitters will help you to create a full irrigation system that is flexible to both your needs and the space you are working to grow your orange tree in.

As long as your orange tree is located in a space where it gets the recommended 6-8 hours of daily light, both even and direct, water damage shouldn’t be your biggest concern.

If you’re looking for other ways to avoid damage from sitting water, pruning your tree may be the way to go. The Gonicc 8.5” Professional Rotating Bypass Titanium Coated Pruning Shears are a great tool when you are looking to clear out any branches that might have fallen to disease or infestation. 

2. Orange Trees Grow Much Faster In Full Sun

Each plant has conditions that best support its needs. You don’t see cacti in Maine, and you wouldn’t see a douglas fir growing in New Mexico.

Each place has an environment that is meant to support certain plants, thanks to the conditions that plants need.

Sunlight may be one factor, but your tree also needs the right kinds of fertilization, and amounts of water, and other general maintenance is done throughout the year.

For more on fertilizer, check out our article on the 3 best fertilizers for your citrus tree.

Even the plants that a tree shares its soil with will either support or inhibit your tree from getting the nutrients that they need.

Photosynthesis is triggered by sunlight and is the process most essential for a tree to create energy that helps it sustain new growth, like the oranges that we all know and love. 

Photosynthesis And Its Workings

The process of photosynthesis creates a form of sugar, glucose, which acts like food for your plant. This only occurs when plants are able to take in and combine sunlight, water, and the gases in the air. 

Everything from plants on land to algae in the water and even microorganisms go through photosynthesis and rely on the energy that it creates.

The more sunlight that a tree gets, the more energy it will have to draw from when it comes to producing fruit, flowers, and more. 

3. Orange Trees Bloom Better In Full Sun

Sunlight doesn’t just support the speed of growth, it actually allows for more growth, thanks to your tree being healthier and getting more energy from photosynthesis. 

Orange trees will always bloom more when they get lots of sun. This is not true for all trees, though, so don’t expect that all of your plants will follow this rule. 

Some trees actually bloom better in full shade, while others prefer partial shade to do their best. Flowers like primrose, for example, will flower less than usual if they get too much sun.

If you’d like some premium full sun planting options, take a look at our guide on the best places to plant orange trees!

Better Bloom, It’s True!

It is very important to know the needs of your individual tree because each plant is going to have needs that differ. Orange trees just happen to be in the group of trees that thrive in lots of sunlight.

So, there are trees that actually need less sunlight in order to bloom better? Yes!

It may seem odd, but certain plants have evolved over time to fit into their environment, which often means that they have adapted to thrive in conditions that are less ideal. Some plants grow underneath taller ones, and they are used to the shade and damp conditions. 

Orange trees are used to being the plant that grows over the shorter ones, so they need more sunlight to fare well. This helps to explain why they need these conditions, while other plants may need the opposite of full sun and warmth.

4. Orange Trees Produce More Fruit In Full Sun

Orange trees need full sunlight to produce the fruit that follows a bloom. This is allowed by photosynthesis, as well, which means that the tree will use its energy not only to survive but to produce food. 

How does more sunlight impact the production of oranges?

• Higher energy levels: Since energy production is based on photosynthesis, and that process is kicked off by sunlight, there is a direct link between sunlight and energy. A tree with too little energy will not be able to be productive nor will the fruit be as good.
   
• Fewer structural issues: Structural integrity is also key when it comes to getting good fruit. The sun will help dry your tree and keep it from having negative impacts of sitting water. Therefore, your tree will have fewer issues like disease, rot, and infestation to fight off. It can put that energy toward fruit production instead of basic survival.

Most fruit trees thrive in full sunlight. For instance, we have a whole article dedicated to cherry trees and why they grow best in full sun! Find a sunny spot in the yard, or even indoors near a window, to plant your orange tree!

5. Your Orange Tree Is Shaped By Sunlight

Aesthetics are important, of course, but the looks and shape of your tree play a much larger role in the overall success of the tree. 

On top of being nice to look at, you want your orange tree to be as strong, resilient, and adaptable as it can be. It might surprise you to learn that an even appearance can help to create a tree that is not only beautiful but also healthy. The best of both worlds!

A healthy tree, on the flip side, will also look better. This is a cycle that continues; as your tree gets fuller it will grow better, and as your tree grows more evenly it will be able to support the weight of more fruit. 

We could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. A well-maintained tree stays in good shape, while an uneven, unhealthy tree will take quite some time to improve.

Sunlight’s Role In Shaping

That’s all well and good, but how is sunlight such a big part of this cycle? 

New growth gravitates toward the sun, to get the energy it needs to continue growing. So, the dispersal of sunlight decides whether a tree will be lopsided, patchy, and unhealthy or full, even, and stable.

Partially shaded areas might lead to a tree that leans, as many of the branches on one side compete to get some of that sunlight that they need.

A Tree’s Need For Sunlight

For example, consider a mint plant that might be growing in your kitchen window. First of all, cheers to sustaining your own mini-herb garden. Very cool! Have you ever stopped to notice that the mint often leans toward the window, though?

In the same way that the leaves and branches of an orange tree by for the sun, your mint tree needs to soak in some rays, too.

Almost all plants need that sunlight throughout the day to keep producing more growth. So, an outdoor tree with unobstructed access to light will be much more even and have a fuller canopy.

Throwing Shade

There are some unwanted effects that trees, including your orange tree, will experience if they receive too much shade:

• Weak branches: Branches with less access to sunlight will have a weaker attachment to the tree, as they try to reach further to get sunlight. The branches themselves will also be weaker, thanks to this.
  
• A lopsided tree: Sunlight that is only available in inconsistent patterns will cause new growth that is also inconsistent. Spots that get more shade will be thinner and less productive, while the areas in fuller sunlight may be more robust and have better conditions to grow fruit.
  
• Less Canopy Space: Growth gaps mean that you end up with a smaller, less productive, and uneven canopy. So, prepare for less fruit, less shade, and more work to maintain any semblance of an evenly shaped canopy.

An orange tree with access to full sunlight without obstruction will be able to grow taller, faster, more even, and more. This all plays into the structural integrity of the tree, which ties into its core health.

Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Sun For An Orange Tree?

Orange trees need the sun. So no amount of sun can be too much, isn’t that a fair assumption? Not quite, actually. 

Too much of any good thing is known to become bad. Sunlight is not an exception to this rule.

The Effects Of Too Much Sun

As we get into this, we should note that it is most often a combination of heat, dryness, and then sun that ends up causing issues. Generally, the sun alone won’t cause lasting damage, though it is possible in extreme cases. 

There are a few signs of damage that you can look out for:

Sunburn

Trees can get sunburnt just like people can. If they receive too much direct sunlight for too long, they can end up with a nasty sunburn. This occurs mostly in high heat and UV levels that are higher.

Wondering what this looks like? Sunburn can manifest in similar ways on a tree that it can on a human!

People get skin that often is red, peeled, and drier than usual. It is the exact same for trees!

The bark may become drier, appear discolored, and even peel off, eventually. At the least, the bark will be noticeably looser and weaker following the sunburn.

Water Stress

When an orange tree has received too much sun, it can also impact the way that the tree can access water. Heat and dryness that come with the sun will end up causing a lack of water for your tree to utilize.

A tree under water stress will often have discolored leaves, and weaker bark and the soil around the tree will appear drier than usual.

Your tree will be made unable to absorb the nutrients necessary for its growth when faced with water stress. 

Really, anytime we take away certain basic necessities, plants turn their energy toward survival, and are less concerned with prosperity.

How (And When) To Protect Your Orange Tree From Too Much Sun

Hold on a second. How on earth is there such a thing as too much sun, if we’ve spent this whole piece talking about orange trees’ need for the sun? 

Even a little tree sunburn can’t be that bad, right?

Well, ensuring that your tree avoids sunburn and water stress is a part of the maintenance that it relies on to survive. So, yes. There is a thing as too much sun and it could make a big difference for your tree.

Trees don’t necessarily need our help with this, thanks to a little process called photoprotection. Photoprotection is a process that has evolved over time and acts as a natural defense against the harshness of the sun.

Photoprotection is what keeps leaves from being oxidated and bleached, or what we would refer to as ‘sunburnt’, by that full, direct sunlight, you can compare photoprotection to putting on a pair of sunglasses when it is bright outside!

Essentially, this barrier is activated in full sunlight but can be turned back off immediately once a leaf is shaded. This shade could come from a building or structure, another leaf, or even just as the evening progresses and sunlight becomes weaker.

Tree wraps are the perfect way to solve the problem of too much sunlight, and any negative impacts that may bring. 

Dalen Protective Tree Wrap and Breathable Material helps work as a ‘sunscreen’ for your tree, as a light-colored wrap that helps to reflect the harsh rays of sunlight that could overpower a tree.

Do Orange Trees Respond Well To Cloudy Days?

By now, we can see that orange trees crave sunlight, and that is a large factor in their growth. It’s clear that a lack of sun can negatively impact your tree in more ways than one.

So, then, what is the line, the point of no return, that will cause your tree to lack viability?

It isn’t a cloudy day, so let’s start there. Your orange tree is not going to be drained of all the energy it has produced through photosynthesis the minute that clouds begin to block the precious sun. In fact, it can still create some energy even on a cloudy day. 

Have you gotten a sunburn, or seen someone get burnt, on a cloudy day? Yeah, it’s like that. The sun is still there, and so are some of its UV rays, which allow photosynthesis to continue regardless of the weather.

A Cloud’s Impact On Photosynthesis

Really, cloudy days just slow some of the processes of your sun-craving tree. The production of fruit, bloom of flowers, growth of the canopy, and other ‘secondary’ processes that your tree performs may be set aside so that the tree can put its limited energy toward staying stable and healthy.

Too many cloudy days in a row where you live may impact the overall growth of your tree, but this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker if sunlight is still common enough throughout the year.

Your Tree Will Have Lower Energy Levels

Your tree will just run on lower levels of energy because photosynthesis will not be as constant in its production of glucose.

This results in less fruit, and your oranges will likely be a little smaller and not quite as juicy.

This is a factor that needs to be considered, as well, when it comes to indoor trees. If the light is not properly coming through windowpanes, or if your tree doesn’t receive enough of it, your oranges may be few and far between.

A solution to this frustrating problem? LED lights!

WTINTELL’s LED Plant Grow Light with Stand is a good way to add some extra light, especially to your indoor trees.

How Do Indoor Orange Trees Get Enough Sun?

Are you in an area that doesn’t leave you much yard space, but really want access to fresh-squeezed orange juice? We can make that happen!

Think of the mint plant from before, the one that grows on the windowsill but gravitates toward the sun in order to get the amount of sunlight it needs. The same concept applies to larger plants, like trees, that live indoors but can still access the benefits that the outdoors provides.

Whether it is via a large window, LED lights, or from taking the tree outside every so often, make sure that your orange tree gets lots of sun. Mix that with regular watering and some fertilization, and your oranges will be growing steadily!

Try a product like Jack’s Classic No. 1.5 20-10-20 Citrus Food Fertilizer to help best maintain your orange tree. This will help it absorb and retain all of the necessary nutrients.

Read our article on the 7 easiest indoor fruit trees for more indoor harvest tips!

Orange You Glad This is Over?

Okay, okay. I know. Horrendous joke aside, we’ve come to the end.

Orange trees visibly thrive in conditions that allow for 6-8 hours of unobstructed, direct sunlight daily. 

Also, before planting it’s good to familiarize yourself with the areas where orange trees grow best! Head on over to our article to learn more.

There are a number of reasons that your orange tree does best in this type of lighting, and we’re going to recap why.

5 reasons why orange trees grow best in full sun:

• Sunny conditions promote a healthier orange tree
• Orange trees grow much faster in full sun
• Orange trees bloom better in full sun
• Orange trees produce more fruit in full sun
• Your orange tree is shaped by sunlight

Sunlight matters, but too much and too little of a good thing can both be bad. The same goes for water. Finding the right balance of conditions to support your tree is going to be the key to success.

Keep an eye on your outdoor orange tree to see that it avoids water stress, sunburn, sitting water, dangerous limbs, and anything else that could contribute to issues down the road.

Feeling nervous about the prospect of evaluating your orange tree by yourself? Don’t forget that there are local arborists that you can ask for help. It’s their job, after all!

References

Burns, A. J. (1976). California-Arizona Fresh Oranges: Marketing Patterns, Prices, Costs, Margins, and Grower Returns (Vol. 638). Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture.

González, Z., Rosal, A., Requejo, A., & Rodríguez, A. (2011). Production of pulp and energy using orange tree prunings. Bioresource Technology, 102(19), 9330-9334.

Lacirignola, C., & D’onghia, A. M. (2009). The Mediterranean citriculture: productions and perspectives. Citrus tristeza virus and Toxoptera citricidus: a serious threat to the Mediterranean citrus industry. Bari: CIHEAM. Options Méditerranéennes: Série B. Etudes et Recherches, 65, 13-17.

You may have considered growing your own oranges but thought that it was too hard or that you lived in a climate that is too cold. We have some good news for you, in that case. No matter where you live or what your gardening experience is, you can grow oranges! This guide is for anyone who is interested in learning about growing orange trees, regardless of the location. 

While orange trees thrive in hot, sunny climates outdoors, there are a number of ways to grow orange trees, even in cold climates!

In your garden or a grove, outside or in a container, and even in partial shade, you can plant an orange tree! Just be mindful of your climate, as areas that get cold often won’t be able to grow orange trees.

If you live somewhere cold or cloudy but want to grow oranges, this guide is for you. And if you live somewhere warm and sunny, this guide is for you, too! Read on for all the info you need to grow your own orange tree, whether that is indoors in a container or outdoors in a grove of citrus trees.

We’ve got you covered, either way!

Why You Should Consider Growing An Orange Tree

The number one reason to grow an orange tree is, for many people, because the tree will produce delicious oranges. There are few things in the world as nutritious and refreshing as a glass of fresh orange juice. Maybe you buy your orange juice pre-bottled, but if you are a fan of freshly squeezed juice, you need a lot of oranges. 

But there are other reasons, as well.

Orange trees are pretty trees with green leaves and, of course, colorful fruit, so they can work very well as ornamental trees. Also, orange trees blossom before they produce fruit, so they are flowering trees in the spring, which can add not only a beautiful look but also a great fragrance to your yard or garden. 

Orange trees are also a good choice for some people because these trees have dwarf varieties that can be planted and grown in containers, which means that you can enjoy this tree in your home throughout the winter months. 

Grow An Orange Tree Inside Or Outside

This table can help as a quick reference for types of orange trees and how well-suited they are to be grown in your garden or yard outdoors, or in a container indoors. 

Type of Orange Tree	Type of Orange	Size of Tree	Growing Environment
Blood orange	Large fruit with a grapefruit-like taste	8 – 15 feet tall depending on pruning	Indoors in cool climates; outdoors in very warm climates
Valencia orange	Most common type for eating	Very tall, up to over 30 feet	Very hot outdoor climate
Mandarin	Small, easy-to-eat, sweet	Varies widely; dwarf varieties up to 10 feet, others up to 25 feet	Warm to hot outdoor climate; indoor climate warm
Navel orange	Sweet, easy to peel, popular in grocery stores	Tall, as high as 30 feet, but there are dwarf varieties.	Dwarf trees can be grown indoors; outdoor trees need high heat

Four Great Places To Plant An Orange Tree

Once you know what type of orange tree you want to plant, you can begin considering locations for your new tree. 

You can also check out our article on the 4 most common places orange trees grow.

1. Plant An Orange Tree In Your Garden

No matter what size your garden is, there is probably a type of orange tree that will work in your space. You can plant a full-sized orange tree in a large section of your garden, providing shade for shade plants as well as fruit in the summer.

You can also choose a dwarf variety to add variety and color to a sunny corner of your garden or to accent a pathway. Orange trees work well in any space that is warm and sunny enough, as long as you have chosen the right size tree for the section of your garden that is available. 

2. Plant An Orange Tree In A Grove

This location is for those who are ready to make a big investment, especially in time, to grow a lot of oranges. You will need a lot of space, too, as a grove of orange trees can take up a large yard quickly. 

If you want to plant several orange trees but do not have a lot of space, you might consider using dwarf varieties of orange trees. They still grow oranges, but the trees themselves are much smaller than the standard varieties, which means that you can plant more of them. 

Just make sure to leave enough space between all of your orange trees. Orange trees can have big canopies when they are mature, and you don’t want them to run into each other, so leave at least twelve feet between each tree as you are planting. 

3. Plant An Orange Tree In Partial Shade

This location can be a bit tricky, as orange trees love sunshine. They are well known for growing in states like California and Florida (which is even called the sunshine state), where the sun shines most of the time. But there are some areas of the country where the sunshine is so relentless and the elevation makes the UV rays so high that a little shade is not a bad idea. 

If you live somewhere where the sunshine is actually a threat to your citrus tree because it causes it to dry out too much or it even scorches the leaves or blossoms, you can plant your orange tree in partial shade. 

The best sunshine for orange trees is the sunshine of the morning time, so choose a location in your yard that gets sunshine in the morning for several hours but is shaded for a few hours during the harsh sunshine of the afternoon. This shade might be provided by other trees, structures, or even your house itself.

You can determine the best spot by going out in your yard on a very sunny day and making note of which spots are sunny in the morning. Then check those same spots later in the day. If you see one that is now shady, you might have found the perfect place to plant your orange tree. 

4. Plant An Orange Tree In A Container

One of the biggest factors in whether or not people plant citrus trees is probably the climate in which they live. Since citrus trees need warm weather and lots of sunshine, there are many locations in the United States that are not suitable for growing citrus fruits outdoors.

If you live in one of these colder regions, or even if you just live somewhere with frequent cloudy days or cold winters, no matter how hot the summers are, you may think that growing an orange tree is not possible at your house.

But that is not true! Anyone can grow an orange tree with the right tools, preparation, and indoor conditions. You may not be able to change the outdoor climate of your home, but you do have the ability to change the indoor environment. If you are willing to put in a little extra work, a container can be a wonderful home for a new orange tree.

We detail the steps of how to plant an orange tree in a container below, but the basic requirements are that you have somewhere indoors that stays consistently warm and gets lots of sunshine. For many people, this could be as simple as placing your orange tree near the windows in your kitchen.

If you are going to choose a room for placing your orange tree, choose a southern-facing room if possible. You can also put your container in a sunroom or an enclosed porch. Just make sure that the tree is going to be protected from any cold fall, winter, or early spring temperatures, especially freezes. 

For a more detailed guide on growing fruit indoors, check out our article on the 7 easiest indoor fruit trees.

How To Plant An Orange Tree Outside

To plant an orange tree outside, you will need to first find the right outdoor location, as we detailed above. Here, we will detail all the steps and information you need to plant your orange tree outside. 

A Quick Reminder

Remember that, to grow outside, an orange tree needs a warm climate year-round and lots of sunshine. Check the growing zone of your home; orange trees usually have to be planted in zones 8 to 11, so if you live in zone 7 or lower, skip ahead and plant that orange tree in a container so you can bring it indoors. Otherwise, it is not likely to survive when the temperatures drop. 

Orange trees have to have warm weather to survive.

Preparing The Planting Spot

First, prepare the area where you are going to plant your orange tree by clearing all the debris away, like rocks, other plants, branches, or anything except grass and soil. If you have weeds growing there, you should pull or remove those, as well. 

Digging The Hole For Your Orange Tree

Dig a hole that is about twice the size of the root ball of your new orange tree. Do not dig deeper than that, but make sure that the hole is deep enough that you can easily place the entire root ball of the orange tree below the surface of the ground and that the bottom of the tree trunk will be even with the ground. 

You can water the hole you have dug before you put the orange tree in, especially if the soil is very dry. Do not use any fertilizer at this point, as it can damage young trees. But it can be useful later in your tree’s growth cycle, as we detail below. 

Even if your orange tree loses some leaves, that will not necessarily affect its orange fruit production. 

Planting Your New Orange Tree

Gently remove the orange tree from its container. If it is stuck, squeeze softly around the sides of the plastic container until it easily comes free. Do not pull it out if it is stuck, as that can cause the tree to literally break and die before you even get it in the ground. 

Carefully place the tree in the center of the hole and begin replacing the soil around it. Pat gently as you go but do not pack the soil too firmly. Once the tree is stable, check the soil levels and adjust as needed. 

When you have finished replacing the soil, thoroughly water your new orange tree and the soil all around it with your garden hose. You can also set up a soaker hose with a timer or a sprinkler to help water your tree on the first day or for the foreseeable future if you live somewhere that does not get enough rain. 

Finishing Touches

Lastly, you can place a layer of mulch around your orange tree to help keep the soil moist and to prevent weeds from growing near your orange tree. Make sure that you leave some space between the mulch and the trunk of your tree. The mulch should instead cover the ground over the area where your orange tree’s roots will eventually be underground. 

How To Plant An Orange Tree In A Container

Planting trees in containers is a little different from planting trees outdoors in the ground, but with these tips, you will be on your way to growing a tree indoors in no time. 

Planting an orange tree in a container is as simple as choosing the right container, knowing a few extra tips while planting, and setting yourself up with the ability to move the container around so you can always optimize your orange tree’s sunlight, water, and temperature.

You can also take some added steps to make the air near your tree more humid, which is especially important in the winter when artificial indoor heating dries out the air. Read on for the steps to plant your orange tree in a container. 

Choosing A Container

The container that you choose is of utmost importance when planting an orange tree. The size is super important, as are some other qualities like the ability to drain and the ability to move around easily. Let’s take a look at some detailed tips to help you pick the right container from your orange tree from the very beginning, so you do not have to replant your tree any time soon, or even ever at all!

Choosing The Right Size Container For Your Orange Tree

In general, choose a container that is significantly larger than the root ball of your tree. You want to avoid moving your tree for as long as possible, or, even better, you want to keep your tree in the same container for the span of its lifetime.

Moving your tree leaves it open to potential damage to its roots or branches just from being moved, and it makes it possible that the tree could go into shock, so try not to move it if you can avoid it. 

Making Sure Your Container Has Adequate Drainage

Choose a container that has drainage holes in the bottom. You can buy a pot with an attached pan for catching the water that drains out or you can buy a separate one, but either way, make sure you have some sort of pan or attachment for catching water that drains out. 

Many times, plants can easily be overwatered indoors and, while this probably will not be dangerous to the plant if you have taken the right steps to help the soil drain adequately, it can be really messy!

Avoid flooded floors by placing a saucer made for pots under your container to catch that extra water when the orange tree’s soil drains. 

Give Your Orange Tree The Ability To Be Easily Moved

Lastly, choose a container that fits on a rolling plant stand. If you place the container on a plant stand that has wheels, you can make it much easier to move the orange tree around in your home, or even move it between the indoors and outdoors.

The container may seem light when you first purchase it, but it will assuredly become much, much heavier once you add soil, the orange tree itself, and especially the water. Water is super heavy! Once you plant and water your tree, those wheels will definitely come in handy. 

The amount of sunlight in your home will vary throughout the year, and the temperatures and humidity of rooms can change throughout the year, too. Plus, some people like to keep their orange trees outdoors in the warm summer months and then move them inside during the colder parts of the year.

Having the ability to roll your orange tree around on a plant stand with wheels will be very beneficial. 

You can try one like this Dulce Luna Plant Caddy with Lockable Wheels, which is a plant stand that holds up to 150 pounds and comes in a pack of two. Or you could also take a look at this option, a 14-inch Wandering Donkey Heavy-Duty Plant Caddie with Wheels, which also has a little bit of a rim around it to hold just a tiny bit of drained water.

You should still use a saucer even with options like these, but that ridge does provide you with a tiny bit of extra coverage for leaks from your container orange tree. 

Preparing Your Container For Planting

Before you put the orange tree or any soil in your container, it’s a good idea to prep it and you should definitely set it up for good drainage. First, give your container a quick spray with your garden hose just to rinse off any residual dirt from where you purchased it and to make sure no other plants are going to accidentally interfere with your orange tree.

Next, make sure your orange tree’s soil will be well drained by giving your container an extra layer of protection against too much water being stuck in the container, which can cause root rot, a dangerous condition for trees.

Start with your empty container and put a layer of pebbles, bark, or even just rocks from your yard in the bottom. Make at least one full layer that is a couple of inches thick. 

This bottom layer of rocks will help water drain from the container better than if the bottom of the container were just packed solid with soil. Now you have prepped your container and you are ready to actually plant the orange tree. 

Planting The Orange Tree

Make sure you give yourself enough time for these next steps. If you need to keep your container outdoors for the initial planting and watering stages, make sure to begin in the morning when your orange tree will have plenty of time to dry and will not get too cold before you move it indoors. 

The best time to plant most trees is in the fall or spring, but you can plant a container tree at any time of the year as long as you make sure you do not leave it outside for very long on the first day. If you are planting during a cold time of year, try to plant indoors or at least somewhere not completely exposed to the elements, like your garage or porch. Give your orange tree the best environment from day one. 

Placing The Orange Tree In The Container

Look at the orange tree in whatever container the seedling has arrived in and estimate how much room you need in the container to allow the orange tree to rest on a layer of soil and for there to be at least a couple of inches between the top layer of soil and the rim of the container. Don’t leave too much space, but make sure there are at least a couple of inches. 

Use a spade or your hands to place some potting soil in your container.

Another advantage of planting your orange tree in a container is that you have complete control over the type and contents of the soil you use. You can use potting soil that is specifically formulated for indoor trees, like this Soil Sunrise Store Citrus Tree Potting Soil Mix, which is made for this exact scenario: planting an orange tree in a container for growth indoors. 

When you think the soil level is right, gently remove your orange tree from its container. If it is hard to get it out, gently squeeze around the sides of the plastic until the tree’s root ball comes loose. Then very carefully place it in the center of the container and check the levels.

Once the tree is at the right height, start placing potting soil around the root ball, moving in a circle to keep the soil even and keep the tree upright. When you have completely covered the root ball, gently pat the soil and place more as needed.

Congratulations! You just planted your orange tree!

Watering Your Container Orange Tree For The First Time

Once you have planted your orange tree in the container, you will need to thoroughly water it. This is best done outside, where you don’t have to worry about drainage, and can really give the whole tree a good soaking. 

Use a gentle setting on your garden hose and water the whole tree, making sure to completely saturate the soil. If you are able to, it’s a good idea to water the tree until you can tell that your container is draining, then stop and let your orange tree dry a bit before bringing it indoors. 

Long-Term Care: Using Fertilizers For Your Orange Tree

When your orange tree has gone through one full growth cycle, it will be mature enough for you to try using some fertilizer. Using fertilizer does not have to be a daunting process. Also, there are fertilizers out there that are made specifically for citrus trees like your new orange tree. 

Using Fertilizer Granules

For example, you could try Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus, Avocado, and Mango Plant Food, which provides some nutrients that are specially meant for citrus trees to help them flourish and grow fruit. 

You can also consider an organic version of the same type of fertilizer, like the Down to Earth Organic Citrus Fertilizer Mix. This product is certified for use in organic gardens, so if you have any plans to sell your oranges and would like to market them as organic, they would still qualify even if you use this fertilizer.

The product is specifically made for citrus trees like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, but it can also be used on other types of trees that are not citrus. It also has a number of interesting ingredients, including fish bone meal and feather meal. 

Fertilizer Spikes Make It Easy

If you do not want to sprinkle fertilizer around the soil at the base of your new orange tree, as perhaps you have pets or children and want to make sure that no one tracks the fertilizer into the house or into other places in your yard, you can use spikes instead.

You might want to try something specific to orange trees, like Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes, which are just what they sound like: spikes of fertilizer that you just stick into the ground in strategic areas around the soil surrounding your orange tree. 

Another option for fertilizer specific to citrus trees like your orange tree is Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food Spikes, which claim to contain some natural ingredients and are also able to be used on palm trees. These spikes claim to provide nutrients that help your tree grow better oranges. 

Watering Your Orange Tree To Help It Thrive

As you consider the long-term care of your orange tree, you might want to read more detailed information regarding elements like water.

For just that topic, check out our article on how how of to water an orange tree, which details exactly how much and how often you should water an orange tree in a number of circumstances, environments, and situations. 

Take Care To Weed Around Your Orange Tree

The shoots of orange trees do not grow particularly well, so they are not of much value and can just be cleared away. Also, any type of weed can compete with your orange tree for nutrients in the soil and for water, so it is best to keep the area under your orange tree free of any weeds. 

You can accomplish this by using herbicide, which kills the weeds when you spray them, or you simply hand weed the area by pulling the weeds yourself. Another method is to surround the base of your tree with mulch to prevent weeds from growing up through the mulch layer. 

Keep in mind that, even if you have planted your orange tree in a container, weeds are still a possibility. The wind carries lots of plants through the air, so, especially if your container spends some time outdoors, weeds can still grow in the soil in the container.

Check your orange tree’s container periodically for any growth around the trunk of your orange tree and simply clear it away by hand. It is best not to spray herbicides in a container tree, especially if it is kept indoors, as herbicides should always be kept away from people, pets, and food sources. 

That’s A Wrap!

Now you are ready to choose a type of orange tree, scout and decide upon a planting location, plant your tree, and care for your orange tree in the long term. 

Enjoy all that fresh orange juice! 

References

Sauer, M. R. (1951). Growth of orange shoots. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 2(2), 105-117.

Yuan, R., Alferez, F., Kostenyuk, I., Singh, S., Syvertsen, J. P., & Burns, J. K. (2005). Partial defoliation can decrease average leaf size but has little effect on orange tree growth, fruit yield and juice quality. HortScience, 40(7), 2011-2015.

Oranges are one of the most popular fruits in the world, and that’s no surprise because they’re great for many reasons. They’re deliciously juicy, great for snacking, and have fantastic health benefits! If you’re interested in growing your own oranges – we don’t blame you, we want to as well, there are some common places where orange trees grow the best – and we’re going to talk about that today!

Orange trees grow in regions with hardiness zones between 9 and 11, like the North American states of Texas, Arizona, California, and Florida. Internationally, oranges grow well in some parts of Brazil, Asia and the Mediterranean regions. Oranges typically grow best in subtropical and tropical climates.

If you love oranges as much as we do – read on to learn more about them and the 4 Most Common Places Where Orange Trees Grow!

About Oranges – A Brief History

Orange trees have a pretty rich history! You may be wondering: where exactly do oranges come from? In that case, you may be surprised to learn that despite the United States being one of the largest orange tree cultivators, oranges come from Southeast Asia. So how did they make their way around the world?

Citrus followed trade routes starting in Southeast Asia, making their way to Arabic countries, working through Africa, then to Italy and Spain.

Oranges were being used for their medicinal benefits long ago. Europeans would use oranges and other citrus to prevent scurvy on their long voyages. Good thing because in 1493, Christopher Columbus brought citrus seeds to the new world. Later, Juan Ponce de Leon and his men planted the first citrus seeds in Florida.

Fast forward to today, it’s easy to see that oranges have come a long way, and for a good reason at that! North America grows about 50 percent of the world’s citrus. According to The University of California Riverside, there are more than 1,000 varieties of citrus available today.

The Best Type Of Climate For Growing Orange Trees

Oranges are picky about the climate in which they grow, and they will not survive in cold weather, so the best type of climates for oranges to grow in is tropical and subtropical climates.

Oranges love the warm weather and grow best in temperatures that reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months and temperatures that drop to low 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter – where they will go dormant.

A tip of the trade: If you are planting an orange tree, plant it on the south side of your land to ensure optimal sun exposure. This will let your orange tree soak up all that incredible warmth it needs to thrive.

Where Are The Most Common Places To Grow Orange Trees?

Orange trees typically grow across 4 main areas – the United States, South America, Mediterranean countries and Asia. Below, we’ll get into the nitty gritty of each of those!

Orange Trees Grow Widely In The United States

Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas are the most common places to find oranges in the United States. Oranges love growing in Florida. After all, Florida did name the orange as their state fruit!

You Can Find Orange Trees Growing In Florida

Oranges from Florida often have thinner skin than oranges grown in other places and will be much juicier than others.

According to the University of Florida, the most common varieties of oranges grown in Florida are the Navel, Hamline, Amebersweet, Valencia, and Pineapple. Naval oranges specifically are what you’ll typically find in groceries stores as some of the most common that are exported.

Perhaps this is why most of our orange juice comes from Florida! 

Orange Trees Grow In California

California is the second largest orange producer in the United States. Farmers began to grow oranges in California in the 1860’s. Due to the variety of hardiness zones in California, fresh oranges are always available. 

California oranges are known for their thicker skin that easily peels off, baring a sweet fruit that breaks into segments easily. Most California oranges are used for eating rather than juicing. 

According to the University of California, just about 90% of California’s citrus comes from Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Ventura, and Orange counties. 

Orange Trees Also Grow In Arizona

Arizona produces about 2 percent of the United States’ orange production, with nearly half of these oranges used for fresh consumption. Valencia and Navel oranges are the most common oranges grown in this state. 

According to the University of Arizona, a variety of oranges are always ready to be eaten from October through May. 

Another great perk of growing oranges is that they are pretty beautiful. In many Arizona cities, it’s common to find orange trees used for ornamental purposes. The oranges on these trees are sour and rarely used for consumption.

You Can Find Orange Trees Growing In Southern Texas

In Texas, you’ll find that most of their orange production is in the southern part of the state since much of northern Texas has weather that is too cold for oranges.

Texas oranges will vary in color, usually lighter than those grown in Arizona and California.

According to Texas A and M Agrilife Extension, the most common orange varieties that grown in Texas are the Naval, Marrs, Pineapple, Hamlin, and Valencia varieties. Again – those navals are usually what’s in those big ol’ orange bags in your grocery store!

Orange Trees Love To Grow In Brazil

Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, the Amazon river, FIFA World Cup, and carnivals. But did you know that Brazil is famous for one other thing? Orange juice!

Keeping the United States on its toes, Brazil produces the most oranges in the world. Surprisingly, 70% of the oranges grown in Brazil are turned into frozen concentrated orange juice. The warm weather and low hurricane risk give Brazil a leg up.

In Brazil, the orange trees are found in an area known as the Citric Belt. The Citric Belt runs through the regions of Sao Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro. More than 80% of the oranges produced in Brazil come from the Citric Belt alone.

Orange Trees Grow In The Mediterranean

Surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco are fantastic places to find oranges.

Due to the ideal climate for orange production, according to the International Center FOR Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, the Mediterranean Basin accounts for about 20% of the world’s citrus production. Spain produces the most, Italy produces the second most, and Egypt the third in this region.

The kinds of oranges produced in the Mediterranean are sweet oranges that are easy to peel, like mandarins. It’s common to find delicious Mediterranean recipes with oranges as one of the main ingredients.

Orange Trees Are Also Growing In Asia 

With oranges originating in Asia, it’s only natural that Asia would make our list of the most common places where oranges grow. 

Among the vast varieties of oranges grown in Asia, I’m sure you’ve heard of the mandarin orange, as it is one of the most popular oranges in the world. The mandarin orange comes from south-eastern Asia, the Philippines, Japan, Southern China, and India. 

The mandarin orange tree is smaller in size than the varieties of sweet oranges. Mandarin oranges are cold-hardy and drought-tolerant and usually taste much sweeter than other oranges. The mandarin is known to be one of the original citrus variations. 

You Can Even Grow Orange Trees Indoors!

You read that right; yes, you can plant oranges in your house!

If you live outside the four common orange growing regions, consider growing a small orange tree inside your home.

Remember that an orange tree grown in your home won’t produce oranges precisely like the ones you’d find on outdoor oranges. They will be smaller in size and need a bit more care. 

Miniature orange trees can be grown as houseplants in pots. Common varieties include:

• Tangerines
• Kumquats 
• Calamondin 
• Otaheite 

If you are growing oranges indoors, be sure to keep your home at around 65-70 degrees whenever possible and keep your orange plant in a sunny spot. Like orange trees planted outside, indoor orange trees prefer soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Try taking it outdoors during the summer months to allow your tree a chance to pollinate.

Planting Orange Trees Outside 

According to the University of Florida, there are a few essential things to consider when planting your oranges.

First, you will need to pick a partly shady location or mostly sunny. You can plant container-grown orange trees at any time of the year in Florida, but only in the springtime in other cooler temperature regions.

You should wait three weeks after planting before fertilizing your tree. Lastly, your tree’s best pH level is between 5.0 and 6.5.

Consider using the XLUX Soil Acidity Test Meter to test your soil pH to ensure you are planting your tree in the most optimal soil. It’s not only quick and easy to use but will give you all the confidence you need when planting your orange tree. 

Once planted, keep up with water, fertilizing and keeping your orange tree safe from pests, disease, and weeds. You can read our guide about caring for your orange tree to learn more!

How To Harvest Your Oranges From Your Orange Tree

After all of your hard work and patience, it’s time to harvest your oranges (and celebrate!) Orange trees begin producing fruit three to five years after planting. There are a few things to note when it’s harvesting time. Be sure to pick your oranges at the proper maturity because they don’t continue to ripen after you’ve removed them from the tree. 

A good rule of thumb is to pick your oranges when about 25% of the peel has a yellowish-orange color. Additionally, oranges grown closer to the bottom of the tree will be less sweet than the oranges that grow higher up on the tree. 

Fun Fact: Believe it or not, orange trees are considered evergreens, meaning they always have green leaves on them. Springtime is the best time to pick your oranges since that’s when they bloom! They produce beautiful white or pink flowers and usually grow anywhere between 25 to 50 feet tall. Check out our list of 9 Common Citrus Trees That Are Actually Evergreens to learn more!

Key Things To Consider When Growing An Orange Tree

As a beginner, getting to know your tree is important! Try picking and tasting your oranges at different stages. Once the acidity and sugar content suits your taste buds, you’ve got a winner. Hey, that’s the beauty of growing your own food! 

A few key points to growing your own orange tree: 

• Oranges don’t ripen once they’ve been harvested 
• Snap or clip the orange off of your tree from its stem
• If the peel breaks when gathering, it will quickly spoil (eat these ones first) 

There are so many different ways to enjoy oranges: from creating marmalades to ice cream to using them as essential oils to put into your diffuser to elevate your mood. You can even use oranges to help you recoup from a stubborn cold and eat to keep you from getting nauseous in the car! Oranges have so many amazing uses. 

If you’re looking for some more “orange-spiration,” consider adding a 5-star cookbook to your cookbook collection like this Orange Appeal: Savory and Sweet cookbook. This cookbook is filled with orange recipes, so you can be sure to use up all that fresh home-grown citrus!

And There You Have It!

Oranges thrive in hardiness zones between 9 and 11 and love a tropical or subtropical climate. They do very well when planted in an area with lots of sun and well-draining soil. 

Originating in Asia, orange trees are found in many different parts of Asia, Brazil, parts of the United States, and the Mediterranean. The largest population of orange trees is found specifically in Brazil and Florida.

However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can plant small citrus trees in your own home. 

Now that you know the most common places where orange trees grow, it’s time to get planting! 

References:

Burns, A. J. (1976). California-Arizona Fresh Oranges: Marketing Patterns, Prices, Costs, Margins, and Grower Returns (Vol. 638). Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture.

Coltro, L., Mourad, A. L., Kletecke, R. M., Mendonça, T. A., & Germer, S. P. (2009). Assessing the environmental profile of orange production in Brazil. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 14(7), 656-664.

Neves, M. F., Trombin, V. G., Lopes, F. F., Kalaki, R., & Milan, P. (2011). Brazil’s citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro). In The orange juice business (pp. 53-57). Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen.

Morton, J. (1987). Mandarin Orange. p. 142–145. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.

Lacirignola, C., & D’onghia, A. M. (2009). The Mediterranean citriculture: productions and perspectives. Citrus tristeza virus and Toxoptera citricidus: a serious threat to the Mediterranean citrus industry. Bari: CIHEAM. Options Méditerranéennes: Série B. Etudes et Recherches, 65, 13-17.

Have you ever wondered about the amount of water you should be giving your citrus tree or, more specifically, your orange tree? Especially as a new orange tree owner, this is a great question and one that might seem a little bit confusing at first. So, how much should you water an orange tree?

A young orange tree should be watered every few days, but a more mature tree can be watered anywhere from weekly to about once a month. If it’s during the dry season, you should water your orange tree every few days or when the soil has dried up. During the rainy season, you may not need to water your orange tree.

To understand the needs of an orange tree, we should first briefly discuss what this tree is, exactly and, later, how to care for your tree beyond watering practices. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get into it!

How Much Water Does An Orange Tree Need?

Orange trees are citrus trees and are related to about 60 other species within that citrus genus. This type of tree may be known for growing in drier, more tropical environments but what does that mean in terms of the amount of water and other support you give your growing tree?

Citrus trees, by nature, don’t need quite as much water as other types of deciduous trees. 

However, while overwatering is a genuine concern, in this case, so is underwatering. 

You’ll want to maintain a good balance when it comes to how much you decide to water your citrus tree, as well as how often watering is to occur.

A young orange tree, for example, is going to need much less water than a larger and more mature tree.

While a young orange tree should be watered every few days, a more mature tree can be watered anywhere from weekly to once or twice a month. 

This is all contingent upon what kind of soil the tree is planted in, how hot the temperature may be, and what other environmental factors may need to be considered.

The University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture notes that the method known as basin irrigation is the easiest watering method for a homeowner. 

This method entails a simple process, which includes building a basin around the tree that is at least as wide as the canopy. 

If you extend the basin a bit further, about a foot beyond the canopy of the tree, you’ll have a higher chance of covering the majority of the roots. 

Then, you will just simply fill the basin as the orange tree needs water. This method helps to ensure that your tree will retain the water it is given, as opposed to losing much of it to the soil around the tree.

What Else Do Orange Trees Need Besides Proper Watering?

There are some important things to consider when looking at the success of your orange tree which, in turn, leads to the quality of the oranges you will see being produced. 

If you’re hoping to produce great oranges and know that your tree is growing at the best rate with the strongest possibilities for success, then you’ll want to consider a few factors.

Alright, so let’s get into it!

1. Good Soil

What exactly does this mean? Is there a certain type of soil that orange trees will do best in?

Since an orange tree is a citrus tree, it is going to do best with soil that is slightly acidic, anywhere from 5.0 to 6.5 on the pH scale. 

You can use a product like this Garden Tutor Soil pH Test Kit to check the pH of the soil you’ve already got. 

If you are looking to add soil that has the correct pH and other properties, you could begin with Soil Sunrise Citrus Plant and Tree Soil, which comes in an 8-quart bag and is hand mixed. 

On that note, the location in which an orange tree is planted will have a huge effect on the way it can grow and flourish.

2. Good Climate And Location

The location that your tree is planted in has a lot to do with the overall success of the tree and the fruit it can produce. 

If you’ve never heard of USDA Hardiness Zones, these are going to change your tree-growing life!

They refer to regions across the United States with varying average annual minimum winter temperatures. 

That’s a mouthful, huh? Really, they offer an easy way to differentiate the minimum temperatures in a certain region. 

For example, USDA Hardiness Zone 9a refers to any region whose average minimum temperature in the winter months gets down to about (but not below) 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Orange trees can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, meaning that minimum temperatures from 20 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit are the lowest range of temperatures that will not cause undue stress on the tree. 

The entire southern United States, from Southern California to Florida, has the proper environment for growing orange trees.

3. Limited Weeds

Keeping weeds away from your trees might seem simple, and maybe even a little obvious, but you’d be surprised by how often this step is overlooked. 

Weeds require water and nutrients that are quickly sapped from your tree, making you orange tree watering efforts less worthwhile. 

So, take a minute and wack those weeds every once in a while!

We’ve got even more on tropical trees, check out our article on palm trees 5 Reasons New Orleans Has Palm Trees (Plus Growing Tips)

Promote Healthy Orange Tree Growth By Watering, Fertilizing And Trimming

There are a few more easy steps that you can take to keep your tree maintained on a regular basis, not just when you are trying to make sure it is being properly watered. 

So here are a few more things you can do to have a happy tree!

1. Monitor Your Orange Tree

One aspect of general tree maintenance is the simple act of keeping an eye out for anything that seems out of the ordinary. 

By checking your tree every once in a while, you’ll be able to notice early signs of disease, infestation, malnourishment, underwatering, and more. 

This can be crucial when it comes to preventative measures, as well.

2. Hydrate Your Orange Tree So It Can Create More Oranges

Speaking of preventative measures, watering should be done regularly based on the size and age of the tree. Remember, a young tree may need to be watered every couple of days, while a more mature tree that retains more water (if it is healthy and properly cared for) might only need to be watered twice a month or so.

3. Promote Growth Of Your Orange Tree By Fertilizing 

As you probably know by now, especially if you are an avid reader of ours, fertilizing is one of the absolute best things you can do for your plants. 

This is an especially important tactic when you are trying to promote healthy and sustainable growth in your tree.

So, what kind of fertilizer would be the most beneficial for an orange tree?

Great question!

Have you ever heard of an NPK value? If not, it stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, and refers to the balance of these three different elements in any given fertilizer. 

As a citrus tree, orange trees will tend to need a balanced fertilizer, NPK 6-6-6 for example, that also contains other minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, and others. 

If you want to opt for a fertilizer that is citrus-oriented but also won’t break your bank, you can trust Miracle-Gro Shake’N Feed Citrus, Avocado, and Mango Plant Food, this is a game-changer!

4. Prune The Branches Of Your Orange Tree

Pruning is another important tactic when it comes to making sure that your tree is in tip-top shape. By removing any dead, weak, decaying, or infested orange tree branches as needed, the rest of your tree can put its energy into growth as opposed to fighting off any sort of issues that come from damaged branches. 

You can use a cheap but good quality set of shears like these Gonicc 8” Professional Sharp Bypass Pruning Shears for ease and the confidence of knowing that you have a good product to use.

Orange You Glad You Stuck With Us?

Sorry for that one, but we had to. 

Anyway, thanks for sticking around to learn about some methods to best care for your orange tree. We wish you the best of luck as you continue along your tree journey. 

May your tree produce the best, juiciest oranges while you endure the least stress and work!

Until next time friends, see you soon.

Learn more about tropical trees in our article Here’s How Tall Coconut Trees Actually Grow!

References

González, Z., Rosal, A., Requejo, A., & Rodríguez, A. (2011). Production of pulp and energy using orange tree prunings. Bioresource Technology, 102(19), 9330-9334.

Phogat, V., Skewes, M. A., Cox, J. W., Alam, J., Grigson, G., & Šimůnek, J. (2013). Evaluation of water movement and nitrate dynamics in a lysimeter planted with an orange tree. Agricultural water management, 127, 74-84.