Oranges are a favorite fruit throughout the world. You can eat oranges fresh or make a juice-drink from them. You can toss orange slices in a salad, or bake them in a cake. Planting an orange tree can help beautify the surroundings and add citrusy-sweet aroma to the air. With its many benefits the question, “Can you grow an orange tree indoors?” is often asked by citrus lovers. The answer is, yes.
Since the 17th century, citrus trees have been grown indoors. The combination of green leaves, fragrant white blossoms, and bright orange fruit lend a lively look to the indoors. Furthermore, planting lemons, limes, and different types of oranges is easy and does not require any special equipment.
Growing orange trees indoors can be easy if you know how to take care of them. Here are a few tips on how to grow orange trees inside the comfort of your home.
- Pick the best gardening pot or container with a good drainage system.
- Use well-draining soil such as a sandy loam.
- Position your tree beside a window with good airflow and sufficient sunlight (8-12 hours).
- Provide cold protection when the temperature is below 68° F or 20° C.
- Water the tree regularly or as needed, but allow the soil to drain and dry to 2 inches deep between watering. Citrus trees hate standing water and become prone to diseases when soil remains soggy.
- Feed your tree with citrus-specific fertilizer that offers a balanced nutrient content and has a high amount of nitrogen.
Types of Oranges
We always see oranges in the supermarkets. But do you know that there are different types of oranges? Florida, the second in global orange juice production, produces several varieties of oranges including Tangerines, Navel Orange, Valencia Orange, and Honeybell Orange. These Oranges are commonly eaten fresh as a snack, juiced, or used as an ingredient when making desserts. They can also be used as toppings to your favorite salads, mixed in marinades, syrups, and sauces.
The sweet and juicy Navel Orange, Blood Orange, Mandarin Orange, Tangerine, and Clementine are sources of vitamin C and minerals that can help with our overall health, and are highly effective in preventing premature skin aging.
- Navel Orange – the most common orange we see in grocery stores. It is called Navel Orange because of the undeveloped secondary fruit found growing opposite the stem end of the main fruit that resembles a human belly button.
- Tangerine – offers a sweeter taste compared to other oranges and is smaller than your typical standard-sized orange.
- Clementine – a small, oval-shaped orange that is ideal for a quick snack because of its easy-to-peel-skin and seedless characteristics.
- Blood Orange – may look similar to other oranges from the outside, but when cut open has a ruby or deep red flesh that is unique among orange cultivars. They are medium-sized fruits and mostly used to garnish cakes and desserts.
- Mandarin Orange – is a small citrus fruit that is less acidic than other oranges and offers a sweeter taste. You can eat it plain or toss it in your favorite salad.