Orange tree

[Bob_Arctor]

I bought a small orange tree a few months ago. It's a decorative kind, not a real tree - kinda shrublike in shape, with weird mini-oranges.

I live in an apartment, so the light isn't the best and it's fairly dry. The plant was fine until a few weeks ago, when it suddenly lost about 1/3 of the leaves. Since then, I've been able to put it outside more (it's warming up) and it's been stable. The remaining leaves appear to be healthy.

What can I do to encourage new leaves to grow, or growth in general? Pruning? More light? Fertilizing? Very soon I'll be able to leave it outside all the time, and it'll get plenty of light. Is there anything else I can do to help this thing?

Thanks

Bob

[DesertFox]

Shoot it and get a real tree :D

[Warlady]

Miracle Gro and water and lots of light.

[sunsettommy]

I bought a small orange tree a few months ago. It's a decorative kind, not a real tree - kinda shrublike in shape, with weird mini-oranges.

I live in an apartment, so the light isn't the best and it's fairly dry. The plant was fine until a few weeks ago, when it suddenly lost about 1/3 of the leaves. Since then, I've been able to put it outside more (it's warming up) and it's been stable. The remaining leaves appear to be healthy.

What can I do to encourage new leaves to grow, or growth in general? Pruning? More light? Fertilizing? Very soon I'll be able to leave it outside all the time, and it'll get plenty of light. Is there anything else I can do to help this thing?

Thanks

Bob

I think what you have is the CALAMONDIN Orange.

Here is the link that can help you with the care of such "mini" Orange trees.

http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/growing/houseplants.html

This link describes some of the INDOOR varieties including the Calamondin.

http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/solver/indoor.html

[Bob_Arctor]

It does appear to be a Calamondin tree - thanks sunsettommy.

It's been outside for a few days now. No growth yet, but I guess it needs more time. I repotted it on saturday, but that has backfired too. The soil mix I made has turned into nothing more than very thick 'mud'! Despite drainage holes, it's still soggy now. I'll need to give that another try as well, because the links provided say it needs fairly light soil.

Warlady, I gave it fertilizer per your advice. Warmer weather should set in soon around here, so it can stay outside all the time.

Desertfox - don't worry, if the tree fails to thrive, I'll kill it with my own bare hands. I wish I could reason with it: "grow, or I'll kill you." Hehehe.

thanks all

BA

[sunsettommy]

It does appear to be a Calamondin tree - thanks sunsettommy.

It's been outside for a few days now. No growth yet, but I guess it needs more time. I repotted it on saturday, but that has backfired too. The soil mix I made has turned into nothing more than very thick 'mud'! Despite drainage holes, it's still soggy now. I'll need to give that another try as well, because the links provided say it needs fairly light soil.

You should at least scratch up the soil surface to increase drying and also for better areation,but the "mud" to me indicate that you lack Vermiculite and sand in the mix.I would have used a 50% standard potting soil to 25%/25% coarse sand(from a bag at the store is best) mix.

Warlady, I gave it fertilizer per your advice. Warmer weather should set in soon around here, so it can stay outside all the time.

Desertfox - don't worry, if the tree fails to thrive, I'll kill it with my own bare hands. I wish I could reason with it: "grow, or I'll kill you." Hehehe.

thanks all

BA

I used to work in a Greenhouse and also was a manager too.

[Bob_Arctor]

You should at least scratch up the soil surface to increase drying and also for better areation,but the "mud" to me indicate that you lack Vermiculite and sand in the mix.I would have used a 50% standard potting soil to 25%/25% coarse sand(from a bag at the store is best) mix.

I used to work in a Greenhouse and also was a manager too.
Ah, very good. Wel, it was STILL soggy this morning - from a heavy watering on Saturday! I suspect the drain holes must have clogged. I'm going to repot it again tonight.

I didn't put any sand in the mix, though I did put in vermiculite - though probably not 25% worth. Much of it also floated up to the top during the watering.

I'll make up the mix with the amounts you recommend - we'll see what happens!

Thanks again

Bob

[Bob_Arctor]

All,

thanks again for the advice. It seems to have worked! The tree has been outside on some fairly warm and sunny days, and it seems (along with the fertilzer and repotting) to have stimulated new growth. There are tiny leaf buds appearing all over the branches!

I hope it may be able to flower again some time. Seeing miniature oranges appear is pretty cool, and they actually stay on the tree rather than fall. I bought it in early February, and the oranges that were on it then are still there.

thanks again
BA