The orange tree is an evergreen. It can be propagated by cuttings, grafts or seeds. If you wanted to grow such a tree yourself, then it is better to choose a seed method, as it is the easiest of all.
In this article we will discuss how to grow an orange from a stone in a pot at home.
general information
The tree has a dense compact crown. The leaves are bright green and dense. The twigs are covered with light bark. It blooms with white, light flowers. Room orange bears fruit after 7 years of life. Fruits can be eaten, as they are very tasty.
Did you know? In the world there are about 600 varieties of oranges.
Plant height depends on the variety and can reach 1-2.5 m. Before you grow an orange at home, you need to decide on the variety.
The most popular are:
- "Pavlovsky". This variety grows low, up to about 1 m. It bears fruit very well. Fruits ripen about 9 months.
- "Gamlin" - grows to 1.5 m. It has juicy oranges with a sweet-sour taste, which ripen in late autumn.
- "Washington Navel" - This variety is most preferred among home gardeners. The plant can reach 2 m. During flowering, the tree smells very nice. The fruits are quite large - their weight reaches about 300 g.
Learn more about home-grown citrus crops like lemon, calamondin, citron and mandarin.Grow an orange from the stone at home is quite real. Consider how to do it so that it is with the fruits.
Growing from seed
In order for the seeds to germinate, it is necessary to plant them properly, observing the conditions.
Planting seeds
Growing an orange out of the stone will not be difficult. Consider how to plant seeds at home. Seeds must be removed from a ripe orange. They should be the correct form, not empty and not dried. They need to be cleaned of pulp, rinse and soak for 8-12 hours in water. The soil can be made from peat, sand, sod land (1: 1: 2). Or you can buy a special soil for citrus.
Sow seeds can be in separate small containers, the volume of which is about 100 ml. Or allowed to plant all the seeds in one box. It is recommended to keep the distance between the seeds of 5 cm. The depth of planting should be 1 cm.
After that you should lightly pour the soil, cover the container with a film and put it in a dark place until sprouts appear.
When sprouts reach 1.5-2 cm and they will have 2 leaves, they should be transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of about 8 cm.
Important! It is better not to use large containers for planting - the soil, where there are no roots, remains wet for a long time and becomes sour.
Conditions
The plant loves light, so southern or southeast windows will be the best place for a pot. In order to avoid sunburns on the leaves, it is recommended to prune the tree. But the lighting at the same time should remain bright.
The orange tree, grown from the stone, loves warmth. Therefore, in summertime, a favorable temperature for citrus growth is considered to be + 21 ... +25 ° С. 
If it is higher, then the orange will begin to grow actively, but will not bear fruit. In winter, the temperature of the plant is + 10 ... +15 ° С.
Important! The plant does not tolerate drafts, so the tree should be protected from them.
Crown formation
To citrus fruit bearing at home, you need to take care of a suitable crown. If it is not formed, the fruits can be collected no earlier than in 10 years.
The plant bears fruits on branches not lower than the fifth order. The procedure consists in pinching the branches after they reach 10-15 cm. This should be done above the kidney so that it is outside.
You should also cut the weakened shoots that are too long and growing inside. Thanks to this pruning after a few years you will get a tree with many short shoots.
Breeding
Homemade orange tree propagated by seeds, grafting and cuttings. A grown seed plant requires less maintenance. But the fruits of this tree are different from the parent. How to grow an orange from seeds, as described above.
The method of grafting saves varietal characteristics. To get the cutting, you need to cut off a twig with a sharp knife, which is covered with bark and has a length of about 10 cm. They are planted in sandy soil and make a mini-greenhouse. 
It should be in a bright place, but without direct sun. The soil should always be slightly damp. After 30 days, the cuttings should be rooted, and they can be transplanted into separate containers.
Grafting allows you to get a quick harvest. The graft is recommended to take from the fruiting trees. Cutting the stalk is necessary with a very sharp knife. It is recommended to plant on orange or lemon trees that have reached the age of three.
The vaccination process should be as follows:
- at a height of 10 cm from the ground to cut the crown of the selected tree;
- further it is necessary to split the trunk and insert a cutting there;
- a scion should have 3 buds;
- then it is necessary to combine two branches and roll up the vaccination site using a film;
- to preserve moisture, you should cover the plant with a film and put in a bright place.
Did you know? In the New World in 1493, the first seeds and orange seedlings appeared thanks to Christopher Columbus.
Care
Growing an orange from the stone at home is the proper care of the tree.
Watering
Water citrus tree should be regularly, as soon as the top layer of soil dries. But you should not re-moisten the soil, because the roots can rot. In winter, watering is reduced to 2-3 times a week. Water must be separated and warm.
Spraying
Caring for an orange tree at home includes spraying. The plant loves moisture, so in the heat it should be sprayed daily.
In cool weather, this procedure can be performed 1-2 times a week. If the air in the apartment is dry in winter, the tree should be sprayed every day.
Fertilizer
Every 2 weeks from March to October, it is recommended to feed the orange tree with complex fertilizer for citrus fruits. You can cook this fertilizer at home. 
To do this, nitrogen fertilizers (20 g), phosphate (25 g) and potassium salt (15 g) diluted in 10 liters of water. In this mixture, it is recommended to add iron sulphate 1 time per season, and 1 time - a little potassium permanganate.
Transfer
Replant orange trees should be in the spring, until they began to bloom and bear fruit. It is recommended to do it every 2-3 years. The pot is chosen a little larger than the previous one.
Transplantation is performed by transshipment, so as not to injure the roots. At the bottom of the tank must be drainage. Soil should consist of sod land (2 parts), leaf (1 part), humus (1 part) and sand (1 part).
Pests
The tree should be regularly inspected to detect pests on time or to exclude their presence on the plant. Mostly on citrus plants can be found aphid, shield, spider mite and whitefly.
It is recommended to fight with them with such preparations as "Fitoverm", "Biotlin". You can also use traditional methods, such as infusion of garlic, hot pepper, as well as a solution of laundry soap. 
The orange tree is a long-liver, and can bear fruit up to 70 years. It is only necessary to properly care for him.
