When taken care, your bonsai orange tree will grow to be a fruitful plant producing health Calamondin orange citrus fruits. Though this plant originates from China, it can survive in other countries. If you just got this particular bonsai or you are planning to buy one soon, it is important to know how you can take care of it.
Here are several tips that should be used to maintain and help the orange tree to grow healthy:
- Watering – Like any other indoor plant, the bonsai must be routinely watered and never neglected. Water the plant even before the soil dries up. Give it enough until the excess water runs out at the top and the hole at the bottom of the pot. If you have a water meter, use it until you know the water requirement of your Bonsai orange tree.
- Summer placement – The bonsai tree requires enough amount of sunlight for it to grow. Place the bonsai pot outside the house, on a spot with ample sunlight. Make sure to keep the orange tree inside when the temperature drops below 44 degrees, at this temperature you can place the pot at the window inside the house.
- Winter Placement – When the temperatures are very low, the plant will require enough light to facilitate growth to remain healthy, miniature and beautiful. Try to place the bonsai pot at the windowsill, especially on the window that is facing south. Window facing west or east is also preferable. If you window is facing north make sure you support the plant by providing an artificial light to facilitate the indoor growth.
- Fertilize – Because your tree is growing in a small amount of soil, it is important to replenish the soil by reducing it a bit and adding fresh one from outside. You should replace the nutrients periodically by adding fertilizer. The fertilizer should be applied once in a month.The best fertilizer is the liquid fertilizer, which is soluble in water.
- Bonsai Styling & Training – Though most Bonsai indoor trees have already been through some level of styling already, it is advisable to get familiar with the process at least a little bit. Or consult a professional to assist in the training process. Bonsai orange tree requires periodic pinching and training to remain beautiful, healthy and miniature.
- Bonsai Treatment – Make sure you always check the Bonsai tree for any developing diseases or insect that may have invaded the plant. If you can discover any of the symptoms, buy the necessary product to treat and eliminate the problem. You can treat the orange tree at the same time as you are treating other plants.
- Re-potting – When the orange tree gets the above attention, it will start growing fast, including the roots too. Re-potting should be performed when the root system fills the pot. This entails changing the entire soil in the pot by filling with a new fresh soil, thus force the Bonsai roots to form a more compact system.
If competently maintained, your bonsai orange tree will provide a healthy green leaves, produce a wing like appendage on the stalks and fragrant white flowers.