Growing orange in the backyard is a dream for many. You can take care of and maintain a healthy orange tree with a few tricks. For the record, orange trees have a long life but could lose life early if it does not get the right environment and care.
How long do orange trees live?
Orange trees, like most citrus trees, have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years. However, how long the tree lives depend on the environment, feeding, watering, and soil conditions. If there are pests, or the tree gets diseased, orange trees do not live for more than 5 or 8 years.
There are different types of orange trees and each type lives a specific period.
Osage:
Osage trees are considered to be invasive trees but do not live as long as other orange trees. The maximum period that Osage trees live is 75 years.
Mock:
Mock orange or Philadelphus coronarius is 10 feet or taller trees that have an average lifespan of 40 years but may lose life soon if conditions are not favorable.
Calamondin:
Calamondin trees, which are a great height of 20 to 30 feet can live for more than 50 years. Interestingly, this tree is edible and can be grown anywhere you want, even in pots.
Valencia:
The lifespan of Valencia trees is about 50 years but can extend up to 150 years in a good environment. If the soil is not dehydrated or over water, and the weather is favorable, you can expect this tree to live long years.
Dwarf:
Dwarf orange trees as the name suggests do not grow more than 20 feet but live a long life of 60 to 150 years depending on the major factors.
Blood:
If your blood orange tree is in a mildly humid and moderately warm place, you can expect it to live for long. 50 years is an average lifespan time for these trees.
Do orange trees get too old?
If the environment is right and the maintenance is adequate, orange trees can survive up to 200 years. If the orange tree gets a disease, it cannot survive for more than 8 years at most.
However, since the weather is unpredictable and harsh weather is more common now, most orange trees do not get too old.
How to make orange trees live longer?
The following tips might help you to make your orange tree live longer –
Keep the tree away from harsh temperatures:
It is worth noting that orange trees thrive and live longer if they are around the temperatures of 27 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, you have to make sure that the orange tree is shaded from harsh heat or harsh cold. Use sheets to insulate trees from chilly cold weather.
Never transplant when it is not needed:
Transplanting or repotting an orange tree too often and when not needed can be detrimental to the tree.
So avoid doing that and instead maintain the tree where it is already placed. You may report an orange tree only after 3 or 5 years so that root bounding does not occur.
Time and measure how much you water:
Since watering can make or break your orange tree, you have to time your watering and plan it so your orange tree lives longer.
When you notice that that soil has become dry to about 2 or 3 inches, you may water your orange tree. Also, make sure that the soil does not become too wet.
Use compost and fertilizers:
When you use compost on the orange tree soil, the soil becomes rich and hence can hold more water without being ruined.
This way the soil does not get too dehydrated either. The use of NPK fertilizer in the correct ratio can also help orange trees to live more years.
4 reasons why orange trees lose life:
There are several reasons why orange trees may lose life. Here are a few possibilities and causes:
Unsuitable environment:
There is no bigger reason for an orange tree to live a shorter life than the environment it has been planted into.
If the environment and surroundings do not suit its needs and support the tree’s growth, you can expect the orange tree to lose life a lot earlier than it was meant to. How do you understand if the reason is the wrong environment?
It’s easy. You would have to look for a few obvious signs like fragile branches and minimal growth.
Other than that, the orange trees in the unsuitable environment would go through untimely fruit drops and lackluster leaves which would be quite visible to the eyes.
Soils that do not have a proper drainage system are likely to face similar issues. These soils tend to be too wet for orange trees to hold and grow for many years.
The wrong environment may also include harsh weather conditions.
Orange trees lose life earlier in places that are too cold or too hot, causing the leaves to get dehydrated and the soil to be unsuitable.
Watering mistakes:
Not just orange trees, but most citrus-type trees are likely to be considered sensitive when it comes to how much water they can take in.
This means that you cannot expect to overwater an orange tree and expect it to live a healthy life. Underwatering an orange tree can also result in similar issues and eventually cause the tree to lose life prematurely.
One of the signs that might indicate that your orange tree is either under watered or over watered is how its leaves become curved or curled up. This happens when the leaves become dehydrated due to lack of water and become curled.
If you have overwatered the orange tree, the soil in which the orange tree is planted becomes rotten, which in turn stops the air to circulate properly.
Nutrition deficiency:
Like all trees, there are a few necessary nutrients that make orange trees survive and thrive. If the tree does not get enough of these nutrients, it is most likely that the orange trees will lose life in an untimely manner.
If you notice that the leaves of your orange tree are turning yellow, you would know the tree is lacking nutrients. Too much nitrogen can also make the soil burnt causing orange trees to lose life quickly.
Pests and diseases:
If the orange tree is invaded by pests, it could result in the tree drying too soon.
Other than that, a more common disease that causes orange trees to lose life is fungal root rot. You may be surprised to know that watering the orange tree too much can cause the soil to become wet and eventually lead to root rotting.
How to take care of the orange tree?
Here are a few things you can do to take care of orange trees:
Find an appropriate spot:
The first step is to find an appropriate spot for the orange tree. Whether you have a pot or a plant, make sure it is south facing or at a spot where there is adequate sunlight but also some shade.
Environment:
Next, you’ll have to make sure that the environment is not too hot or too cold. Hence the best environment is to have a naturally humid place.
Water adequately:
Every time the soil dries out to a measurement of at least 2 inches, or more you may water it. Remember If the weather is too humid, you would need to water at least 2 times a week.
Nitrogen and potassium:
In the growing season, you need to feed the orange frees with nitrogen and potassium-rich feed. NPK fertilizer in the ratio 2:1:1 is most suitable.
Pruning:
If you notice that the orange tree has become tangled and crowded, prune it accordingly.
How to grow orange trees faster?
Sometimes orange trees may lose life without many reasonable explanations when you would not be able to do much. However, a few practices and methods of care can make orange trees live longer
For faster growth, it is recommended that you prune the top parts of the tree so that the tree looks bushier. Other than that, you can use an NPK fertilizer that is double in nitrogen quantity. Also, make sure the soil is adequately damp but not too much.
How many times a year does an orange tree produce fruit?
Since it’s a citrus tree, many assume that orange trees would produce fruits throughout the day like lemons. However, that is not the case for orange trees. Orange trees produce fruit only one time in one year. For the cycle to repeat, it could take up to 10 to 12 months.
Final Thoughts
Orange trees will only live a long life of more than 100 years if all the conditions are most ideal. This includes moderately humid temperatures and balanced watering. Other than that, care and maintenance also play a big role in how long the tree survives.