What Kind of Orange Trees Can Live Indoors?

Orangeries

• Today, many upscale restaurants and hotels call themselves L'Orangerie, but the original dates back to the 17th century and the Louvre. Until the modern era, an indoor orangerie was the purview of the rich. Today, you can grow fruit indoors with the right amount of light, heat and humidity. Acidic citrus does better indoors than sweeter varieties. You may want to consider adding a dwarf lemon or lime tree to the mix, as they grow more easily than oranges. After blooming, orange trees may shed a great deal of unripened fruit. This is not a problem if the tree is healthy overall.

Calamondin

• Also known as the Panama orange, Citrofortunella mitis, the Calamondin orange is one of the most common dwarf citrus trees for indoor growing. This slow-growing, shallow-rooted tree prefers moist soil, and flowers semi-annually if it receives at least direct sunlight for more than half the day. Under these conditions, it will produce fruit continuously. Keep the temperature between 55 and 68 degrees, with humidity levels between 30 and 60 percent. If the house is warmer, the tree may not produce fruit. At maturity, the calamondin is three feet tall and two feet wide. Put the tree outdoors in the summer months. The fruit is tart, but suitable for adding to drinks or making marmalade.

Mandarin Oranges

• Citrus reticulata, the mandarin orange, is not a true orange; it is related to the tangerine. It produces very sweet fruit and does not need as much heat for ripening as a true orange species. A Southeast Asian native, the mandarin orange does not keep well for more than a week to 10 days, so use it quickly after picking. In addition to snacking on it, use it in jellies, fruit salads or cakes.

Sweet Orange

• Several varieties of the sweet orange, or Citrus sinesis, are suitable for indoor growing. These include the Dancy or Trovita types. The fruit is dark and small. Also slow-growing, these varieties do not require excessive heat for fruit ripening and both are prolific fruit producers. However, sweet oranges do need lots of bright light, and flourish in moist soils.