My Orange Tree Didn't Produce Oranges This Year

Water

• Water is one of the most important aspects of an orange tree's overall health. Without good moisture, the tree will fail to produce fruit. An orange tree requires adequate water during and right after it produces blossoms. Water the orange tree when 2 inches of top soil become dry. Thoroughly saturate the soil to a depth of 2 feet. The tree will produce oranges in 5 to 18 months after the flowers fall from the tree. Applying 2 to 4 inches of mulch across the soil will help keep the soil moist during excessively hot weather.

Nutrients

• The orange tree requires adequate nutrients to successfully produce fruit. Without sufficient salt in the soil, the tree will fail to bear fruit, produce small fruit or have a dramatically reduced crop. Orange trees also require high levels of nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, phosphorous an potassium. It will also require varying degrees of copper, manganese, iron, zinc, molybdenum, boron, chlorine and magnesium. In most areas, the tree will benefit from having nitrogen added to the soil in late winter.

Pruning, Pests and Disease

• Citrus trees do not require pruning. Dramatic pruning can reduce or eliminate fruit production for the year. Only remove damaged or diseased limbs from the orange tree. A tree weakened by ongoing infestations of pests or diseases may also fail to produce fruit. Invertebrates such as aphids, citrus leaf miners, Fuller rose beetles, Southern fire ants, grasshoppers, brown garden snails, scales and the European earwig can attack the orange tree. Regularly monitor the tree for any signs of infestations and treat any issues quickly to help keep the tree healthy.

Cold Protection

• If the temperature dips to the mid-20s, the tree can sustain damage. Over time, an orange tree regularly exposed to cold temperatures will evolve to tolerate the chill and suffer less damage. Irrigating the orange tree prior to the expected freeze can also help reduce the damage the tree sustains. Consider draping a tarp, blankets or plastic over the tree's canopy to protect the tree from frost. Protecting the tree's limbs, foliage and flowers will enable the tree to bear oranges.