Mike, congratulations. Your orange tree is beautiful... very robust and healthy looking and the ripening fruit is awesome too. Is your orange tree housed at a car dealership? Your tree obviously likes the large, floor-to-ceiling windows and lighting. You certainly are doing everything right. I can only imagine what your other citrus must look like too...

I live in the Chicago area and don't live too far from Toni, although I have never met her in person. I am in a small townhouse and don't have much room for citrus (or any other indoor plants) but do have a small Meiwa kumquat and Bearss Lime. They are both in my bedroom on the second floor in front of a window that faces ESE and are also under a grow lamp. They are just one-year old citrus; so not very big. But they seem to be doing well in terms of retaining leaves. The kumquat has 8 ripening fruit which are just about orange and look nice, though I have to keep my dog from picking the fruit off. I am following Toni's advice about misting and mist the the two citrus twice a day. They are doing better than any other citrus I have had in the past.

Anyway how long have you had your orange tree? And where did you order your tree from? I ordered my kumquat from Four Winds Nursery and my Bears Lime is a Monrovia plant that I found at a local nursery. Would really like to order a Meyer Lemon tree from Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery in Florida if the USDA ban on shipping citrus outside of Florida is ever lifted.

Sorry to ramble on. Again the pictures are awesome and give all of us trying to grow citrus indoors something to strive for...

Jerry

Hi jerry
I posted, so many of our friends here would be encouraged to keep growing and not give up, even in the dead of winter. Your citrus are going to do well!! I have pictures to post that are growing in the same condition as your in home, and they are so happy.
That one I have had for a 2-3 years and wintered indoors and summered outdoors. The fruit is delicouis when eaten. I can't wait until you see the ones that I have growing i indoors in my home in a sunny window under grow lites. They are just as beautiful.
I got this one at the local nursery. But you should see the ones I got from Four Winds. I have ordered some from other places, and yet theirs to me is by far the best!
You have to try an "Oro Blanco" grapefruit! They grow the biggest and most fragrant flowers of all my citrus. And not to say that they are the easiest and hardiest to grow indoors too. I have not lost a ONE leaf on this tree since I recieved it in spring even with all the enviromental changes. You would not be dissapointed. I measured a flower that was almost an inch across!
Well, I can't wait until I post more pictures of my other trees. I just took pictures tonight. I want everyone here to feel that they can be very sucessful and not to give up. This forum has made it possible for me. Even more enjoyable now that Toni has givin me the secret to keeping insects of my plants. What a difference in their vigor with nothing sucking the life out of the leaves. Thanks toni!!!
Take care and keep in touch ok.
Mike