Reasons why orange trees drop leaves

The orange tree is native to China and has been cultivated in our country for more than 4,000 years. Although the planting technology has become very mature, there are still many growers who do not manage it well, for example, leaves often fall off. So what is the cause? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Natural aging

Orange trees will also age naturally. As time goes by, the trees grow older and the leaves age, and yellowing and falling leaves will occur. Generally, you can prune and thin out the branches in time to keep the crown clean and tidy, and provide the orange tree with sufficient nutrients and water to slow down the aging process of the orange tree.

2. External factors

For example, strong winds, low temperatures, drought, etc., which are not conducive to the growth of fruit trees, can easily lead to leaf fall.

3. Improper watering

If the drought lasts for a long time and the soil is severely lacking in water, the roots of the orange tree will not be able to obtain enough water, causing the leaves to lose water, wilt, and eventually fall off. On the contrary, if there is continuous rainfall or excessive irrigation, causing the soil to be too wet, the roots will be immersed in water for a long time, which will cause root hypoxia, affecting normal physiological functions and also causing leaves to fall.

4. Nutrient deficiency

Orange trees need sufficient nutrient supply during their growth process. If they lack nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, boron, magnesium, iron, zinc, sulfur, copper, and molybdenum, the citrus leaves will turn yellow and fall prematurely.

5. Improper pruning

Pruning is an important part of fruit tree management, but improper pruning operations may also cause orange trees to lose leaves. Excessive pruning will weaken the tree, reduce leaf area, affect photosynthesis, and may cause leaves to fall off.

6. Low temperatures in winter

Orange trees have poor adaptability to low temperatures. If the temperature is too low in winter, the trees will be frozen and their leaves will turn yellow or fall off. Therefore, when planting orange trees in cold areas, it is best to choose varieties with strong cold resistance, such as Wenzhou mandarin orange, Pioneer orange, Jin orange, etc.

7. Impact of pests and diseases

For example, many diseases and pests such as red spider mites, rust mites, scale insects, anthracnose, yellow spot disease, foot rot, powdery mildew, etc. can cause leaves to fall prematurely.



Generally speaking, it is normal for orange trees to have a small amount of leaf drop. When the leaf drop exceeds 20%, it is considered abnormal leaf drop and will seriously affect the normal growth of the fruit tree. At this time, it is necessary to check external factors and management measures, and solve problems in a timely manner to promote the healthy growth of orange trees.