Are the brown spots on your orange leaves ruining the beauty of your tree?
You bet they are! And unfortunately, you are absolutely right to worry about the brown spots. Because you see, everyone wants to grow the tastiest oranges from their tree. But these brown spots are your worst enemy in this case. They greatly affect the quality, number, and taste of the oranges in the infected tree.
But why do the oranges get brown spots?
There are 3 reasons- Citrus Rust Mite, Orange’s Fungal Diseases, and Inconsistent watering that create brown spots on orange tree leaves.
In this article, I am going to discuss how to identify the problems and how to treat them in the simplest way. Keep reading to find out your answers.
So without making any delay, let’s get started-
Why Do Oranges Have Brown Spots On The Leaves?
1. Citrus Rust Mites
Citrus rust mites are very damaging, especially to the orange fruits. Also, they are hard to get rid of because these are very minute pests. They feed on the orange leaves and create tiny brown spots on them. And not just the oranges, these mites also infest on other citrus trees like lemon, grapefruits, etc.
The rust mites are yellow and wedge-shaped. They usually attack young leaves in warm and humid conditions during early spring.
Control Measure
Look for small webbing on your orange tree leaves that have brown spots. To get rid of these mites you need to apply a good insecticide. Because low-quality insecticides won’t be very effective against mites and also will damage the orange fruits.
So get the best insecticide that is safe for your oranges (our pick: Monterey organic Garden Insect Spray). Apply it by following the label directions during late summer. Also, try these amazing homemade recipes that actually work against mite attacks:
#Recipe 1:- Dormant Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of liquid soap
- 250 ml of oil like soybean oil or vegetable oil.
Steps:
- Mix the oil and soap together and store it in a bottle.
- Then mix 4 tablespoons of this mixture with every liter of water
- Pour it into the sprayer
- Spray twice a week on your orange tree leaves.
#Recipe 2:-Neem Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of neem oil
- 5 liters of water
Steps:
- Mix neem oil and water
- Spray on the leaves that have brown spots on them.
- Spray it on a regular basis to your orange tree except for the flowering season.
- Avoid contact with fruits.
Note: Try these homemade recipes on a small leaf of your orange tree first. If the leaf burns or discolors or curls then dilute the recipe with some water.
2. Diseases of Orange
Many fungal diseases can cause several leaf problems on your orange tree. Citrus Melanose is one of the fungi that creates brown spots on orange leaves. Eventually, the leaf starts turning yellow.
When orange trees are overwatered, some of the branches and twigs wilt and die. And if these dead parts stay attached to the tree for more than 24 hours, Citrus Melanose fungus attacks. Because this fungus lives on dead plant materials.
Rust fungus is also another kind of fungus that creates small brown spots on orange leaves. The infected leaves later fall off the tree. The fungus spreads through water. Rust fungus is very dangerous because it also spreads to fruits through water and makes brown sunken spots. As a result, the oranges become low in quality.
Control Measure
First, remove all the leaves that have brown spots on them to stop the infection further. Then apply a good fungicide that is specially formulated to treat the fungus without harming your fruits (Our Pick: Bonide Copper Fungicide).
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep note of the date of the fungicide application so that you know when you can harvest the fruits. Try these wonderful homemade fungicide recipes to control the disease more naturally.
#Recipe 1:-Cinnamon Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- 10 Tablespoons of Cinnamon
- 5 Liters of water
Steps:
- Add water and cinnamon together and shake very well
- Let it sit for a few hours
- Strain the mixture with a fine cloth
- Put the mixture into a spray bottle
- Spray it in the stem and leaves of the orange tree until the problem is solved.
Recipe 2:-Baking Soda Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 teaspoons of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid
- 3 tablespoons of any cooking oil
- 5 liter of water
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients very well.
- Then pour it into the sprayer.
- Spray on both sides of the infected leaves of your orange tree up to twice a week.
Preventive Measure
Water the orange tree at ground level and avoid overhead watering. In this way, fungal spores will not spread through water. Keep the tree base clean and weed-free. Don’t forget to make sure that your oranges are getting enough sunlight and air.
Remove the infected leaves carefully without having contact with other trees. Wrap them in a plastic bag and throw them in the garbage. Prune of the heavily infected branches. Also, it’s important to disinfect the pruning equipment before and after working with them.
3. Inconsistent Watering
Oranges don’t need much water. But still, some underwatering issues can create a brown spot-like appearance on the leaves. Some leaves get brown around the edges for lack of enough water. When the oranges aren’t properly watered for a long time the whole leaf gets brown and crispy. Even they start falling off at a great number.
Control Measure
Pick out all the brown leaves so that the orange tree can grow some new leaves instead. Check the soil moisture with a moisture meter to avoid this problem and water them properly (Our pick: Atree Soil Soil Tester Kits with Moisture, Light, and PH Test for Garden). Make sure the soil drains the water very well. Never let the orange tree be waterlogged.
Conclusion
Brown spots are very common for oranges but if it is not treated timely the tree along with the orange fruits are in danger. The tree becomes weak and unhealthy. On the other hand, the oranges become smaller in size and shape. So, start treating them without any delay when you notice the brown spots.
I have tried to provide all the necessary information and I hope this article helped you to find out what exactly is causing brown spots on your orange tree leaves. The good news is you can easily treat any kind of orange variety (mandarine, tangerine, etc) and your other citrus trees like lemon, grapefruit, etc with the same process.