Oranges are a delicious part of any diet, providing a much-needed dose of vitamin C. A glass of orange juice is the perfect way to start the day, too, and it tastes even better when it’s fresh. For the juiciest fruit, of course, it’s best to grow your own oranges at home.

This seems like a difficult—if not impossible—proposition for those who live in colder climates or don’t have a garden. However, you can grow orange trees indoors with the right technique. Making these trees grow and flourish inside takes special care, of course—but if you follow the proper steps, you’ll have succulent fruit in no time. Here, we spoke to the experts, who gave us the low-down on how to ensure orange trees thrive inside.

Varieties That You Can Grow Indoors

Standard varieties of orange trees can reach heights of 20 to 30 feet tall, which obviously won’t work for most households. Instead, experts recommend growing dwarf varieties indoors, which are smaller in size.

Dwarf Washington Navel

When planted in containers, the Washington navel will only be about 6 to 8 feet tall, so it’s perfect for all your indoor gardening needs. It’s also known as the Bahia orange tree, as it originally came from Brazil and produces small, seedless oranges that are easy to peel and enjoy.

Dwarf Trovita

The Trovita is believed to have originated from a Washington Navel seedling, so it also only grows to be about 6 to 8 feet tall. Its fruit, however, has a slightly sweeter and milder taste but can still be easily peeled.

Care Requirements

Orange trees thrive in warm, sunny climates. If you’re growing them indoors, you’ll want to simulate that environment as much as possible.

Soil

When selecting a soil type, use well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH. Joanna Glovinsky, co-founder of Fruitstitute, notes that soil health is an essential part of growing an orange tree. Outside, she says, bugs and leaves maintain the organic soil—but that can be hard to replicate from home. “Potted trees require intensive soil management to maintain a nutrient, organically-rich soil medium that can sustain a heavy feeder like a citrus tree,” she says.

The solution? Glovinsky suggests topsoil that’s rich in organic matter—her “cheat sheet” is applying homemade compost, organic fertilizer, and wood chip mulch twice a year.

Water

How often you water your orange tree will depend on how much light it gets, according to Elliott. “The best approach is to feel the soil regularly and give it a deep watering whenever it starts to dry out,” he says. “Having a slight wet/dry cycle is good for root health.”

Light

Light is the biggest consideration when it comes to growing orange trees indoors. In order for it to produce fruit, an orange tree needs eight hours of direct sunlight, according to Elliott—but ideally up to 12. “The ultimate test of your natural light will be your plant’s growth—if your plant isn’t growing quickly, or green leaves are falling, then you’re not getting enough light,” he says.

Glovinsky seconds this, saying orange trees need a “Southern California climate year-round.” One quick tip? Put your pot on wheels so you can move the tree around and get the most sun—you can even move it outside in the summer.

Temperature

Elliott notes that orange trees thrive in the same temperatures that we do—about 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they can handle variation on both ends of that range.

Pruning

Pruning isn’t an all-important step, but it will make your tree easier to manage. Glovinsky recommends pruning one to two times a year to keep the canopy at a size that’s proportional to the tree’s container.

Harvesting

Fortunately, most orange trees are self-pollinating, so you won’t have to worry about “being the bee.” However, Elliott notes that “pollinating them doesn’t hurt, and in many varieties will help improve the fruit set.” If you do choose to self-pollinate, simply use a small paintbrush to bring the pollen from one flower to the next.

You can tell when the fruit is ready for harvest when it’s bright orange and no signs of green remain; it should detach easily from the branch when you pick it.

Common Problems

According to Elliott, the biggest problem people run into when growing orange trees indoors is lack of light. If yours isn’t growing quickly and needs more light, you can always supplement natural light with grow lights.

Additionally, keep an eye out for scale bugs. “You’ll notice it because there may be sticky honeydew on the leaves,” he says. “If you’re diligent, you can hunt all of them down and wipe them away.”