Calamondin - home care for citrus

A worthy alternative to lemons and oranges is calamondin. Even a beginner grower can take care of the plant, it is unpretentious and decorative.

Calamondin - what is it?

Citrofortunella (Calamondin) is a plant also known to flower growers as "indoor tangerine" or "golden orange". This is a hybrid, its "parents" are mandarin and kumquat. In "captivity" calamondin, which can be called a micro-citrus, reaches a height of 0.6-1.5 m.

Calamondin is a suitable option for those who want to grow something unusual and exotic on the windowsill.

Brownish rough shoots often branch, the crown is densely leafy. Leaves are leathery, smooth, 4-7 cm long. The tip is pointed, the central vein is pronounced. Citrofortunella microcarpa or citrus calamondin is a self-pollinating plant.

At home, flower growers grow different varieties of Calamondin:

• Variegata - variegated green and white leaves;
• Margarita Big - pear-shaped citruses;
• Meiva - sweet fruits almost without seeds;
• Tiger - leaves with a golden border;
• Peters - profuse flowering and very sour fruits;
• Shikinari are the largest and most delicious citrus fruits.

Jam is made from the fruits of calamondin and added to tea instead of lemon.

Calamondin - home care

Caring for citrofortunella at home is simple. The main thing is to create an optimal microclimate for the plant or close to it.

The nuances of caring for calamondin:

• Watering. Calamondin is a citrus, so watering is very important for it. When dry, the soil is moistened 1-1.5 cm deep. Usually - once every 2-3 days, in the heat - every day. In winter - less often, every 8-12 days. Young calamondins tolerate moisture deficiency worse than adult plants.
• Fertilization. To do this, use root or foliar dressing (it is recommended to alternate them) with any fertilizer for citrus every 10-12 days during the active growing season and monthly in winter. You need to dilute the product according to the instructions.
• Pruning. The first time the formation of the crown is carried out when the plant reaches a height of 0.25 m. The optimal period is February-April, in summer - only sanitary pruning. You need to remove all shoots that clearly violate the correct spherical shape of the crown, broken, sick or damaged by insects. The height of the stem of an adult plant is 0.3-0.6 m.The optimal crown configuration for calamondin is sparse-tiered.

Calamondin requires regular watering and high humidity.

Citrofortunella transplant

The first time calamondin needs to be transplanted 2-3 weeks after purchase. Further, for young plants, the procedure is carried out annually at the end of the dormant period. Calamondins aged 5 years and older are transplanted every 3 years.

Algorithm of the procedure:

1. Water the calamondin abundantly 2-3 hours before transplanting to make it easier to remove from the container.
2. Pour a drainage layer into a new pot with a diameter of 5-8 cm larger than the previous one, fill it with fresh substrate by about a third.
3. Carefully remove the plant from the container, keeping a lump of soil on the roots intact if possible.
4. Move the citrofortunella to a new pot, fill up the soil, gradually compacting it. The root collar should remain at the same level as before.
5. Water the plant abundantly. For the next 5-6 weeks, provide especially careful protection against drafts and direct sunlight.

After the purchase, Calamondin needs time to adapt.

Store-bought calamondin needs to be given time to adapt, otherwise the plant may not survive the stress associated with changing conditions of detention and simultaneous transplantation.

When and how the plant blooms and bears fruit

Calamondin bloom is abundant, begins in May and lasts until mid-summer. The flowers are star-shaped, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, snow-white or milky. They are collected in inflorescences of 2-3, located in the axils of the leaves.

A flower grower can "help" the calamondin with pollination, this increases the chances of harvesting

The fruits ripen in 3.5-4 months. They look like miniature tangerines with a diameter of 3-4 cm and a weight of 10-12 g. The skin is thin, sweetish. The pulp tastes like a slightly bitter lemon, it contains a lot of seeds. Eating calamondines is recommended along with the peel to "compensate" for the acid.

Reproduction methods

Reproduction of calamondin by cuttings is the most popular method among flower growers. It allows you to preserve the varietal characteristics of the plant. Procedure:

1. In May-June, cut obliquely the apical shoots 10-12 cm long with 3-4 internodes. Cut the leaves in half.
2. Sprinkle the cut with any powdery root stimulant or hold it for 2-3 hours in a solution of such a preparation.
3. Plant the cuttings in a container filled with a moist mixture of peat and sand (1: 1). Cover the top with a plastic bag.
4. Move the "greenhouse" to a place with good lighting, ensure the temperature is at least +25 ° С. As the soil dries, water the cuttings, air the plants daily, removing the bag for 15-20 minutes.
5. After 4-6 weeks, plant the specimens on which new leaves have appeared, one at a time in pots with a volume of 2-3 liters. Take care of mature plants.

Cutting Calamondin is the easiest and fastest way to propagate it

Compared to cuttings, propagation of calamondin by seeds is rarely practiced. Their germination rate is 40-50%. For fruiting in the future, grafting will be required. Step-by-step instructions for propagating a flower by seeds:

1. Remove seeds from ripe fresh (not dried) fruits, wash off the pulp.
2. Dry the seeds, store in the refrigerator until March in a container with damp peat or sand.
3. In early spring, soak the seeds in a solution of any biostimulant for 2-3 days.
4. Plant in containers filled with soil for seedlings, deepening by 1.5-2 cm, water well and cover with glass or film.
5. Provide a temperature of about +28 ° C, bottom heating and darkness.Spray the soil every 2-3 days, remove the shelter daily for ventilation.
6. When seedlings appear (after a month and a half), transfer the containers to the light, after another 7-10 days, remove the shelter.
7. When four true leaves appear, plant the calamondins in individual containers.

Problems with growing citrofortunella

Most often, flower growers ask the question: what to do if calamondin sheds leaves and its branches dry. But with its cultivation, other problems are also possible:

The yellowing leaves of calamondin are most often the result of florist's mistakes in caring for him.

Calamondin is an exotic citrus plant that has been successfully domesticated by amateur growers. Calamondin is prized for its visual appeal. Edible fruits become a pleasant bonus.