The decorative qualities of this plant, as well as the tangerine-like fruit it bears, are the primary reasons for its cultivation. The tree has the extra benefit of bearing fruit as well as fragrant flowers.
The Calamondin tree can survive temperatures as low as 20°F, making it the most cold-resistant citrus tree. The tree is hardy enough to grow indoors and requires little care.
Steps on how to grow Calamondin Citrus
Here is a guide to planting a Calamondin Citrus tree from seed in your garden.
- Plant it in a container, then bring it indoors before frost.
- Cut a ripe calamansi fruit in half. The tiny seeds can be dug out of the pulp with your fingers. Large seeds have a poor chance of germinating, so avoid them.
- Remove the pulp and store the seeds in a container of warm water.
- Pick a location that gets at least eight hours of sunlight per day in the late autumn and winter.
- To get your garden ready, turn over the top 12 inches of dirt. Add some organic matter and perlite to the soil to loosen it up and increase drainage. For a week, just let the dirt soak up the sun.
- Dig a hole about four inches deep and plant a single seed inside. Backfill and compact the soil.
- Treat the remaining seeds in the same manner. Put one foot of distance between them. You can remove the unwanted trees whenever it’s convenient.
- Provide adequate irrigation so that the soil in the patch is damp but not soaked. Maintain a soil moist environment until the seeds begin to germinate.
- The seeds may not sprout for two to four weeks.
- As soon as the seedlings emerge from the earth, you should begin watering them and monitoring their development.
- Reduce the number of seedlings to a single thriving plant.
- Transplant the other healthy saplings and space them out by at least ten feet if you wish to grow more than one tree.
How to take care of the Calamondin Citrus Tree
Step one:
Allow your Calamondin citrus tree ample room to spread its roots. This is crucial if you want to bring the Calamondin tree indoors during the winter. You should also plan on replanting the tree every few years.
The Calamondin is susceptible to root binding, like other little citrus trees that thrive in container gardening. Growing a Calamondin citrus tree indoors results in a tree that’s often no more than three feet tall and three feet wide.
Step two:
You should give your tree at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. If the tree is to be grown inside, the best location would be in front of a south-facing window.
While a typical indoor temperature would be fine for the tree, you should protect it against sudden cold air drafts.
Step three:
During the warm summer, place your tree in a sunny outdoor location, such as on a patio or deck. The increased exposure to warmth and light will increase plant growth and harvests.
Step four:
Regular pest checks should be performed on your tree and corrective measures should be taken as required. Scale insects, foliar mealy insects, spider mites and aphids are some pests that can infest calamondin citrus trees.
Step five:
Calamondin requires infrequent watering that coincides with the plant’s growth needs. About once every ten days, you should give your tree a deep soak at the roots.
When the top layer of soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to plant. But trees left outside in strong sunlight during the warmer months may need to be watered twice or thrice weekly.
Keep in mind that you can force mature trees into a new growth and flowering period called a “flush.” This is done by withholding water until the leaves wilt and giving the tree a good soaking.
Step six:
During the summer’s peak growth months, feed your Calamondin with a very acidic fertilizer once a month.
Once every three months is sufficient outside of breeding season. There’s also the option of starting a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and feeding once a month during the summer.
Do calamondin trees need full sun?
As long as the calamondin gets plenty of sunlight, it will thrive in a container. Although it’s grown indoors now, this plant originally thrived in a location with 6 to 8 hours of daily sunlight.
Although a south-facing window is ideal, additional illumination is necessary throughout the winter. Replace the sun with a full-spectrum LED grow light.
How often do you water Calamondin?
Be sure to give your Calamondin plenty of water for the first several months and more often if the summer is scorching and dry. Water the tree when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch in the winter.
In the summer and whenever you repot your tree, give it citrus-specific or liquid fertilizer. Calamondin can spoil if overwatered. Don’t water until the top inch of soil has dried up (around 2.5 cm).
Can calamondin survive the winter?
The Calamansi tree is exceptionally resilient for a citrus plant. Temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit won’t kill it.
Calamondin orange trees prefer light conditions and should be brought indoors in the winter. You should rotate the container on a regular basis to ensure that all of the tree’s leaves receive sunlight. But you shouldn’t put your tree too close to a radiator because it doesn’t like the heat.
Month when calamondin flowers
Calamondins can be grown indoors and will provide fragrant flowers all year. It’s not uncommon for flowers and fruit to bloom at the same time.
After how long do calamondins bear fruit?
Within three weeks, seeds will begin to germinate. You can expect fruit from your Calamondin orange tree after just two years of growth.
Fruit production is quite energy intensive for young plants; thinning them out will produce fewer but larger fruits in the first few years.
What is the benefit of calamondin?
In addition to its aesthetic value, the calamondin tree’s acidic fruit also positively affects human health.
The fruit is ideal for producing spices as an additive in foods like fish and cakes, as a flavoring agent in liquids like tea, and as a preservative and flavoring agent in marmalades.
It’s also needed to make shampoo and soap. The fruit has the following advantageous effects:
- Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol
In addition to aiding in weight loss and warding off metabolic syndrome, this juice reduces cholesterol levels. Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke are all diseases that may benefit from this.
- Reducing acidity
Many people find that this fruit’s acidity and high citric acid really help settle their stomachs. Moderate consumption helps defend against acid reflux and ulcers. It also helps to reduce inflammation and lessen the likelihood of acquiring these conditions.
- Weight loss
This specific tropical juice has gained notoriety for its capacity to aid in weight loss. It stimulates the metabolism and flushes the body of toxins that promote fat storage.
The increased metabolic rate from drinking this juice can improve resting fat burning over the course of the day. The detoxification benefits will also help you burn calories actively throughout the day.
If you decrease fat storage, there will be less fat development and more useable energy. Many people find that starting their day with calamansi juice helps them feel more energized. It also supports their efforts to lose weight.
- Controlling diabetes
The effects of calamansi juice on blood sugar have been the subject of extensive study. This is great news for anyone with diabetes or at risk of developing the condition. It can aid in controlling the body’s production of insulin and glucose.
- Skin care
Calamansi juice is applied topically throughout Asia because it acts as a natural whitening agent. It can remove discoloration and spots and provide antioxidants for the skin. This will help delay the onset of wrinkles and other age indicators.
- Prevents tooth decay and gum disease
Calamansi juice can be used as a mouthwash. Loosening of teeth, bleeding gums, tooth decay, or gingivitis can all be avoided with the help of vitamin C in the juice. Removes plaque and stains.
Conclusion
You can have fresh citrus fruit throughout the year if you grow calamondin oranges in your home.
A healthy and fruitful calamondin orange tree can be yours for many years with the right attention to detail during the planting and placement stages, as well as during shaping, fertilizing, disease and pest management, regular watering and annual pruning.
Your calamondin orange tree has the potential to flourish and bear a plentiful crop with the appropriate care. Calamondin oranges are a versatile, delicious, and versatile fruit that you can use in a variety of ways around the house.