Small citrus plants do great at home. They are planted in ordinary flower pots and kept on the windowsill, loggia or greenhouse. With proper care, the trees are able not only to please the owners with their appearance, but also to bear fruit. One of these tropical plants that have taken root in apartments is calamondin. Home care for a small tree with delicate white flowers and fragrant fruits is not very difficult. So growing your own tangerines on the balcony or in the kitchen is quite realistic.
What Citrofortunella looks like
The plant is often called tangerine either by mistake or for simplicity. In fact, its correct name is calamondin. At home, he feels great and often bears fruit even with not very caring housewives.
At its core, a small tree of the rue family is a hybrid of mandarin and fortune. The plant turned outsurprisingly frost-resistant, completely unpretentious and perfectly fruitful. True, the taste of his mini-tangerines bears little resemblance to the "big brother". They are very fragrant, but not at all sweet, but with a bitter and sour taste. So they often end up on the table in the form of jam.
Like all citrus fruits, calamondin can grow both as a tree and as a shrub. On its branches are not very large bright green leaves with a glossy surface. If you touch them, a subtle aroma appears in the air. For 3-4 years of life in spring, citrofortunella is covered with small white flowers, which after a while turn into green fruits. By autumn, mini-tangerines ripen, radiating cheerfulness and filling the room with warmth and light. It is noteworthy that green and ripe fruits, as well as flowers and buds, can be on the branches at the same time.
Containment temperature
Despite its frost resistance, calamondin feels better in conditions of moderate heat. In summer it can be 22-25 degrees (the heat will not do him good). And in winter, in order for the tree to rest, it is better to reduce it to 10-15. After spending several months at rest, calamandin will definitely respond to the temperature increase with active growth and flowering. In general, in the summer it is better to put it on the windowsill, and in the winter to take it out to the balcony or loggia, trying not to freeze. If the temperature is too high, the plant reacts by dropping fruits, flowers and even leaves.
Irrigation
For those who do not know how to care for calamondin, first of allyou need to deal with the moisture regime. During the period of active growth, flowering and fruiting (that is, from spring to autumn), it should be watered quite often, preferably daily. At rest (in winter), this is done less often, once a week will be enough. But this is subject to the correct temperature regime. If the plant is left in winter on the windowsill or on the floor next to the battery, then it should be watered as in summer.
The tree is quite capable of surviving the drought. It will not die, even if you forget about it for several months. But the appearance will suffer from this. Firstly, without watering, flowers (and even more so fruits) can not be dreamed of. Secondly, the plant may shed its leaves. But in general, it will not die.
To make Calamondin feel good, it is recommended to spray it. Do this in the spring before flowering and in the summer, when the fruits appear. In winter, it is necessary to moisten the leaves only in case of excessively high temperatures. It is better not to do this during the flowering period, since the petals react rather painfully to water. And still it is not necessary to transfuse calamondin. Care for it should be such that the soil is not too dry, but the fungus does not appear. In the latter case, the plant may die.
Lighting
The tree itself, being unpretentious, feels quite normal even without the sun. But only now it is unlikely to bloom and bear fruit in such conditions. Although the direct sun also does not have a very favorable effect on the well-being of Calamondin. If we consider ideal lighting, then in summer it iswindow sill with access to the west or east, and in winter - rather, the north side or shade.
In warm weather, citrus fruits are often taken outside, leaving them to “breathe” the air and bask in their natural environment. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this, but you should not leave calamondin in strong sunshine. Home care after street "sunburn" can be complicated by the fact that the leaves begin to dry and fall off. With a lack of moisture and an excess of light, the fruits will also suffer.
Feeding and reproduction
Citrus calamondin, cared for as recommended, does not require fertilizer. It is better to use top dressing during the period of active growth and flowering. For calamondin, natural organic fertilizers or a special mixture for citrus fruits are suitable. Sometimes they use compositions for flowering houseplants. The intensity and frequency of feeding should depend on the age of the plant (the older, the more often) and its condition. Mineral deficiency is indicated by small or pale leaves, lack of flowers.
Calamondin is recommended to be transplanted regularly (in the spring before flowering), using light soil for young plants and heavier soil for old ones. Before fruiting, the procedure is repeated annually, then 2-3 times less often.
It reproduces, like all citrus plants, in two ways: by cuttings formed from twigs with 2-3 buds, and by seeds planted in the soil. The second option is considered more time-consuming and requires mandatory vaccination for subsequentflowering and fruiting. Calamondin, home care for which will be correct, takes root quickly enough. Before planting, it is recommended to dip the cuttings in a special liquid, and then cover with a cut plastic bottle on top. As soon as new leaves appear, it can be removed. It is more difficult to grow a tree from a stone, but this method is also very often used.
Pests and diseases
As a hardy and unpretentious plant, calamondin, which is regularly and properly cared for at home, is resistant to infections and parasites. Perhaps this is due to the high content of essential oils.
However, with insufficient watering, its leaves can become stained, curled and fall off. The solution to the problem comes down to timely hydration. With excessive watering, a fungus sometimes appears, which often disappears on its own if the plant is dried a little.
Of the parasites that infect calamondin, the most famous are the scale insects, red spider mites and mealybugs. Soap solution helps to cope with the first. An infusion of onion or garlic saves from a tick and a mealybug (you must first collect the parasite manually).
Calamondin is a bright, beautiful and not very whimsical plant that can bloom and bear fruit in an ordinary apartment. If you follow the elementary rules and recommendations for care, it will not only please the eye, but also give a delicious aroma and a great mood. And the fruits make wonderful jam.
