Calamansi is a very popular citrus fruit. Although it is popular, Calamnsi is not widely available and it is expensive. Calamnsi is popular for main two reasons. It is healthy, it is rich in Vitamin C. It is also beautiful and decorative. You can use it to adorn both your indoors and outdoors. You can grow Calamnsi from cuttings and from seeds. For seeds, check out this article. However, for cuttings, follow the below guide.
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The best time to make the cutting
The best time to make the cutting is either spring or summer. During these two seasons, the Calamnsi tree produces new branches that you can cut. Choose a new branch. Make sure the branch you choose is slightly hard. The perfect branch is the one that is turning from green to brown.
2. How to make the cutting
You should use a sharp knife, a scissor or pruning shears to make the cutting. Make sure to cut the branch horizontally rather than vertically. The cut should be just below a leaf node or a set of leaves. The cutting should be between 3 and 5 inches and should contain at least two sets of leaves.
3. Prepare the Cutting
You should remove any leaves at the bottom of the cutting and leave only the top leaves. The bottom of the cutting of the citrus tree should be an empty stem.
4. Prevent the cutting from drying out
In order to prevent your cutting from drying out, you should spray it with water every few minutes until you plant it in your garden or in a pot. Don’t take too much time to plant the cutting otherwise, you will face some problems regarding the growth of your plant.
5. Choosing a pot
For growing Calamansi, you should opt for a deep pot than a large one. The minimum depth for growing Calamansi should be 6 inches. However, when it comes to width, any pot that its diameter between 2 and 3 inches is acceptable. Don’t forget to make a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Drainage is vital for your Calamansi.
6. Preparing the soil
In order to guarantee the growth of Calamnsi, you should use a good quality potting mix. An ideal potting mix should contain the following materials:
- Grit
- Sand
- Sawdust
Use equal parts of these materials to make the potting mix then fill your container with it.
7. Plant the cutting
This is the easiest step to grow Calamnsi from cuttings. Planting the cutting is easy. All it takes that you to insert the bottom of the cutting that has no leaves 2 to 3 inches in the potting mix. Once you plant it, you should mist its leaves with water to keep them moist.
8. Seal the pot
This strategy will protect your cuttings while they grow and will promote their growth by keeping the moisture in the spoil. You can seal the pot by covering its mouth with a plastic wrap. However, don’t completely seal it otherwise your cuttings will suffocate and die. They require oxygen.
9. Growth requirements
Calamnsi should be exposed to bright but indirect sunlight. Therefore, the best position for your pot is either on your windowsill or in a greenhouse. You should also remove the cover and mist your cuttings’ leaves twice a week. This will provide them with the level of humidity they need. The ideal temperature for growing Calamnsi should be between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Unseal the pot
You should remove the cover once your cuttings develop new mature leaves. You should also keep in mind that in the first year, your cuttings will grow up to 24 inches.
These are the most effective steps to grow Calamansi from cuttings. Follow these steps and you will have a healthy productive Calamansi tree. If you wish to learn more about growing Calamansi in containers, you should read this informative article.
Don’t hesitate to share these steps with your friends to help them grow this amazing and expensive citrus tree fruit.