How to grow potted calamondin (four-season tangerine)? Detailed guide to watering methods and frequency

The calamondin is an evergreen shrub of the orchid family; its dark green leaves, its color and its fragrance are all pleasing, and it can bloom several times a year. The calamondin is an ornamental plant loved by many, its fruit is orange, and it counts as a distinctive plant whose leaves can be seen and whose flowers can be enjoyed. So how is it grown? How should you water it when growing calamondin?

How to grow potted calamondin

1. Growth habits

At the early stage, you need to fully understand the plant. This plant not only likes to grow in a hot, humid and sunny environment, but also needs to be given plenty of water during cultivation, and it requires the potting soil used to be fertile, with good drainage, and able to be acidic; it absolutely must not be planted in alkaline soil, otherwise it will be very difficult for it to grow.

2. Correct watering

When growing calamondin, watering must correctly follow the principle of keeping the pot moist, and the interval between waterings should vary according to winter and changes in temperature. In winter, the interval between waterings is longer, while in hot summer weather, water evaporates faster, so the interval between waterings is relatively short, and in hot summer weather the water should promptly maintain air humidity.

3. Appropriate fertilizing

The agricultural fertilizer applied to calamondin will change; usually fertilizer must be applied after flowering, and normally farmyard manure should be applied. After it enters the flowering period, it needs to be sprayed with 2% borax or 5% urea. After it enters the late flowering and fruiting stage, a certain amount of phosphorus fertilizer needs to be applied. In addition, around the fruit-setting period of calamondin, gibberellin can also be sprayed, which helps increase its fruit-setting rate and can effectively extend the flowering period.

How to water calamondin (how often to water)

Calamondin likes the warmth of all four seasons, but please avoid waterlogging. During the growing period, it is best to keep the soil moist. In summer, spray water twice a day and also spray the ground to lower the temperature and raise air humidity. Dust must not be allowed to accumulate on the leaves, so the leaves should be rinsed frequently. During the flower bud differentiation period, the tree's water supply should be controlled to promote flower bud differentiation. Calamondin grows vigorously, so the water-control period needs to be long. To avoid leaf drop caused by excessive drought, you can control water for 3 days and water for 2 days, repeating this intermittent treatment. Alternatively, after a period of drought, water for 5—7 days. After the tree's vigor has recovered somewhat, cut a ring and plant the flowers.

Notes on growing calamondin

If you need to repot once a year, be sure to choose the spring season for repotting; choose the repotting time in spring, and also clean up its root structure by removing old roots and rotten roots, and replace 1/3 of the old soil in the hanging basket. In addition, when growing calamondin, also pay attention to pest and disease control; when scale insects, red spiders and powdery mildew and other pests and diseases are found, be sure to spray promptly.

Usually it only blooms, and sometimes it does not bear fruit or bears little fruit, and some even barely bloom. If you want potted calamondin to bloom and bear fruit year after year, then you need to grow it well and learn some growing techniques, paying special attention to water, fertilizer, pruning and other aspects, so that it will be laden with fruit.