How to grow potted kumquat? A detailed guide to the latest cultivation methods
Kumquat is also known as jinzao, king mandarin, small orange, and so on. It is an evergreen shrub of the genus Fortunella in the Rutaceae family. Potted kumquat has luxuriant branches and leaves and stays green all year round. When it blooms, it gives off a delicate fragrance, and the white flowers are very lovely. When the fruit ripens, it turns yellow-red. Whether for foliage, flowers, or fruit, it all has a certain ornamental value, and it is also very common in homes. Now let us take a look at the cultivation methods for potted kumquat!
Grafting propagation
Potted kumquat is usually propagated by grafting. The rootstock is trifoliate orange, sour orange, or sown seedling stock. Grafting methods include cleft grafting, bud grafting, and approach grafting. Cleft grafting is done in spring from March to April using the cut-grafting method, bud grafting is carried out from June to September, and potted plants commonly use approach grafting, carried out from April to July.
Soil mix
Kumquat likes fertilizer, and cultivation requires fertile, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam with good drainage. For potting, it is best to use a growing medium mixed from 4 parts leaf mold, 5 parts sandy soil, and 1 part cake fertilizer. When repotting, apply hoof pieces or decomposed cake fertilizer at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer.
Watering management
Kumquat likes moisture but hates waterlogging. If the potting soil is too wet, the roots rot easily, so during the growing period it is best to keep the potting soil moderately moist. In spring, when it is dry and windy, spray water on the leaves once a day to increase air humidity. In summer, spray water 2 to 3 times a day and also spray water on the ground. However, avoid spraying water during the flowering period to prevent the flowers from rotting and affecting fruit set. In the rainy season, pour out accumulated water in the pot in time to avoid root rot. When placed outdoors in summer, it is best to prop up the flowerpot with bricks to help drainage. From the white flower stage to the young fruit stage, kumquat is relatively sensitive to water requirements. At this time, if the potting soil is too dry, the flower stalks and fruit stalks easily form abscission layers and drop; if watering is excessive and the potting soil drains poorly, it also easily causes flower and fruit drop. At this time, it is best to keep the potting soil in a semi-moist state, neither dry nor wet.
Light management
Kumquat likes a warm, humid climate with plenty of sunlight, and during care it should be placed in a sunny place. If there is insufficient light and the environment is shady, it often causes branches and leaves to grow leggy and produces fewer flowers and fruits. Because kumquat likes a cool climate in summer, or when summer sunlight is intense, it is better at this time to place it in slight shade. The winter room temperature should be above freezing. If the room temperature is too high, the plant cannot get sufficient dormancy, and the next year its growth will be weak and it will easily drop flowers and buds.