How to Grow Finger Citron? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Finger Citron Cultivation Methods
Finger citron, also known as five-finger citron or bergamot orange, has rather unusual fruit that is golden or orange-yellow in color, aromatic, with a top that splits like a fist or opens like fingers, giving it extremely high ornamental value. Its fruit can be eaten and used medicinally, with powerful effects. Many people are fond of it and have started growing it, and some, seeing the business opportunity, have begun cultivating it in large quantities and then making it into potted plants or bonsai for sale, with remarkable economic returns. Now let's take a look at the cultivation methods for finger citron.
1. Growing Conditions
Finger citron grows best in acidic loam with deep soil, loose and fertile texture, rich in humus, and good drainage; either sandy loam or clay loam will do. The most suitable growing humidity for finger citron is 70%-90%, and the most suitable growing temperature is 22-24 degrees; it should not be too high or too low, and in winter the temperature must be above 5 degrees. Finger citron is also a light-loving plant that tolerates partial shade; it requires annual sunshine duration of 1200-1800 hours, and strong direct sunlight should be avoided so the plant does not wilt from lack of water.
2. Propagation Methods
The propagation methods for finger citron include cuttings, grafting and layering, among which cuttings and layering are suitable for large-scale propagation, while grafting is mainly used to cultivate strong seedlings and make the plants grow more robust. Cuttings are generally taken in June-July; take spring shoots or autumn shoots from a robust mother plant as cuttings, remove all the leaf thorns from the cuttings, leaving only 3-4 buds, keep the cuttings about 15 cm long, and insert them diagonally into the loam. Water frequently to keep the soil moist; roots will form in about one month, and they can be transplanted after two months.
Layering is generally carried out in June-August. Choose vigorously growing branches, cut or ring-bark them with a knife, then wrap them in mud or insert the branches into the soil; those wrapped in mud need an additional layer of plastic film for support. Likewise, water frequently to keep them moist; roots will form in one month, and after two months they can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted.
3. Transplanting into Pots
Transplanting can be done in spring or autumn. Before transplanting, first prepare a container; the size of the container depends on the size of the plant. Mix the prepared sandy loam or clay loam with fertilizer, stir it, and fill it into the container. After filling, dig a hole in the exact center, plant the seedling into the hole; it must be planted upright, with the roots spread out in all directions and not twisted together. Fill with fine soil; while filling, lift the seedling upward several times so the roots and soil are closely connected, then firm the soil. The covering soil should be higher than the hole surface, and water to keep it moist.
4. Management
After potting, water regularly to keep the soil moist, and create its most suitable growing environment so it grows quickly; fertilize according to the plant's growth condition. Each fertilization can be done by dissolving fertilizer in water and watering it on. When the plant reaches a certain height, cut off its terminal bud to encourage branching; once the branches have finished growing, it can be sold.
The above is an introduction to how to cultivate finger citron. We hope it helps you. To learn more cultivation methods, please stay tuned to us.