Home Cultivation Techniques and Daily Care Methods for Finger Citron
Finger citron, known in ancient times as Feirang, also called fingered citron, five-finger citron, or finger citron fragrant citron, belongs to the Rutaceae family, Citrus genus, and is an evergreen small tree or shrub. Finger citron is native to China and India, and is a precious fruit ornamental and medicinal plant, as well as one of China's famous fruit ornamental flowers.
Finger citron, plant height 1-2 m, evergreen, branches and leaves grayish-green, young branches and new leaves slightly purplish-red, with short hard thorns, aromatic. Simple leaves alternate, short petiole, no arrow-shaped leaves, leathery. Leaves elliptical, apex bluntly rounded, with transparent oil dots, margins wavy serrate. Flowers small, solitary or clustered in leaf axils, in white, red, purple and other colors, mostly white, corolla 5 petals, raceme. Can bloom and fruit multiple times a year. Fruit matures in November-December, fruit round or ovate, wrinkled skin, bright yellow, glossy. Apex splits, resembling fingers; the open ones are called “open finger citron”, and the curled half-clenched ones are called “fist finger citron”. Generally blooms in spring, the fruit set is called summer fruit, apex splits like fingers, mostly “open finger citron”. In summer it generally does not bloom or blooms very little, the fruit set has a half-open half-closed apex. Blooms in autumn, the fruit set is called autumn fruit, apex like a clenched fist, mostly “fist finger citron”. White and purple flowers set summer fruit as “open finger citron”, autumn fruit as “fist finger citron”; red flowers set fruit, whether summer or autumn fruit, mostly “fist finger citron”.
Finger citron matures at the winter solstice, the fruit takes on a bronze color, with an enticing fragrance. It not only has high ornamental value, but is also a traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening the stomach and regulating qi. Brewing tea or soaking wine with the leaves, flowers, and fruit of finger citron for drinking has the effects of regulating qi and strengthening the spleen, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, and relaxing muscles and promoting blood circulation.
How to make finger citron grow with lush leaves and good fruit shape?
If finger citron is not well cared for, it easily drops leaves. A large amount of leaf drop will directly affect the plant's photosynthesis, leading to poor flowering and difficult fruit set, or even no flowering and no fruiting. So to grow finger citron well, preserving leaves is very important.
Finger citron plants put out new shoots once each in spring, summer, and autumn. Spring shoots and summer shoots should be pruned promptly. For autumn shoots, some robust branches can be kept for fruiting the next year, and the rest should also be pruned to avoid competing with leaf growth for nutrients. If during the growth of some finger citrons the leaves appear yellow-green or develop dark brown spots, it indicates a potassium deficiency in the soil, and potassium fertilizer needs to be added. If the finger citron leaves turn yellow with dim luster, it indicates the soil is highly alkaline, and alum fertilizer water (ferrous sulfate) can be applied once a month to increase soil acidity. If the finger citron only grows leaves without flowering, it indicates excessive nitrogen fertilizer; stop applying nitrogen fertilizer and increase phosphorus fertilizer. If the finger citron's branches and leaves are not lush and growth is poor, with few flowers and difficult fruit set, it indicates insufficient nitrogen fertilizer, and more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied. In addition, every year attention should be paid to applying sufficient post-harvest fertilizer and bud-promoting fertilizer. Post-harvest fertilizer must be applied in mid-November, and bud-promoting fertilizer must be applied in mid-March. If too much bud-promoting fertilizer is applied, not only will it not produce more flowers and fruit, but it will instead produce more June shoots, affecting fruit set.
To achieve good fruit set and beautiful fruit shape in finger citron, attention must also be paid to protecting the flowers that bloom in spring. The “summer fruit” set in June-August, the “summer fruit” is mostly open finger citron, with the front end split like fingers and a beautiful fruit shape. For white-flowered and purple-flowered finger citron varieties, the summer fruit is open-hand finger citron, and the autumn fruit is fist finger citron. The fruit of red-flowered finger citron varieties is fist finger citron. Variety selection is also very important.
How to cultivate finger citron?
Although finger citron bears fruit, it has no seeds, so it can only be propagated asexually to continue its offspring.
Finger citron can be propagated by grafting, cuttings, and air layering.
(1) Grafting method: includes cut grafting, bark-cap grafting, and approach grafting.
① Cut grafting: carried out from late March to early April. Select 6-9 cm long 1-2 year old tender branches as scions, retain 2-3 buds, remove leaves but keep petioles, cut the lower end of the scion on both sides with a knife to make it wedge-shaped for later use. Select 4-5 year old trifoliate orange or sour orange seedling as rootstock, cut the rootstock off at 3-6 cm above the ground, and use a knife to make a downward cut 3 cm deep on one side of the rootstock slightly into the xylem. Then insert the scion into the cut, align the cambium, tie tightly with hemp fiber, seal with moist soil, keep moist. After about 40 days, the scion sprouts young branches. When it grows to 20 cm tall, top it to establish the trunk, lift the seedling and pot it.
② Bark-cap grafting: select 2-3 year old trifoliate orange or pomelo seedlings as rootstock, first move them into pots. Place them close to the pot of the mother finger citron plant. Cut off the main trunk at 10-15 cm above the pot surface of the rootstock, use a knife to make one long and one short cut from bottom to top on the two smooth sides of the rootstock; the long side is cut into a 3 cm long “shield” shaped cut surface, and the short side is cut into a shorter “horseshoe” shaped cut. Use the lower branches of the mother finger citron plant as the scion, cut one end of the scion slightly into the xylem from bottom to top into a cut slightly longer than the rootstock cut, being careful not to cut through the bark layer above the cut, so that the bark edge at the other end of the cut remains attached, and remove the xylem part on the bark. Then bring the rootstock close to the scion cut for approach grafting, letting the bark layer on the cut cover the short cut of the rootstock, align the cambium, tie tightly with hemp fiber, paste with moist mud, and wrap the outside with plastic film. After about 40 days, the graft has taken; cut it away from the mother plant and place it in a cool place for care.
③ Approach grafting: same as bark-cap grafting, except that after the graft has taken, keep about 10 cm of branch below the scion's junction and cut it away from the mother plant, then move it into a cutting bed for cuttings. After roots form at the cut, cut it off from the lower end of the approach graft junction. In this way, one approach-grafted seedling and one cutting seedling can be obtained.
(2) Cutting method: can be carried out from April to August each year. Select robust branches from finger citron plants as cuttings, cut each segment 12 cm long, retain 4-5 buds, insert 6-8 cm deep into the cutting bed, leaving 2 buds exposed, water reasonably, keep the cutting bed moist; roots can form in about one month and then be potted.
(3) Air layering method: it is easy to succeed when carried out in May-July each year when temperatures are relatively high. Select vigorously growing tall branches, make a slanted cut from bottom to top at an appropriate position, reaching the pith of the branch, wrap the cut part into a cylinder with felt or plastic cloth, then tie the lower part tightly with rope, fill the cylinder with moist soil, water daily to keep it moist inside, place in a cool place for care. Roots can form in about 1 month; cut it off and move it into a pot for careful care.
Soilless Cultivation Techniques for Golden Finger Citron
Soilless Cultivation Techniques for Golden Finger Citron -- Soilless cultivation of golden finger citron is a cultivation technique successfully experimented with in recent years. It uses natural substrates (such as chopped straw, sawdust, peat, turf, sand, etc.) or artificial substrates (such as rock wool, perlite, etc.) to replace soil, or even uses no substrate at all, applying nutrient solution directly to soak or spray the plant roots, also called nutrient solution cultivation. Soilless cultivation of golden finger citron can completely break away from soil. Compared with traditional soil cultivation, it has obvious advantages and very attractive broad development prospects. However, while seeing the advantages and potential of soilless cultivation of golden finger citron, it also has some unfavorable aspects. For example, soilless cultivation requires not only certain protective facility management, but also substrate selection, nutrient solution preparation, etc. Among these are various physical and chemical properties and biological characteristics of different substrates, and the ratios of various chemical elements in the nutrient solution, all of which are much more complex than traditional soil cultivation, so ordinary farmers find it difficult to fully master and apply. Fortunately, Jinhua Jinlin Finger Citron Development Co., Ltd. has successfully developed an “organic ecological soilless cultivation technique”. This technique captures the advantages of soilless cultivation while being simple and practical; that is, on the premise of ensuring the advantages of soilless cultivation, it simplifies production technology, reduces production costs, and is easy to promote and apply. As long as you plant according to the technical methods provided by Jinlin Finger Citron Company, you can succeed.
(1) Advantages of soilless cultivation
1. Not limited by land conditions. Soilless cultivation has changed the traditional concept of dependence on land for survival, that “all things grow from soil”, and the traditional soil farming method. Crops can be cultivated in places unsuitable for farming, such as sandy and rocky areas and barren land. This can not only create economic benefits, but also beautify the environment and purify the air.
2. Low labor intensity, reduced water and fertilizer use. Soilless cultivation does not require the cumbersome steps of traditional cultivation such as intertillage, weeding, soil disinfection, and topdressing. The scale managed per unit of labor can be greatly increased, and labor intensity is noticeably reduced.
3. Pests and diseases are noticeably reduced. Soilless cultivation can prevent the occurrence of many serious diseases spread by soil-borne pathogens, cutting off an important transmission channel for pests and diseases. In addition, because the rhizosphere microenvironment is artificially improved, plants are promoted to grow robustly and their own disease resistance is enhanced, avoiding soil salinization and continuous cropping yield reduction caused by years of salt accumulation and continuous cropping in soil cultivation.
4. High quality and high yield. Various environmental factors can be better controlled artificially. Therefore, the relationship between the aboveground and underground parts of the plant, and between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, can be better coordinated, making it easy to realize high-yield potential. Production and experiments prove that soilless cultivation not only increases yield, but also noticeably promotes the growth rate of golden finger citron, and the product's appearance quality and physicochemical properties are also improved to varying degrees.
5. Convenient for factory production. Soilless cultivation fully demonstrates that agriculture can, like industrial production, produce crops mechanically and automatically, with plant growth completely controlled by humans.
(2) Advantages of soilless cultivated golden finger citron
1. Short production cycle, fruiting one year earlier than conventional soil-cultivated finger citron; product profit is very high, four times the value of conventional soil-cultivated finger citron; high yield per unit area, four times the yield of conventional soil-cultivated finger citron bonsai.
2. Convenient to carry, easy to package; uniquely ornamental, dazzling after decoration, and can be embellished with some auspicious words (for example: a two-fruit finger citron bonsai can have a tag hung or words printed on the flower pot such as “Fu Shou Shuang Quan” and “Long Feng Cheng Xian”; three fruits “San Yuan Ji Di” and “San Xing Gao Zhao”; four fruits “Fu Lu Shou Xi” and “Si Ji Fa Cai”; five fruits “Wu Fu Peng Shou” and “Wu Fu Qi Tian” and other auspicious phrases).
3. The fresh-keeping period is 8-10 months longer than soil-cultivated finger citron bonsai, because the tree of the soilless cultivated finger citron bonsai itself is in vegetative growth and is a very robust seedling. In addition, before transport it is treated with “kinetin 6-BA”, which can prevent the production of harmful substances during transport, promote the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, and if necessary can also turn yellow fruit green again.
4. Lightweight, weighing only one-fifth of soil cultivation (same volume). Low transport cost; the same transport vehicle can carry five times the quantity of goods.
5. Green and pollution-free, does not drop fruit or leaves, suitable for desktop display in homes and elegant places. It implies the meaning of “fortune, longevity, and auspiciousness, bringing in wealth and treasure”!
(3) Organic ecological soilless cultivation
Through continuous experimentation and exploration, Jinhua Jinlin Finger Citron Development Co., Ltd. has successfully developed a very simple, economical soilless cultivation management technique that also meets green product standards. The company calls it “organic ecological soilless cultivation technique”. This technique greatly reduces the production cost of golden finger citron bonsai, improves the degree of product commercialization, reduces labor intensity, and increases output value per unit area. It is currently the most ideal cultivation model for soilless cultivation of golden finger citron. “Organic ecological soilless cultivation” refers to a soilless cultivation technique that uses substrate instead of natural soil and does not use nutrient solution irrigation; it only needs clear water irrigation, with some chemical fertilizer added later, to obtain relatively good yield. Because nutrient solution soilless cultivation requires relatively high cultivation technology and relatively large economic investment, it is difficult to promote on a large scale among ordinary farmers; compared with nutrient solution soilless cultivation, organic ecological soilless cultivation has the advantages of simple operation, energy saving, labor saving, and environmental protection, and can be promoted on a large scale in rural areas.
1. Simple operation
Traditional soilless cultivation requires nutrient solutions prepared from various nutrient elements for plant absorption and utilization, and the technical requirements are strict. Organic ecological soilless cultivation uses organic matter as the main component for plant absorption and utilization. It not only has complete nutrient elements, but its trace elements can fully meet the supply. Therefore, when fertilizing, the main consideration should be the supply and balance of the three major elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, without strictly considering the preparation ratio of various elements during fertilization. For example, topdressing urea only requires understanding traditional topdressing techniques, and there is no need to carry out the traditional work of deep plowing the land.
2. Use organic solid fertilizer instead of general nutrient solution
Traditional soilless cultivation uses nutrient solutions of a certain concentration prepared from various inorganic chemical fertilizers for plant absorption and utilization to meet the needs of growth and development. “Organic ecological soilless cultivation” uses various organic and inorganic fertilizers in solid form directly mixed into the substrate to supply the nutrients needed by cultivated crops. If nutrients are insufficient during crop growth, fertilizer can be topdressed on the surface of the substrate in several applications.
3. Less labor, low requirements for worker quality
The operation process of organic ecological soilless cultivation is very similar to general greenhouse cultivation, and it uses a drip irrigation system, requiring only clear water irrigation and very little topdressing, with relatively simple management that ordinary personnel can complete. However, nutrient solution soilless cultivation requires regular preparation of nutrient solution, and the elements used and concentrations required are very strict, requiring people with a certain educational level to complete. Moreover, the nutrient solution use cycle is relatively short, and it must be disinfected after each use, and because liquid must be supplied every day, power cannot be cut off.
4. Energy saving, fertilizer saving, and greatly reduced facility investment
The watering of “organic ecological soilless cultivation” is the same as general drip irrigation cultivation, and because there is a large amount of organic fertilizer in the substrate, the frequency and amount of topdressing are very small, and the fertilizers used are also common compound fertilizer and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. Moreover, “organic ecological soilless cultivation” does not need the circulation pump, timer, preparation equipment, various macro and trace elements, testing equipment, etc. used in nutrient solution cultivation. It greatly reduces initial production investment and is very suitable for general solar greenhouse cultivation.
5. No environmental pollution, products can reach green food standards
In nutrient solution soilless cultivation, unused waste liquid must be discharged outdoors. Even if used for field topdressing, long-term use will also pollute the environment because it contains large amounts of nitrates. However, organic ecological soilless cultivation uses less chemical fertilizer and will not pollute the environment. Because it uses large amounts of fermented organic fertilizer and does not use nitrate nitrogen fertilizer, the nitrate content in the product is extremely low, enabling the product to reach Grade A green food standards. If chemical fertilizer is not used, it can also reach AA-grade green food standards.
6. Easy to promote
Although nutrient solution soilless cultivation represents the level of scientific and technological development, its high cost and expenses, as well as the relatively high worker quality required, are not something ordinary growers can all achieve, and there is also the problem that it cannot be completely disinfected. However, “organic ecological soilless cultivation” does not have these problems. It has the advantages of low investment, simple operation, high quality and high yield, and combines organic agriculture with soilless cultivation. Ordinary farmers can all carry out production, and it is relatively suitable for China's national conditions, and can be produced on a large scale, thus having broad development prospects. With the increasing improvement of people's living standards, the demand for pollution-free, residue-free green food will inevitably increase. Coupled with the regulating role of market economy laws, green food will surely become the trend of the times.
(4) Technical management of organic ecological soilless cultivation
The production steps of “organic ecological soilless cultivation” golden finger citron bonsai are basically similar to traditional golden finger citron pot cultivation, and some production steps can refer to “traditional pot cultivation techniques for golden finger citron”.
1. Potting time
The potting and transplanting time for “organic ecological soilless cultivation” is consistent with traditional pot cultivation potting time; both are most suitable for transplanting around Qingming Festival and around August in autumn.
2. Flower pot selection
“Organic ecological soilless cultivation” can use various ordinary flower pots. In order to reduce the initial one-time investment cost, Jinlin Finger Citron Company uses lightweight and cheap black plastic nutrient pots as temporary cultivation pots. The nutrient pots can be used for one to two years. After the soilless cultivated golden finger citron seedlings are grown into soilless finger citron bonsai, various attractive flower pots can be replaced according to customer requirements.
3. Selection of soilless cultivation substrate
The cultivation substrate for “organic ecological soilless cultivation” golden finger citron bonsai can be selected from sawdust, peat, sand, rock wool, coconut coir, perlite, etc. After long-term comparative experiments, Jinlin Finger Citron Company selected three substrate formulas relatively suitable for finger citron growth, listed as pure perlite substrate, perlite and coconut coir 2:1 mixed substrate, and perlite and peat 1:2 mixed substrate.
4. Potting and transplanting
For “organic ecological soilless cultivation”, nutrient pots are selected as cultivation pots. Use a 20×20cm plastic gauze net to make a filter net, lay it at the bottom of the nutrient pot, and then spread a layer of soilless cultivation substrate, about two cm; the gauze net plays a role in drainage and filtration. Before transplanting the golden finger citron seedling, according to one's own aesthetic views and bonsai pruning methods, cut off part of the top of the plant's main trunk (about 1/3 of the whole plant), leaving a main trunk of 20-25 cm as appropriate. The purpose is to stimulate lateral buds, promote development in all directions, and strengthen tree vigor and crown. At the same time, it reduces water evaporation and helps the plant survive. It is worth noting that during the entire planting process, the roots (root system) of the golden finger citron seedling must be kept moist. Golden finger citron roots are prone to necrosis if too dry, so they should be sprayed with water frequently and covered with wet material.
When potting, rooting powder can be used (according to the concentration provided by the supplier) to soak the roots of the golden finger citron seedling by the quick dip method for 3-5 seconds, then place it on the substrate in the pot, arrange the fibrous roots well, being careful and gentle. The substrate should be added in layers so that it fully fills the gaps in the finger citron root system. Generally after planting, it is appropriate for the substrate to be 7 cm below the pot rim, while keeping the root crown and cultivation soil level. (See figure).
5. Shaping and pruning
The pruning method for soilless cultivated finger citron is the same as that for traditionally cultivated finger citron. For specific operations, please refer to “Chapter Six: Care and Management of Golden Finger Citron”.
6. Scientific watering
After the soilless cultivation potting and transplanting of golden finger citron seedlings is completed, watering is necessary, and it must be watered thoroughly so that the seedling roots and substrate adhere closely together. Because the substrate is lightweight and has strong buoyancy, care must be taken when watering; use a spray pot to sprinkle, not pour, otherwise the substrate will be washed out of the pot or holes will be washed into the substrate surface. If conditions permit, a drip irrigation system can be installed; the cost is not too high and it can greatly reduce labor intensity. Watering time can be determined based on experience; keeping the substrate alternately dry and wet is beneficial to finger citron growth. When the soilless substrate feels eighty percent dry and the soilless potted finger citron has become lighter in weight, it can be watered. Soilless cultivation substrate has strong water retention and air permeability, so too much water will not cause much harm. If conditions permit, a drip irrigation system can be installed.
7. Flower pot arrangement
After the soilless cultivated finger citron bonsai is planted, it should be placed neatly in order. If conditions permit, cultivation racks can be set up in the finger citron garden. The cultivation racks can be made of galvanized pipes and steel wire mesh or cement bricks and asbestos tiles. Generally the cultivation rack is 30-50 cm high, and 120-140 cm wide as one row. One meter of cultivation rack can hold 30 soilless cultivated finger citron bonsai (as shown in the figure).
8. Reasonable fertilization
Because “organic ecological soilless cultivation” does not use nutrient solution, it breaks through the traditional concept that soilless cultivation must use nutrient solution, turning the most difficult key technology in soilless cultivation into the simplest technique in the finger citron bonsai production process. By replacing nutrient solution with solid fertilizer, all facilities needed for preparing nutrient solution, such as equipment, testing systems, timers, circulation pumps, etc., can be eliminated. Compared with using nutrient solution, its fertilizer cost is reduced by 70% to 90%.
After the soilless cultivated seedlings are planted and watered, about 25 granules of imported compound fertilizer can be applied immediately. After that, apply compound fertilizer once at intervals of about 15 days. Spread the fertilizer evenly on the surface of the substrate, and it can seep into the substrate with drip irrigation water or watering. Usually observe the growth of the finger citron seedlings more, and according to need, the fertilization interval can be lengthened or shortened. If the finger citron seedlings are found to be growing poorly or showing trace element deficiency, some foliar fertilizer and trace element fertilizer can be sprayed as a supplement. Foliar fertilizers generally use rare earth compound fertilizer, Penlu, Penshibao, Yemianbao, Greenfeed No. 1, No. 2, etc. Newly marketed foliar fertilizers must be tested on a small area before large-scale use to prevent phytotoxicity; trace element fertilizers are generally better in sulfate form, which can increase the utilization rate of finger citron fertilizer. According to the type of trace element deficiency, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, etc. can be selected.
9. Pest and disease control
Because soilless cultivation substrate does not contain pathogens or insect eggs, pests and diseases are relatively few. However, pests and diseases can still occur through infection. For specific control, refer to “Chapter Six: Care and Management of Golden Finger Citron”.
This website publishes the text for the purpose of conveying more information, and does not mean that it agrees with its views or confirms the authenticity of its content.
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Finger Citron Planting and Care
Finger Citron Planting and Care -- Spring: when the minimum outdoor normal temperature is above 10º, the antifreeze facilities can be removed. Generally in Jiangnan region, open-air cultivation can be carried out from late March to early April. In early spring the weather is still relatively cold, and temperature changes in the greenhouse should be watched. If the temperature remains below -5º continuously, insulation measures must be taken. Observe whether there is condensed water on the leaves in the greenhouse at night; if so, add straw mats to absorb moisture, because golden finger citron trees at around -10º basically will not be frozen if there is no condensed water left on the leaves. This is the key among keys for overwintering. The pot soil in the greenhouse should be kept dry, and the basic principle of not watering until dry should be mastered. This is also a characteristic of finger citron growth. Apply fertilizer about once every half month; the fertilization principle is thin fertilizer applied frequently, using as little as possible and increasing the number of applications. In open air, apply once every 10 days, with the total amount of imported compound fertilizer per application for every thousand plants not exceeding 10 jin. Cake fertilizer is about 100 jin per thousand plants. In addition, closely watch for red spider mite damage. For pesticides, go to a pesticide store and refer to the dosage and usage of acaricides. Among organophosphorus pesticides, dimethoate, omethoate, bisultap, etc. cannot be used, as these pesticides will cause severe leaf drop or death in finger citron trees. Mostly use isocarbophos and high-efficiency low-residue insecticides. In addition, do a good job of bud removal, removing all buds without flower buds. The fertilization amount for trees just brought out of the greenhouse should be halved, and increased at the appropriate time after growth stabilizes.
Summer
This is the period when spring flower fruit grows larger and summer fruit sets. Continue doing a good job of bud removal to promote yield and quality. Pay attention to the harm of insect pests and red spider mites. After continuous heavy rain, add spraying of fungicides (imported thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, etc.). Watering characteristics: during high temperatures, carry out comprehensive watering at around 10 a.m., based on the principle of watering dry ones thoroughly, watering half-dry ones less, and not watering wet ones. At 3 p.m., conduct a garden-wide inspection again, watering the dry ones and not watering the ones that are not dry. Second, when the high temperature remains above 35º, the fruit needs shading and sun protection. Fertilize once a week, and determine the amount and frequency according to tree vigor. From mid-July, begin high-position layering to make bonsai mother plants. Generally for layering large trees, the technical key points are: at a position 15 cm from the fruit, cut off the leaves and thorns; use a knife to make three straight cuts on three sides of the branch deep to the xylem; then wrap tightly with moss in a ring, with the moss package about the size of the fist of a 3 to 4 year old child; tie the two ends tightly with plastic film outside, and the high-position layering process is completed. When touched by hand, it should feel very hard to meet the requirement.
Autumn
Bud removal work continues until August 5, then comprehensive pruning begins. Carry out comprehensive pruning of more than 80% of the branches that have not fruited. The pruning work must not exceed 10 days. Three days after pruning, begin spraying pesticide for leafminer, using “Kangchongdan” 15 grams added to 30 jin of water, spraying carefully, once every four to five days, for 5-6 consecutive times until the new leaves have grown and taken shape. This is an important step to ensure next year's yield and tree shape. Autumn watering should mainly be inspection-based watering. Fertilization should depend on tree vigor; if tree vigor is green, generally apply once every twenty days. Prepare overwintering materials and do the preparatory work before overwintering. Pay attention to pest and disease control.
Winter
Generally the overwintering greenhouse work should be completed in mid-November. In the Jiangnan region, an ordinary greenhouse is generally enough for overwintering. One layer of shade net and two layers of thickened film, with an iron frame or bamboo-wood structure, are both acceptable. Inside, hang a ring of straw-woven mats around the ground perimeter, and two rows on the upper part of the greenhouse roof. In case of severe freezing, heat or add straw mats in time, or increase application of decomposed dry barnyard manure to improve the insulation performance of the pot soil. Pay attention to pest and disease control, thorn pruning, and other work. On snowy days, remove accumulated snow in time to prevent heavy snow from crushing the greenhouse. Strictly control moisture to prevent waterlogging in the pot soil. Note: Uses of straw mats: (1) heat preservation (2) absorbing moisture in the greenhouse; a necessary item for greenhouses. Key points for golden finger citron production: diligence is the foundation, do fine work carefully, do not be impatient, use pesticides alternately to prevent pest resistance. The above refers to trees that have entered the fruiting stage; newly planted trees should keep two flushes of shoots, namely spring shoots and autumn shoots. Pruning must be severe; without severity it will not work. To plant finger citron, choose a site with convenient transportation, strong light, and moderately circulating air.
1. Golden finger citron is a light-loving plant, and growth and development require sufficient sunlight.
2. 10-31ºC is the most suitable growth temperature; below 0ºC it needs to enter a greenhouse to overwinter, and it can also grow normally at 43ºC.
3. Choose loose, fertile sandy soil with good air permeability and water seepage. For pot cultivation, fertilize once every 7-15 days; when using farmyard manure, it must be mixed with clear water into a dilute fertilizer
(about 1:12); cake fertilizer and compound fertilizer can simply be placed in the pot in small amounts; for ground planting, generally no fertilizer is needed.
4. Appropriate moisture is needed; too much causes root rot, too little causes leaf drop. For pot cultivation, the pot soil should follow the principle of “water when dry, do not water when wet”; for ground-planted finger citron, just do a good job of drainage
work.
5. Finger citron has almost no diseases, and pest control is simple; pesticides only need to be prepared against the pests.
In summary, these play a key role in the growth, flowering, and fruiting of finger citron. If mastered properly, they can make finger citron flourish with lush branches and abundant fruit.