Requiring plenty of sunshine and heat (recommended for growing outdoors in zones 8 through 11), the Calamondin Bush is one-of-a-kind. It’s also the perfect size for growing in a container if you’re in a cooler zone, but it should be brought indoors during the winter months.
The leaves on the Calamondin Bush are oval, glossy and green, accompanied by white, star-shaped flowers during the spring and a vibrant harvest between August and October.
Selecting a planting location: Choose a location where your Calamondin is going to get plenty of sunlight – around 6 to 8 hours per day is best. These plants can tolerate some shade but thrive in full sun. High humidity is also beneficial for Calamondins, so you may also need to create humidity for your bush by misting the leaves daily with water. Potted plants are ideal for placing a tray with rocks, filled with water, under the plant to feed humidity.
Planting Directions (in ground): Start by choosing a location with well-draining soil.
1) Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root system of your Calamondin Orange Bush.
2) Place it in the hole and back fill with your sandy, well-drained, acidic soil. If you have clay soil, try amending it with sand, stone, perlite or fine potting soil for best results.
3) Tamp the soil down as you fill the hole, and after planting, be sure to give your Calamondin Orange Bush a deep watering for about 5 minutes. Furthermore, mulching around the plant will help insulate the roots and keep it warm.
Planting Instructions (in container): If your winter temperatures are consistently below 40 degrees, plant your bush in a container to place outside during the summer and bring inside during the winter. Ensure that you choose a pot slightly larger than its shipped container, with plenty of holes in the bottom to allow for drainage.
1) Fill your pot halfway with soil, remove the plant from its original pot and gently place it in the potting soil.
2) Fill in around the Calamondin with the remainder of the potting soil but leave about an inch from the soil surface to the rim of the pot for easy watering.
3) Lightly pack down the soil and give your bush a deep watering until water flows from the holes in the bottom of the pot.
4) Place your bush in sun-soaked area of your home, preferably near a South-facing window. Supplement it with a grow light if it will not receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day.
Pollination assistance: To pollinate indoors, take a small, dry, fine-tipped paintbrush and stick it into the center of a bloom. Swirl it around and collect the pollen on the brush, distributing the pollen to the next bloom and repeating the process until every bloom has been treated. Do this once daily and don’t wash the paintbrush until after the pollination process is complete. The bloom will then fall off naturally and fruit will begin to form.
Watering: Deep waterings are best for the Calamondin’s root system. After watering, allow the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil to dry out completely before the next watering.
For potted Calamondin Bushes, stick your index finger into the soil, down to about 2 inches. If there is moisture present, hold off on watering until it feels dryer at that depth. When you’re ready to water, stop once you see water escaping the drainage holes at the base of the pot.
Fertilization: Feed your Calamondin Bush during the warmer spring and summer seasons with a citrus-specific fertilizer, once every six weeks.
During the fall and winter season, fertilize your plant once every 2 to 3 months. Once the plant has matured, you can skip the cold season fertilization. The same fertilizing regimen should be followed for potted plants – simply ensure that you follow the application instructions written on the fertilizer bag.
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