Nules Clementine Bush

1. Planting: Choose a location where your bush is going to get plenty of sunlight, 6 to 8 hours per day is best. They can tolerate some shade but thrive in full sun.

Potted plants do enjoy a daily misting for humidity but placing a tray with rocks filled with water under the plant will feed humidity to the bush as the water evaporates.

If your winter temperatures are consistently below 40 degrees, plant your bush in a container that can easily be brought outside in the summer months and inside in the winter. A planter with built-in casters is a good choice so it can easily be moved. Choose a pot slightly larger than what it was shipped in that has plenty of holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Be sure to plant in well-draining potting soil preferably recommended for acid-loving citrus plants.

2. Watering: After watering (generally weekly), allow the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Mulching can help retain the soil moisture and also combat competing grasses/weeds.

For potted clementines, stick your index finger into the soil down to about 2 inches. If there is moisture present, hold off on watering until it feels drier at that depth. When ready to water, stop once you see it escaping the drainage holes at the base of the pot.

3. Fertilizing: Feed your clementine during the warmer spring and summer seasons with a citrus specific fertilizer once every six weeks, like the one included in our Citrus Care Kit.

During the fall and winter season, ease back to fertilizing once every 2 to 3 months. Once the tree has matured a bit and has got a few years on it, you can skip the cold season fertilization. The same fertilizing regimen should be followed for potted clementines as well. Make sure to follow the application instructions written on the fertilizer bag.

4. Pruning: Pruning can be done at any time of the year for in-ground planted clementines except in the winter. Make 45-degree angle cuts to remove dead or crossing limbs and also to thin out the tree to allow more light to flow between the branches. After the bush fruits, remove any dead wood and ventilate the center of the bush. Remove suckers as they form/grow from the base. Pruning can be done at any time of the year for the potted clementine.

5. Pollination: This bush is self-fertile, but you can hand pollinate for indoor plants. Simply take a small, dry, fine-tipped paintbrush and stick it into the center of the bloom. Swirl it around and collect the pollen on the brush. Go to the next bloom and repeat the process until every bloom has been treated. Do this once daily and don’t wash the paintbrush until after the blooms have been pollinated. The bloom will fall off naturally and the fruit will begin to form.