Here’s an easy guide on How to Grow Calamondin. Care and Growing Calamansi Tree is rewarding due to the citrusy fragrance of its flowers and the tangy, sweet flavor of its fruits. Read on.
Botanical Name: Citrus × microcarpa
USDA Zones: 8-11
Common Names: Calamondin, calamondin orange, calamansi, calamandarin, golden lime, kalamunding, kalamansi, Philippine lime, Panama orange, Chinese orange, musk orange, and acid orange.
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Calamansi Tree Information
Check out Our Article on the 5 Best Citrus Trees You Can Grow here
Propagating Calamansi Trees
Want to know How to Grow Calamondin? Well, Propagating Calamansi Trees is easy using cuttings. Follow the simple steps:
Calamansi is a tropical orange fruit tree belonging to the citrus family that is a hybrid between a mandarin orange and a kumquat. The fruit has a sour and sweet flavor like limes or lemons and is smaller than oranges.
The Calamansi tree is native to southern China and Indonesia and is vital to Philippine cuisine. The fruit was initially introduced to the United States in 1900.
The tree can grow up to 10-20 feet tall, and you can maintain its height at 6-8 feet when growing in containers with regular pruning. The Calamansi white flowers have a citrusy orange scent, and the blooms appear in 2-3 bunches at the end of branches.
- Take cuttings from late spring to early summer. It is best to look for new stems that are yet to produce flowers or fruits.
- Then, pot them in a consistently moist, well-draining medium.
- Water well and place the container in a spot that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- The cuttings will form roots in 3-5 weeks.
Learn How to Grow Clementine Oranges here
Requirements for Growing Calamondin
Light
Calamondin trees prefer full sunlight so ensure they get a minimum of 6-7 hours of intense light on a daily basis. The more sun they will get, the better will be the quality, number, and size of the fruits.
Soil
Calamondin trees can work well in soil with medium texture and slight acidity. Pick soil that is well-draining to avoid any chances of root rot. Mulching can be avoided to prevent any water pooling.
The soil’s pH level should be around 5.5 to 7 as it prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil. You can also use equal parts of garden soil, cocopeat, and compost.
Water
The soil must be consistently and evenly moist, particularly for younger trees. Do not overwater and waterlog the soil, as it will lead to root rot.
Check the top 2-inch layer of soil for dryness before watering, as moistening the growing medium too much or too little can lead to blossom and fruit drop, and sometimes the plant may die too.
Temperature and Humidity
Calamondin trees grow best in warm and humid conditions. They are cold-sensitive and thrive in a temperature range of 75-85°F or 23-30°C. Also, these trees love humidity levels between 45-60 percent.
Re-Potting
Re-pot that plant when you see it getting too big for the pot, which can be once in 3-4 years. Your pot size should be according to the scale of your tree. Remember to use a container one size bigger than your previously used pot.
Find out how to get more fruits on your lemon plant here
Taking Care of Calamansi Tree
Fertilizer
Use a slow-release NPK 12-6-6 or 20-20-20 once in 6-8 weeks. Alternatively, you can also use a balanced liquid fertlizer once a month in the growing season.
Occasionally, side-dress your plant with compost or well-rotted manure.
Pruning
Regardless of the variety you choose, prioritize pruning the lateral, long branches to encourage fruit growth. The canopy should be wider for maximum fruit growth.
Pinch the foliage to keep the shape in control and boost blooms.
Pests and Diseases
Look out for pests that commonly affect other citrus species. Citrus borer, aphids, and fruit flies attack it often. Crinkle leaf and citrus exocortis are the main diseases that affect it.
Learn About Natural Remedies for Removing Pests here
Overwintering Calamansi Tree
The low indoor temperatures should be the same as in early spring to encourage flowering. In winter, if you are shifting the tree indoors, you should place the plant in a sunny spot that does not get too warm. You can move the plant outdoors or to your balcony in springtime.
These tropical fruits don’t work well in dry air. If the indoor humidity level is low, use a humidifier or mist the plant 1-3 times a week.
Check out Our Article on Taking Care of Houseplants in Winter here
Harvesting Calamondin
It starts to bear fruits after 2-3 years of growing the Calamansi plant and intermittently produces them throughout the year in the tropics. The fruit can take up to a year to fully ripen and show an orange shade.
The perfect time to harvest these fruits is when they are pale green or begin to show an orange color. Although Calamansi trees can produce fruit throughout the year, depending on where you are growing them, the peak season is from November to June in the United States. It is good to remember that the fruits are sweeter at the end of the season.
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Calamansi vs. Kumquat
1. Fruits
When it comes to Calamansi vs. Kumquat, the fruits of Calamansi are small, round, and green in color when unripe, which changes into yellow and orange when ripe.
Kumquat is bigger, round-oblong-shaped, and green when unripe, which changes into orange-yellow eventually.
2. Seeds
Calamansi and Kumquat seeds look similar. Both are slippery to the touch.
3. Flowers
Both Calamansi and Kumquat flowers are tiny, soft, white, and have a citrusy fragrance. They both bear more blooms that turn into fruits.
Dom Torres
December 30, 2016 At 8:54 am
How to does it take for the calamansi seed to grow into a seedling? (about 10-15 inches) thanks!
Reply
Clara
June 27, 2017 At 5:07 pm
where did you find the seeds to grow? Calamondin oranges do not taste the same and I’ve been looking fthe Philippine lime for weeks in the usa
Reply
Debbie
July 22, 2018 At 8:29 pm
My mother in law would make a delicious pie from them. She would harvest and save juice and freeze in packets to make many pies. She would get them off her tree in florida
Reply
Debbie
July 22, 2018 At 8:31 pm
How high do they grow? How fast?
Reply
Bea
April 3, 2019 At 9:25 am
I found the seed on line. I think it’s Etsy or something like that. He sent me 6 or 8 seeds and so far have 3 trees growing.
Reply
Elizabeth English
August 2, 2019 At 7:31 pm
Hiw do you let calamansi plant continuesly bear fruit
Reply
Marivic
April 18, 2020 At 9:18 am
I learn a lot how to plant calamansi, how to take care of it..so, How many calamansi tree to plant in 1/4 acre ? Thanks for your reply.
Reply
Elizete
October 26, 2021 At 4:47 am
Amei o texto ! Aqui no Brasil chamamos de laranja-melancia. Usamos pra geléias e compotas
Reply
Debbie rankin
February 25, 2022 At 3:41 am
Can u use the seeds out of the ripe fruit to plant a tree
Reply
Clara
June 27, 2017 At 5:07 pm
where did you find the seeds to grow? Calamondin oranges do not taste the same and I’ve been looking fthe Philippine lime for weeks in the usa
Reply
How to does it take for the calamansi seed to grow into a seedling? (about 10-15 inches) thanks!
where did you find the seeds to grow? Calamondin oranges do not taste the same and I’ve been looking fthe Philippine lime for weeks in the usa
My mother in law would make a delicious pie from them. She would harvest and save juice and freeze in packets to make many pies. She would get them off her tree in florida
How high do they grow? How fast?
I found the seed on line. I think it’s Etsy or something like that. He sent me 6 or 8 seeds and so far have 3 trees growing.
Hiw do you let calamansi plant continuesly bear fruit
I learn a lot how to plant calamansi, how to take care of it..so, How many calamansi tree to plant in 1/4 acre ? Thanks for your reply.
Amei o texto ! Aqui no Brasil chamamos de laranja-melancia. Usamos pra geléias e compotas
Can u use the seeds out of the ripe fruit to plant a tree
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