Calamansi, called calamondin orange tree, Philippine lime, or Calamansi fruit, is a citrus hybrid primarily grown in the Philippines.
It is also called Citrofortunella microcarpa or calamondin plant. Currently, it is grown a lot in India, southern Asia, and Malaysia.
It is found across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, and Sulawesi in Indonesia and southern China and Taiwan in East Asia. Calamansi is an essential ingredient in traditional Filipino cooking.
They also have leaves that smell like citrus. They use it in Philippine food, and it tastes a little bit like lime. Fruit from the Calamansi tree is small, green when ripe, soft or leathery, and has tiny seeds. In general, Calamansi trees need at least two years to grow from seeds, and it can take up to three years to start producing fruit.
Calamansi trees can be grown inside, but you can still help them grow by changing the size of their pots. You can either pick them when they’re still young, when the peel looks like it’s a different shade of green, or when they’re ripe when the peel looks like it’s orange. But it’s up to you.
The most common question is: Is it a good idea to grow Calamansi from seeds? If you can’t find Calamansi trees or cuttings at a plant nursery, you can grow them from seeds. To give them more room for root growth, you should move your Calamansi plants into bigger pots every year as they grow.
This article will show you every step of planting Calamansi Seeds in exciting and accessible ways. So, without further ado, let’s just get started.
Can I Grow Calamansi In A Pot?
Calamansi is very popular because it is good for your health and looks good. Many people started growing this type of plant inside, even though it’s not supposed to be done that way as an outdoor plant. If you live in a cold place, you should grow Calamansi indoors.
Calamansi can’t be grown in cold and frosty places. Are you going to plant them in your house? If you want to start with a small container, you can do that first. Then, there is a good idea to use plastic planters for them.
Calamnsi trees like to live in warm places. However, as your Calamansi grows, you will need to move it into a bigger pot. The container you choose for your tree should be deep and wide enough to allow it to grow.
As tropical plants, they like to be in direct sunlight. Full sun isn’t all they need. They need moist soil, warm temperatures, and good humidity. In the outside world, it’s easy to meet these requirements.
In the inside world, it’s a lot more complex, and you’ll have to work hard to make sure. As the day goes on, you will find that these tasks will become easier for you to do. So the answer is yes, you can plant your Calamansi in a pot. Please read our guide on how to plant them correctly and right now.
How To Plant Calamansi Seeds
Now, let’s get to know how to plant Calamansi seeds. Please try to follow our directions and recommendations step by step;
Step 1: Choose A Pot
There are plastic planters that can be used for Calamansi. If you want to start with a small container, you can do that first. However, as your citrus tree grows, you will need to move it into a bigger pot.
The ideal pot size should be at least 18 inches wide at the top and 24 inches deep for Calamansi that have grown fully and produce a lot of fruit. This is the ideal size for pots. It’s different for seeding, though.
The container you choose should be deep and wide enough to allow your tree to grow to its full size. Ideal: The pot should be about 8 inches (20 cm) tall and 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide. It should also have drainage holes in the bottom.
You can start with a small container for sowing the seeds, but you must transplant them into another bigger pot than the previous one as they can collect enough nutrients from the soil and give you a good harvest.
Step 2: Prepare The Soil With Good Quality Soil
Calamansi tolerates many soil types. However, it does not thrive in hard clay or light sand. Choose a location that has adequate drainage and receives full to partial light. The pH of ideal soil should be between 5.5 and 6.5.
Do it now if you want to add compost or other organic material to your soil. Growing Calamansi necessitates t use of soil that drains effectively.
Use a spade shovel to mix compost and perlite into the topsoil, resulting in a nutrient-dense soil structure while also being well-drained.
You can get excellent quality soil at your local nursery store or on the internet. The Miracle-Gro potting soil, purchased on Amazon.com, is the most highly recommended soil to use.
Step 3: Collect The Seeds
Now that the soil has been prepared, it is time to remove the seeds from the Calamansi. We wish to avoid consuming Calamansi since it may have five or more large seeds.
Simply cut across the top of the Philippine lime so that you don’t cut through the seeds of the citrus fruit. Fill a jar halfway with the juice and collect the seeds you have squeezed out.
After that, remove the Calamansi seeds and allow them to dry. If you want to cultivate Calamnsi, you should avoid utilising large seeds.
Here’s a question: is a small-sized seed better than a large-sized seed?
Tiny seeds, on either hand, germinate more quickly, so for planting, choose small-sized seeds.
- After collecting the seeds, moisten a paper towel with a few drops of water and lay the seeds in the center of the towel. Repeat the process with the remaining seeds.
- After that, pack the seeds on a paper towel and place them in a plastic bag, leaving some room for air. Place the sack somewhere warm to keep it warm.
- After three days, check the seeds to see if they have sprouted; if they have, transfer the sprouted seeds to a tiny pot to continue growing in the exact location.
Step 4: Plant The Seeds And Cover The Planter
If you are putting the seeds in pots, poke holes in the dirt with your fingers to allow the seeds to grow. After that, insert the seeds into the holes. On the other hand, you should also leave some space between the holes to allow for expansion and contraction.
This is not required. However, it is encouraged to get the best possible development. If, on the other hand, you are planting the seeds in a field, be sure to dig a hole that is at least 40 cm broad and deep.
Seeds should be planted in the hole, which should then be filled with dirt and thoroughly compacted. It is necessary to cover the seeds with plastic wrap or food film to speed up the germination process.
But why is it necessary to cover my pot once it has been planted?
Covering your seeding pot helps maintain a steady moisture level in the soil. Plastic wrap maintains a steady moisture level and speeds up the germination process by a couple of percents.
Cover the pots with plastic wrap or a plastic dome that fits over the seed pot to expedite the germination of the seeds. However, keep in mind to leave a little gap in the oxygen supply.
Step 5: Water Properly After Planted
While the seeds are germinating, there is no need to water them until they are fully developed. The moisture you are providing by covering the pot is more than sufficient.
After around six weeks, the seedlings will have grown to be several inches tall and begun to produce leaves on their own. As soon as a seedling has two fully-developed leaves, it is safe to water it for only a tiny amount.
Placing the seeds in a bigger pot and filling it with well-draining soil is a good option since it allows the roots to spread out appropriately within the soil. However, if you have already planted the seeds in a huge pot, there is no need to transplant them before the end of the three months.
Young trees with only three or four leaves typically require roughly one inch of water each week. When they have 10 or 12 large healthy leaves, water your Calamansi plant anytime when the top layer of soil becomes completely dry every day or many times a week once they have reached this stage.
Daily watering is detrimental to the growth of Calamansi because it causes the soil to get soggy, which in turn promotes decay. As a result, only water your Calamansi until the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry.
Caring Tips Of Calamansi
You must be worried about the upkeep or care of your Calamansi after it has been planted. It is not difficult to keep Calamansi alive. You just need to do a few things in the everyday gaps of your weekend, and that’s it-
Sunlight
Calamansi should be exposed to at least 6 hours of sunshine every day to thrive. Choose a site that receives a lot of sunshine for the tree to thrive and produce many fruits all year. The effects of sunlight and temperature on the production of the tree are well documented.
Proper Watering
Daily watering is detrimental to the growth of Calamansi because it causes the soil to get soggy, which in turn promotes decay. Water your Calamansi until the top 2 inches of soil on the plant is completely dry. In the fall and winter, you are watering the Calamansi once a week is sufficient. You may verify it with your finger if you like.
Give Proper Fertilizer
While it is growing, the Calamansi plant requires fertilization every two to three months. Once every four months, apply approximately 2 to 3 1/2 ounces of 16-20-0 fertilizer mixed with urea to the plant’s foliage. When the Calamansi tree is two years old, increase the quantity to around 7 to 10 1/2 ounces every four months until the tree is entirely mature.
Mulch Your Calamansi
It is strongly advised that you use organic mulch on your Calamansi tree. It will help preserve moisture in the soil, but it will also help offer your trees extra nutrients. Mulching also helps to keep illnesses and weeds at bay.
FAQ
How long does it take for a Calamansi seed to germinate?
After around six weeks, the seedlings will have grown to be several inches tall and begun to produce leaves on their own. When a seedling has two completely developed leaves, it is ready to be transplanted into its pot.
How do you propagate a Calamansi tree?
Place the cutting in a room with plenty of indirect light to avoid shadows. Maintain a temperature range of 77 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during cutting. Remove the plastic bag once or twice a week and sprinkle the leaves and rooting mix with water to maintain a high humidity level within the bag while it is removed.
Can I grow Calamansi from a branch?
You should use a sharp knife, a scissor, or sharp pruning shears to make the cuts. Make sure to cut the branch horizontally rather than vertically to prevent it from breaking. The cutting should be between 3 and 5 inches long and should have at least two pairs of leaves on each side of the stem. Make the incision slightly below a leaf node or a group of leaves if possible.
What are the Calamansi juice benefits?
Calamansi juice’s main advantages may include its capacity to improve the immune system, reduce acidity, help in weight reduction, and encourage development. As well as repair, bleach the skin, cleanse the body, decrease cholesterol, control diabetes, and provide relief from respiratory infections.
Wrapping up
These are the ways for planting the Calamansi Seed that is advised. Citrus trees need six to eight hours of sunlight every day to flourish. Calamansi trees need constant watering. Maintain wet but not saturated soil at all times. Watering the tree no more than once a week should be enough during the winter months.
Calamansi is quite simple to maintain in this manner.
However, if you have any questions, feel free to comment in the box below. We will make every attempt to answer you promptly.
Best Wishes!!
