Calamansi, also known as calamondin, is a citrus hybrid that is predominantly cultivated in the Philippines. This plant, known by the scientific name Citrofortunella microcarpa, is native to the Philippines, Sulawesi in Indonesia, Borneo, Southern China and Taiwan. The calamansi fruit is a favorite addition to beverages, dishes, marinades and preserves in Malaysian, Indonesian and Filipino cuisines. You can easily propagate calamansi from cuttings if you follow the vital steps outlined in this article.
How to grow calamansi from cuttings
These are the materials you will need:
- Pruning shears
- Pot
- Grit
- Sand
- Sawdust
- Spray bottle
- Plastic bag
- Rubber band
Below are the steps to grow calamansi from cuttings:
- Take the cuttings during late spring or summer, since this is when the calamansi tree has new growth. Choose new growth that has already hardened. The wood should not be brittle but springy, and look for branches that are beginning to turn from green to brown.
- Using a pair of sharp pruning shears, cut the branch horizontally just below a leaf node or a set of leaves. Make a second cut about three to five inches higher on the branch, right above a set of leaves, at a 45-degree angle.
- Remove the leaves from the cuttings’ bottom but keep the leaves at the top of the calamansi cuttings.
- While you prepare the pot, mist the cuttings every few minutes using a hand-held spray bottle, to keep the cuttings from drying out.
- Be sure to use a tall, narrow pot with a two- to three-inch diameter top and four- to eight-inches deep. It should have drainage holes to allow water to drain through.
- Place equal parts sand, grit and sawdust in a bucket and mix thoroughly. Blend and add water until the mixture is crumbly and damp. Fill the rooting pot with this damp potting mix.
- Place the bottom two to three inches of the cutting into the pot. The bottom of the cutting should have no leaves, and should be cut horizontally. Mist the leaves of the cutting and make sure they remain damp.
- Put a clear plastic bag upside down over the top of the pot, with the mouth of the bag around the pot’s rim so that the bag covers the cutting and creates a humid environment around it. Secure the plastic bag with a rubber band around the lip of the pot.
- Place the cutting in a room with bright, indirect light. Keep the cutting between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plastic bag at least twice a week and mist the leaves and rooting mix with water to maintain a high humidity inside the plastic bag.
- Finally, remove the plastic bag once the cutting produces a mature set of new leaves. Plant it in a nursery bed during springtime. Calamansi cuttings can grow up to 24 inches in the first year.
How to cultivate calamansi from seed
Below are the steps to cultivate calamansi from a seed:
1. Purchase calamansi fruit online or from a nursery or supermarket.
Buy some calamansi fruits and remove the seeds without cutting through them. Cut through the top one-third of the fruit rather than through the center. Use the seeds immediately or store them correctly, as they need to keep moist to survive.
2. Put the seeds in a damp paper towel.
Dampen some paper towels with a few drops of water and place the seeds in the center of the towel. Fold so that the seeds are securely inside. You can also place the seeds directly into damp potting soil, just deep enough to be completely covered by the soil.
3. Leave the seeds in a plastic bag somewhere warm for about three days.
Put the seeds, wrapped in a paper towel, into a resealable plastic bag. Close the bag but make sure that there is some air inside. Put the bag somewhere warm like a windowsill where there is a lot of sunlight, or even on top of a fridge. If the seeds are placed directly into the soil, cover the pot with plastic wrap so the environment becomes warm and humid.
4. Transplant the seeds that have sprouted into a small pot filled with soil.
Check the seeds, and if you see any sprouts you can move them into a small pot to continue growing. Place potting soil in the pot and plant the sprouted seeds under the surface. Make sure to water the soil so that the top one inch is damp. If seeds were placed directly into the soil, remove the plastic wrap once the seeds in the pot have sprouted. It usually takes an extra day or two for these seeds to sprout.
5. Seedlings should be moved to individual pots once they have two large leaves.
The seedlings will grow to several inches tall and start to sprout leaves after around six weeks. Once the seedlings have two fully-grown leaves, you can place them in a pot. Remove the soil gently so you do not break the roots. When transplanting to a new pot, water the seedlings well so the potting soil is always damp.
6. Transplant calamansi every two months to allow more room to grow.
Slide the soil and seedlings gently from the pot and break the roots carefully to separate them. Put the seedlings in a larger pot and fill it with well-draining soil. Make sure to water the seedlings so the soil remains damp. The seedlings should be planted around two inches deep into the soil.
7. Water the calamansi plants regularly and put them in an area with full sun.
When the top layer of soil has dried out completely, the plants should be watered. This happens several times a week depending on the humidity level. Calamansi plants need to be exposed to the sun for at least six to 10 hours a day, or you can use grow lights if they are indoors. Be sure to use fast-draining soil since these plants do not like having damp roots.
8. Plant the seedlings outdoors once grown.
It is ideal to plant calamansi outside if you are in the USDA hardiness zone 9b or higher. Ideal regions where calamansi thrives include parts of Texas, Florida, Hawaii and California.
Conclusion
Learning how to grow calamansi from cuttings is seamless, provided you have the necessary tools and materials to help you. Follow the instructions as stated above to cultivate calamansi that is rich in Vitamin C and a known immune booster.
Image: istockphoto.com / Richard Ernest Yap