A calamondin is the ideal starter plant for the citrus gardener as it is easy to care for and pruned. These instructions reveal why the pruning does not cause a headache. How to cut the dwarf orange correctly.
With an annual pruning, the calamondin orange can be kept in shape
Instructions for the right cut
The pruning pursues several goals: prevention of diseases and pests, preservation of shape and adaptation to the available space. In contrast to native fruit trees, you can neither stimulate growth nor fruit and flower formation with a cut on the dwarf orange. How to cut your Citrus mitis correctly:
- The best time is in late winter, just in time before the fresh shoots
- Cut off branches that are dead, injured, diseased or infested with pests
- Remove one of crossing shoots
- Cut inward branches at the base
- Shorten branches that are too long with a cut just above an outward-facing bud
Please note that your calamondin will always flower on the tips of young shoots. The more you cut here, the smaller the next flower will be. If your Citrus mitis has lost its leaves as a result of incorrect overwintering, do not cut off the affected branches prematurely. In the course of the coming growing season, there is a good chance that new leaves will sprout. If, on the other hand, the loss of leaves is due to waterlogging or drought, cut the dead branches back into the healthy wood.
Remove water shoots all year round
Throughout the year wild shoots from the wild root of your dwarf orange strive to overgrow the crown. These water shooters can be recognized by their narrow, elongated and very rapid growth. These branches will neither blossom nor bear fruit. As soon as you discover a copy, please remove it completely. As long as there is still a tiny piece of tissue left on the tree, a water shooter boldly drives out again.
tips
After the winter is not only the ideal time for the cut. If you repot your calamondin now, this choice of date means the least stress for the citrus plant. The new bucket should be a maximum of 4 cm larger in diameter. Otherwise, your Citrus mitis will be busy rooting and neglecting the growth of flowers, leaves and fruits.