Calamondin care at a glance
Calamondin, also called calamansi, is a small citrus tree that's happy in a pot and one of the best citrus to grow indoors. It flowers and fruits on and off all year, fills a room with blossom scent, and gives you tiny, tangy fruit you can use like limes. With bright light, steady water and regular feeding, it's an easy citrus to keep fruiting.
|
Need |
What a calamondin wants |
|---|---|
|
Light |
6+ hours of bright light; a sunny window works, a grow light helps in winter |
|
Water |
When the top 1–2 inches of soil feel dry; water until it drains |
|
Soil |
Fast-draining citrus mix, pH around 6.0–6.5 |
|
Temperature |
Comfortable at 55–85°F; protect from frost |
|
Feeding |
Every 4–6 weeks spring through summer, lighter but steady in winter |
|
Fruit |
Often within 1–2 years of planting a nursery tree; fruits on and off year-round |
|
Where it grows outside |
Year-round in USDA zones 9–11; in a pot everywhere else |
Why calamondin is the easiest indoor citrus
Calamondin is a natural cross between a kumquat and a mandarin, and it takes the best of both for indoor growing:
- It handles indoor light better than most citrus. It still wants a bright window, but it's more forgiving than lemons or oranges.
- It stays compact. A potted calamondin usually stays 3–6 feet tall with light pruning.
- It flowers and fruits year-round. You'll often see blossoms, green fruit and ripe fruit on the tree at the same time.
- It's decorative. Glossy leaves and bright orange fruit make it a houseplant as much as a fruit tree.
You'll find two main types: the standard green-leaf calamondin, and a variegated form with cream-edged leaves and striped young fruit. The variegated type grows a little slower and appreciates extra light.
Light, water and soil
Light. Give your calamondin at least 6 hours of bright light. A south- or west-facing window is ideal. In winter, or if your window is more than a few feet away, add a full-spectrum grow light for 12–14 hours a day. Turn the pot every week or two so all sides get light.
Water. Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil feel dry, until water runs out the bottom, then empty the saucer. Indoor air in winter dries pots faster than you'd expect, so check the soil rather than watering on a fixed day.
Soil. Use a fast-draining citrus mix or a bark-based blend like our 5-1-1 recipe, in a pot with drainage holes. Repot every 2–3 years in spring, one size up.
Temperature and winter care
Calamondins are comfortable between about 55°F and 85°F. They can take a brief cool snap, but frost damages leaves and fruit, so in zones 9–11 cover outdoor trees on nights forecast near freezing.
Most people grow calamondins in pots and keep them indoors at least for winter. If yours summers outside, bring it in once nights drop below about 50°F, easing it in over a week. Indoors, keep it away from heating vents and cold drafts, and give it your sunniest spot. A few dropped leaves after the move is normal while it adjusts. Our guide to moving citrus indoors for winter walks through it.
Feeding a calamondin
Because a calamondin flowers and fruits for much of the year, it needs a steady food supply. Feed every 4–6 weeks from spring through summer, and keep feeding lighter through winter rather than stopping, since an indoor tree is often still carrying fruit.
A good citrus fertilizer for calamondins leads with nitrogen, has moderate potassium and less phosphorus, and includes the micronutrients potted citrus wash out of their soil: iron, zinc, manganese and magnesium. Pale new leaves are often the first sign those are running low.
Our 3-in-1 Citrus Tree Fertilizer for Container Citrus is made for exactly this: slow-release NPK, trace elements and calcium, pre-measured with a feeding schedule for potted citrus.
Flowers, fruit and how to use calamansi
Calamondin flowers are small, white and very fragrant. The tree is self-fertile, but indoors you'll get more fruit if you brush a small paintbrush through open blossoms every few days.
The fruit is about the size of a large marble and ripens from green to bright orange. Fully orange fruit is a little sweeter; many cooks pick it while still green-to-yellow for a sharper, lime-like sour. Snip fruit off with scissors so you don't tear the peel.
How to use them: squeeze calamansi anywhere you'd use lime or lemon juice: over noodles and grilled fish, into marinades and dressings, or in calamansi juice with a little sugar and water. They also make an excellent marmalade.
Pruning: trim lightly in spring to keep a compact shape, and remove any shoots growing from below the graft on the lower trunk.
Common calamondin problems and fixes
Most calamondin trouble comes down to light, water or nutrition:
|
What you see |
Likely cause |
What to do |
|---|---|---|
|
Leaves dropping in winter |
Less light and dry indoor air, or a recent move |
Move closer to a bright window, add a grow light and water evenly |
|
Yellow leaves with green veins, on new growth |
Low iron or other micronutrients |
Feed micronutrients; check soil pH |
|
Pale leaves all over |
Not enough nitrogen |
Keep a steady feeding schedule |
|
Flowers or small fruit falling |
Dry spells or a sudden change in conditions |
Water evenly and keep it in one spot |
|
Brown, crispy leaf tips |
Salt buildup or underwatering |
Flush the pot with plenty of water every few months |
|
Few flowers |
Too little light |
Add a grow light or move to a sunnier spot |
For more on leaf color, see the most common causes of yellow citrus leaves.
Where to get a calamondin tree
Shopping for a tree? Trees.com carries citrus trees and can add a GrowScripts kit to your order, so your tree is ready to feed from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Is calamondin the same as calamansi? Yes. Calamansi is the name used in the Philippines, where the fruit is a kitchen staple. Calamondin is the common name in the US.
Can a calamondin live indoors all year? Yes. It's one of the best citrus for full-time indoor growing, as long as it gets a bright window, and a grow light in winter helps.
How big does a calamondin tree get? In a pot, usually 3–6 feet. In the ground in warm climates, it can grow 10 feet or taller.
When are calamondins ripe? When they turn fully orange, though many people pick them earlier for a sourer, lime-like juice. The tree often carries fruit at every stage at once.
How often should I fertilize a calamondin? Every 4–6 weeks spring through summer, and lighter through winter. Our citrus fertilizer kits include a feeding schedule.
Growing other citrus? See our kumquat tree care guide, Meyer lemon tree care guide and orange tree care guide.