Propagating Calamondin From a Branch

Stem Cuttings

• Calamondins can be propagated by taking cuttings from the branches of established trees. Take cuttings from trees with the best fruit or ornamental qualities. Cuttings should be about the diameter of a pencil and 4 to 6 inches long. Take calamondin cuttings from vigorous green stems for best results, avoiding hardened wood and weak or diseased branches. If the cuttings cannot be planted immediately, wrap them in moist paper towels and store in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Rooting

• Stick the freshly cut end of the calamondin cuttings into a lightweight sterilized medium, such as perlite or vermiculite. Rooting hormone can be applied to the bottom ends of the cuttings before sticking them in the rooting medium to stimulate root growth, though calamondins will generally form roots without this product. Leave at least one leaf node below the level of the rooting medium and one above. These are the enlarged bumps along the stem that leaves or branches grow from, and are also where roots will emerge to form a new plant. Keep the cuttings moist and place indoors in a location with filtered or indirect sunlight. Root formation is most successful if the temperature of the rooting medium can be kept between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When the cuttings begin to sprout from the top, sufficient root formation has occurred, and they can be transplanted to nursery pots to continue growing.

Air Layering

• Air layering can be used to propagate calamondin from part of a branch that is still attached to the tree. Choose a healthy, vigorous branch that is between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in diameter to propagate. Make two parallel cuts about 1 inch apart that circumscribe the diameter of the branch. The cuts should only go through the bark layer. Make a vertical cut that connects the two circular cuts and remove the section of bark from that area. Wrap the area in moistened sphagnum moss, and cover with a transparent plastic bag, using twist ties or tape to secure it tightly to the branch. Once roots have formed, clip the branch from the tree and transplant.

Propagation Tips

• For each calamondin cutting, remove all but the topmost foliage, and cut these in half if they are full-size leaves. This prevents the cutting from drying out before it has a chance to form roots. To accelerate root formation, keep the cutting in a very warm and humid environment. A simple trick is to cut a plastic bottle in half to cover the cutting in the pot like a tiny greenhouse. Applying a heat source underneath the cutting also increases the speed of root formation. Heating mats can be purchased in well-stocked garden centers and are made specifically for this purpose. They ensure that the cuttings stay day and night. When using a heat mat, maintain the temperature at 85F.