Variegated Calamondin Tree

1. Planting: Choose a sunny spot for container planting and a well-drained area for ground planting. Use a 10-14" starter pot with excellent drainage for containers. Prepare loose soil for ground planting. Ensure the area is three times the pot diameter and dug as deep as possible. When planting, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the rootball. Fill up with soil to the crown of the roots, avoiding burying the tree. Water deeply after planting.

2. Watering: Keep the top of the soil dry between waterings. Citrus trees prefer infrequent but deep watering. Create a watering basin around the drip line of the tree and expand it as the tree grows. Water deeply once a week for in-ground or container plantings.

3. Fertilizing: When fertilizing, apply balanced fertilizer monthly in spring, summer, and early fall.

4. Pruning: In early spring, prune the tree to maintain its shape and remove dead or diseased branches. A semi-dwarf citrus tree can grow 10-15 feet in the ground but can be kept smaller with judicious pruning. Identify the graft union, typically seen as a diagonal scar between 4 and 8 inches from the soil, and remove all shoot growth below it, known as "suckers," to ensure the top of the tree stays healthy.

5. Pollination: This plant is self-fertile, so you will get fruit from just one tree.