Fortunella hindsii or Hong Kong Kumquat
is in the citrus family of plants. It tolerates pot culture better
than many of the other plants in the citrus family. I purchased
this tree as a seedling about 18 years ago from a Florida grower.
The species is seen frequently in the Kokufu Ten Japanese picture
books and is used in mainly shohin size. It has small spines
and blooms once or twice a year with small very fragrant white
citrus scented flowers. These flowers are followed by tiny "oranges"
which are perhaps one half to three quarter's inch in size, and
of excellent scale to the small size of the tree. The plant is
extremely easy to propagate from seed, hardwood cuttings, as
well as from air layers. It is difficult to propagate from root
cuttings.
Allow the plant dry beween
waterings as citrus do not like to be wet all the time and use
a fairly porous soil mix to allow good air circulation to the
roots. Wire the branches while they are green since woody (brown)
branches will break before they bend. Fertilize the tree well
when it is in active growth.
This tree is 10 inches
tall and the trunk diameter is 2 inches. |