Just Wanted to Say Thanks!

18 years ago

I had posted a couple of years ago about a calamondin that I had "inherited" from my aunt (she's 87 and got the tree from her mother in the early 1950's) and it wasn't fruiting.

Thanks to all the great advice from this forum, I can now report the "old girl" (yes, the tree is slightly older than I am) has bloomed four times this year, is loaded with fruit, and my aunt will get jars of homemade "Joisey-grown" marmalade for Christmas.

Again, thanks to all of you, I was successful in rooting cuttings from the "old girl", and gave one back to my aunt (the reason she gave it away in the first place is she just couldn't manage carrying it inside for the winter). I do wish you could have seen the look of joy on her face as she hugged that little tree. A pass-down plant from her Mom to her and down to me, then back up to her again!

As a side benefit, my office (the "old girl's" winter residence) smells heavenly...there's nothing like the fragrance of real orange blossoms. Yep, she's blooming again!

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Comments (15)

suzannesks
18 years ago
felpec, that tree now is geneology for the family. LOL! And as well as a family heirloom. What a wonderful story to tell.I do hope for your family that you can continue the lineage for generations to come:)***Suzanne
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Felpec, that's incredible..first keeping it alive and taking cuttings, too. I agree w/Suzanne about it being a family heirloom. Maybe one day you can give it to your grandchildren and they'll make u a cutting..Toni
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garnetmoth
18 years ago
thats super! congrats.
felpec
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, I won't have grandchildren, but I have two nieces and a stepdaughter with kids "in the oven" (ALL three due the same week in April - was there something in the air/water here??) and have "heirloom" cuttings and seedlings started for all.
Patty_in_Wisc
18 years ago
What a great story! Thanks for sharing it. How did you do your cuttings? Start in water or soil?
Patty
felpec
Original Author
18 years ago
I started them in seed starting mix, dipped them in #8 rooting hormone and put them in a bag that burrito size tortillas come in. Don't know if those bags are different than regular zip lock bags but I didn't have the rotting problem that I did when I used the regular ones. I put them on top of the radiator cover (it's well insulated - and acts just like a heat mat.)

Then I promptly forgot about them for about three months until I noticed two of the cuttings were blooming in the bags...maybe benign neglect is the answer?
softmentor
18 years ago
What a wonderful story. Garden Web's own "Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul" story. Thanks for comming back and telling us of your success!
Arthur the Date Palm Guy
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Arthur, I wouldn't be surprised if the authors of the Chicken Book series starts a new book..lol..Toni
felpec
Original Author
18 years ago
Arthur, when the book comes out, demand your fair share of the royalties.
Camelotshadow
18 years ago
wow
that is a great story
I might try that cutting rooting method
I have a few soaking in water now

smiles
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Camel or is it Smiles? LOL
What do you have soaking in water? Toni
Camelotshadow
18 years ago
Hi Toni
Its Shadow
The camel is slient
LOL

I pruned a few branches off Cara Cara

and was just playing with the thought to try to root
but they would be standard on there own root.

I figured sand might be good
never thought about what is almost like the paper towel method of germinating seeds
I've rerooted small seeds just hatched that lost there roots like that
the enviromant is much cleaner hence less loss due to fungus and disease
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Camel is silent..what about the Lot? LOL.
Ok, Hi Shadow..

How many cuttings will you make? You'll need to cut pieces instead of using long branches..
You will only use sand to root? oh oh..
The baggie methold might work..do they sell peat pellets out there? I've rooted many-a-cuttings using pellets..they're fantastic. Toni
Camelotshadow
18 years ago
Oh the ot is silent too
LOL

I have three 5 or 6 inch pieces that look good
I think I see 2 root nubs on one already
and its only been a few days
so its time to pot
I have peat could do a peat pumice mix
I think I heard sand worked
birdsnblooms
18 years ago
Good day, Sir Camelot..LOL

What is pumice? I mean, I've heard of it, but what type of medium is it? What is its purpose?
I prefer peat pellets when rooting or sowing, but a combo of soil, peat, sand/or Perlite and vermiculite works well, too. But whatever you're doing is working so stick with it. Did you cover w/plastic? Added bottom heat? Toni