Finger Lime trees are interesting plants that are favoured for their unusual fruit. The balls inside the fruit are often used to garnish dishes, added to cocktail drinks, or dropped into glasses of champagne for a citrus twist. They are generally trouble free, easy to grow, and if you follow our tips for Finger Limes you will have great success.
Finger Limes are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot and prepare the soil by adding compost or sheep pellets. Feeding your plants in spring with Citrus Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing. The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Finger Limes.
Finger Limes can take a mild frost once established, though very young plants should be protected until they are at least 15 cm tall. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. Be careful to harden off recently purchased plants if you intend to plant these during winter and frosts are likely. Do this by gradually exposing them to the cooler conditions over a 2-3 week period or until such time as you think that a frost won’t damage them. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted. Generally speaking, a good sized Finger Limes planted in spring will cope with frosts the following winter.
Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will produce amazing plants. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are not well suited to Finger Limes. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant.
Feeding your Finger Lime plants in spring with Citrus Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Do ensure that plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
Finger Limes can cope with coastal areas provided they are not covered in salt spray. Being constantly coated with sea spray can result in leaf burning and ultimate death of the plant. Planting on the opposite side of the house to the beach is generally fine.
If the soil is too saline, this can also prove detrimental to the plants and result in them becoming stunted and not performing. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost and water regularly during dry periods.
The answer to this question depends on how much shade. In shaded conditions Finger Limes tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and fruit yield drops away. In full sun they tend to be compact and dense, with better flowering and yield, and the internal colouring of the berries becomes more intense. That said, Finger Limes will grow well with just 4-5 hours of direct sun during the day, or with large amounts of dappled light.
The short answer to this question is no. Finger Limes do not grow well on heavy soils, including clay and are likely to die a slow death.
Finger Limes look amazing when grown in pots and managed appropriately. Choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what the Finger Limes is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them. Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
The key to having an amazing Finger Limes in a pot is to both keep it fed correctly (see article Best Fertiliser For Finger Limes Grown In A Container) and not to over-water it. Over-watering is the most common reason Finger Limes fail.
Finger Limes owe their popularity to not just their unusual fruit, but to their thorny and dense growth habit. They are often maintained in a container as a rounded topiary bush. More commonly, they are planted for fruit production in a spot where children or pets won’t encounter them. The thorns are very sharp and result in a skin irritation when pricked. On this basis, a spot in the back of a mixed planting is often their best position. The Plant Company has used them as a bushy specimen surrounded with Black Mondo Grass in one design and with Silver Mist Mondo Grasses in another.
They are also well suited to planting in very dry areas of a garden given they are tolerant of extended dry periods. This is perhaps why they perform so well in pots and against concrete walls that are exposed to full sun.
Finger Limes can be used to make impenetrable hedges with the advantage of fruit production. Moreover, they can be either formal (i.e., trimmed) or informal (not trimmed). To create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 50 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule. With this planting regime they will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time.
You can go out to 75 cm if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.
If 25L grades (or bigger) are purchased which are 1m tall and lush, you can space these 75-90 cm apart without issue. These grades have generally been manicured to ensure they are bushy to the base and will therefore branch and fill in more easily.
There are two scenarios here. The first is to plant Finger Limes as a hedge, the second is as standalone plants for fruit production. As a hedge they would generally be planted 75 cm apart, but this depends on how fast you want them to fill in. Our article, Growing A Finger Lime Hedge discusses this subject more fully.
The most common approach with Finger Limes is to plant them as standalone plants. Given they grow to 2 m tall and 2 m wide, they are generally planted 6 m apart so you can get in between them. On commercial orchards they are normally planted 4-5 m apart in rows that are 6 m apart. You have to bear in mind that they are slow growing, so the wait for full production off an area of land can be many years. The Plant Company recommends double planting with a view that every second plant may be cut out in time. The decision to cut out trees will be based on how the trees are yielding at the time. Similarly, the decision to double plant the trees will depend on your budget. Please Contact Us if you are considering reasonable numbers of Finger Limes and we can price accordingly.
Finger Limes are generally regarded as slow growing in temperate climates. However, in a warm climate they can double in size each year. Be sure to start with strong and healthy plants at the outset as a sickly plant can take a lot of time to recover.
Time to fruit for a Finger Lime depends on the size and age of the plant purchased. Most plants sold at 30 cm tall are one year old. On this basis, it will be another two years before any fruit is produced and this assumes you have them in good growing conditions. It is sometimes worth purchasing a larger grade as those have generally already started fruiting and have been manicured to a nice form.
Finger Limes typically reach 2 m tall and the same wide, though this obviously depends on the growing conditions. The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each plant will grow in an unrestricted growing environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our Finger Limes and the detailed information that accompanies both this and our other plants.
Choose a full sun position for your Finger Limes. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread Citrus Fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
The Plant Company has produced specific articles to help you grow amazing Finger Limes: How To Plant Finger Limes, How To Trim Finger Limes, Best Fertiliser For Finger Limes, When To Water Finger Limes, How To Mulch Around Finger Limes, and Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Placing mulch around Finger Limes helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.
Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your Finger Lime plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Once out, you need to assess the roots before progressing. If they are not all bound up, and haven’t been growing in a circle within the container, place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If, however, the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, simply cut through those very outer roots on either side. You don’t need to be any more aggressive than this or remove any of the growing media. You can try and tease the roots apart, but this generally breaks them which is why we cut them. NB: cutting roots is not essential, even if the plant is root-bound as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Citrus Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
A wide range of plants can be grown with Finger Limes. The Plant Company often recommends using other plant colours and textures to add variety and interest. Such plants include Lomandra, Astelia, flaxes, Rosemary, Creeping Thyme, and Mondo Grasses.
The Plant Company experimented with Finger Limes along with another nursery producer. Our conclusions were that growth was slower with grafted plants and we could not see any advantages from undertaking this activity unless a standardised plant was desired. We determined that if a non-standardised plant was required, the plants would become significantly more expensive for the consumer. However, a rootstock can offer advantages if the plants are going onto heavier soil types. In these instances, the rootstock will provide disease advantages and allow the plant to perform better overall. The Plant Company only produces cutting grown Finger Limes at this time.
For nurseries producing standardised Finger Limes, a rootstock is commonly used as this is both faster growing than the Finger Lime, and is easier to work with. In this instance, the plant can be either grafted or non-grafted and will give the same result for the purchaser.
Finger Limes are a cylindrical fruit up to 10 cm long. They have a leathery skin which encapsulates citrus flavoured balls on the interior. The balls can vary in colour from green, pink, and yellow depending on how mature the fruit is and the variety. The balls are often used to garnish dishes, added to cocktail drinks, or dropped into glasses of champagne to give a citrus twist.
They grow on a dense shrub that carries small dark green leaves and is very thorny. It usually takes 2-3 years for the plant to start producing fruit.
A Caviar Lime is the same as a Finger Lime. These are the common names for the plant that has the latin name Citrus australasica. There are a few varieties of Finger Lime generally available at The Plant Company.
Finger Limes are best planted from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.
A full sun or partial shade position with good drainage and shelter is essential for getting the best results with Finger Limes. In shaded conditions they tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and fruit yield drops away. In full sun they tend to be compact and dense, with better flowering and yield, and the internal colouring of the berries becomes more intense. The planting position should also be moderately sheltered which will help with establishment, the overall plant shape, and fruiting.
Finger Limes originate from subtropical rainforest in the coastal border region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Here they grow as an under-story shrub on the fringes of the forest. In such environments they can experience hot temperatures, dry periods, and periods of intense rain, and high humidity. The thorns offer protection from grazing animals, while a deep and penetrating root system allows them to survive in tough climates.
The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Finger Limes, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Citrus Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Finger Limes in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Caring for Finger Limes in autumn is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poor looking stems will help keep the plants tidy.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Citrus Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well. Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising and mulching around the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Citrus Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with a mulch (if not done already) during winter or spring. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and encourages more foliage as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it. Please note: The Plant Company does not recommend using solid fertilisers at this time of year unless plenty of water can be applied.
The other required activities for Finger Limes during summer are weed control and monitoring for pests and diseases. Keeping the weeds down around the plant will produce a better plant overall. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Caring for Finger Limes in winter is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poor looking leaves will help keep the plants tidy.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Citrus Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well and is best held off until spring.
Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Finger Lime Issues And Troubleshooting.
Finger Limes require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Citrus Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company’s Citrus Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Citrus Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Citrus Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Finger Limes grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.
Finger Limes are showy plants that do require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.
The soil pH refers to how acid or alkaline the soil is. Finger Limes prefer a soil pH within the range of 5.5 to 6.8 which means they require an acidic soil. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.
The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 5.5 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with Citrus Fertiliser. A pH above 6.8 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use Citrus Fertiliser thereafter.
Small amounts of dead tissue at the ends of older leaves and stem ends on Finger Limes is common. It is generally the result of the plants having endured a stress such as from drying out for a period or over-watering. The tips of stems can be trimmed using secateurs and this won’t affect the plant. Otherwise, the plant will simply grow through it and the dead tips will drop off naturally.
If there is significant death of the branches, it could be the result of citrus borer. This insect pest bores into the stems and slowly kills the branches as it feeds. The best way to control this is by cutting back the stems until there are none of the tell-tale holes in the stems, then painting the cut stem with an insecticidal paint.
The main pests of Finger Limes are scale insects. On occasion aphids, mites, and mealy bugs have been observed. They result in yellow leaves that are often mottled. Where such pests are present there will often be a black mould on some of the leaves and stems. This is a mould that feeds on the sugars released from the plant by these insects feeding. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time. All of these pests are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Leaf yellowing can result from Finger Limes being over-watered, grown in poor draining soil, or both. They can develop yellow leaves if they have not been watered for some time but this is usually coupled with leaves dropping. Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Citrus Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.
Pests sucking on the leaves can cause a yellowing but this is often mottled and varied across the plant. The article, Finger Limes Pests, discusses these.
Buying quality plants can be a challenge at times. However, The Plant Company makes this job easy by offering high quality Finger Limes. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith given you are putting your trust in us. Therefore, we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. We propagate and nurture plants ready for their new home, and take pride in exceeding our customers expectations. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
Black mould on Finger Limes is caused by Sooty Mould Fungus. This fungus feeds on the sugars released by feeding insects such as scale insects, aphids, mites, and mealy bugs. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time as long as the pests causing it are killed. All of these pests are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
When Finger Limes are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, blackening of the stems, and defoliation. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem as prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered. Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided.
Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer does have fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can bounce back. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.
Finger Limes can be a challenge to propagate successfully as they are slow growing and rot easily. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with 2-3 leaves at the top, and is clipped just below a node at the base. All thorns are trimmed back. A nick is taken from the base of the cutting to expose more tissue. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone, then inserted into propagation growing media. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of eight weeks as a general rule. The Plant Company generally applies a fungicide once per week while the cutting strikes. They grow very slowly thereafter until such time as they have established a good root system and foliage.
Finger Limes will sprout when cut right back, even up to 5-10 cm above ground level. However, this relies on the plant having heathy shoots at the outset. This activity is best undertaken during spring or summer using secateurs. Please note: Finger Limes grown in shade environments may struggle to re-establish when cut back severely. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting plants any lower than 10 cm above ground level to ensure a better chance of success with this procedure.
Finger Limes are generally only trimmed to excess branches or to thin out the branches. This is best done during late spring or summer when plants are in active growth. You can be as gentle or aggressive as you like. Aggressive trimming can involve cutting plants back up to 5-10 cm above the soil level. Finger Limes are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will generally recover! Unfortunately, there is a risk of plants dying after such aggressive trimming. This will sometimes occur if the plants were diseased or suffering nutritional deficiencies ahead of trimming. In these cases, the plant wouldn’t have had the reserves to resume active growth.
Light trimming can involve cutting the brown tips off plants, cutting out yellow or sickly-looking leaves, or even thinning out the foliage. This can be done at any time.
Finger Limes can be trimmed at any time of the year, though summer is the time recommended by The Plant Company for any aggressive cutting back. The plants will sprout new shoots just below the cut, and at this time of year they can produce new growth quickly.
Light trimming to remove unsightly foliage can occur at any time of year.
Finger Limes require good levels of soil moisture to stay fresh and keep growing actively even though they can tolerate extended dry periods. They require watering both during establishment and during those dry periods. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every third day during summer, or every fifth day if the soil is a bit heavier. If plants start to defoliate, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes.
During dry periods, Finger Limes may stop growing and shed their leaves to preserve themselves. This is clearly not desirable if you are still wanting them to grow. They will start growing again once rain or water is provided, and assuming they have not been allowed to desiccate.
If your Finger Lime is being grown in a pot, watering two times a week during summer and once every 14 days during winter is the general rule. This will depend on how hot the growing environment is and the size of the plant. The good thing about Finger Limes is that you generally won’t kill them with under-watering. Over-watering, on the other hand, is the most common cause of plant death.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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