Kumquat - mini

[Mamohau]

Hi, I've just joined the site as I found it when searching for a 'recipe' to make my own ericaceous compost!

I've found a recipe (unless anyone has one which doesn't involve buying Chempak Erica compost maker?) but I would like to know about this:

I've bought a cheapy, abandoned (I'm always rescuing things from furniture to ferrets to plants) citrus plant. I've potted it on to a large pot so that it won't have re-potting experience for many years. It's about 10", has quite a bit of fruit on it, some leaves, and quite a few good well developed branches. The trunk is about half an inch, two mature lateral branches and a 3rd a year or two younger. There are plenty of side-shoots with fruiting stems off them. I'm wondering if I should prune it at all now although it is a good shape, plenty of space in the centre and between the branches. I was just thinking of encouraging it to put some energy into adjusting to its new home rather than into fruit (pretty though they are!). Can anyone make any suggestions (from leave it alone to strip the fruit off!)?

[Flummery]

The usual advice is not to pot from a small into a large pot but to do it in stages. This is because the plant is not 'using' the compost on the outer edge of the pot so it can get stale. The plant will put its roots out into a smaller pot and then do the same into the next size up and it builds itself up gradually. At 10" high I wouldn't go for a pot bigger than 5". I also wouldn't prune it. Anyone else got any advice?

[Mamohau]

Thanks, I'll move it back quickly!