Grown for its strikingly original fruits and for a blossom much appreciated by perfume makers, the Buddha’s hand is a variety of citron (Citrus medica), the evergreen tree that stands as the ancestor of the lemon. It asks for full sun, well-drained soil and shelter from anything below 40°F (5°C); meet that, and a potted tree will fruit for years.
| Name | Citrus medica |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae (Rue family) |
| Type | fruit tree |
| Height | 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | well-drained |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | all year round |
| Hardiness | at least 40°F (5°C) |
Here are our tips: advice on planting, pruning and caring to grow nice citron trees.
The planting of the Buddha’s hand citron tree is very important, because it determines how well the tree will grow, bear flowers and ultimately produce citrons (the ancestor of lemon).
The Buddha’s hand citron tree requires well drained and rich soil for it to develop well.
Before you start, you should know that Buddha’s hand does not resist freezing, and will start suffering when temperatures drop below 40°F (5°C).
Only try to plant the Buddha’s hand citron tree directly in the ground in areas where the winter climate is very mild, or in winter gardens.
This is probably the best way to grow Buddha’s hand citron trees in our temperate latitudes, because our climate is too cool.
Growing this citron is mostly a matter of doing a few simple things at the right moment. Here is the year’s work gathered in one place, whether your tree is in the ground or in a pot.
| Task | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Planting in the ground | Any time except midsummer | Only where winter is very mild; sun-bathed spot sheltered from heavy wind, with a drainage layer in the hole |
| Moving a potted tree under cover | Mid-autumn to late spring | Keep it in a lean-in or an unheated greenhouse, never a heated room |
| Repotting | After purchase, then every 2 to 3 years | Use garden soil mixed with citrus-specific planting soil mix |
| Pruning | Early to late spring, after harvest | Cut each new shoot back to about half its length, just above a leaf, and clear dead wood |
| Watering a potted tree | Winter | As little as possible, about once a fortnight, preferably with collected rain water |
| Harvesting | When the fruits detach easily | Pick each citron as soon as it breaks off without effort |
With those few dates respected, the rest of the year asks almost nothing of you.
Since the size of the Buddha’s hand tree when adult is quite small, about 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters), normally you can avoid any measure of pruning.
However, you can prune a few times to increase growth, help the branches to grow more dense, and get more fruits.
Pruning is best performed in spring, ideally during the months of March, April or May, after the citron harvest.
Pruning should be restricted to the bare minimum:
Using a properly disinfected hand pruner, cut each new shoot back to more or less half its length, taking great care to cut just above a leaf.
The Buddha’s hand citron tree normally doesn’t require any specific watering pattern, except in hotter countries and those countries that suffer from strong droughts in summer.
Never water too much, because the Buddha’s hand citron tree doesn’t cope well with flooded soil.
The Buddha’s hand citron tree planted in a pot doesn’t have the same water needs as a normal ground-grown tree, because the soil in the pot dries up much faster.
The ‘Buddha’s hand’ citron, in the end, is a very easy citrus to care for.
When planting was properly performed, and that watering is correctly balanced, this fruit tree should give you much enjoyment and satisfaction.
Just like all other potted plants, adding citrus-specific fertilizer will be needed regularly to compensate the natural loss of nutrients in the soil mix that you’ve provided for it.
Important: The Buddha’s hand citron tree is not an indoor plant and it can’t survive indoors in a heated room all year long, especially not in winter.
Similar to lemon trees, the Buddha’s hand citron tree is vulnerable to the same diseases.
Fruit rot, aphids or mealybugs are some of the many diseases and parasites that Buddha’s hand trees can suffer from.
Pick the citrons as soon as they easily break off from the citron tree.
Credits for images shared to Nature & Garden (all edits by Gaspard Lorthiois):
Close hand of Buddha on tree by Pixel2013 under Pixabay license
Open Buddha’s hand by Pixel2013 under Pixabay license
Ripe Hand of Buddha by Kkristie under Pixabay license
