How To Grow Calamansi Lime

The little citrus-scented green balls with dark skin and orangey flesh filled with seeds when sliced, these are calamansi limes. A popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking, especially in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines, calamansi adds that essential sourness or tangy lift that brightens up dishes.

Calamansi lime has a unique tangy-sweet flavour, somewhat like a cross between lime and mandarin orange. Compared to the regular green lime commonly used in Asian cooking (HOW TO GROW TORCH GINGER/BUNGA KANTAN), which is sharper and more acidic, calamansi is milder and slightly sweeter.

In contrast, kaffir lime juice is rarely used due to its bitterness, but its highly aromatic leaves are a favourite in Thai dishes like tom yum and green curry. In Malaysia, kaffir lime leaves are often added to flavour spicy dishes like sambal, rendang, asam pedas, and more.

Calamansi, on the other hand, is often used in Malaysian dishes as the main source of sourness, sometimes even replacing tamarind in recipes.

Gardening Tips for Growing Calamansi Lime at Home.

 

Growing Calamansi from Seeds

Yes, you can grow calamansi lime from seeds. The plant will grow easily and can reach a good height. But here’s the thing, growing is one thing, getting fruits is another. We grew one that did well for years, added fertiliser, cared for it. Still, no fruits even after 10 years. Eventually, we had to remove it. So, unless you're okay with just having a leafy plant, don’t expect fruit from a seed-grown calamansi (GROWING BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER/BUNGA TELANG).

 

How to Grow Calamansi Lime at Home

Unless you're really into gardening, you’ll likely skip grafting and go for the easiest option,  buying a calamansi lime plant. It’s affordable and beginner-friendly. You can easily find these plants online or at nurseries, usually priced between RM10 and RM15, or more depending on the size.

 

Gardening Tip

Once you’ve bought the plant, don’t rush to pot or plant it immediately. Let it sit in your compound or garden area for about three days. This helps the plant adjust to its new environment, one of the home gardening tips for any plant. After that, you can plant it directly in the ground or transfer it into a pot. Simple and doable.

Growing Calamansi Lime in a Pot
When it comes to growing calamansi lime in a pot, size matters - the size of the plant determines the size of the pot. Choose a pot that’s spacious enough for the roots to grow freely. Once the plant outgrows it, repot into a larger container. Otherwise, growth will slow down or stop. Also, don’t forget to occasionally loosen the soil. This helps water absorb better. If water doesn’t seep in properly, your plant may start to wither or dry out.

 

Type of Soil

The calamansi lime plant can adapt to most soil types, but clay soil tends to harden and dry out faster. That means you’ll need to water and loosen the soil more often. A better option,  especially for urban gardening, is pre-mixed potting soil. It’s convenient, widely available, and ideal for retaining moisture. Plus, it works well for other potted plants too.

Watering
While growing calamansi lime on the ground might be easier, growing it in pots is just as rewarding with the right care. One common issue is overwatering or underwatering. The trick? Touch the soil. If it feels dry, go ahead and water. If it’s still moist, hold off. Keeping the balance is key to healthy growth.

 

Fertiliser

If you want your calamansi plant to bear fruit, fertilising is a must. For sustainable gardening, organic fertiliser is the best choice. It’s eco-friendly and supports long-term soil health. Apply it once a month, and adjust the quantity depending on the size of your plant.

 

Pruning

Pruning helps your plant grow the way you want - short, tall, or bushy. It also removes dead or damaged leaves and encourages fresh new growth. Most importantly, pruning lets you check for pests like white mites or other bugs that usually hide underneath the leaves. You can do a light pruning when you need a lime, simply snip the fruit with a bit of stem, instead of just plucking.

Sunlight
Calamansi lime thrives under full sun, no surprise it grows so well in hot Asian climates. It loves the heat and sunlight all year round. Once it settles in, not much can stop it. It’s a hardy, resilient plant, rarely does it die easily. Give it enough sunshine, and it’ll reward you generously (MENTAL 

 

Simple Recipe for Calamansi Lime

Though calamansi lime can be used in many dishes, it’s often the simplest meals that highlight its magic.

 

Picture this: a bowl of warm rice, spicy sambal, a fried egg, and a few slices of cucumber, all brought to life with a squeeze of calamansi lime. That tangy, citrusy burst over the cucumber ties everything together in the most satisfying way.

Calamansi Lime Drink
Calamansi lime is a must for making teh limau ais (iced lime tea), a popular local drink. A squeeze of calamansi lime also lifts the taste of barley drinks with its zesty burst.

 

And when it comes to simple and refreshing beverages, nothing beats homemade calamansi lime juice. Just squeeze fresh calamansi limes into a glass, add honey or sugar, ice, and cold water. It’s a healthy, thirst-quenching drink that helps cleanse your system, perfect for hot weather and tropical days.

Kitchen Hack: Save Lime, Save Time
Here’s a kitchen tip that works for both calamansi lime and key lime. Instead of letting your limes dry up in the fridge, squeeze them in advance, pour the juice into a clean bottle, and keep it chilled. This not only saves time when cooking or making drinks, but also prevents waste.

This short video features key lime, but the same method works perfectly for calamansi lime too.