{"product_id":"idlimbu-10-grow-bag","title":"Idlimbu - 10\" Grow bag","description":"\u003cp\u003eIdlimbu, widely known as Sour Orange or Bitter Orange (\u003cem\u003eCitrus aurantium\u003c\/em\u003e), is a small to medium evergreen tree of the Rutaceae family. It bears glossy dark-green aromatic leaves with characteristic winged petioles, intensely fragrant white blossoms, and round orange fruits whose pulp is too sour to eat fresh but prized for cooking and processing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Indian gardens and orchards it is valued on two counts. Its sharp, acidic juice (called 'khatta') flavours pickles, marmalades, chutneys and traditional remedies, while the vigorous, disease-tolerant rootstock is the backbone on which sweet oranges, lemons and mandarins are commonly grafted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTough, sun-loving and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils, the sour orange thrives in India's tropical and subtropical belts and can also be container-grown on terraces and balconies with regular feeding and watering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFamily\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRutaceae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eNative region\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoutheast Asia; long naturalised and cultivated across India\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-9 m in ground; 2-3 m when container-grown\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature spread\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 m\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFoliage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen, glossy dark-green aromatic leaves with winged petioles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower colour\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhite, highly fragrant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower season\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpring (February-April)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eClimate zone\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropical and subtropical\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSunlight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun; at least 6 hours of direct light daily for good flowering and fruiting.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eWatering\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater every 5-7 days in summer and every 10-15 days in winter; keep soil moist but never waterlogged.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil \/ mix\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeep, well-drained loamy or clay-loam soil, slightly acidic to neutral pH 6.0-7.5; avoid waterlogging.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrows best at 15-35 C; tolerates brief cool spells but is damaged by hard frost.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eHumidity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate humidity; tolerates dry air once established.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNitrogen-rich feed such as urea three times a year (early spring, early summer, early winter), plus citrus micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mg).\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePruning\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight pruning after fruiting to remove dead, weak or crossing branches and to shape the canopy; remove rootstock suckers.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eRepotting\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFor potted plants, repot or top-dress every 2-3 years in spring into the next size container.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePropagation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBy seed (largely true-to-type) and by grafting or T-budding; widely used itself as a citrus rootstock.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePests \u0026amp; problems\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCitrus leaf miner, aphids, scale, mealybug and citrus canker; monitor new flush and treat early.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eToxicity \/ safety\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit is edible and safe for humans (very sour, used in cooking). Citrus essential oils in peel and leaves are mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested in quantity.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eUses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Tart juice (\u0026amp;#039;khatta\u0026amp;#039;) used in pickles, marmalade, chutneys, squashes and as a souring agent in cooking.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;The single most common rootstock for grafting sweet orange, mandarin and lemon in Indian orchards.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Fragrant white flowers yield neroli\/bigarade oil used in perfumery and flavouring.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Traditional household and Ayurvedic remedies use the fruit, peel and flowers for digestion, cough and cold.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Attractive, fragrant evergreen specimen or hedge tree for gardens and large containers.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ul\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Plant young grafted saplings at the onset of the monsoon (June-July) so the rains help establishment; in the south, February-March planting also works with assured irrigation.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Give the heaviest feed and watering during the spring flush and fruit set, then ease off in the cool season. Mulch the basin to conserve moisture and apply micronutrient sprays if leaves yellow between the veins.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Protect young plants from strong winter cold in north India, and watch the tender new flush for leaf miner and aphids during the warm months.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCan you eat Idlimbu (sour orange) fruit raw?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pulp is far too sour and bitter to enjoy fresh. It is used instead for its tangy juice in pickles, marmalades, chutneys and as a souring agent, much like lime or tamarind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy is sour orange used as a rootstock?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCitrus aurantium has a vigorous, deep root system and good tolerance to several soil-borne diseases and saline conditions, so sweet orange, mandarin and lemon are commonly grafted onto it for healthier, longer-lived trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow long before an Idlimbu plant bears fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrafted plants usually start flowering and fruiting in about 3-4 years, while seed-grown trees take longer. Full sun, regular feeding and steady watering speed up fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vedicflora","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51256146067702,"sku":"PLT-IDLIMBU-B10-NA","price":199.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0805\/4980\/6326\/files\/nurserylive-plants-idlimbu-sour-orange-citrus-aurantium-plant-16968950186124.jpg?v=1783921941","url":"https:\/\/vedicflora.com\/products\/idlimbu-10-grow-bag","provider":"vedicflora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}