Winter: 2026
How to Root a Mandarin Lemon Cuttings
- Step-by-Step Process (Based on the Video and Photos). Leaf Trimming (Reducing Evapotranspiration):
- Preparing the Organic Substrate
- Pre-moistening and Dibbling:
- Planting and Securing:
- Settling Water:
- Installing the Humidity Dome:
- Care Strategy & Aftercare (Next 4 to 6 Weeks) Ventilation Holes:
- Location: Bright Indirect Light (Shade inside Greenhouse):
- Rooting Timeline:
- Aftercare:
Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! Today we are tackling an exciting citrus propagation project.
For 6 months, I kept a mandarin lemon cutting in water trying to induce rooting. Although the stem stayed healthy and green, it failed to produce adventitious roots. Water alone often lacks the natural gas exchange, physical resistance, and hormone triggers required for woody citrus stems to form a root callus. To remedy this, I transitioned the cutting into a rich, structured organic substrate composed of peat moss, worm castings, and coarse sand, creating a controlled microclimate using a ventilated plastic dome.
The leaves were cut in half. Without roots, the stem cannot uptake water quickly. Trimming the leaf area closes off excess stomata, reducing transpirational water loss while allowing photosynthesis to continue generating natural rooting hormones (auxins).
A light, well-draining mix of peat moss, worm humus, and sandy soil was prepared. Peat retains even moisture, humus enriches the medium with beneficial biology, and sand provides aeration to prevent basal rot.
The soil was pre-dampened to a moist—never soggy—consistency. A small hole was created in the center using a wooden stick. Dibbling prevents mechanical damage to the delicate cut tissue at the bottom of the stem during insertion.
The cutting was placed inside the hole, and the substrate was gently firmed around the stem with fingertips to collapse air pockets and ensure firm stem-to-soil contact.
A small amount of water was applied to seal the substrate around the base.
A clear, recycled plastic bottle top was placed over the pot to act as a mini-greenhouse/humidity bell.
Make 4 to 5 small ventilation holes on top of the plastic dome. This promotes vital gas exchange and prevents stagnant high humidity that invites fungal infections while maintaining high ambient moisture (>80% RH).
Keep the setup in a shaded area of your greenhouse away from direct sun. Technical Reason: Direct sunlight hitting the clear dome creates an extreme heat trap, burning the unrooted cutting. Bright shade keeps temperatures stable (around 20°C–25°C / 68°F–77°F), ideal for cell division.
Under these conditions, root callus formation and subsequent root emergence are expected within 4 to 6 weeks.
Ensure the soil stays lightly damp. The emergence of fresh green buds on the stem will be the first indicator of successful root development!
Interactive image viewer: Lemon and Mandarin cuttings
📸Rooting process log
Lemon cutting in water
It didn't take root in six months.
Try planting in substratum
Cutting to be planted
In organic substrate
And in the sand.
Lemon tree cutting planted
With substrate
Organic matter with coarse river sand
