Buddha's hand 'Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis'

Buddha's hand is a citrus fruit. It is a variety of citron tree whose enormous fruits are very decorative and fragrant. In Asia, its fruits are used as a good luck charm, or to perfume homes or clothing. Indeed, in addition to its surprising shape, this fruit is particularly aromatic. In France, the Buddha's hand is a beautiful decorative tree, the fruits of which can be used in cooking.

Citrus fruit of small development, rarely exceeding 2 m in cultivation. Its large leaves are light green, with little winged petiole, the axil of which is spiny. The flowers are grouped, cream on the inside, and washed with purple on the outside. Quite large for a citrus fruit, they are deliciously fragrant. The flowers are self-fertile, a single buddha's hand plant is enough to produce fruits.

The fruits grow for months and become very large, the size of a pineapple, showing strong digitation. They are green and take 3 months to ripen and turn yellow on the tree. These fruits have very little flesh, they are not juicy, do not contain seeds, are not very acidic and not very bitter. They are interesting for their epidermis, or zest, produced in large quantities and aromatic. A potted citron tree bearing several citrons in the shape of Buddha's hand is particularly attractive.

This citrus fruit is one of the coldest, and outside of a few frost-free Mediterranean regions, Buddha's hand is cultivated as a winter garden plant, in large pots, maintaining a minimum winter temperature of 5 °C. You can overwinter it in a cool room and take it out onto the terrace during the summer. Coming from a tropical environment, Citrus medica ‘Digitata’ needs 4 to 5 hours of sunshine per day. However, Buddha's hand cannot withstand high heat or drought.

Buddha's hand is planted in a citrus mixture. This Citrus loves rich, organic soils. We add citrus fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the season. The rate of watering depends on the temperature: a significant supply of water which completely wets the substrate, but removing the excess in the saucer, because the citron tree cannot stand having its feet in water. Between each watering, the soil must not dry out completely.

In a greenhouse or veranda, there are few insects, and you can replace their role as pollinator using a fine brush. You will collect the pollen, then coat the pistils with it. This will allow you to obtain a greater number of fruits.