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Repotting guide

When & how to repot Finger Lime (Microcitrus australasica)

Also called finger lime, Australian finger lime, citrus caviar.

More about finger lime

About Finger Lime

Microcitrus australasica · also called finger lime, Australian finger lime · edible

The Australian finger lime is a thorny rainforest citrus prized for its caviar-like vesicle pearls that burst with tart juice. Slow-growing and frost-tender, it thrives in a sheltered, sunny spot or a large container moved indoors over winter. Expect fruit from late autumn, with cultivars ranging from green to crimson pulp.

Mature size: 2-4 m tall in the ground (often kept to 1.5-2 m in containers), spreading 1-3 m wide.

How to tell finger lime needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For finger lime, watch for these signs:

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot finger lime

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Finger Limeis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Densely twiggy, thorny evergreen shrub with small leaves and a naturally bushy, somewhat sprawling form; can be trained as a compact standard or hedge..

What size pot to step finger lime up to

Pot finger lime on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot finger lime

Pot finger lime on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting finger lime

  1. Pot on before it is root-bound. Check finger lime regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
  2. Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
  3. Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
  4. Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh free-draining, slightly acidic loam at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
  5. Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water finger lime in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for finger lime

Finger Lime wants free-draining, slightly acidic loam. Target pH 6.0-6.5. A citrus or loam-based potting mix amended with grit and composted bark suits containers. Sharp drainage is essential; heavy clay must be lightened with grit or planted into a raised bed. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting finger lime — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot finger lime?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for finger lime. Finger Lime is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into free-draining, slightly acidic loam so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does finger lime need?

Pot finger lime on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.

When is the best time of year to repot finger lime?

Pot finger lime on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Can you put finger lime straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing finger lime should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise finger lime after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting finger lime. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.

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