Dear cecil
What happens to the orange trees after the lunar year celebration is over? Are they still kept in the home or living room or are they given away. Why the orange trees are displayed at the main gate only for 15 days. Thanks.

Dear Anon,
1. The `kum' (orange) phonetic sound is `gold'. Thus, many Chinese homes purchase this plant which bears these tiny `kum' or gold.
2. The 15 days is because, Chinese New Year from the first day to the last day lasts 15 days.
3. The 15 days coincide with the full moon and one moon cycle.
4. For those who are rich, would after all the "gold" has dropped, as you had mentioned, discard the plant away.
The fruits are purposed nurtured by the nursey to bloom during this period and normally, although they can be eatened, but because of decorative reasons and the amount of fertilizer that went into the plant, it would not be adviseable to do so.
5. As mentioned above, usually, the `rich' would buy them.
While for others, they felt `wasted' to throw the plant away and kept the plant. More often, they buy only once and seldom buy a new one during the Chinese New Year. Unfortuantely, most of the time, the plant seldom blooms afterwards.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 5/3/00 12:52:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear cecil
What happens to the orange
trees after the lunar year
celebration is over? Are they
still kept in the home or
living room or are they given
away. Why the orange trees are
displayed at the main gate
only for 15 days. Thanks.

1. When we see "KUM" (minature mandarin orange)trees.. it simply meansChinese New Year is around the corner!

2. It is strongly not recommended to eat the fruits as these trees were "artifically" fertilised to yield a bumper harvest of minature "KUMs".

3. These minature mandarin oranges should only be admired but thus not eaten. Treat them as ornamental plant with fruits.