Pachira aquatica is known by many names. The plant is known as the shaving brush tree because of its showy flowers. Those who successfully cultivate this exotic plant can enjoy a tropical atmosphere.
Characteristics
- original home extends from Mexico to northern Brazil
- evergreen deciduous tree that grows up to 20 meters high
- also known as Guyana, Wild Cocoa Tree or Malabar Chestnut
- Flowers greenish-yellow to cream-colored with red stamens that are reminiscent of shaving brushes
- Bats are believed to be natural pollinators
Location and soil
The lucky chestnut prefers light conditions, although it does not like direct sunlight. She feels comfortable on the south-facing windowsill when she is shaded by a curtain at lunchtime. Ideally, you should place the happiness tree on a west or east window. The ornamental plant finds optimal conditions when the thermometer is between 18 and 20 degrees in summer. If the room air is warmer than 25 degrees, you should increase the humidity. During the summer months, the ornamental chestnut can be placed outdoors, provided the place is sheltered from the wind and rain and in the sun. The substrate should have the following properties:
- loose and permeable with a high proportion of sand
- pronounced ability to store water without promoting waterlogging
- high proportion of nutrients
- Potting soil, potted plant substrate or cactus soil are ideal
to water
The lucky tree develops a slightly thickened trunk base, which is made up of so-called
Buttress roots or buttocks composed. These structures not only serve for stability but also for water storage. As a result, the plant does not need a lot of water, although regular watering makes sense. This is the only way the storage tank can fill up again. Use lime-free rainwater to prevent unsightly stains on leaves and bark. How to pour properly:- water thoroughly once a week in summer
- Throw away excess water
- Let the substrate dry before the next watering
- Water rarely in winter so that the bale does not dry out completely
- Spray leaves regularly all year round
Fertilize
In the first year of standing, you do not have to fertilize the room chestnut, as the plant is adequately supplied with nutrients in the trade. From the second year on, the effort for care increases, because then the ornamental chestnut attaches importance to a regular supply of nutrients during the main growing season. In winter, the need for nutrients decreases as the plant takes a break. Follow these steps to promote the vitality of the tree:
- fertilize every two weeks between April and September
- Use standard flower or green plant fertilizer in half the concentration
- Add liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water and administer it with the usual irrigation
Cut
The lucky chestnut does not require pruning. If withered leaves don't fall off on their own, you can pluck them off by hand. If the plant takes up too much space over time, pruning measures are possible all year round. Ideally, the temperatures are above 20 degrees so that the plant will sprout again quickly afterwards. Use sharp secateurs to trim the tree to the desired size. After about
two weeks fresh shoots develop below the interfaces.Note: Unfavorable lighting conditions mean that the shape of the shaving brush tree no longer develops as evenly as before. Plant lamps ensure good lighting.
Overwinter
The tree overwinters in a light and cool winter quarters. An unused room with windows or a winter garden provide optimal conditions for an unproblematic winter rest. During the cold season, the room chestnut tolerates somewhat cooler conditions that should not drop below twelve degrees for a long time. Temperatures below ten degrees Celsius can damage the plant. The humidity should be between 40 and 50 percent. Check the leaves and trunk regularly for pests so that you can act quickly.
Repot
The lucky chestnut needs a new pot every two to three years so that its roots can spread unrestrictedly. Repotting is also advisable if the soil is depleted and heavily compacted at an early stage so that the water simply runs through the edges of the pot. The plant comes into its own in higher planters, although it does not make any special demands on the quality of the pots. If you choose a vessel with an irrigation system, there is no need for regular watering. How to do it:
- Get the root ball out of the old pot
- Knock out the substrate completely
- Cut off rotten roots
- Place drainage from stones or potsherds in the new pot
- Fill the soil with fresh substrate
- Insert the tree and fill in the gaps with earth
- Press the substrate on and water it thoroughly
Tip: Repot Pachira aquatica in a fresh bucket immediately after purchase, as the containers offer too little space. Take this opportunity to untangle braided specimens and remove elastic bands to avoid pressure points.
Hydroponics
The lucky tree is suitable for hydroponics, which is recommended for plants in offices. With this variant, regular watering is not required. Hydroponics is not suitable as a permanent form of cultivation, as the plants wither after about a year due to a lack of nutrients. Because moving from soil to a soil-free root environment is often a problem, you should decide to buy a hydroponic plant. The following aspects provide initial indications for successful cultivation:
- Expanded clay or coarse lava gravel is suitable as a substrate
- this is allowed to dry out between watering
- It is fertilized with mineral fertilizers that are suitable for hydroponics
- Nutrient solution is given each time it is topped up
Cuttings
Pachira aquatica is easy to propagate from cuttings that you cut before the start of the new growing season. You can use both woody and green shoots, with the fresh parts of the plant forming roots faster. Put the cuttings in a glass with lukewarm water and place this in a warm and bright place. As soon as the first root tips show up at the interface, you can plant the young plant.
Tip: You can also place the cuttings directly in a planter filled with substrate. Dust the dried interface with a rooting powder beforehand in order to accelerate the root formation.
sowing
In indoor culture, the shaving brush tree does not produce any fruit because the important pollinators are missing. The capsules are woody and weigh about 1.5 kilograms. They contain ten to 25 round seeds, which are surrounded by a spongy fruit casing. You can occasionally find seeds of this plant in well-stocked garden centers. The best time to sow is spring. By taking the right approach, you can increase the success of germs:
- Soak seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours
- Mix the seed compost with sand or perlite and pour into a container
- Plant seeds an inch deep
- Place the seed tray in a warm place with a temperature of around 23 degrees
- Keep the soil moist but not wet
Diseases and pests
Fortune trees are considered robust and rarely suffer from diseases. If the tree gets too many yellow leaves or sheds its foliage, the causes are usually incorrect care or location conditions. A lack of light, drafts and cold or waterlogging are common reasons for leaf discoloration. By changing these conditions, the plant usually recovers over time. On the other hand, these pests are more common when the humidity is too low:
- Spider mites leave behind typical webs
- can be removed by showering
- Mealybugs produce sticky secretions
- an aqueous spirit solution can be used for spraying