Pakhira home care Reproduction by cuttings Why do pakhira leaves turn yellow

Pakhira is a bottle tree (stores moisture in the lower thickened part of the stem), belonging to the Bombax family. Homeland - South America.

Under natural conditions, it is capable of reaching a height of about 20 m, but when grown in a room it is limited to 2-3 m, and the crown is about 1.5 in diameter. The tree is single-stemmed, begins branching when it reaches a height of 2 m. On long petioles, palmate-compound leaves are attached, their color is bright green. Pakhira is able to accumulate moisture at the base of the trunk, which is why it is considered a succulent and bottle tree.

Pakhira bloom

How pakhira blooms photo of flowering

Blooming at home is rare, but it is unusually beautiful. Long (10-15 cm), narrow, numerous flowers gather in a panicle. They are whitish at the base, then the color is beet. Bracts in the form of chopped, long, curled leaves.

What is the fruit of pakhira

Pakhira seeds photo

After flowering, a large fruit appears with a length of 10-25 cm, which can be eaten raw or fried. The seeds are very large, located inside the fruit.

Description and origin

In vivo pakhira can reach 20 meters in height... When grown indoors, its growth slows down significantly, and finally is no more than 3 meters. But, at the same time, it branches strongly and the crown can reach a diameter of about 1.5 meters.

Bright green foliage has a finger-shaped complex shape and long petioles... In the wild, the pakhira flower is very beautiful, narrow, white or yellowish in color, up to 15 centimeters long. Flowers are collected in huge panicle inflorescences, see photo:

Plants that are grown indoors, they almost never bloom... The fruits are berries with a lignified skin of olive color.

They are 10 to 25 centimeters long and resemble a coconut in appearance. Inside, they are filled with rounded seeds that can be eaten raw or roasted.

The rocky African deserts are considered the birthplace of pakhira. Under natural conditions, some species of this plant can also be found in the jungles of South and Central America. Nowadays, it has become a very popular houseplant around the world.

At home, pakhira can also grow quite large, as shown in this video:

Introduction

The homeland of this unusually beautiful plant is the tropical part Central and South America... Pakhiru due to the characteristic stem called the bottle tree, and it belongs to the baobab family.

Evergreen smooth leaves grow on long petioles, and flowering begins in June and ends in November, but when conditions change, the onset of this phase may shift. Large flowers have a vanilla smell and are collected in an inflorescence - a panicle.

Visually familiarize yourself with the flower Pakhira Aquatika you can on Photo below.

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To date, more than 20 types of pakhira are known. Only a few of them can be grown indoors.

Pakhira water

Pakhira aquatic or Pachira aquatic, unlike other species, prefers to settle in humid areas. Therefore, there may be no thickening on the stem to collect moisture.

It is also characterized by the wrinkled surface of the leaf plate, which has a rich bright green color. This type of pakhira belongs to one of the common types of this plant, grown indoors. Moreover, all its parts are edible.

Pakhira silver

Silver pakhira (Pachira argyreia) is a highly ornamental plant. Its green leaf plates have streaks and a pattern of silvery color and differ from aquatic pakhira only in this.

This species has appeared on sale relatively recently, therefore, it is still less common in home floriculture.

Round-leaved pakhira

Pachira rotundifoloa (Pachira rotundifoloa) has an unusual structure for this plant. Its stems in natural conditions of growth spread over the soil. Unlike many varieties, its foliage is rounded.

Pakhira aquatic - tree-like caudex with elegant simplicity of leaves

Pakhira aquatic does not at all look like an exotic plant and, unlike its caudex colleagues, at first glance does not give the impression of an unprecedented exotic. In spirit and character, it is more akin to classic indoor woody plants, it gives the impression of a traditional and even relict plant. Austere, neat, with simple but elegant shapes, pakhira is easily misleading. Despite its understated appearance, it requires the same care as any other caudex plant.

Pakhira came to us from the tropical forests of South America, where it can be found in swampy areas. In its homeland, it is also known as the Guiana or Malabar chestnut, and in the West as the Chinese and money tree. In our country, aquatic pakhira is most often called the bottle tree, although it shares this name with several other caudex cultures.

Pakhira water (Pachira aquatica) conquers with its tree-like silhouette and structure. It is difficult to guess from a distance about the unusualness of pakhira: it seems just a classic, strict and even somewhat prim tree. And only at close range you can appreciate all the advantages of this beauty. Most often, pakhirs on sale are represented by specimens with artificially intertwined trunks, which seem to be a bizarre work of art.

But pakhirs with a simple trunk are also very beautiful (especially since with age they will begin to bush and release side shoots). The interweaving of the trunks of several different young plants into a kind of pigtail is very effective, but it also has its drawbacks: over time, sooner or later, some of the plants intertwined with each other die off and die, and only the strongest survive. But this happens slowly and for many years you can admire the intricate ligature of the trunks.

The height of the trunks increases with time: in young plants they are practically invisible, but the “stem” gradually lengthens and rises upward. The height of pakhira water in room culture is limited to 1-1.5 m. The trunk is thickened from top to bottom, it stores water between bark and wood. Branches with luxurious leaves only adorn the original trunks of the plant.

Even the foliage of the aquatic pakhira is deceiving. From a distance, it seems that the plant produces classic large oval-lanceolate leaves with a flawless silhouette, but it's not so simple. In fact, ideal dark leaves are just a fraction of five-fingered compound leaves spread out like a palm. The dark, rich color favorably emphasizes the classic beauty of the greenery of this plant. The palm-shaped leaves of the aquatic pakhira seem both massive and graceful at the same time. And even if there are not so many of them, they create a full-fledged crown.

Pachira aquatica

Signs and superstitions, feng shui pakhira

Folk signs say that a pakhira living in a house cannot be passed on to someone or given as a gift. If this is done, then in the future the rest of the flowers stop growing and blooming.But, if for some reason the plant still needs to be given away, then it is necessary to take some thing or at least a coin from the new owner.

Feng Shui theory believes that pakhira endows households with health, luck, wealth and prosperity... Moreover, after the appearance of the next young leaf, there is an increase in all these benefits. With the appearance of this plant in the house, positive energy rises, and the negative one sharply weakens, which creates a friendly atmosphere in the family.

Pakhira. Growing problems:

Leaves curl and become soft if the room temperature is too mild.
Leaves wither and sink from lack of moisture.
Rots trunk from excess moisture in the soil. If the trunk is not significantly damaged, you can scrape the damage out and sprinkle the damage with activated carbon, but if the trunk is badly damaged, you will have to re-root the top of the plant.
Leaves are faded and small if the plant suffers from a lack of lighting.
Light spots appear on the leaves if the plant has too much light or is disturbed by direct sunlight.
Leaves turn brown if pahira is not watering enough.
The tips of the leaves turn brown due to drafts or low humidity.
The edges of the leaves turn brown due to temperature changes, if the difference between night and day temperatures is very large.
Pakhira stretches due to lack of lighting.

Home care

Since the pachira flower is a tropical plant, it likes bright lighting.

Therefore, it is better to place it in the western or eastern part of the room.

If it is on the south side, then during the hottest part of the day, additional shading should be created for it to protect it from sunburn.

In the summer, it is recommended to take it out to the balcony or veranda, if possible.

Pakhira belongs to heat-loving plants., therefore, in the spring and summer, the temperature in the room should have been about 25 degrees, and in the fall and winter at least 14 degrees. It does not have any special requirements for air humidity, but reacts positively to regular spraying.
Important! Pakhira does not like drafts, which provoke the development of many diseases.
This plant should be watered regularly, but only after the topsoil dries out. Pakhira should be fed from early spring to late summer. For this, complex mineral fertilizers are used once a month.

To form a beautiful crown of the chosen shape (ball, oval, etc.), the plant should be regularly cut. Cardinal pruning is carried out in the spring, and the current one can be applied at any time as needed.

To give pakhira a more decorative look, you can plant several seedlings in one container, remove the lower leaves from them and intertwine them. Of course, this is a long process, but the result is very beautiful specimens of this plant.

Reproduction of pakhira

Reproduction of this plant is possible in two ways - vegetative and seed.

Propagation of pakhira by cuttings

The vegetative method of propagation of pakhira is propagation by cuttings. For this purpose, a cutting up to 10 cm in size is taken, which has a formed structure with two leaf nodes.

Rooting is carried out as follows:

the lower edges of the cuttings are treated with a root formation activator
a soil mixture is compiled from identical parts of sifted sand, charcoal, leaf humus and half of sphagnum
the resulting mixture is sterilized
cuttings are planted in containers, or plastic cups with a mandatory hole for drainage
the lower parts of the cuttings are immersed in the soil by 30 mm, followed by watering.

The rooting period is about 3 weeks. Under favorable conditions, namely: diffused light, temperature 20-22 degrees, humidity level about 80 percent - this process can be carried out in water.

To do this, the treated cuttings are placed in a container with water and, after the roots appear, they are transplanted into the soil mixture. This is a rather stressful moment for a young pakhira, therefore, during this period, the flower must be provided with optimal conditions for germination.

Growing pakhira from seeds

Propagation by seeds is carried out in the following way: pre-soaked and squeezed sphagnum is placed in a sealed bag in a layer of 2-3 cm. On top we put a flower seed, which is covered with another layer of moss on top. Since the germination rate of pakhira seeds is about 30-40 percent, it is worth preparing 4-5 such packages in order to guarantee the desired result.

Conditions for germination of pakhira seeds:

air temperature 25 degrees
diffused light
wet and not wet sphagnum moss
indoor humidity - 80 percent
airing several times a day.

Sprouted specimens, together with moss, are planted in the soil and the first week of germination for the plant a high level of air humidity is maintained. In a month, in the presence of active development, you can carry out the first feeding of pakhira.

Planting and transplanting

Planting pakhira is desirable spend in the spring... To do this, you need to pick up a low, but wide pot, with a diameter slightly larger than the size of the root system.

Important! In too large a container, root growth will take a long time, and the green mass of the plant will not develop.

Next, you need to make up a light, nutritious soil mixture, you can make it yourself from the following components:

Sod land - 2 parts;
Leafy ground -1 part;
Peat land - 1 part;
Coarse sand - 1 part.

It is recommended to add a small amount of crushed charcoal and ash to the resulting substrate. Pour a layer of drainage, soil into the pot, plant pakhira and slightly moisten.

Pakhira transplant is carried out once every 2 years. For this, a container is used no more than 5 centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one.

Diseases and pests, treatment and prevention

Pakhira tree sufficiently resistant to diseases and pests.

But, non-observance of the rules for caring for the plant can lead to the fact that spider mites, scale insects and aphids settle on it.

If pests are found, all parts of the groin should be washed with soapy water and treated with an insecticide solution.

Of the diseases for the plant, root rot is dangerous, which occurs, as a rule, during overflows. In this case, the pakhira should be transplanted into a new soil, having previously removed the affected areas of the root system, and the remaining ones should be treated with a fungicide solution. In the future, you need to observe the watering regime.

Room pakhira care

The pachira flower adapts well to indoor conditions, but good growth and health can provide several important growing rules.

Lighting and temperature

This species needs a lot of sunlight, and it is very important that indoors the leaves are gradually exposed to direct sunlight during the summer months, as the midday sun can cause burns. The best accommodation option would be east, west or southeast windows.

Pachira aquatica

The tree reacts to a lack of lighting by reducing the size of new leaves and yellowing of old foliage. In the summer months, it is useful to take the pot out into the open air, and in this case it is no longer necessary to shade from the sun. Outdoor cultivation stimulates flowering and rapid growth.

This plant loves fluorescent light, making it an ideal choice for offices and dark environments. Phytolamps in such conditions should illuminate the tree for at least 6-7 hours a day.

Tropical exotic does not tolerate cold and the temperature range of 20-25 ° C during the year is optimal for caring for pakhira aquatic at home. The culture can tolerate a temperature drop of up to 15 ° C in winter, but no more. Cold drafts are detrimental to the thermophilic pakhira aquatic.

Watering and moisture

An important factor in the care of indoor pakhira aquatic is proper watering. In nature, this species grows in wetlands or is periodically flooded, so the tree needs regular irrigation.

The soil in the pot should be constantly moist, but not wet; excess water from the stand must be poured out, as the roots are prone to rotting.

Pakhira water

This may seem surprising to a swamp plant, but the conditions prevailing in small pots are very different from those in the open field in their native growing environment. In a small space, the roots do not have enough air, therefore, the decay processes begin quickly.

When irrigating, try to keep water out of the base of the trunk. In the spring-summer period, water is watered 1-2 times a week, depending on the temperature in the room and only after the top layer of the soil has dried.

If possible, use rainwater for irrigation, if not, distilled water at room temperature is suitable.

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If the temperature drops in winter and growth slows down, then the amount of water for irrigation is reduced. The plant reacts to a lack of moisture with drooping foliage.

Due to its origin (tropical, humid regions), the tree appreciates moist air. Spraying leaves or a dish with constantly wet expanded clay next to the pot will help to provide similar conditions in the room.

In summer, the plant responds well to occasional warm showers. Do not place the pot near heating appliances in winter, as the tree can shed foliage.

Pachira transplant at home

Tropical exotic needs transplanting every 3 years, and only young seedlings are transplanted for the first 3-4 years annually. The procedure is carried out in early spring in a pot 1 size larger than the previous one. At its bottom, a drainage layer of fine gravel or expanded clay is poured.

Large pachira transplant

The transplant is carried out by transferring it into a loose, fertile substrate. The best choice would be a mixture based on universal flower soil with the addition of two parts of sphagnum moss or vermiculite. The transplant weakens the tree, so no fertilization is applied for the first 3-4 weeks.

Fertilizers and pruning

During the growing season from March to October, the flower is fed with mineral fertilizers intended for ornamental, non-flowering indoor plants.

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Top dressing is carried out every two weeks with half the dose specified by the manufacturer. An excess of fertilizer can cause salinity in the substrate or cause the tree to grow tall without full crown development.

Indoor pakhira tolerates pruning well, thanks to which you can form a low compact tree. In the spring, the shoots are cut to 1 / 3-1 / 2 of their length, or in the fall, one or two of the oldest and highest stems are cut off.

Rejuvenating the tree by trimming the trunk

Older specimens can be rejuvenated by completely pruning the crown. The procedure is carried out at the end of February, the cut is covered with garden varnish or paraffin, then the pot is placed in a warm, bright place and covered with a bag to maintain high humidity. Over time, new young shoots will appear near the cut.

Important! When caring for pakhira at home, avoid frequent rearrangement of the pot, to which the plant reacts by dropping leaves

Propagation of pakhira by cuttings

This is the most common plant propagation technique. The best time for grafting is summer. Leafy cuttings 10-15 cm long are cut with a "heel", and stem cuttings with 1-2 leaf nodes.The cut is dipped in a root growth stimulator powder and buried 2 cm in a mixture of equal parts of peat moss and sand (perlite).

Pakhira stalk

After planting, the cuttings are watered and placed in a transparent bag to increase moisture, which helps the cuttings form roots quickly. The pot is placed in partial shade.

During the rooting period, the soil is kept moderately moist, and the bag is removed for 5 minutes a day for ventilation. The signal for watering is the absence of condensation on the walls of the bag.

You can check if your stalk is rooted by gently pulling on it. If there is resistance, then roots have appeared. It usually takes about four to six weeks to root. After rooting, the package is removed, and after another 2-3 months the seedlings are transplanted into pots with fertile soil.

Pakhira cuttings form well roots in water. Within a month, you can see young roots and plant the seedling in the prepared substrate.

Rooting cuttings in water

Propagation of pakhira by seeds

Seed propagation is less common, but this method is easier than grafting. Start by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours. Sow in a mixture of peat and sand, cover with 1 cm of soil and watered.

Growing persimmon from stone

The pots are placed in a warm and bright place. The ground should always be moist, but not wet. After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings are transplanted into fertile soil.

What to do if pakhira leaves turn yellow and fall off?

This type of crop is considered to be relatively resistant to pests and diseases, but mistakes in care can cause problems with the growth and health of pakhira aquatic at home. Weakened plants due to improper growing conditions are susceptible to attack by pests and the development of fungal diseases.

Yellow pachira leaves

Knowledge of the causes that cause yellowing and shedding of pakhira leaves will help to successfully solve this problem.

If healthy green leaves fall off, then the reason is too much water, and if yellow leaves fall off, this indicates low air and / or soil humidity;
Low light level;
Watering with cold and / or hard water;
Falling foliage can be a shock to changing conditions;

Falling leaves

The yellowing of the leaves after transplanting is due to stress and usually resolves in 3-5 days;
Pest attack;
Spots on the leaves may indicate a lack of potassium. Check the amount of mineral in the fertilizer.
Symptoms of root rot caused by waterlogging of the substrate are manifested in the wilting or dropping of pakhira leaves and softening of the base of the trunk.

Mold on the soil surface is the result of excess moisture.

Diseases of indoor flowers with a photo

The appearance of spider mites on plants usually indicates dry indoor air. If a pest is damaged, wash the tree and treat it with special preparations.

Scabbards are a common pest of indoor plants. They fight it by wiping the leaves with a solution of water, soap and alcohol.

Large
Moisture-loving

Comments (1)

Galina 08/25/2013 12:55 PM my plant grows up and the trunk is thin at the same time. And I didn’t have time to braid it in time, but I’m just afraid to break it.
Reply

Irina 08/26/2013 01:12 PM I quote Galina:

my plant grows up and the trunk is thin at the same time. And I didn’t have time to braid it in time, but I’m just afraid to break it.

Hello Galina. From your words, I understand that you have 1 trunk (1 plant) growing in your pot. If I am wrong, correct me. To make a simple spiral, you need to plant at least 2 seedlings in one pot, and for a pigtail you will need 3 trunks, but more can be done. Another important point is that it is possible to braid a pigtail only from young plants, the trunks should be green, not lignified. And in the process of growth, you need to remove all side shoots.Here in this photo, the border between the lignified and young part of the plant is clearly visible. To braid the trunks, they must be as green as the top of the plant. If they are already lignified at the base, then, unfortunately, nothing will work out. Reply
alexander 01/19/2014 08:42 leaves, both adults and young, turn brown and dry. watering according to the rules, ie. as recommended here. what can be done?

Irina 01/20/2014 01:36 PM I quote Alexander:

leaves, both adults and young, turn brown and dry. watering according to the rules, ie. as recommended here. what can be done?

Hello, Alexander. Leaves can dry from dry air, especially now that all houses have central heating on. Do you spray the plant? Or it may be a reaction to dryness of the soil if the soil has remained dry for a long time. Reply
Svetlana 05/21/2014 20:45 Hello! Help, please, I don't know what to do - some sticky liquid is accumulating on the inside of the leaves of my pakhira. What it is? Pakhira is over 10 years old and this attack has been going on for about 3-4 months. Thank you.

Irina 05/22/2014 11:11 PM I quote Svetlana:

Hello! Please help me, I don’t know what to do - some sticky liquid is accumulating on the inside-to-left side of the leaves of my pakhira. What it is? Pakhira is over 10 years old and this attack has been going on for about 3-4 months. Thank you.

Hello Svetlana. Check the plant for pests. Usually scale insects and aphids leave a sticky coating. Reply
Diana 05/30/2018 17:39 Hello! She transplanted pakhira into a large pot, the leaves began to dry, what kind of land is right for her?

Irina 05/30/2018 18:52 Hello! Pakhira loves loose and permeable soil. You can take universal flower soil and add 3 parts sand and some pieces of activated carbon to it. Another important point - pakhira loves tight pots. In a large pot, it will hurt.

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