Bauhinia

Bauhinia is a culture that in the everyday life of gardeners is better known as the "orchid tree". In general, bauhinia is a whole species of plants that belong to the legume family, and today it really is one of the most popular crops when it comes to growing in garden and backyard plots. The external characteristics of bauhinia can be very diverse - it can grow in the form of a liana, or it can be formed in the form of an attractive and small shrub. In addition, there can be extensive shrubs, and also trees, the height of which reaches ten meters or more. Such a variety allows bauhinia to really be popular and in demand, because in one form a gardener can find the shapes and sizes of plants that he will like.

Bauhinia characteristics

At the same time, even despite such a variety of species, some similar features can be identified in them, which just indicate that these plants can be very close relatives. In particular, the relationship is betrayed by the fact that bauhinia flowers form on the plants, which most resemble in their appearance orchids... In fact, thanks to this, the plant received such an interesting name, which at the same time does not at all make it related to the Orchid family.

Data on the number of varieties of Bauhinia vary. Someone says that to date, no more than two hundred species have been bred, and some are inclined to believe that there are much more of them - at least three hundred varieties. Most of the Bauhinia species can be found abroad - on the territory of South and Central America, as well as in the regions of Southeast Asia. At the same time, the plant can not so often be found in India or China, as well as in Africa or Australia, since climatic conditions are not the most suitable there, and in general it may seem that the gardeners themselves from there are not particularly interested in cultivating Bauhinia, so how they grow and so a sufficient number of very interesting and unusually attractive plants.

In terms of climatic conditions in general, Bauhinia can survive perfectly well in less suitable climatic conditions, and can also tolerate sudden changes in temperature. But it is best to grow bauhinia in tropical forests, as well as in swamps, savannas, where long and merciless dry periods can be observed. Also, bauhinia normally colonize in the highlands, although there the flowering of this plant can be somewhat difficult precisely because it is under stress due to strong winds and drafts.

The Bauhinia orchid tree is a rather atypical name. It was given to the plant by the French botanist Charles Plumier in honor of his own brothers, thereby perpetuating them in this unusual plant species. Also, a very large contribution to the study of this culture and to its systematization was made by Swiss scientists - it was thanks to them that the official name of this plant was then fixed. If you grow bauhinia at home, then it will grow in the form of a rather small and very graceful tree or bush. Their height varies from one to one and a half meters. At the same time, the growth rate is not so high, and in wildlife the bauhinia will grow much faster than if it grew in a closed ground.

When the plant begins to bloom, the bush is almost entirely covered with a very large number of large flowers, the diameter of which is from 8 to 15 centimeters.They can be of various colors - white or bright yellow, lemon or peach, pastel pink, scarlet or crimson, lilac or even purple. This diversity actually makes the plant very desirable because the grower can choose the crop according to his interests and desires. At the same time, it cannot be said that bauhinia is a durable culture, since there are species that can bloom for just a day, and there are those that delight the gardener with their flowering during the week. One way or another, more and more bauhinia flowers are constantly blooming on the bush, and thanks to this it seems that the flowering is stretched for a long time. Thus, you can enjoy the plant and its attractive appearance for several months in general - from April to September. Sometimes flowering can stretch right up to October, but here a lot depends solely on how the gardener himself takes care of the crop, and whether he was able to provide it with all the favorable conditions for maintenance and care. Bauhinia buds are collected in inflorescences, where there are from two to four flowers. The petals can be of the same color, or they can be decorated with incredibly attractive strokes or dots, which makes the flowers themselves even more attractive and really makes the gardener admire them.

When the flowers of bauhinia fall off, fruits are formed in their place, which are rather large pods. In length, they can be from ten to 25 centimeters, the sizes again depend entirely on what species and variety this plant belongs to. When the fruits are fully ripe, they begin to crack along, thin, flat seeds fall out of them, which more resemble beans than seeds of bauhinia or any other flower. At the same time, it is worth remembering that in no case should they be eaten, since they have toxic properties and can be dangerous to the human body. At home, bauhinia (orchid tree) is pollinated with the participation of the gardener himself, but under natural conditions bauhinia is pollinated with the help of pollinating insects. If we talk about pollination at home of the Bauhinia orchid tree, then for this the gardener transfers pollen from one plant to another with a brush, doing it very carefully, since sometimes this process most of all resembles jewelry work. And, in principle, such procedures are of great interest to gardeners, since for them it seems to be something very unusual and attractive.

Even if the Bauhinia tree does not have flowers, it still looks very attractive and interesting. Bauhinia leaves reach about 12 centimeters in length and are distinguished by their very rich, deep green tint. In the sun, the ebb can resemble silver pollen, which is also one of the very attractive factors. Moreover, the leaves also have an interesting shape, so that in general they are very decorative and attractive. In general, the leaves look very impressive, especially contrasting against the background of the bark, which has a brick color, or with a pale red bark. Of course, there are a large number of bauhinia species that are quite suitable for growing them in your own home or apartment. There are a sufficient number of varieties, we will now list some of them, since this information will be very interesting to both novice gardeners and more experienced ones who are in constant search of new varieties, varieties of flower and shrub crops, and are ready to experiment with plantings and combinations:

• bauhinia corymbose - this is a plant that stretches out in the form of a liana, the flowers are collected in large inflorescences, which, at the same time, do not fit tightly to each other and more resemble a loose brush.The petals are pale, pinkish-lilac in color, on which are located lilac veins, which makes the Bauhinia flower very interesting in its decorative characteristics. At the same time, the petioles of the room Bauhinia are short - their length is from one and a half to two centimeters, no more. The vine looks very decorative, grows comfortably and can become a decoration of any site or home. Not very demanding in care, but in general we will mention agricultural technology and caring aspects a little later.

• pointed bauhinia (in other words, it is also called Malaysian) is a full-fledged shrub, the height of which reaches one and a half meters. The flowers are distinguished by ideal snow-white color, they look incredibly fresh and attractive. Moreover, each flower is completely short-lived - wilting occurs about a day after the beginning of flowering, but the flowering process itself can be extended from the very middle of spring to early autumn, since the flowers gradually bloom and also gradually wither, which gives the impression of a continuous extended flowering. The length of the leaves is about 10 centimeters, they also look very interesting and attractive in their shape.

• bauhinia felt - is a tree, which is no more than two meters in height, if it grows at home. Bauhinia's branches are very thin, they can droop if a large number of buds are tied on them and a large number of flowers bloom. The leaves are bright, with a fresh green hue, the veins on the leaves are darker in color, so they look fresher and brighter, decorative. When fruits appear on the plant, you can notice that when you feel them, a pleasant feeling is felt - they are quite velvety, the skin may also turn brown. It is due to this feature that this plant received such a characteristic name. In general, of course, you can see that many plant and crop names are obtained precisely due to the fact that they exhibit certain external features and characteristics. So in horticulture and floriculture, this is considered the most common practice.
• bauhinia purple - this species is considered one of the most common, and bauhinia of this variety is grown just mainly at home. The purple bauhinia looks like a tree that has a spherical regular crown. Shoots can be a little bending, but at the same time the tree lends itself well to shaping, so that the gardener can independently ask him any shape, and at the same time satisfy the needs of his own imagination and desires. The petals can be of different shades, and most often these are any shades of purple. Sometimes white streaks can be seen at the base, which makes the plant even more decorative and attractive. The fruits are large, their length varies from 25 to 30 centimeters. The plant was popularly nicknamed the purple orchid tree, which then spread to the entire Bauhi genus. One way or another, we emphasize once again that this plant is called an orchid only for its similarities with this flower, but in fact there are absolutely no relationships between them, so it is rather a habit of giving such a name, not supported by any breeding and biological facts.

Bauhinia purple: photo of the variety

• bauhinia motley Is a tree that is also considered a chameleon. The color of the leaves and the color of the flowers themselves can be varied, it varies and depends on what territory and in what area this plant grows. Sometimes variegated bauhinia can very strongly resemble purple, but in general it shows its signs only because it grows in an area where it can acquire such traits and characteristics.You can distinguish variegated bauhinia by the following characteristic: the petals overlap each other, and the number of stamens usually ranges from five to six pieces (in other bauhinia, the maximum number of stamens is four)

• plant bauhinia lonely Is a tree that, being in natural conditions, can reach about six meters. If a lonely bauhinia is planted at home, then its height will be no more than one and a half meters. The leaves are quite decorative, the petals - all, except for one, which is located in the composition, can be pastel yellow, and also pinkish specks are located on them, which at the same time look quite decorative and unusual. The lone Bauhinia blooms peak around the summer season, but individual buds can appear and set throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. The pods are of medium length - about ten or 15 centimeters, they are dense to the touch, almost wooden, seeds can be extracted from them, which are then used for planting and breeding bauhinia
• bauhinia blake Is another variety that is very common in the home cultivation of this plant. This domestic Bauhinia was discovered in 1880, but since then it has not lost its popularity at all, since it really has many positive traits and characteristics, and many positive qualities that distinguish this species from all the others. It should be emphasized that the author of this Bauhinia variety is unknown, but it is known that variegated Bauhinia and Purple Bauhinia became the parents of the variety, so that the variety has absorbed all the most positive traits and features from both parents. Officially, Blake's Bauhinia was recognized as perhaps the most beautiful flower among all the Bauhinia varieties that we know of. The flowers are bright purple, sometimes they have a scarlet tint. At the same time, it is worth mentioning that, unlike many other varieties and varieties, this variety does not produce seeds that could then be used for further propagation of this culture, so in general it is best to propagate this homemade bauhinia using cuttings or cuttings ...

The bauhinia blue variety, despite the prejudices, does not exist - there are several species that give flowers of this shade, but the variety was not bred. In general, even among the listed variety, the gardener will in any case find for himself a special plant that will satisfy all his desires and needs. Bauhinia is ideal for both single plantings and for planting as part of a group composition. One way or another, it also requires attention and caring procedures, and also requires compliance with agrotechnical features, since in reality this plant, although unpretentious, but from the attention of the gardener, its condition only improves.

Orchid tree Bauhinia: cultivation

Despite the fact that bauhinia is a plant that is considered exotic, in general it does not show any special requirements when it comes to growing conditions. The only thing that can stop gardeners when choosing this particular plant and in general from buying it is that the plant is completely different in size. Of course, not everyone dares to grow a tree more than two meters high, if this is an ordinary Khrushchev apartment. So in this case, some are wondering if they really need such a purchase if a bush or tree will grow in such small conditions.

Of course, in order to create a suitable microclimate for a room bauhinia, you should take care of observing some rules and conditions. Then, in response, the gardener will receive an excellent and grateful plant that will delight with its unusual appearance and flowering.So, let's start by choosing a place for the landing of bauhinia. It is best to place the landing next to a window or open space, the window can face the southern, southeastern or southwestern parts. For the summer period, it is recommended to place the plant closer to fresh air, while it is worth installing protection from rain or too strong gusts of wind. Also, bauhinia does not respond in the best way to drafts - because of them, the plant can weaken, get sick, it can give not so abundant flowering.

Bauhinia plant: photo

Lighting - As a rule, if we talk about lighting, then ideally the Bauhinia orchid tree will be suitable for bright sunlight and shading at noon hours. The plant also generally feels completely normal in partial shade, but at the same time and in diffused light it also gives excellent decorative results. But still, the flowering of indoor Bauhinia may not be so abundant because of this, and the branches may stretch too much, droop, which is why the appearance of the plant changes slightly, and these changes do not always benefit him. In order to extend the daylight hours in winter, it is recommended to supplement the bauhinia, and ideally phytolamps are perfect for this. After the plant comes out of hibernation, it is best not to immediately start lighting it for a long time - it is recommended to accustom the plant to sunlight gradually, otherwise it may experience a shock, and this will negatively affect its general condition in the future. So the grower should be very attentive even to such trifles, because otherwise there is a great risk that the plant will demonstrate completely opposite reactions to such seemingly standard procedures.

The optimum temperature for bauhinia varies from 22 to 25 degrees. In general, even sudden changes in temperature are not so terrible for this culture, but if we talk about the critical temperature minimum, then it is about 15 degrees. If the temperature drops below, then most likely the plant will die, and it will be almost impossible to return it. If the summer period turned out to be dank and rainy, then bauhinia can stop its growth and development, the buds turn out to be empty, then they fall off, and flowering does not occur. But still, in good conditions, bauhinia tends to recover quickly, so the gardener, of course, should take care of the plant in order to bring it back to life in the event that the weather and external conditions were severe enough for it.

If the grower has such an opportunity, it is also recommended to create optimal air humidity. It should vary from 75% to 80%, but you can also leave it at 50% - bauhinia will also respond well to it. The plant can also be sprayed additionally, especially if the heat is very intense. It is also worthwhile to additionally monitor the plant and make sure that drops of water do not fall on the buds and flowers, but remain only on the green part of the plant. About once every 5-7 days, it is recommended to wipe the leaves with a damp sponge to remove dust from them and to additionally moisten them. Bauhinia, which was bought in a store, takes a long time to get used to new conditions, and if the plant is transported from one place to another, then it can react very painfully to it. Within a few months, the plant can generally shed buds and leaves very abundantly, and in general its general external features will not be so attractive. In general, such a state for a plant is completely normal, so there is no need to worry: as soon as the plant adapts to the conditions, it will look as it should and will feel much more comfortable.

A bauhinia transplant is prescribed every year, the diameter of the planting pot should be increased either by one or two centimeters, since the root system of the plant is constantly growing, becoming more and more extensive. If, for some reason, the gardener is not able to transplant the plant, then it is worth removing the earthen lump and slightly shortening the root system, removing from two to three centimeters from them. When the space is slightly freed up, it is recommended to fill it with a new, fresher substrate, and then the plant returns to its usual place. If the bauhinia has become too overgrown and large, and it is physically impossible to transplant it, then in this case there is also a way out - it is worth replacing about ten centimeters of the upper layer, while the plants do not even need to be touched. Few recommend pruning the plant, as this also benefits it, strengthening its system and making the Bauhinia orchid tree well-groomed, aesthetically pleasing.

The quality of the soil can be absolutely anything - in this case, bauhinia is completely unpretentious and does not impose absolutely any requirements on the soil composition. The most common substrate, which is usually sold in specialized stores and intended for indoor plants, is also quite suitable. The soil can also be mixed independently, for this they take fertile sod soil, leafy soil and humus, a certain amount of rotted compost and perlite is also added there. All this is mixed into a homogeneous mass, and then the bauhinia itself is placed there. Also, if the gardener does not have perlite at hand, then it can be replaced with coarse river sand, which will also fit perfectly as part of the composition, and will be an ideal addition to the soil for planting bauhinia.

Since the plant can reach a great height and be quite massive, it is initially recommended to choose a container for planting that will be quite stable. In general, it is better to take containers that resemble a bucket in shape. There is one more condition that the gardener must comply with. It consists in the fact that drainage holes must be made in the container. At the very bottom of the container, it is worth laying out a thick layer, which consists of expanded clay or crushed pebbles, since they become universal components if the gardener wants to drain with his own hands. If the plant is large, then the material can also be mixed into the substrate so that the drainage is in the soil, and completely control the moisture level. In addition, due to the addition of expanded clay or pebbles to the soil, the substrate will be better aerated, and the water will not stagnate on different soil layers, so that the plant will feel much more comfortable and better.

If we talk about transplanting bauhinia, then more experienced gardeners recommend using the so-called transshipment method. Its features and stages are as follows:

• About 25-30 minutes before the start of the procedure, it is recommended to water the plant well, and then carefully remove it from the old pot. It is best to try to keep the earthen lump exactly in the form in which it has already formed, and try not to damage it
• if necessary, some roots can also be pruned, and the pruning tool must be well sharpened and decontaminated. When the root system is trimmed, it is best to sprinkle the cuts with chalk chips, activated carbon or colloidal sulfur. Thus, they will be disinfected, and harmful microorganisms or bacteria will not begin to form in them.
• if the bauhinia orchid tree has suffered very much from rot, then it is necessary to remove the substrate from the root system and cut off absolutely all parts of the root system that were damaged by this particular disease.After that, it is best to soak the root system in a weak manganese solution for about one and a half or two hours to disinfect it. Also, absolutely any fungicide is suitable for soaking, which is prepared in accordance with the instructions for use, so as not to cause even more harm to the plant.
• a freshly prepared substrate is poured into a pot where drainage has already been installed, its thickness should be about three centimeters. An earthen lump is then placed in the container, and a certain amount of soil is placed at the edges in order to completely remove the gaps between the pot and the earthen lump. After that, the plant should be moderately watered with warm, settled water and leave it alone. In the first few days, it is also worth looking after the plant, assessing its general condition and not allowing the pot of bauhinia to be exposed to direct sunlight. In general, if you follow all the rules, then even the gardener who initially did not have any such experience can cope with planting bauhinia.

It is also worth paying attention to some tips that relate to the subsequent care of the Bauhinia at home. We will also mention them, as they will be of interest not only to novice gardeners, but also to those who already have experience in planting such plants, but who still want to know a little more information in order to improve the general condition of the plant and its external characteristics. ... If we talk about watering, then sometimes the overdrying of the soil can be tolerated by bauhinia much easier than if a too humid swamp forms in the pot. For this reason, watering should be rare, but at the same time very abundant in order to maintain the normal condition and vital activity of the plant. So, experienced gardeners suggest that you can water the plant once every 4-7 days, and the intervals may shift, for example, due to weather conditions. Between procedures, it is better not to allow the soil to completely dry out - it should dry only two-thirds, and one-third should be slightly moistened. But it is undesirable to wait for the most extreme situations when the soil begins to move away from the edges of the pot, since in this case there is a great risk that the root system of the plant has already dried up enough, and this will lead to far from the most favorable consequences.

Water for irrigation should be at room temperature, and it can also be defended. Ideally, you can also use either rain or melt water, you can take filtered or boiled water. The most important thing is that it should not be too cold, and it is certainly better not to use running water immediately, as it can cause the plant to experience shock or severe stress.

Orchid tree Bauhinia: photo

Approximately with the beginning of spring today, the plant begins to wake up, build up the green mass. From this moment it is recommended to start feeding. Fertilizers that contain nitrogen are especially great. Some mineral and nutritional mixtures that are specifically designed for indoor plants and related crops are also suitable. You can also take urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, since they contain the necessary trace elements that have a positive effect on the growth of green mass, on the formation of buds, as well as on the abundance of flowering. The frequency of fertilization is once every 25-30 days, you can do top dressing and a little more often if the plant is completely weakened, or it is recovering after a short illness. In the period from May to July, it is recommended to apply some complex fertilizers, which contain a large amount of phosphorus and potassium elements. If you allow an excess of nitrogen, then this can lead to the fact that bauhinia will be focused on the formation of a huge number of shoots and leaves, and because of this, flowering will suffer - it will not be abundant at all, scarce and very pale.At the end of summer, feeding can be reduced, and then completely stopped.

With the onset of winter, Bauhinia enters a dormant stage, hibernates. At this time, it is best to install it in the brightest place in the apartment. However, this place should also be cool. For example, ideally, it can be a glazed loggia, in which there are no sharp gusts of wind and there are no signs of drafts. Watering is also reduced - now only once every three weeks is enough, and top dressing is not applied at all, since they may not play a very positive role in the further development of the plant. If the gardener does not have the opportunity to create such optimal conditions, then the bauhinia can simply be placed a little closer to the windows, and the batteries are covered so that they do not emit too much heat, which does not always have a positive effect on the state of the plant and on its development, so more at rest. The plant can sometimes be sprayed with water, but it is still watered a little more often than if it was standing on the loggia.

A mandatory procedure for bauhinia is pruning. There are varieties and varieties that, without pruning, subsequently refuse to show growth, in particular at home. The first pruning is usually planned when the plant is three years old. It is best to prune bauhinia in the spring, and you can also do it when the plant is transplanted from one pot to another - then both procedures will be transferred even easier. In general, bauhinia is a very hardy and strong plant that can grow even if suddenly the gardener makes some mistakes in planting it and in the subsequent care of bauhinia. That is why the bauhinia plant can grow not only among experienced gardeners, but also among beginners who, at the same time, have absolutely no experience and can make some mistakes that are considered completely unforgivable if we were talking about other cultures. The most striking signs that care and agricultural techniques are not followed are the absence of bauhinia flowering, bud fall, the appearance of whitish or beige spots, which are atypical for the leafy part of the plant. In general, if these and other symptoms are identified in time, then their subsequent development can be easily prevented and the plant can be restored very quickly. The most important thing is not to save time on this, since the general condition of the plant, its life span, and decorative characteristics largely depend on the care of Bauhinia and on attention.

Bauhinia: photo of an orchid tree

Bauhinia: disease and disease prevention

It is also worth saying that the Bauhinia orchid tree, which grows at home and indoors, can suffer from a disease such as root rot. Also, sometimes it can be attacked by pests and insects, which are not at all opposed to feeding on the sap, which is located in the green part of the plant. In general, it is easier to carry out preventive procedures and prevent diseases than to allow them to develop, because there are situations when the disease has been started, and the chances of recovery are reduced to almost zero. Therefore, in this case, it is worth paying attention to simple, almost elementary measures to carry out prevention to prevent the development of Bauhinia's disease:

• new copies can be quarantined for a while, which will last for one month
• indoor plants should be regularly inspected for disease or damage from bacteria and insects
• house flowers and cut flowers should be spaced further apart to prevent the spread of Bauhinia disease
• the room in which the plant is located should be regularly ventilated, and dust should be removed from the leaf part, and such processing and cleaning should be done about once a week.In general, you should look after the cleanliness of the plant, since the dust can also contain bacteria or fungal spores, which just provoke some diseases. The leaves can also be irradiated weekly using a quartz lamp, but this measure is already being taken if the gardener has such an opportunity and a special device - the lamp itself. In general, observing all these rules, you can achieve incredible results, and bauhinia will delight with its appearance and flowering for a very long time.