Pahira (Malabar Chestnut)

Often I want to see something exotic among indoor plants. We invite you to familiarize yourself with such a type of chestnut as pakhira, a plant that lives in distant India. In this article, you will learn about the features of this culture, as well as about the rules of cultivation. If you listen to the recommendations below, then a great result will not be long in coming.

General characteristics of the Malabar chestnut

This culture belongs to the Malvov family, is a tropical tree. Most often, this plant is found in India, Africa, in the central and southern parts of the United States. At the moment, there are approximately seventy varieties. As a rule, these are trees of small as well as large size. Pakhira fruits have an oval shape and a lignified structure. The plant gives a large amount of seeds.

In indoor conditions, as a rule, aquatic pakhira is grown. It has a synonym for "Malabar chestnut". This is due to the fact that the leaf plates resemble chestnut leaves. Sometimes in garden stores, this plant is called a bottle tree. This culture has the property of accumulating moisture in the thickest part of the trunk. Its shape most often depends on the conditions in which the plant is grown.

In growth, such a culture does not add too quickly, for a long time the size of the tree is quite compact. After a certain period of time, the tree can reach two to three meters in height. At first, the trunk stretches upward, twigs appear after a few years. If you want to be pleased with the decorative look of a tree whose crown is quite lush, then it makes sense to plant more than one young plant in one container. In this case, the age of the plants should be the same. When the trees are growing, their trunks need to be intertwined. This way, you get a nice composition, where the trunks are beautifully intertwined, and there will be a lush green mass on top.

In warm countries with high air humidity, pakhira grows faster. If watering is not sufficient, then the tree begins to grow more slowly, while moisture accumulates in the thick part of the trunk. To obtain a decorative weave of the stem, young trees should be kept in a warm room. Plants need to be watered periodically, and the humidity should be high. The stems have an elongated shape, in their structure they are quite thin, easily bent. As the plant grows, they need to be intertwined and fixed in the position that you need. To make this process as easy as possible, a peg can be placed in the center of the flower pot. Thus, you will create a support for the trees, which they will twine around. After a while, you need to water the plants less often. As for the temperature in which the pakhira will feel as comfortable as possible, the conditions of an ordinary room are suitable. Pakhira blooms very rarely at home. The flowers are white, sometimes with a yellow tint. They are grouped into a large inflorescence that resembles a panicle in shape. In size, the inflorescence is approximately thirty-five centimeters.

Pakhira is not too whimsical to grow a plant. Even the lack of water is not terrible for her, since she is able to accumulate it in the trunk. Since pakhira naturally prefers tropical forests, a high ambient temperature, as well as a high level of humidity, are integral to it.If you follow the basic requirements, then growing this culture is not so difficult.

How to care for your Malabar chestnut

This plant loves a lot of light, so the place where the pot is located should be well lit. At the same time, in the summer, it is necessary to organize protection from direct sunlight. This plant will feel good on the windowsill of a window that faces the west or east side. Too high temperatures, as well as scorching rays, can harm plants. But if the sun is too little, then the stems will stretch upward. In the summer, the plants can be taken outside, it is better to put the pot in a slightly shaded place.

This plant loves warmth. Temperature range in which it is best to contain pakhiru, can vary from +18 to +26 degrees. It should not be colder than +16 degrees in the room. The plant should be protected from the through wind. In winter, it is better to lower the temperature to +17 degrees. So the plant practically stops growing, and during a lack of sun, the shoots will not tend to grow up.

This culture is demanding on the level of environmental humidity. It should be tall. The foliage needs to be sprayed periodically. This is especially true if the air in the room is too dry.

As for watering pakhira, she loves water. Watering should be done on a regular basis, and the amount of water should be large. In the summer, the plant needs to be watered more often than in winter. The water should not be cold, its temperature should vary from +18 to +20 degrees. In order for the plant to grow more slowly, as well as to give a thicker shape to the trunk, you can water the plant once every seven days, but the amount of water must be large.

In no case should the water stagnate in the container with the plant. Make sure that no water gets on the tree trunk. Otherwise, it may start to rot. If the foliage sags, withers, then this means that there is a lack of moisture. This is a sure sign that it is time to water the plant.

It is better to choose neutral, loose soil for Malabar chestnut. It should not contain too many nutrients. You can prepare a mixture that will consist of sod and leafy soil, sand, brick chips and charcoal. Alternatively, you can mix leafy, turfy soil and sand in equal proportions. A ready-made substrate for growing plants such as dracaena and palm trees is suitable for this plant.

The root system of the tree does not go deep into the soil, for this reason it is better to plant pakhira in a not too large and wide pot. Don't forget about the drainage layer.

As for fertilization, this procedure is carried out when the plant is actively gaining in growth. In spring and summer, the plant is fed at intervals of two to three weeks. To do this, use, as a rule, top dressing in the complex. In winter, the plant does not need additional nutrition.

Young trees can be transplanted annually, so the plant will grow more intensively. If you have planted several plants in one pot, then nutrients from the soil leave faster. The transplant is carried out only by the transshipment method, a clod of earth with a root system must be kept intact as much as possible. In terms of volume, the pot should not be much larger than the previous one. As for adult plants, they are transplanted once every few years. This is done as and when it becomes necessary.

As for pruning pakhira, in the spring you can prune stems that have grown too much. Where the cut was, side branches begin to form. So you can form the crown of the tree.

Propagating indoor plants is generally not easy. However, there are no difficulties with pakhira.The main condition for this process in this case is heat. Reproduction can be carried out using cuttings or by seed.

Cuttings should contain leaves and buds. Sections that have a so-called "heel" are best. Rooting of cuttings works well if they are kept at high levels of humidity and temperature. Usually they are engaged in cuttings in the last days of August. The substrate must be moist and contain peat and sand. Until the root system is formed, it is better to cover the cuttings with polyethylene.

The seed method of reproduction is also allowed. For this, the seeds are placed on the surface of the soil. In this case, the air temperature should be approximately +26 degrees. Then the crops are covered with glass or polyethylene. From time to time crops need to be ventilated. The sprouts hatch, as a rule, after a couple of weeks.

As for harmful insects, such a problem can sometimes arise. Pachira can be damaged by aphids, thrips, scale insects and spider mites.

As for diseases, due to too much water, the trunk of a tree may begin to rot. If a not too large area is damaged, then it must be carefully cleaned, and then treated with crushed coal. If most of the plant has been damaged, then you can start rooting a healthy top of the tree.

What problems can you face

• If the leaf plates of a tree slope downward, wither, this indicates a lack of water. You need to water the plant. If, after good watering, after about one hour, the foliage does not acquire a healthy look, then the point is in the roots. Most likely, they started to rot.
• If the foliage is no longer a bright green color, the size of the leaves becomes smaller, which means that the plant does not have enough light. You need to move the pot to a more lighted place, for example, on a windowsill with a southern exposure.
• If spots of a light shade are formed on the foliage, this means that the plant has been burned by the sun's rays. In this case, the pot must be moved to a room with diffused light or shaded.
• If the foliage turns brown at the edges, then the humidity level is too low. The presence of a cold through wind affects the same way.
• If the foliage is too small or takes on a curled shape, it means that the temperature regime of the air is too low. Keep pakhira away from a cold window.