Content
There are many amazing plants in nature, among which is the royal delenix. When the fire tree blooms, it resembles a fire with bright flames. It is also called “red flame”, “fire tree”, “peacock flower”, “Krishna’s crown”, “phoenix tail”. You can find out how to grow an exotic at home and organize proper care below.
Description of the fire tree with photo
Delonix regal is a deciduous tree with a unique leaf structure. These are “many-fingered” branches where stipules are formed. They are called opposites.
The fire tree is native to the tropics and prefers humid climates.
It does not emit a scent, but is famous for its high decorative properties. Exot is often used to improve large areas.
Trunk
The fire tree grows up to 10-15 meters in height. Delonix grows very quickly, up to 3 meters per year.Young plants have a thick trunk with smooth, light-colored bark, while older plants have brown, spotted bark. The older the royal delonix, the thicker the trunk.
Crown
The umbrella-shaped crown of the fire tree folds its foliage for the night. Then the reverse sides of the stipules come closer to each other. The leaves fold using the umbrella-cane mechanism. The crown of Delonix fiery is spreading, its diameter is equal to the height of the plant. Under the shade of a tree in hot countries, for example, in Cyprus, local residents organize gazebos. The leaf blades are pinnately shaped and resemble fern leaves. They are bright green.
The fiery delonix during the flowering period captivates the eye
At home, the tree is evergreen, but in an unusual habitat, during drought, it sheds its leaves. At night, the leaf blades curl up and are practically invisible.
How and when does the royal delonix bloom?
The “red flame” blooms in May and lasts until July. When the inflorescences open, they reach enormous sizes of up to 10-15 cm. The peak flowering of the fiery delonix occurs in July. Plants older than 10 years begin to bear fruit. The older the fire tree, the more luxuriantly it blooms. His main asset is flowers.
The bright red hue explains the existence of such a name for the exotic. Other representatives of the species do not have red reproductive organs, but light orange ones. In place of the delonix flowers, pods are formed that ripen in September. The fruits are elongated, up to 60 cm in length. Up to 25-30 peas ripen in each pod. This is the seed material used to propagate the fire tree.
Blooming delonix (pictured) looks amazing
The flowers of the tree are considered the national symbol of one of the Caribbean countries, Puerto Rico.
Where does the royal delonix grow?
The fire plant is grown in different countries, except those where low temperatures prevail. The royal tree does not tolerate frosts even -1. In the CIS countries, fiery delonix grows only in greenhouses or as a houseplant. The island of Madagascar is considered the birthplace of the “red flame”. In the 19th century, the fire tree was discovered by Austrian and Czech botanists. In the wild, Delonix royale can be found in Northern Australia, the Canary Islands, Japan, China, South Africa, India and Argentina.
The fire tree is often planted to decorate parks, squares, and public buildings.
In the wild, flame exotic is almost destroyed because no other plants grow in its shade. Also, the royal species is exterminated due to the fact that its wood is a strong, valuable species.
Reproduction methods
For the successful propagation of delonix (fire umbrella) at home, they resort to different options.
- Cuttings. A branch with leaves and buds is cut off from the parent tree. The bottom of the cutting is treated with a weak manganese solution or soaked in a growth stimulator (Epin, Zircon). Delonix cuttings are planted in a previously prepared container with moist, loose soil. Cover with a jar or plastic bottle. When the cuttings of the fire tree take root and young foliage appears, they are transferred to a permanent place of growth.
- From seeds. The seed material is carefully pierced with a sharp needle and filled with warm water. A day later, it is removed from the water and dropped into a prepared container with loose, moistened soil. The plantings are covered with cling film and the containers are sent to a warm room. When the first shoots appear, the cover is removed.Next, the sprouts require timely watering and a warm room that is well lit. There is another method of propagation from seeds. They are in a hard shell, which is scarified before being soaked in water. After this, the seed material is left for 1-2 days in warm water. Before sowing into the ground, the shell is removed. Properly treated seeds hatch in 1-2 weeks. In rare cases, germination is delayed for several months.
It is preferable to propagate Delonix royal from cuttings. When grown from seeds, there is a high risk that the plant will not inherit varietal characteristics.
Growing Delonix royale from seeds at home
An exotic plant, Delonix royale (fire umbrella), grown in a tub or pot. It is not capricious to growing conditions, but cannot withstand prolonged drought, frost, sudden temperature changes and drafts. In regions with frosty winters, exotics are not grown in open ground. It is often used as a bonsai. It is better to grow the fire tree in a south-facing window and keep it in partial shade on hot days. Then the leaves will not get sunburn.
To successfully grow a fire tree, you need to choose the right place to grow and organize proper care
Care instructions
Home care for fiery exotics involves timely watering, maintaining temperature, adding nutrients, pruning and pinching. It is also necessary to carry out the transplant correctly.
Temperature
When grown indoors, the fire tree requires a special temperature regime. The growth and flowering activity of royal delonix depends on this factor. The optimal temperature for exotic is +25-28 degrees.In order for the “red flame” to rest in winter, the container with plantings is moved to a room with an air temperature of +12 to +15 degrees. If temperatures drop to 0 degrees or below, the exotic plant will die.
Watering and fertilizing
The frequency of watering a fire tree depends directly on the microclimate of the room where the tree grows. When there is intense heat or prolonged drought, irrigation is carried out more often. The soil under royal delonix should always be kept moist. During the cold season, the frequency of watering is reduced.
Exot needs to be fertilized twice a year. The first feeding is carried out in the spring, when Delonix adapts after winter. From fertilizers, you should choose mineral complexes for exotic plants. The same fertilizing is done in the fall, before the fire tree goes dormant.
Complex fertilizer for coniferous plants is suitable as a top dressing.
Trimming
Due to the fact that delonix grown at home grows quickly, the plant needs timely formation of the crown. Pruning is performed in the first year of growth. “Red Flame” safely tolerates pruning of the crown and rhizomes. The plant should be formed in March or after flowering ends.
Topping
Due to the rapid and active growth, the young exotic, emerging from the seeds, is pinched immediately after the appearance of the first two leaves. Once is enough.
Pinching algorithm:
- It is necessary to determine the growth point at the top of the shoot. This is the very top part.
- The growth point is pinched off with your fingers, or can be cut with sharp scissors. The instrument must first be disinfected with an alcohol solution.
After pinching, Delonix fiery may not begin to branch. Then you should not pinch or trim the crown again.It is enough to bend the branch with the top down and then secure it. The procedure can be performed using soft sheathed wire or wool yarn. The downward-oriented point will stop developing, and another one will wake up in its place. It will be located on the stem below the shoot.
The most convenient way to trim a fire tree is with garden shears.
Transfer
The house plant Delonix, grown indoors, needs to be replanted every year. The procedure is carried out in the spring. Replanting is necessary for the fire tree, since the “red flame” grows quite quickly and has a developed rhizome.
For transplantation you will need:
- the pot is taller than the previous one and larger in diameter;
- earth mixture;
- settled water at room temperature.
The soil mixture for transplanting adult Delonix royale is prepared by mixing turf soil, river sand, and leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:2. You can put fine expanded clay on the bottom of the pot to improve drainage.
Transplant work:
- The table or floor should be covered with newspapers or oilcloth so as not to get dirty.
- Carefully, so as not to damage the leaves and shoots, shake out the earthen lump with royal delonix from the old pot.
- You need to pour a drainage layer and part of the soil mixture into the pot.
- The plant is placed in a pot with soil that has not crumbled.
- The missing volume of earthen mixture is added to the container and pressed a little, but not compacted.
After transplanting the fire tree, you need to water it and spray it with a spray bottle. You can shade the exotic a little so that it can better take root in its new location.
Pest and disease control
Fire tree grown at home is rarely subject to diseases and beetle attacks.Sometimes an exotic plant is attacked by a spider mite or scale insect. They can be destroyed using special means or traditional methods. Suitable medications include Fitoverm, Vertimek, Fufanon, Apollo or Nisoran.
Usually 1-2 chemical treatments are enough to completely destroy pests.
Among the traditional methods, you can use a solution of laundry soap. You need to soap large leaves with a sponge and spray small specimens with soapy water. To reduce the risk of developing diseases, royal delonix needs to be properly cared for. It is also important to maintain optimal temperature conditions. This will serve as an excellent prevention against pest attacks and the development of diseases.
Conclusion
Royal Delonix is an easy-to-care, but incredibly beautiful tree. It is easy to grow at home if you follow the rules of agricultural technology. The tropical fire tree needs warmth and regular watering, with plenty of water. Then delonix will delight you with marvelous, lush flowering.
