Jacaranda - a tree with purple flowers

The beauty of jacaranda surprises with its lush greenery and the beauty of flowering. Where the jacaranda tree grows is in the tropics of any continent. As an outdoor decoration, this tropical plant is native to the United States, Cuba, Africa and Australia.

Description of jacaranda

The trees grow up to 3 m in height and have an intricate crown shape due to the large leaves, which partially fall off in winter. As a room culture, only mimosoliferous jacaranda has taken root. It got its name because of the similarity of greenery with mimosa.

Jacaranda - a tree that blooms with purple flowers

The origin and appearance of jacaranda

The tree belongs to the Bignoniaceae family and has about 50 species of evergreen trees. The exotic homeland is South and Central America, but it has spread across all continents. Jacaranda grows in the tropics and subtropics, where the temperature does not drop below 7 ° C.

A voluminous and spreading crown is placed on an upright, smooth trunk. Wide leaf plates resemble fern leaves and grow up to 50 cm in length. The homemade mimosoliferous beauty is covered with greenery from the very base of the trunk and over time it already looks like a tree.

Descriptions of flowers of jacaranda, or violet tree

Jacaranda flowers cover its entire crown. This is a beautiful sight - a lilac cloud with a blue or purple tint. Sometimes white or purple inflorescences are found. The inflorescence itself is a panicle of long (up to 5 cm) tubules. One panicle about 40 cm long contains up to 30 flowers.

Flowering tree

Transplanting jacaranda after purchase outdoors

In the open field, jacaranda can only grow in the tropical strip. In Russia, gardeners are planting a violet tree in greenhouses. In open ground, the plant dies, as it does not withstand a drop in temperature, gusts of wind and cold precipitation.

Decorating your home with a plant requires giving it enough time and care. There is nothing difficult in leaving, but one should not forget about the flower either in winter or in summer.

What is needed for landing

When planting young bushes in a new pot, the following points should be considered:

• good drainage is very important for jacaranda. There should be a lot of holes in the pot, and a layer of expanded clay at least 3 cm;
• the soil needs moisture and air permeability. The purchased universal soil is diluted with sand or vermiculite. If you prepare the substrate at home, then you should take 2 parts of sod land and one part of sand, peat and humus;
• the pot is needed quite roomy and deep. Delicate and thin roots quickly entwine the entire earthy lump. The tree is painful to transplant, therefore, it should not be done more often than once a year.When choosing a pot, you should take into account the annual growth of a young plant - up to 1 m in height. If the volume of the pot is completely filled with roots, the tree will stop growing.

Choosing the best place

Where jacaranda grows best in an apartment is on the most lighted window. The light-loving beauty feels great on the western or eastern windowsill. Direct sunlight will burn its upper young leaves. But the light needs to be scattered or shaded by the tree. The optimal period of illumination by direct sunlight is no more than 3 hours per day.

The plant does not like cold, draft and wind. Especially if the pot is on the balcony or veranda in the summer.

Step-by-step planting process

Planting an exotic beauty does not differ much from that for ordinary indoor crops:

1. The pot and soil are prepared for planting: washed, dried and disinfected.
2. Lay out a drainage layer, cover it with earth on top.
3. A seedling is placed in the center, the roots are distributed around the entire perimeter of the pot so that the tree grows evenly.
4. Sprinkle with the remaining soil.
5. Watering.

A young seedling especially needs lighting. It will be best for him on the window, but with shade at noon. Watering should be moderate, as the delicate roots quickly rot with stagnant moisture. With a lack of moisture, the tree drops its leaves.

Young seedlings

Reproduction of jacaranda

It is not so easy to propagate an exotic beauty. Seed germination is low, and cuttings often dry out or rot their roots. For experienced flower growers, the process will be laborious, but realizable.

Propagation by cuttings

The jacaranda is cut with apical shoots 8-10 cm long. The branches should be half lignified. After cutting, the twigs are best treated with an organic growth stimulant. In a warm mixture of peat and sand, cut twigs are planted at an angle (like conifers).

The cuttings need greenhouse conditions for full rooting:

• the pot is covered with foil or glass with daily ventilation for 10-15 minutes;
• moderate soil moistening from a spray bottle;
• temperature not lower than 25 ° С and sufficient lighting level.

Growing from seeds

Growing jacaranda from seeds at home takes a lot of time than propagation by cuttings. The purchased seeds are soaked for a day in water or a damp cloth. It should be planted in a mixture of soil as for an adult jacaranda with the addition of river sand. The seeds are deepened by no more than 1 cm. The pots are covered with foil or glass. It is important to maintain adequate moisture levels by regularly spraying with a spray bottle. Temperatures not lower than 25 ° С and bright lighting will guarantee good germination of seeds.

After 3-4 weeks, the first sprouts appear, the seeds sprout unevenly. The sprouts of lilac trees dive into separate pots a month later.

Seedlings of jacaranda

Jacaranda care

As a house tree, Jacaranda is quite capricious. The main factors affecting her well-being are warmth, bright light and lack of drafts.

Watering mode

The correct watering for each tree is an individual concept. The frequency of watering and its volume depend on the size of the plant, the pot, the quantity and quality of the soil mixture. The humid regime should provide sufficient moisture, but without stagnation of water at the roots, since they are prone to decay. Infrequent watering depletes the thin roots, and the plant withers quickly. Another signal of a rare watering regime is a sharp drop of the lower leaves.

Air humidification plays an important role in the life of jacaranda. The representative of the tropics is accustomed to humid air and will respond positively to frequent spraying of the leaves. Flowers grow well next to a room humidifier. In summer, on hot days, the pot is placed in a tray with wet expanded clay for an additional portion of moisture.

Top dressing

The plant needs feeding during the active period - in summer. A complex solution without calcium salts is added no more than once every two weeks.

Features of care during flowering

Trees are given flowering in the fifth year, not earlier. For a florist, this is a real success. During this period, it is important:

• maintain the temperature regime, protect the tree from drafts and temperature drops;
• sufficiently moisten the soil;
• provide the plant with maximum illumination.

Features of care during the rest period

The dormant period for purple trees is winter. At the beginning of winter, the growth of the plant slows down. During this period, the frequency of watering decreases. At the end of winter, the plant may shed its foliage, partially or completely. After the leaves have fallen off, the pot is transferred to a cooler place (but not lower than 15 ° C). With the appearance of new leaves, an active growth period begins, the tree is returned to its previous mode.

Preparing for winter

To prepare the jacaranda for wintering, several steps should be taken:

1. Inspect the plant for pests and diseases. Remove damaged greens, treat with appropriate preparations.
2. Exclude fertilization, as this can knock the plant out of dormancy.
3. Reduce watering.

Before shedding leaves, they often curl

The exotic décor of your home is easy with a plant such as Jacaranda, the violet tree. She has unusual foliage, incredible flowering, spectacular appearance. For her comfort, you should become a master and provide luxury care.