Jacaranda violet tree - plant characteristics

Jacaranda (jacaranda) is a tree native to tropical forests. Thanks to its bright blooming crown, it quickly gained popularity among gardeners all over the planet. Most often it grows outdoors, but there are varieties that can be grown as indoor plants.

Jacaranda (violet tree) - short description, history of appearance

In its natural habitat, the plant can be seen in Australia, parts of Asia and South America, but it is most common in Brazil. Jacaranda mimosifolia, as it is also called, or rosewood, belongs to the Bignonium family.

Violet tree

Jacaranda is an evergreen tree, in nature it can grow up to 30 meters in height, but there are also 2-meter shrubs. The leaves are feathery, fern-like, and the flowers are bell-shaped and purple in color. However, some varieties may be white.

In addition to its decorative qualities, the plant also finds practical application. Furniture, musical instruments and souvenirs are made from its wood.

Unfortunately, this amazing tree does not grow on the territory of Russia. It is impossible to provide it with a climate similar to a tropical one. You can see the jacaranda in the botanical garden of the Crimea, where conditions are created for it as close as possible to natural ones.

Growing jacaranda at home

Since the plant is native to the tropics, it is necessary to create conditions close to natural at home.

Temperature

With the onset of spring and until mid-autumn, the room temperature should be +22 .. + 24 ° С.

Then it must be reduced to +17 .. + 19 ° С. It is not allowed to create conditions when the room will be colder than +15 ° С.

Lighting

The tree needs bright, diffused lighting. Exposure to direct sunlight for several hours a day is allowed. It is better to put jacaranda near the windows facing the west or east side of the house.

Watering, spraying, moisture

It is necessary to water the plant regularly, preventing the top layer of the earth from drying out. When shedding leaves, the amount of moisture can be reduced. On particularly hot days, it is recommended to spray the leaves of the plant with a spray bottle.

A resident of the tropics needs a room humidity of at least 60%. It is advisable to place the tree next to the aquarium or just near a container of water. Sometimes the pot can be placed in a tray filled with moist peat.

Soil and dressing

The soil for planting a plant must be nutritious. To make the substrate yourself, you need to mix the following components:

• sod land;
• coarse sand or perlite;
• peat;
• humus;
• leafy land;
• charcoal (a little).

The pot must have a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken brick.

For good nutrition, the flower must be fed once a month with complex mineral fertilizers. When the plant sheds its leaves, as well as in autumn and winter, this does not need to be done.

Reproduction of Jacaranda

An ornamental plant can be grown in two ways: by seed or cuttings.

Cuttings

During spring pruning, you need to prepare a sturdy stalk. It should be about 8cm long. Further, reproduction is carried out in two ways:

• place the stalk in a container of warm water;
• plant in a moistened sand-peat mixture and cover with a transparent cap.

With any of the methods, the temperature of the seedling is maintained at +25 ° C. When the first roots appear, the cuttings are moved to separate pots.

Seed propagation - step by step algorithm

An easier way to reproduce at home. The cultivation of a new plant is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The planting material is laid out on one half of a damp cloth, the other is covered and placed in a warm, dark place for a day.
2. The seeds are placed in the nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
3. The seedling container is covered with a transparent material.
4. If the temperature regime is +20 .. + 22 ° С, the first shoots will appear in 3 weeks.
5. The film is removed and the container is placed in a place with bright, diffused lighting.
6. Sprouts that have 2-3 leaves are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of no more than 7 cm.

Seedlings of jacaranda

Pruning and shaping the crown

The grown plant must be given a decorative look. To do this, it is necessary to pinch the shoots every spring.

Jacaranda is characterized by very intensive growth, so if you skip the formation procedure, then the trunk will be exposed.

Varieties for growing in an apartment

Of course, not all types of violet trees can be grown at home. In addition to mimosa jacaranda, the following varieties can be kept in the apartment:

• Fluffy Jacaranda - only young plants are grown, as adults lose their decorative appearance.
• Magdalena - grows up to 3 meters, it will not bloom in the room.
• Delta - reaches a height of 2 meters, has beautiful, fern-like leaves.

Thus, the most attractive varieties for an apartment are mimosoliferous jacaranda and Delta.

When and how it blooms

Mimosoliferous Jacaranda in indoor conditions can bloom twice a year - in spring and autumn.

The blossoming buds create lush inflorescences with purple-blue petals.

Growing difficulties

With improper care, the plant can be exposed to various diseases and pests.

If the leaves curl and turn yellow, then this may be due to dry air, low temperatures, or the presence of pests. If there are no insects on the tree, then it is necessary to make changes in the care of the plant.

Chlorosis sign

Chlorosis of leaves can develop with a deficiency of iron, magnesium and zinc in the soil, as well as with insufficient watering. In this case, it is necessary to transplant the plant into a new nutrient soil or feed with formulations containing the necessary elements.

If there is no drainage layer in the pot, too dense soil or watering too often, root decay may develop. To save the plant, you need to transplant it and reduce the amount of moisture for a while.

In addition to diseases, the tree can become a victim of pests. The most common of these are:

• Whitefly. Green larvae appear on the underside of the leaves. After them, you can find sugary discharge.The leaf plates curl and turn yellow. To combat insects, it is necessary to treat the plant with insecticides.
• Spider mite. It can be detected by the appearance of a transparent cobweb on the underside of the leaf plates. Insects can appear by moving from another plant or due to insufficient air humidity. Jacaranda must be treated with insectoacaricides and regularly sprayed with a spray bottle.

Spider mite on jacaranda

Using jacaranda to shape bonsai

To create your own mini-garden, you need to constantly monitor the growth of the crown and leaves. To create a bonsai-type plant, a special variety of jacaranda was specially bred - Bonsai Blue.

When growing a plant using this method, a number of conditions must be observed:

• cut the tree only in the second year - leave only 10 cm from the ground and wait for the appearance of lateral shoots;
• pinch the tree regularly, forming branches and crown;
• remove large leaves;
• keep in the shade so that the tree branches worse.

Bonsai from a plant

Traditions and beliefs

Many different traditions and beliefs are associated with a beautiful and vibrant tree. The plant is believed to bring good luck and cleanse the aura. The flowering of jacaranda may indicate that the house will be abundant or replenishment is expected soon.

In Australia, there is a sign that you should prepare for exams before the jacaranda blooms. And the student will definitely receive a credit if a flower of this giant violet falls on him.

In Zimbabwe and Mexico, the flowering tree symbolizes the beginning of spring.

Thus, although it is rather difficult to grow a violet tree at home, under favorable conditions you can get a bright unusual plant that will create coziness and a good atmosphere.