Pachira
Pachira is a plant that belongs to the family called malvaceae and includes about twenty-four species. Some species of this plant have edible fruits.
The most common species used for growing at home is Pachira aquatica or Pachira aquatica. Actually, the fruits of this plant are edible. In appearance, this plant is very similar to a bottle tree, which can also be grown as a bonsai. This plant will grow rather slowly, however, subject to proper care and compliance with all growing standards, pachira can grow up to three meters in height.
At home, the plant is grown singly, but sometimes pachira with several trunks is also grown. In order to grow such a plant, you will need to plant young seedlings in one pot, and then over time begin to intertwine the trunks with each other. To obtain such a plant you will have to spend about three years, but the result will be very attractive.
Care and cultivation of Pachira aquatica
For intensive growth and excellent development of the plant, an abundance of light will be required, which, however, must be diffused. For this reason, it is recommended to grow this plant on eastern or western windows. However, it is also permissible to grow the plant on the southern sides, but during the day you will have to protect the plant from the bright rays of the sun. On the north side, in conditions of insufficient lighting, the plant will not have such excellent decorative properties. In summer, it is recommended to take this plant out into the open air, providing reliable protection from the sun and precipitation, as well as intense gusts of wind.
As for the temperature regime, in the spring and summer the plant will need to be kept at a temperature level of twenty-one to twenty-five degrees. In winter, the temperature should be about fifteen to sixteen degrees. It is also important to remember that the plant cannot be near radiators, and in addition, drafts must not be allowed to appear, otherwise the pachira may die.
To water the plant you will need soft warm water, which should be slightly above room temperature. It is recommended to use bottom watering; it is also possible to water the plant along the contour of the pot, but do not allow the plant trunk itself to get wet. As for spring and summer, pachira should be watered only after the top layer of soil has dried. Approximately from mid-autumn until the end of winter, you will need to reduce the watering rate. In the case when watering is very abundant, the trunk begins to rot, and under conditions of insufficient watering, the leaves noticeably wither.
The plant should not be sprayed; it can develop well even in dry air in the apartment. However, if you want more abundant plant growth, you will need to spray in the morning and evening. In this case, only the leaves of the pachira are sprayed, because excessive moisture on the trunk of the plant can cause it to rot.
During the winter and autumn, the plant should not be fertilized. However, starting from mid-spring and ending in summer, it is recommended to feed the plant about a couple of times a month using complex mineral fertilizers, which are intended for indoor plants.
The elongating shoots of pachira must be pruned, and these activities should be carried out in the fall. In the places where the plant is cut, several shoots grow, which will cause the crown of the pachira to become denser.
