Fire tree. Delonix regal - fire tree. Royal bounty of the tropics: anything is possible here

Delonix royal: growing and care at home

Delonix regal blooms with orange-red flowers. The tree appears to be on fire. Because of this, it is called the fire tree. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. The seeds can be collected in late autumn - early winter in warm countries or bought in an online store.

How to grow at home

The tree reaches its maturity at 10 years: at this time the flowering period begins. At night the crown folds up. Delonix's homeland is the island of Madagascar. east africa. The plant is heat-loving, does not tolerate subzero temperatures.

Source: Depositphotos

Delonix royal reaches a height of 10–15 m

You can grow delonix at home from seeds and cuttings.

Propagation by seeds:

1. To make the seed germinate faster, pierce it with a needle, put it in warm water, and leave it for a day. Second method: lower in hot water for a few minutes, then add to the bowl cold water and leave for 24 hours. Growth stimulants promote accelerated emergence of sprouts.
2. Bury the seed 0.5–1 cm into moist soil and lightly sprinkle with soil.
3. Create a greenhouse effect by covering the planting with a jar or plastic bag.
4. Moisten the soil as it dries.
5. When you see that the plant has produced a new leaf, remove the film.

The room temperature should be +27 °C.

Propagation by cuttings:

1. Cut off a young, not too thick woody branch. Treat the cut with a growth stimulator.
2. Mix sand and soil containing peat in equal proportions. Place a 2–3 cm thick drainage layer and soil on the bottom of a small container.
3. Plant the cutting. Water it.
4. Cover with plastic or a jar.
5. After the young leaves appear, remove the film.

Keep in mind that excess moisture in the soil can lead to rotting of the root system. Sunlight is necessary, but it is better not to expose it to scorching rays.

Home care

Each year, transplant young plants into a container larger than the previous one. When the plant is 10–15 years old, replace 1/3 of the soil on top.

After delonix reaches a height of 150 cm, form its crown. Trim off the top and excess side branches. Carry out the procedure after flowering ends or at the beginning of summer.

Fertilize only when summer period. Water after the earthen clod dries. The optimal summer temperature is from 24 to 30 °C.

IN winter time The plant is in a dormant period. The temperature should not fall below 12 °C. Reduce watering to a minimum.

Delonix is ​​very beautiful during flowering, but its cultivation requires quite large areas and comfortable temperature conditions.

Delonix royal is one of the most beautiful plants planet, famous for its bright flowering, during which the crown glows with red hues. This became the reason for the origin of another unofficial name, “Fire Tree.” It is possible to grow it in room conditions, which is not easy, but if desired, it is quite possible.

Royal Delonix is ​​a deciduous tree of the Legume family, characterized by:

• Powerful tap roots, growing from the trunk and giving the tree stability. They are so strong that they break through asphalt and destroy nearby buildings.
• A tall (10–20 cm) trunk covered with smooth bark, changing color as it grows from light to brown with dark patches. Every year the trunk grows 3 m higher, reaching maximum sizes by 3–4 years.
• A spreading crown with a diameter equal to the height of the trunk, during flowering it turns into a huge fiery umbrella.
• The unusual shape of long (up to 50–60 cm) bright green, double-pinnate, short-petioled leaves, reminiscent of ferns. They grow in August after flowering, and every evening they fold and droop.

However, delonix gained worldwide fame thanks to its unrivaled flowering beauty.

In the spring, before the leaves appear, a huge number of large (up to 10 cm) buds are formed on the branches of delonix, collected in apical or axillary racemose inflorescences of bright red, scarlet or orange shades. Each flower is formed by five petals with jagged edges and bases that sharply taper towards the center. Four of them are identical in shape and shades, the fifth has the shape of a sail and is colored with light specks or peculiar strokes. The central part of the bud is decorated with a pistil with a dozen velvety, long and upward-curving yellow-red stamens.

The flowering period is 2–2.5 months. In place of the pollinated buds, fruits develop that quickly increase in size - flat pods about 4 cm wide and up to 60 cm long, changing color from green to dark purple, brown or black. Inside the fruit there are 20–30 seeds, 2–3 cm long, covered with a hard dark shell.

Where does the fire tree grow?

Delonix is ​​native to Madagascar. From this island, the seeds of the Fire Tree were brought to Japan, China, India, Northern Australia, and then to Africa and the Caribbean islands.

Delonix royal grows in areas with tropical and subtropical climates, which exclude the presence of minimum sub-zero temperatures. This condition determines the area of ​​its growth.

On the territory of Russia under open air the plant is not cultivated, but if desired, its smaller copy can be grown as a bonsai or as an ordinary indoor flower.

Growing Delonix at home

The tree reproduces by seeds. The process of growing adult plants from seeds is lengthy and requires pedantic implementation of all plant care recommendations during the first 2–3 years.

Requirements for soil and pot

The plant is planted in large pots that have a good drainage compartment and holes for water drainage. In spacious rooms, winter gardens and greenhouses are grown in tubs.

The fire tree is not demanding on the composition of the soil, but it is important for it that the soil is light and loose and freely allows air and moisture to pass through. These properties are possessed by a mixture of leaf and turf land(2 parts each) with the addition of coarse river sand or small (3–5 cm) pebbles (1 part).

The plant is not picky about soil acidity, but does not like strong alkalization.

Preparing and planting seeds

Delonix seeds are covered with a very dense shell, so they take a long time to germinate.

To speed up the process, before planting they are processed using one of the following methods:

• Place in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then dilute it with cold liquid so that your hands are comfortable and leave for a day without additional heating;
• pierce or file the seed shell with a sharp object (an awl, a thick needle, a file), and then leave it for 24 hours in a solution of a drug that stimulates tissue growth (Zircon, Epin).

Planting is carried out in small containers filled with a damp mixture of sand and turf soil (1:1), peat and vermiculite (1:1). By appearance It is difficult for a seed to determine the place where the sprout and roots emerge, so the seeds are placed horizontally and sprinkled with soil 2–3 mm deep.

The surface of the container is covered with a transparent, airtight material, simulating a greenhouse with an air temperature of at least 27 °C. Every other day, the seedlings are ventilated. When the top layer of soil dries, lightly moisten it.

Subject to optimal conditions sprouts will appear in 1–1.5 months. Slow germination gives way to a rapid (10–15 cm per month) process.

Rules for caring for sprouts and mature trees

An important point in growing delonix from seeds is caring for the seedlings.

They are so tender and weak that they can die from direct sunlight or slight overwatering.

For this reason, young plants:

• placed in partial shade or darkened from direct sun rays;
• Water moderately, focusing on the condition of the top layer of soil: it should always be slightly moist. The plant reacts to a lack of moisture by shedding its leaves and looks unattractive before it increases;

The first flowering will have to wait 3.5–4 years. As a reward for your work and patience in indoor conditions, delonix blooms a month longer than its “outdoor” counterparts.

Caring for an adult plant is less burdensome and consists of: correct placement, watering, feeding, transplanting, pruning and organizing a rest period:

• From spring to autumn, the flower is placed in a warm (20–25 degrees) and bright place - on the windowsills of southern or southwestern windows. In summer they are taken out into the open air.
• During flowering (from May to September), delonix is ​​watered rarely, allowing the top layer of soil to completely dry to a depth of 2-3 cm. During leaf growth, watering is increased.
• From March to September, indoor specimens are fed. Before flowering begins, mineral additives are applied for decorative deciduous plants, and from the moment the first buds appear, fertilizers are applied for decorative flowering forms. Fertilizing is combined with watering, using solutions in concentrations recommended by the manufacturer.
• Young (up to 3 years) plants are replanted annually, changing the container to a more spacious one. Adults - as the entire volume of the pot is filled with roots. For very large specimens, they limit themselves to annual changes of the top (2-3 cm) layer of soil.
• In spring, the main shoot of the plant is shortened. In the fall, after flowering, the crown is formed by pruning, giving it the desired appearance. The fire tree tolerates these procedures painlessly.

After autumn pruning the flower is forced to rest.

In isolated cases, if growing conditions are violated, damage by scale insects and spider mites is possible:

• Scale insects develop when there is a lack of sunlight. The insect settles on shoots and leaves, forming small dense dark tubercles or plaques. If pests are detected, they are removed manually with a soft cloth soaked in a concentrated solution. laundry soap. In case of severe damage, they are repeatedly treated with insecticides (Inta-vir, Fitoverm, Aktara) according to the instructions for the drug.
• If the flower is kept for a long time in a poorly ventilated room with dry air, spider mites may appear, which settle on the underside of the leaves, forming a gray or brownish coating. With severe damage, a thin cobweb is visible between the shoots and leaves. The insect is removed by treating the ground part with a soap solution. Before carrying out activities, cover the soil waterproof material. After 1.5–2 weeks, the composition is washed off under a warm shower. If there is no result, the plant is repeatedly treated with acaricides (Antiklesch, Fufanon, Sunmite) at weekly intervals. The room where the flower is located is regularly ventilated and all measures are taken to increase air humidity.

Patience and competent care will certainly give a positive result - the royal delonix will annually surprise others with its unusual and spectacular flowering.

People have learned to “domesticate” many tropical plants. One of the most beautiful exotics included in the top five amazing trees, it is considered to be Delonix royalis. People call this tree differently, the most famous being the fire tree.

How to care for such unusual plant at home, what growing conditions does Delonix require? We'll talk about this in this article.

Description

Delonix is ​​often called royal tree with a spreading crown. People have given the plant many names:

• Phoenix tail;
• fire tree;
• royal fire;
• flame tree.

The tip of the Phoenix's tail is colored bright red color. Delonix is ​​considered a deciduous tree; leaves are formed on the branches of the plant small size, the so-called stipules. It should be noted that delonix hides its leaves at night: the stipules press their backs against each other.

Quite tall, individual specimens can reach 10–15 meters in height. The diameter of the crown is sometimes equal to the height of the trunk. A heat-loving and moisture-loving tree, in its homeland, in tropical countries, delonix is ​​considered evergreen. In unsuitable conditions, such as drought, the tree sheds its leaves.

Delonix belongs to the legume subfamily Caesalpiniaceae. In appearance it is a tall, strong tree with a smooth trunk. In young trees, the bark on the trunk is light, while in older trees it is brown, spotted and rough. With age, the thickness of the trunk and the number of flowers increase. The crown is fluffy and has the shape of an umbrella. The roots go deep into the ground, so the tree can withstand a strong gust of wind. The leaves are large, fern-like, about 35–40 cm long.

Flowering occurs in the warm season, mainly in spring - summer. The flowers are usually scarlet, less often yellow color. Delonix fruits ripen in special pods, about 55 cm long. At the beginning of ripening, the fruits are the same color as the bark, dark brown, and at maturity they are black. There are about 30 fruits in the pod, some of which spill out onto the ground in rainy weather.

It is resistant to drought, but may suffer due to temperature fluctuations. At -1 degree Celsius, delonix dies.

Royal delonix is ​​propagated by seeds, and very rarely by cuttings.

Places of growth

Madagascar is considered to be the birthplace of the royal representative, but today the fire tree is extremely rare there. Often found in warm countries, where it is grown as a decorative tree. Delonix is ​​planted in parks and squares, in flower beds. It is considered part of landscape design compositions.

IN Russian Federation delonix is ​​found in areas where the climate is close to tropical. However, in open ground the tree is not grown, Royal delonix does not even tolerate frosts. They are grown in winter gardens and greenhouses, in special tubs.

IN natural environment practically exterminated due to the fact that the wood is considered a valuable, strong species. The tree is also cut down because other plants do not grow in the shade of the tree.

Delonix at home

Phoenix tail is quite popular in Russia and Ukraine; it is often grown in greenhouses.

The optimal temperature is considered to be at 12–15 degrees Celsius. If the plant is grown in a tub, then in the warm season Delonix can be kept in the yard, in cold period the tub is brought into the room. Delonix royal at home begins to bloom at 4–5 years. At home it blooms longer than outdoors: from May to September. People who have a dog in their apartment or house are not recommended to raise an exotic giant. The plant is poisonous to dogs.

Choosing a landing site

The fire tree is perfect not picky about the choice of soil. It will grow well in any loose and light soil. It must be drained. Light-loving plant, feels good when exposed to direct sunlight. In winter gardens and greenhouses it is recommended to place a tub in the south or southwest of the room. In apartments, the tree should grow sunny side rooms.

If the windows in the room are located with north side, it is recommended to install auxiliary lighting fixtures for the Phoenix tail.

With the onset of warmth, the plant is taken out into the air, placing the tub in a sunny place. It is necessary to monitor the temperature, the lower threshold should be at least 15 degrees Celsius.

Seed preparation

At home, the plant reproduces only by seeds. There will be no problems with purchasing seeds; they are available for sale in all specialized stores.

Before planting, seeds need preparation. The seeds are immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes, then the seeds are left to stand for 24 hours. warm water.

Seeds are planted in moist sand mixture, covered with film. The mixture is prepared from sand and turf soil in a 1:1 ratio. It is necessary to create conditions for the seeds that are close to natural, so the temperature of the room where the pot is located must be at least 28 degrees Celsius.

To speed up seed germination, it is necessary to remove the hard shell from the seed.

Caring for sprouts and mature trees

A representative of royal plant varieties during the growth period, it is a very capricious plant that requires special conditions. Once the sprouts appear, the most important aspect is to preserve them. Particular attention must be paid to watering. It is important to maintain a certain soil moisture, do not overfill under any circumstances. It is also impossible to underfill, if the plant feels “drought”, it will shed its leaves.

It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight so as not to burn the sprout. It is recommended to keep the plant near a darkened window, thereby maintaining warmth and the necessary light.

Regular annual replanting will be required. The plant grows quickly, it must be transplanted into high tubs, since the plant has a well-developed root system.

There is practically no hassle with adult specimens. Like all plants, delonix needs regular watering, fertilizer and partial soil replacement. Moderate watering is recommended; the soil should sometimes dry out a little to avoid waterlogging. During the cold season, watering should be kept to a minimum. Excessive moisture of the plant in winter will ruin the plant.

Humidity must be maintained. It is recommended to spray the plant regularly or keep a container of water next to the pot. During the flowering period, water should not get on the flowers.

Feeding must be chosen depending on the time of year. During the flowering period, from May to September, fertilizing for ornamental flowering plants is suitable; the rest of the time, fertilizing for decorative deciduous plants.

Diseases and pests

The most common insect pests of delonix are:

• spider mite;
• scale insect

You can assemble the shield yourself. Spider mites are destroyed special means, which is freely available at any veterinary pharmacy or specialty store.

Along with pests, the handsome giant can get sick due to improper and timely care behind the tree crown. Delonix may get sick if not given timely care. The crown needs to be trimmed regularly. The crown and excess shoots must be removed weekly.

Delonix is ​​one of the top 5 most amazing and beautiful trees in the world.

It has other names - “Fire Tree”, “Fire Tree”, “Red Flame”.

IN landscape design it is used as a decorative one.

Maximum height delonix reaches 12-15 m, the crown width is approximately the same size.

To give the shape and the required height, prune at the end of spring at a height of 1.5 m, cutting out all thickening, weakened branches and do not forget to pinch the top.

About the plant

Delonix looks like a huge acacia tree. He is very handsome and gentle. Its leaves look like ferns. Delonix flowers are collected in inflorescences. Seeing such beauty, every gardener will want to move it to their favorite garden or even grow it at home.

This evergreen, but in areas of increased drought, delonix will shed its leaves for 2 months in winter.

There is no resistance to frost, due to the fact that it tropical plant, so the critical mark on the thermometer becomes -1°C. The way out would be to grow them in tubs or as a bonsai.

Delonix blooms in May-June, continuing to amaze with its beauty for up to 10 weeks.

Growing delonix at home

You can collect delonix seeds from old flat pods, lightly file them and soak them in a growth stimulant solution for a day. Then sow in universal soil, without deepening it too much.

Sprouts appear very quickly, within a week, and grow by leaps and bounds.

Flowering begins in the third year after sowing.

When growing delonix at home, it constantly needs to be mercilessly pruned, since standing on the floor, it will very soon rest against the ceiling - you need to be prepared for this.

However, there are also dwarf delonix species, whose height does not exceed 3 m.

Keeping Delonix at home is quite simple:

• Place it in a bright place.
• The plant's large leaf mass evaporates a lot of water, so it requires regular watering during the growth period.
• The soil should dry out between waterings.
• Starting in March, spray with complex mineral fertilizer(For indoor plants) - raises the leaves, and their color becomes brighter.
• In January-February, it is advisable to reduce the room temperature to 12°C and reduce watering for more luxuriant flowering.
• Every spring, Delonix is ​​transplanted into a new larger container (the soil should consist of 2 parts turf and leaf soil and 1 part sand).
• In summer, delonix is ​​transferred outdoors to the garden. The tree turns into a huge umbrella, under which the rest will be pleasant and not hot.
• Try to water abundantly and sometimes fertilize with fertilizer for flowering plants.

When growing delonix in tubs at home, you need to be wary of only 2 types of pests - aphids and spider mite. Inspect the underside of leaves, especially young trees, and if found, spray with soap solution or garlic infusion (100 g of crushed garlic per 5 liters of water, leave for 1 hour), dust with tobacco dust.

To grow this tree with its magnificent flowers in northern latitudes, must be given Special attention its placement and wintering conditions. And if all the conditions for caring for the plant are met, the gardener will be able to enjoy the appearance of the royal delonix, or as it is also called, the fire tree for a long time, especially in the summer months.

Fire tree - delonix reginas

The fire tree is considered one of the most beautiful tropical trees in the world. For several weeks in the spring and summer, delonix is ​​covered in dense clusters of fiery red flowers. The delicate, fern-like leaves are composed of small individual leaflets that fold at the onset of dusk.

The widely spread umbrella shape of the crown is another attractive attribute of this tree. In addition to its ornamental value, this tree is also useful in tropical conditions, since although it grows to a modest height (5-12 meters), it has a spreading crown with dense foliage, which, like a large umbrella, provides protection from the sun .

Delonix regal (not to be confused with the king tree) is a species flowering plant legume family. It is notable for its fern leaves and bright flowers, because of which it received its second name. In many tropical zones it is grown as an ornamental tree.

Delonix captivates with its fiery red flowers, which form from May to October. Not only do they have a stunning color, but they are also very interesting shape. The flowers consist of five spade-shaped petals up to 8 centimeters long. In autumn, pods about 40 cm long appear on the tree, containing small seeds weighing about 0.4 g. The leaves are 30−50 cm long. The tree grows very quickly, up to 1.5 m per year and tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils from acidic to alkaline. It has shallow, widely spreading roots.

Delonix is ​​most often propagated by seeds, which are collected, soaked in warm water for at least 24 hours and planted in warm wet soil. Seedlings grow quickly and can reach 30 cm in a few weeks. ideal conditions. Less common, but equally effective, is propagation by cuttings.

Delonix's homeland is the deciduous forests of Madagascar, although this plant can now be found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Delonix is ​​endangered in its homeland.

To the question of where royal delonix grows in Russia, one can unequivocally answer that in Russia and Ukraine this plant is not grown in open ground, since it will not withstand even slight frosts. But it is widely cultivated as a tub plant or tree for greenhouses.

In its homeland, delonix is ​​used as ornamental plant, which grows in parks and gardens. In addition, this tree has light, soft and at the same time highly elastic wood., used for making decorative crafts. Leaves and seeds of the fire tree are used in folk medicine against fever and anemia.

Growing at home

Theoretically, at home, royal delonix can be planted directly in the garden in the summer. But it should be remembered that the tree will not only grow, but also form lush foliage and thus increase in volume and weight. As a result, it will be difficult to transplant it into a tub in the fall, where it should spend the entire winter.

Planting and propagation of the fire tree is usually done using seeds. Although this species is rare exotic plants, seeds can be freely purchased online.

After planting, the seeds begin to germinate in about three weeks. If you need to speed up this process, close the pot transparent film. As soon as a sprout appears, the film is removed so that the plant receives a sufficient amount of air.

A window sill is good for this. But you need to be careful especially during the first six weeks, because seedlings should absolutely not be exposed to direct sunlight. In order for germination to be successful, a constant temperature of about 20 °C must be maintained.

The soil should always be slightly moist, but should not become waterlogged. As soon as the sprout appears from the ground, in the summer the pot can be placed outside in a sunny and windless place.

Seed planting scheme

Seeds should be soaked in warm water for a day before planting.. Then:

Selection of location and soil

In order to grow Delonix royal at home, the main thing is to choose the optimal place. The plant will do especially well where there is light. Although sufficient brightness is important for this plant, it must be protected from direct sunlight, particularly during germination. When choosing a location, you should also keep in mind that the tree can reach a total height of up to ten meters, so its location must be provided with sufficient space.

Delonix can thrive on a balcony or terrace if the temperature does not drop below 10° C. When growing in these places, it is also important to provide the plant with sufficient lighting. Delonix also grows well in a heated winter garden.

Royal delonix requires tropical or near-tropical climate, but can tolerate drought. He prefers open space with sandy or loamy soil, enriched organic substances. To cultivate the tree, you should use a high-quality substrate. Soil with coarse-grained fractions - perlite or gravel - is especially suitable.

Plant care

During the growth phase, the fire tree requires a lot of liquid. After the plant stops growing, general irrigation should remain regular, but significantly reduced.

Extra stock nutrients should be applied exclusively during the growth phase. During this time, the tree needs to receive fertilizer every three weeks from May to October. A high-quality container plant food is best here.

In addition, regular replanting of the plant is necessary, which usually occurs every two to three years. If the plant is not transplanted into a larger container, growth stops and delonix remains a small ornamental plant.

Typical fire tree care also includes pruning. This must be done for the following reasons:

• to control overall growth;
• for the sake of achieving strong branching;
• to form an umbrella-shaped crown.

In principle, the plant should be pruned as often as possible when it is young.

In the cold season, delonix needs suitable winter premises, as the plant dies at temperatures below 5° C. General terms For suitable place include a temperature of 10 to 20° C, access to sunlight and sufficient heat. During the cold season, the fire tree loses its leaves.

Diseases and pests

Delonix is ​​resistant to diseases and pests. There are rare episodes of scale insect damage, but this insect does not like bright lighting, unlike delonix. The infection can be recognized by spotted and yellowed leaves.

Rainy summers have a negative effect on the plant. Humidity promotes mold growth. Therefore it is warm and sunny place has a preventive effect on both diseases and pests.

In winter, delonix sheds its leaves, but this is not a sign of plant disease. It's just how it spends the winter. The time required for the formation of new leaves depends on the brightness and temperature of it winter premises. Basically, the darker winter quarters, the later new leaves will appear next year. During wintering, the tree is only lightly watered. No fertilizer needed.

There are few subtleties in caring for an exotic beauty, so even a novice plant grower can cope with this. But the pleasure from the lush fiery flowering will be a real reward for your efforts, even if they are small.