Butea and its cultivation

Butea is one of the palms that can be cultivated at home without any problems. In the wild, it is found in South America. In Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the fruits of this palm tree are eaten both fresh and processed. Jelly is made from them, so the palm itself is sometimes called jelly. To grow a tree, you need to carry out comprehensive care, taking into account some of the nuances.

Butea is a solitary palm tree that can be found not only in the countries of South America, but also in some regions of Russia: Crimea, Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory. A distinctive feature is slow growth, but with proper care, it reaches an impressive size.

The minimum height is 40 cm and the maximum is up to 6 meters. The tree has a good root system, leaves are tough, located on long petioles up to 4 meters. Each leaf has from 70 to 100 pairs of lobes, each of them can reach 70 cm in length. The leaves are colored green with a bluish bloom. The inside is less green than the outside.

Pink-purple inflorescences appear in spring. Small in size, they are collected in panicles, and their length sometimes reaches 1.5 meters. At the beginning of autumn, fruits ripen. When compared with the most famous fruits, they look like apricots. Suitable for human consumption.

About 20 species of palm trees of this genus are known. At home, it is realistic to cultivate only two types of boutiques.

1. Capitate Is the most common option. The name was received by the palm tree due to the peculiarities of the structure of the trunk. The fact is that it has some thickening at the base. The leaves are arcuate, located on the petioles. Fruits ripening in autumn contain large amounts of coconut oil. The most common variety is Manuela.

2. Hairy Is the second cultivated variety. Outwardly, it is very similar to the capitate, but miniature in size, and the fruits are drier.

Both options require identical conditions of detention.

A properly organized microclimate plays an important role for the growth of a boutique. It is best to place it on a southern windowsill, since the plant is demanding on the constant presence of sunlight. The palm tree has a developed root system, so it is recommended to immediately acquire a large capacity for it.

Indoor palm requires complex care. The first thing to look at is the conditions of detention. The indoor climate should copy the subtropical one.

The first thing to say about is the air temperature. In spring and summer, the indoor thermometer should not fall below the minimum mark of 20 degrees. Optimum indicators are 24-27 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature can be lowered, since this time is considered a dormant period for the palm tree. Despite its thermophilicity, the plant is able to feel good even at a temperature of + 10 ... 15 degrees.

Air humidity is required normal in the range of 50-60%. If the air dries up due to the turned on heating or heater, it is permissible to spray the leaves and trunk from the spray bottle.

Butea needs timely and sufficient watering. For this purpose, it is better to use a soft, settled liquid. Ideally, melt water or rainwater. In the summer you need to water more often because the sun is present. Starting in autumn, the frequency and abundance of watering should be gradually reduced.

You should focus primarily on the visual state of the soil. If the top layer is dry enough, then watering is required. Do not over-water as this will lead to root rot. And overdrying can disable the entire root system, which, as a result, will negatively affect the general condition.

Butia needs feeding during the active phase, namely: from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. It will be enough to fertilize 2 times a month. For this purpose, store-bought complex fertilizers are recommended, which are suitable for ornamental plants. They need to be introduced in liquid form directly into the soil. You can spray the leaves from a spray bottle, but the solution for this must be very weak.

Butea does not like any changes, therefore, it should be transplanted only in the most extreme cases, but not more often than once every 5 years. It is important to observe several conditions here:

• do not change the composition of the soil;

• do not bury the plant;

• do not damage the root system.

Butea reproduces exclusively by seeds. The peculiarity is that they germinate for a long time - up to 12 months under the most favorable conditions. Before planting, the seed must be placed in a growth stimulator for 5 days. Then make a small incision on the surface of the shell, while being careful not to touch the kernel.

In a pot with soil, you need to press the prepared seed, but do not fill it up. Cover the top with a plastic bag. From below, constant heating should be carried out, and the air temperature in the mini-greenhouse should be maintained at 24-25 degrees Celsius.

Butea is a rather susceptible plant to various kinds of diseases and pests. In most cases, attacks begin due to a weakened immune system, which leads to systematic inappropriate care. It is expressed in the following actions.

1. Improper watering. It can be either excessive or insufficient. In any of these cases, the plant loses its vitality and becomes a potential victim of pests.

2. Lack of drainage layer.

3. Too small or, conversely, large capacity.

4. Lack of sunlight.

5. Bad ground.

All this leads to the appearance of pests.

1. Spider mite. This is a harmful insect that prefers to attack palm plants, and butia is no exception. The insect is very small, so it is often difficult to spot it the first time. It is located more often on the back of the leaves. When there are too many ticks, cobwebs begin to appear on the tree. At this moment, already by the outward appearance of the plant, one can understand that it is sick. Palm leaves dry up, covered with brown spots. The insect reproduces very quickly, so it is difficult to cope with it. For treatment, it is recommended to spray with drugs "Actellik", "Akarin" or "Fufanon".

2. Shield. The pest insect is also located on the leaves. Outwardly, it resembles hard droplets. In fact, the bumps are brown shells, under which the insect hides. If you do not get rid of them in a timely manner, the plant will die. It is recommended to remove them mechanically, for example, gently sweep them away with a soft brush. Then you need to spray with special compounds.Since the shell of insects performs a protective function, only those drugs that cause disorders of the digestive tract are suitable: Inta-Vir, Bankol, Mospilan.

3. Thrips Is another common pest that feeds on plant sap. In order to get rid of these insects, it is recommended to use insecticides.

The most common diseases of the buty are: leaf spot, root rot, penicillosis. The first ailment most often appears due to weakened immunity. The spots have different diameters and colors. It is recommended to use Topsin fungicide as a medicinal product.

Root rot develops due to improper and too abundant watering. The root system fails, causing the leaves to darken and fall off. If the situation is not promptly corrected, then in a few days the palm tree will die. It is necessary to immediately stop watering, remove the plant from the pot, carefully trim the affected roots, and then place it in a fungicide solution containing zinc or copper for 20 minutes. Then you need to replace the soil, treat the wounds on the roots with wood ash. As a preventive measure, you need to water it with a solution of fungicides 2 more times.

Penicillosis affects leaf tips and young shoots. They become shrunken, change color. In order to correct the situation in time, it is important to maintain a light regime, to prevent excessive exposure to direct sunlight on the leaves.