Poinciana
iPhoneography in action. Unedited and unprocessed, straight out of the camera.
One of my all time favorite flowering plants. Fortunately it grows in poolside flowerpots.
Here is more information:
Pride of Barbados plants (Caesalpinia pulfcherrima) are also known as Queen of Barbados, Peacock lowers, Dwarf Poincianas, and Red Bird-of-Paradise.
They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 to 11. In hot tropical climates they are evergreen but, in zone 9 Mediterranean climates, they are deciduous. In zone 8, frost kills the stems of the plant to the ground, but they return each spring. They grow between 8 and 20 feet tall, depending on the climate.
I'm trying to start new plants in other areas of the garden away from the pool. Here is a guide to starting them from seeds.
homeguides.sfgate.com/start-dwarf-ponciana-seed-42854.html
Dwarf poinciana starts reliably from seeds, which you should sow in summer and keep under constantly humid conditions. Little hands-on care is required to successfully sprout the seeds, although they benefit from light processing before sowing to increase the chances of germination.
1. Run a nail file along the side of each dwarf poinciana seed to thin the hull. Rub it lightly until a small, slightly pale area forms. Avoid rubbing too vigorously because if you make a hole, you'll ruin the seed.
2. Place the seeds in a bowl of warm water. Soak them for six to eight hours to swell the seed, which will hasten germination. Drain the seeds on a piece of paper towel for a few minutes before sowing them.
3. Combine 3 parts seed-starting compost, 1 part perlite and 1 part coarse sand in a bucket. Stir the components while drizzling water into the bucket. Keep adding water and stirring until it feels evenly moist and takes on a uniform appearance.
4. Pack the moistened compost mixture into 1-inch starter pots. Leave the top 1/2 inch empty. Firm the mixture well to collapse any trapped air pockets.
5. Sow one dwarf poinciana seed in each pot. Place the seed on the compost mix and gently press it halfway into the surface. Sprinkle a 1/16-inch-thick layer of compost over the seeds, then mist it heavily to settle the soil.
6. Place the pots on a warming mat outdoors where they will receive very bright, indirect sunlight. Set the temperature on the warming mat to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the temperature to 68 F at night.
7. Drape a sheet of clear plastic over the pots to maintain a high level of humidity around the seeds. Lift the plastic every day to allow some of the trapped moisture to escape.
8. Water the dwarf poinciana seeds whenever the surface of the compost feels mostly dry. Water with a spray bottle to keep from disturbing the seeds. Mist until the compost feels very moist in the top 1 inch.
9. Watch for sprouting in one month, but do not be concerned if it takes up to three months for the seeds to germinate. Lift the plastic and remove the warming mat after germination.
10. Grow the dwarf poinciana seedlings in their pots until they reach 1 inch in height and produce a pair of mature leaves. Then, transplant them into 3-inch pots filled with potting soil. Grow them under light shade with weekly 1-inch waterings.
11. Transplant the dwarf poinciana trees into a permanent bed outdoors with full sun exposure and acidic, fast-draining soil in two to three months, or once they reach 4 to 6 inches tall.
Space multiple trees at least 12 to 15 feet apart.
Things You Will Need:
Nail file
Bowl
Paper towel
Seed-starting compost
Perlite
Coarse sand
Bucket
1-inch starter pots
Spray bottle
Warming mat
Clear plastic
Tip:
Mulch dwarf poinciana trees with a 4-inch-thick layer of compost after transplanting them.
Proper care of this plant begins with proper planting.
Soil
The soil for Pride of Barbados plants does not have to be especially fertile or high in organic matter. Poor sandy soils are fine for this plant. Soil pH can be acidic, neutral or alkaline. Good drainage is extremely important, though. The water must drain quickly away from the root zone. Where the soil is heavy clay and drains very slowly, consider growing the tree in a container or making a raised planting site. Either soil or peat-based potting mixes are fine for these plants as long as they contain sand, perlite and vermiculite to provide fast drainage. A 16-inch diameter by 16-inch deep container with drain holes in the bottom is suitable.
Sunlight
Pride of Barbados plants need a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. They grow successfully with as little as two hours of direct sunlight; however, they grow best and bloom more profusely in full sun. Container-grown plants should be placed in the same sunlight exposure as those grown in the ground. If a container-grown plant is moved indoors for the winter, place it by a window where it will receive direct sunlight.
Water
Pride of Barbados plants should be watered deeply once or twice each week for the first year or two after planting. Once the plants become well established, they are highly drought-tolerant and should not need supplemental water but, for best growth and blooming, water them during prolonged droughts. Deep watering encourages the plant to send roots deeper into the soil, resulting in better drought tolerance. Apply the water on the soil from 6 to 12 inches away from the stems to the drip-line below the outer edge of the branches. Container-grown plants need water once or twice each week throughout the spring, summer and fall but need slightly drier soil through the winter.
Mulch
Organic mulch should be spread around Pride of Barbados plants when they are grown in the landscape. It should be 2 to 3 inches deep and cover the entire root zone. Keeping the mulch 6 inches away from the stems or trunk will help prevent damage to the bark from excessive, prolonged exposure to moisture.
Fertilizer and Pruning
In early spring beginning the year after it is planted, it can be given nitrogen fertilizer diluted to half-strength to give it a boost. It is not ordinarily necessary, however, unless the soil is nutrient-poor. Always apply fertilizer immediately after a good rain or watering, never to dry soil or potting mix. Between October and the end of December, prune the branches back by 1 1/2 to 2 feet.
Scientific Name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats
Toxic Principles: GI Irritants, Tannins.
Clinical Signs: Vomiting and diarrhea.
If your pet ingested this plant, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.*
IMG_7703
Poinciana
iPhoneography in action. Unedited and unprocessed, straight out of the camera.
One of my all time favorite flowering plants. Fortunately it grows in poolside flowerpots.
Here is more information:
Pride of Barbados plants (Caesalpinia pulfcherrima) are also known as Queen of Barbados, Peacock lowers, Dwarf Poincianas, and Red Bird-of-Paradise.
They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 to 11. In hot tropical climates they are evergreen but, in zone 9 Mediterranean climates, they are deciduous. In zone 8, frost kills the stems of the plant to the ground, but they return each spring. They grow between 8 and 20 feet tall, depending on the climate.
I'm trying to start new plants in other areas of the garden away from the pool. Here is a guide to starting them from seeds.
homeguides.sfgate.com/start-dwarf-ponciana-seed-42854.html
Dwarf poinciana starts reliably from seeds, which you should sow in summer and keep under constantly humid conditions. Little hands-on care is required to successfully sprout the seeds, although they benefit from light processing before sowing to increase the chances of germination.
1. Run a nail file along the side of each dwarf poinciana seed to thin the hull. Rub it lightly until a small, slightly pale area forms. Avoid rubbing too vigorously because if you make a hole, you'll ruin the seed.
2. Place the seeds in a bowl of warm water. Soak them for six to eight hours to swell the seed, which will hasten germination. Drain the seeds on a piece of paper towel for a few minutes before sowing them.
3. Combine 3 parts seed-starting compost, 1 part perlite and 1 part coarse sand in a bucket. Stir the components while drizzling water into the bucket. Keep adding water and stirring until it feels evenly moist and takes on a uniform appearance.
4. Pack the moistened compost mixture into 1-inch starter pots. Leave the top 1/2 inch empty. Firm the mixture well to collapse any trapped air pockets.
5. Sow one dwarf poinciana seed in each pot. Place the seed on the compost mix and gently press it halfway into the surface. Sprinkle a 1/16-inch-thick layer of compost over the seeds, then mist it heavily to settle the soil.
6. Place the pots on a warming mat outdoors where they will receive very bright, indirect sunlight. Set the temperature on the warming mat to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the temperature to 68 F at night.
7. Drape a sheet of clear plastic over the pots to maintain a high level of humidity around the seeds. Lift the plastic every day to allow some of the trapped moisture to escape.
8. Water the dwarf poinciana seeds whenever the surface of the compost feels mostly dry. Water with a spray bottle to keep from disturbing the seeds. Mist until the compost feels very moist in the top 1 inch.
9. Watch for sprouting in one month, but do not be concerned if it takes up to three months for the seeds to germinate. Lift the plastic and remove the warming mat after germination.
10. Grow the dwarf poinciana seedlings in their pots until they reach 1 inch in height and produce a pair of mature leaves. Then, transplant them into 3-inch pots filled with potting soil. Grow them under light shade with weekly 1-inch waterings.
11. Transplant the dwarf poinciana trees into a permanent bed outdoors with full sun exposure and acidic, fast-draining soil in two to three months, or once they reach 4 to 6 inches tall.
Space multiple trees at least 12 to 15 feet apart.
Things You Will Need:
Nail file
Bowl
Paper towel
Seed-starting compost
Perlite
Coarse sand
Bucket
1-inch starter pots
Spray bottle
Warming mat
Clear plastic
Tip:
Mulch dwarf poinciana trees with a 4-inch-thick layer of compost after transplanting them.
Proper care of this plant begins with proper planting.
Soil
The soil for Pride of Barbados plants does not have to be especially fertile or high in organic matter. Poor sandy soils are fine for this plant. Soil pH can be acidic, neutral or alkaline. Good drainage is extremely important, though. The water must drain quickly away from the root zone. Where the soil is heavy clay and drains very slowly, consider growing the tree in a container or making a raised planting site. Either soil or peat-based potting mixes are fine for these plants as long as they contain sand, perlite and vermiculite to provide fast drainage. A 16-inch diameter by 16-inch deep container with drain holes in the bottom is suitable.
Sunlight
Pride of Barbados plants need a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. They grow successfully with as little as two hours of direct sunlight; however, they grow best and bloom more profusely in full sun. Container-grown plants should be placed in the same sunlight exposure as those grown in the ground. If a container-grown plant is moved indoors for the winter, place it by a window where it will receive direct sunlight.
Water
Pride of Barbados plants should be watered deeply once or twice each week for the first year or two after planting. Once the plants become well established, they are highly drought-tolerant and should not need supplemental water but, for best growth and blooming, water them during prolonged droughts. Deep watering encourages the plant to send roots deeper into the soil, resulting in better drought tolerance. Apply the water on the soil from 6 to 12 inches away from the stems to the drip-line below the outer edge of the branches. Container-grown plants need water once or twice each week throughout the spring, summer and fall but need slightly drier soil through the winter.
Mulch
Organic mulch should be spread around Pride of Barbados plants when they are grown in the landscape. It should be 2 to 3 inches deep and cover the entire root zone. Keeping the mulch 6 inches away from the stems or trunk will help prevent damage to the bark from excessive, prolonged exposure to moisture.
Fertilizer and Pruning
In early spring beginning the year after it is planted, it can be given nitrogen fertilizer diluted to half-strength to give it a boost. It is not ordinarily necessary, however, unless the soil is nutrient-poor. Always apply fertilizer immediately after a good rain or watering, never to dry soil or potting mix. Between October and the end of December, prune the branches back by 1 1/2 to 2 feet.
Scientific Name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats
Toxic Principles: GI Irritants, Tannins.
Clinical Signs: Vomiting and diarrhea.
If your pet ingested this plant, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.*
IMG_7703