General descriptive characteristics of tekoma, advice on cultivation in room conditions, reproduction, pest and disease control, curious facts, species. Tecoma (Tecoma) belongs to the botanical classification of the extensive family Bignoniaceae. This genus includes up to 16 varieties, the native territories of most of which are considered to be the areas of Central and South America (the lands of Argentina also belong there). Some of these plants can be found in forests located in the southern states of the United States. There are also a couple of species that are native to the African continent.
The synonymous names of the tekoma are Bignonia stans, Stenolobium incisum, and the English often refer to it as Yellow Bells or Yellow Bells. The plant bears its scientific name due to the combination of two Mexican words "tecomatl" and "xochitl", which, when combined, form the phrase "clay pot". It is such a phrase that exactly describes the outlines and decorative color of flowers.
All representatives of this genus are distinguished by a shrub or tree-like shape, the latter take on small sizes, under natural growth conditions, reaching up to a height of 4-6 m with shoots. If tekoma is grown in rooms, then its shoots can stretch to a height of only two meters. The branches of the “golden bell” grow both up and down to the soil surface, so the owner forms the plant with a standard tree or grows it in the form of an ampelous culture. All this because the inhabitants of our countries know the current erect and the evading one, which is called Kampsis. The latter is a deciduous plant with lain-like powerful shoots.
Tekoma's leaf plates can take on both simple and complex outlines. If the shape is complex, then it is 5–7 leaf lobes with denticles on the edge. The color is rich dark emerald, which, even without flowers, the plant looks attractive. But the real treasure is naturally the tekoma flowers.
In the process of flowering, large buds are formed, the length of which reaches 8-9 cm with a total flower diameter of about 5 cm. The corolla petals are cast in a rich bright yellow sunny shade or take on orange tones. The shape of the corolla is predominantly in the form of an elongated bell, but sometimes the corolla is funnel-shaped. Flowers are collected in inflorescences. Resembling large brushes or loose panicles. The number of buds formed is quite large, and the flowering process itself is long, it takes almost all the summer months. The tekoma bush is literally covered with blossoming bell-shaped flowers.
The pollinators of tekoma, like kampsis, are numerous flying and crawling insects, so you should not plant a plant near windows. After the flowers have been pollinated, the fruits ripen. Their shape is the same original as that of the buds - they resemble boxes with a smooth surface, which in their outlines resemble beans.
Since tekoma is a perennial and has a high intensity of development, if the rules for caring for it are not violated, it will delight the owner for a long time, but he will have to tame the shoots growing at a high speed on his own.
Features of planting and caring for a liquid at home
- Lighting and location for the pot. The "Golden Bell" requires fairly bright lighting to grow, and at least 4 hours a day of direct sunlight is recommended. It is best to put a pot of water for this on the sills of windows facing south or west.
- Content temperature. The plant shows excellent temperature resistance. In this case, the summer temperature should be 25-28 degrees, and in winter it is reduced, but make sure that the thermometer does not drop below 5-10 units. If such a rule is violated, then the tekoma will immediately respond by dumping the foliage. If the temperature continues to decrease, then the entire aboveground part of the plant may die off, but the root system remains alive and the flow can still be restored.
- Content moisture. When growing a plant, it is recommended to maintain high humidity levels in the room. If the air in the room becomes too dry, and the temperature exceeds the permissible norms for the plant, then it is necessary to carry out frequent spraying of the deciduous mass. In winter, the pot with the "golden bells" is also moved away from heaters and central heating radiators.
- Watering. The plant loves when the soil in the pot is moderately moist. To do this, in the summer months, especially in the heat, watering is carried out up to three times a week. Moreover, a sign that it should be watered with a liquid is a slightly dried out top layer of soil in a pot. With the arrival of autumn, watering is significantly reduced, especially if the bush is kept at low heat levels.
- Fertilizer. When growing, Tekoma is not very demanding on fertilizing, therefore, only when growth begins to intensify, fertilizers are applied every 2-3 weeks. In the spring-summer period, it is preferable to use preparations with a high content of phosphorus and potassium (approximately N: P: K - 8: 0: 10). And when time moves to autumn, then fertilizers with increased proportions of nitrogen are selected. In winter and autumn, the plant is not fed.
- Repotting and advice on soil selection. The tekome pot needs to be changed annually, while the volume of the pot gradually increases. The soil should be loose and fertile, usually they combine river sand or perlite, garden (universal) soil, peat (in a ratio of 1: 2: 1). In this case, the acidity of the substrate is preferably maintained at a pH of 7–8.
- General rules for care. In order to form a lush bush, it will be necessary to prune shoots with the arrival of spring, and during the entire growing period, regular pinching of young twigs will be required. But it should be borne in mind that inflorescences are formed on the branches of the current year.
Reproduction of tekoma with indoor cultivation
When propagating, you can sow seed, carry out cuttings, planting root shoots or root the cuttings.
If you sow seeds of tekoma, then they do not need stratification and they can be stored until the moment of planting at room heat. Seeds are sown with the arrival of spring in sowing boxes filled with loose soil (for example, sand and peat). In this case, the place in which the container with crops will be kept should be warm and sufficiently illuminated, but devoid of direct rays of the sun. It is recommended to regularly moisten the soil, and if the pot is covered with a piece of glass or a plastic bag, then periodically ventilate the crops. After about a month, you can see the first shoots, and when 5-6 leaf plates are formed on the seedlings, they are cut into separate pots with soil more appropriate for the "golden bells".
However, the method of seed propagation by flower growers is little used, since seedlings lose the varietal qualities inherent in the parent specimen. And if we talk about flowering, then in such plants it begins much later than those young tekoma, which are obtained using vegetative reproduction. Next to the mother bush of the tekoma, you can often see many new young shoots - root shoots. For planting, such plants are dug out, grabbing a piece of root, and immediately planted in a separate container, first filled with drainage, and then with a suitable soil. It is recommended to carry out such a process when the flowering of the tekoma has ended and the "golden bell" has passed into dormancy.
When propagating with the help of layering, a healthy lignified or still green shoot is used. A branch is selected so that it easily reaches the soil surface when bent. The shoot is bent either in a separate pot with soil or in the same flowerpot where the mother bush grows. Then the branch is fixed to the substrate by pressing it with a heavy stone or pinning it with a hard wire (hairpin). Here it is important to monitor that the substrate near the cut is constantly moisturized. After some time, the cuttings in the place of contact with the soil will release root shoots and then they are carefully separated from the mother tecoma and deposited.
When grafting, you can use blanks cut from both green branches and semi-lignified ones. Green cuttings are cut in the period June-July, trying to get a harvest from the central part of the shoot. Only 2-3 leaf plates should be left on such a cutting. Planting is carried out in a pot filled with peat mixed with river sand. The cuttings are set at an angle and kept in partial shade. It is advisable to cover the cuttings with plastic wrap or put them under a glass cover, or the soil around them is mulched. It is recommended to ensure that the ground is constantly damp and that regular ventilation is carried out to remove accumulated condensation. Only with the arrival of spring is it possible to transplant rooted cuttings of tekoma. With this reproduction, the percentage of rooted cuttings reaches 90 units.
If the blanks are cut from lignified shoots, then such an operation is performed in winter or at the very beginning of spring. They are planted, as in the previously described method, but you can immediately take them to a permanent place, since rooting will be 100%.
Diseases and pests of tekoma
The plant is distinguished by good resistance to pests and diseases, but often, if there is a regular violation of the growing rules, then it can be affected by a spider mite, whitefly or scabbard:
- the first pest manifests itself in the form of a translucent cobweb on leaf plates and stems, the foliage acquires a yellowish color and eventually flies around, new young leaves unfold deformed;
- the second insect is clearly visible in the form of small whitish midges, which fly up in a flock above the tekoma if you touch the branches, and there are also white specks on the back of the leaf plate;
- the third pest reveals itself due to brown-brown plaques on the back of the leaf and a sticky sugar coating.
If at least one of the above symptoms is identified, then it is immediately recommended to start pest control. First, the plant is washed under shower jets, while the temperature indicators should be room temperature. Then you can wipe the foliage with soapy (300 grams of grated laundry soap dissolves in a bucket of water), oily (a few drops of rosemary essential oil should fall on 1 liter of water) or alcohol (pharmacy tincture of calendula) solutions. If such folk remedies do not help much, then it is necessary to carry out treatment with an insecticidal preparation with repeated spraying in a week, to destroy eggs or new pests.
Among the problems associated with the violation of the care of the tekoma are also associated:
- poor flowering due to low light levels or excess nitrogen in the substrate;
- if there is a complete drying out of the soil in the pot, then the buds are falling;
- the tips of the leaf plates dry out if the humidity in the room decreases and the temperature rises.
Curious facts about tekoma
It's funny that the current one is confused with the Kampsis, which is quite similar in both the outlines and the shape of the flowers. However, these are two different plants that belong to different genera. It is customary for the current, like Kampsis, to grow liana-like branches for phytodesign, since living walls and gardens are formed with the help of branches. Tekoma bears its name "golden bell" not only because of the color of the flowers, but thereby confirming its inflexibility and persistence of growth. It is noteworthy that the highly decorative plant is the national symbol of the Bahamas.
But tekoma can boast of not only flowers; in its homeland, folk healers successfully use the properties of the plant in the treatment of diabetes and diseases of the digestive system. Much earlier, the roots of this Yellow Bells were used as a product for making beer.
Since tekoma is not poisonous, it can be used to decorate children's rooms and not be afraid to grow up in a house where there are pets who love to taste everything interesting.
Types of tekoma
- Tecoma capensis also referred to as Cape honeysuckle. The native territories of growth are in the lands of South Africa. Despite its second name, it has absolutely nothing to do with real honeysuckle. It is a straight, branched shrub that reaches 2-3 meters in height with the same width. The species is an evergreen representative of the flora, but foliage flies around in cold climates. In certain places, it can grow, since elongated shoots begin to stretch out at the tekoma, which rest on the stems and branches of other plants, as well as on boulders, fences and walls. This leads soon to the fact that the look of the bush becomes untidy. Leaves up to 15 cm long are placed on the shoots. They grow oppositely, with small notches along the edge, the color varies from dark green to greenish. The form is pinnate, divided into 5-9 leaflets with oblong outlines. When flowering, tubular buds are formed, which open into flowers reaching 7, 5 cm in length. Moreover, the buds bloom at different times of the year. The flowers are collected into elongated terminal inflorescences, measuring 10-15 cm in length.
- Tecoma stans. This variety has shoots in the form of long tubular vines. Its native area of distribution falls on the territory of America. There are synonymous names: Yellow trumpetbush, Yellow bells or Yellow bells, Yellow elder or Ginger-thomas. The plant is the official flower of the United States Virgin Islands and is the floral emblem of the Bahamas. The variety is distinguished by increased decorativeness, with green foliage with sharp teeth at the edge and a pointed top. The flowers are bright with a golden yellow color. The corolla is tubular. Differs in increased resistance to dry weather conditions, but is mainly grown in warm climates. Flowers in nature attract not only bees and butterflies, but also small hummingbirds. If the variety grows in the fields, then it is a desirable feed for livestock. It often becomes an invasive weed due to intensive growth and fast spreading shoots.
- Tecoma beckii. The plant is a native of Bolivia and is distinguished from other species by the simple outlines of the leaf blades.
- Tecoma castanifolia. The native habitat is in the lands of Ecuador and Peru. Also characterized by simple foliage.
- Tecoma tenuiflora prefers to grow in nature in Bolivia and Argentina. Closely related to Tecoma rosifolia and hybridizes with the varieties Tecoma beckii and Tecoma stans.
