Distinctive features and characteristics of castanospermum, agricultural technology during cultivation, reproduction, difficulties in cultivation and their solution, interesting facts. Castanospermum (Casranospermum) or Chestnutospermum, which also bears the name Chestnut seed, is a plant from a monotypic genus belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae). This genus consists of only one single representative - the South Castanospermum, or it is called the South Chestnut seed. The people also use the names of this representative of the flora, such as the Australian chestnut or Black chestnut (Casranospermum australe) or "Black bean", his name is found - House chestnut, however, this plant has nothing in common with the usual and familiar chestnut. Since castanospermum lives only in one region of Australia, then in another name, the native place of growth is displayed - "chestnut of the Moreton Coast".
It respects the territories of the eastern coast of the Australian continent with its native distribution area; it can be found in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, as well as in Vanuatu and on the lands of New Caledonia. Basically, the places of growth are humid tropical forests.
The plant is a tree that always remains with its beautiful green crown. At the same time, the height in the wild can fluctuate within 15-30 m, and there are recorded cases when specimens of castanospermum reached 40 meters in height. The powerful trunk of the plant is covered with a dark brown bark. When grown indoors, it rarely exceeds the height parameters of 2, 5–3 meters.
The leaf plates are located on the branches in an opposite order, their surface is glossy, the color is dark green or dark emerald. The shape of the leaf takes on oval or lanceolate outlines, pinnate. The length is measured in the range of 30–45 cm. Leaf shares can be from 9 to 17 units. Their contours are oblong-elliptical, with a slight bend. There is a sharp point at the top, and the edge may be wavy. Their sizes vary within 6-7 cm in width and with a length of no more than 15 cm.
When flowering, a dense inflorescence appears, most often the place of appearance of flowers is young branches, the inflorescences take their beginning in the leaf axils. Flowers with a moth-type corolla are collected in it, the color of the petals can be either yellowish-orange or yellow-red. Inside the corolla there are long stamens, the calyx is five-petal. The corolla can reach 3-4 cm in length. It is curious that ornithophilia is characteristic of the chestnut seed - this is when the plant is pollinated by birds. The flowering process takes place from May to the end of summer days.
When the fruit ripens, a pod appears, measuring 10–25 cm in length with a diameter of up to 4–6 cm. Such a pod is divided into segments, the number of which varies within 3–5 units. The surface of the fruit is dense and rough, the shape is cylindrical. When the pod has not yet fully ripened, then its color is dark green, then when fully ripe, it changes to a brown color. Inside the fruit, there are dark seeds that do not exceed 35 mm in length, they can ripen from 2 to 5 pieces. These seeds are very similar in appearance to the nuts of the common chestnut (Castanea sativa).
However, it is impossible to achieve flowering, and even more so the setting and ripening of fruits in room conditions. The growth rate of castanospermum is very low. This specimen of flora is distinguished by a characteristic feature - on the surface of the substrate at the base of the trunk there are large cotyledons, which in their outlines resemble two connected halves of a chestnut. The age of the chestnut seed is judged precisely by these cotyledons, since while the plant is young, it uses the nutrients that have been preserved in these organs. Since the plant recovers well when pruning and begins to grow new branches, it is often used in bonsai cultivation, decorating the interior with it. Only in children's institutions and rooms, as well as where there are pets, it is better not to keep it, since all parts are highly poisonous.
Indoor Castanospermum Care
- Lighting and location. To create the necessary conditions for growing indoor chestnut, it should be remembered that this is a heat-loving and light-loving plant. In the spring-summer period, it needs up to 12-16 hours of light. It is recommended to put a flowerpot with a tree on the windowsills of the windows of the eastern or western location. It will also feel good in the northwest and south direction, but on the latter it is necessary to provide shading. For this, light curtains are used, gauze from which curtains are made or tracing paper, which can be attached to window panes. With the arrival of winter, it is worth moving the "black bean" to a place with a maximum level of illumination, or organizing supplementary lighting using phytolamps or fluorescent lamps.
- Temperature when keeping chestnut seeds in the spring-summer period, it should fluctuate between 20 and 26 degrees. With the arrival of autumn, the heat indicators are gradually reduced and brought to 14 degrees, but they should not fall below 12. The plant reacts very poorly to heat in the cold season, especially when the light level decreases.
- Watering. In order for the indoor chestnut to feel comfortable, the soil should be abundantly moistened from April days to October. At the same time, it is important that the top layer of soil in the pot has time to dry out between waterings. In the winter months, the frequency of humidification will depend on the temperature at which the plant is kept. But in spite of the fact that the level of illumination falls - it is lowered. It is also important to remember that the plant will tolerate some drying of the earthen coma more easily than the bays of the substrate. When there is excess moisture after watering in a glass pot holder, then after 15–20 minutes it should be removed so that stagnation does not provoke the onset of decay. Water for humidification is used only soft and with a temperature of about 20-24 degrees. You can also use tap water, but it is filtered, then boiled and defended for several days. After that, it is recommended to drain such a liquid into another container, trying not to capture the sediment. Experts recommend using rain, river or melt water, but in urban conditions it is often very polluted. Therefore, it is possible, in order not to be wise to use distilled.
- Air humidity. When growing castanospermum, it is recommended to maintain a high level of humidity, since in natural conditions it likes to settle on the banks of waterways. At the same time, any methods are good: spraying of deciduous mass and shower procedures are carried out, and you can also put air humidifiers or, at worst, a vessel with water next to the flowerpot. If the plant is not yet too large, then the pot with it can be installed in a deep tray, at the bottom of which a little liquid is poured and a layer of expanded clay is poured. At the same time, make sure that the bottom of the pot does not come into contact with the water level. If washing is carried out under the shower, then the soil in the pot should be covered with a plastic bag so that tap water does not damage the roots, it will also protect against waterlogging. The temperature of the water should be warm to the skin of the hands, but never hot. In the spring-summer period, spraying is carried out with daily regularity, if the chestnut seed is located in the autumn-winter time next to heating devices, then the foliage should also be sprayed. Water, as well as for irrigation, is used only soft, with room temperature.
- Fertilizers. As soon as spring time comes and until the end of summer, it is required to make top dressing for indoor chestnut. The regularity of such fertilizers every 2-3 weeks. Compositions are used for decorative deciduous indoor plants. Before fertilizing castanospermum, you first need to moisten the soil a little, and only then apply top dressing so that a chemical burn of the root system does not occur. It is not recommended to fertilize the "black bean" immediately after transplanting, and also do not apply additional fertilizing if the plant is sick.
- Transplanting rules and soil selection. You can change the pot for these trees every 2-3 years. It is recommended to transplant when the cotyledons wrinkle and fall off on their own, you cannot forcefully remove it, otherwise you can lose the plant. The time for transplanting should be in the spring. A transplant is considered mandatory if, after the purchase, it is clear that the indoor chestnut is in the transport substrate (red peat). At the bottom of the new pot, a good layer of drainage material is required to prevent moisture from stagnating in the container. Such materials can be expanded clay, pebbles, broken shards or, at worst, crushed and sifted brick from dust.
The substrate for transplanting should have a slightly acidic reaction, approximately pH 5, 5–5, 9. For transplanting, you can use ready-made soil for ficuses or make up a soil mixture yourself from leafy and soddy soil, peat and river coarse sand (the components are taken in equal parts). Instead of sand, you can mix perlite, vermiculite or very fine expanded clay. Often experts recommend adding a little finely chopped pine bark to the composition - this will lighten the substrate.
It is important to remember that the older the Australian chestnut grows, the more fertile and nutritious the potted soil should be. Therefore, it is recommended to gradually increase part of the sod soil in the composition of the soil mixture. When the "black bean" becomes very adult, then it is not transplanted, but only the top layer of soil (3-4 cm) in the flowerpot is changed.
Breeding rules for chestnut seeds at home
To get a new house chestnut plant, you will need to carry out cuttings or sowing of seed.
Since the plant does not bloom under indoor conditions, it is quite problematic to get seed, but if you have already become the owner of such seeds, then you can try to propagate the chestnut spermum in this way. To do this, in the spring, the seeds should be soaked in warm water throughout the day, and it must be periodically renewed when it cools. After that, the seeds are sown into a substrate of sand and peat, which is filled with a container. Then you should wrap the container with crops with plastic wrap or put it under glass, this will create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse, in which heat and high humidity will be maintained. The germination temperature should fluctuate between 18-25 degrees.
It is necessary to regularly moisten the soil in the container if it is dry and carry out daily airing of the seedlings and removing condensation. It is important to remember that seeds germinate for a long time - almost a year! When the sprouts hatch, the shelter is removed, and young castanosperm are accustomed to indoor conditions. As soon as a pair of true leaf blades appears on the seedlings, it is necessary to carefully transplant the plants into separate pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm and a more fertile substrate.
From the middle of summer, indoor chestnuts can be propagated by cuttings, using the tops of semi-lignified twigs. The length of the cutting should be at least 10 cm. The substrate for planting is prepared on the basis of perlite and river sand, in a ratio of 1: 3. The branches are also covered with plastic wrap, and then you will need to regularly ventilate the cuttings and moisten the soil when it dries. As soon as the branches take root, that is, new leaves begin to form on them, then a transplant should be carried out in separate containers.
Special care requirements. The cotyledons serve as a source of nutrient intake for the growing castanosperm. However, as they grow older, this supply will be depleted, and the cotyledons will begin to fade and subsequently die off. This is a natural process and in the future the tree will develop without them.
Pest and disease control of castanospermum
If the growing conditions are violated, then castanospermum can be affected by harmful insects. For example, when the temperature rises and the moisture index decreases, the plant is affected by aphids, scale insects, thrips, mealybugs or spider mites. If pests are found, it is necessary to wash the leaves and trunks under warm shower jets, then you can try to remove insects and their waste products by wiping the leaf plates and stems with soap, oil or alcohol solution, which are prepared as follows:
- For soap, grated laundry soap (about 200 grams) or any dishwashing detergent is used and it is dissolved in a bucket of warm water. Then the mixture is infused for 2-3 hours, filtered and sprayed on the foliage. It is only necessary to protect the roots from getting the drug on the soil.
- For oil, a couple of drops of rosemary oil are diluted in a liter of water and then the leaves are wiped with a product.
- As an alcohol solution, a pharmacy alcoholic tincture of calendula is used. If this does not bring the desired result, then you will have to resort to treatment with insecticidal preparations. After 5-7 days, re-spraying is carried out to remove the remaining pest eggs. Such treatments can be carried out 3-4.
You should also highlight the following troubles when growing chestnut seeds:
- falling foliage occurs due to too high a temperature in the summer or a strong decrease, coupled with an excess of moisture in the winter;
- when the level of illumination gives, the leaf plates of castanospermum fade, and if the illumination is increased, then a mottling of a light shade appears on the leaves;
- if there is a constant flooding of the substrate, then decay of the root system begins;
- in the case of poor watering and too dry air, the ends of the leaf plates turn brown and dry out;
- with temperature changes, spots appear on the leaves, and they begin to fly around, the same happens when a draft is applied;
- the plant will grow very slowly, if it does not have enough nutrition, it is necessary to use organic fertilizers.
Interesting facts about the castanospermum flower
If climatic conditions permit, it is customary to grow chestnut seeds as a street crop or as a home ornamental plant. Castanospermum wood is very similar to walnut wood, it is soft, fine-grained and has excellent polishing properties.
Despite the fact that the seeds of the plant are poisonous, but if they are soaked in water, fried or ground into flour, then they are edible.
The alkaloid castanospermine provides a high toxicity to the plant, so this should be taken into account when growing a tree in a room. It is necessary to make sure that small children or pets do not have access to the German. Not only the leaves are poisonous, but also the seeds, so it is extremely important that they do not fall into the hands or on the mucous membrane of the mouth. Despite this, indigenous peoples use these parts of the plant after pretreatment for the treatment of HIV-infected or patients suffering from cancer.
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