How to Grow a Peacock Tree? Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions

The peacock tree (Dizygotheca elegantissima) is a plant very well suited to household cultivation, and it is very friendly for beautifying courtyards as well as for arranging flower beds. As a foliage plant, the leaves of the peacock tree are relatively slender and long, not as thick and fleshy as the leaves of other plants. Whether its cultivation method differs somewhat from that of other plants, we can tell at a glance.

How to Grow a Peacock Tree

The peacock tree likes a warm environment with ample light, but it does not tolerate direct strong light, so care must be taken to avoid strong light. In summer, pay attention to providing appropriate shade; in the other seasons, give it plenty of sun.

The peacock tree likes loose, fertile soil containing organic matter, and the soil's drainage must be excellent.

The temperature must be kept at a certain level and should be constant, not fluctuating between high and low. In winter it is best kept above 5 degrees to prevent the peacock tree from suffering frost damage.

Peacock Tree Cultivation Methods and Precautions

I. Cultivation Methods for the Peacock Tree

1. Temperature

The peacock tree likes warmth and does not tolerate cold. The suitable temperature for its growth is between 18°C-28°C, and the overwintering temperature in winter should not be lower than 10°C. In summer, if the temperature is too high, shading is needed along with spraying water to cool it down. As the weather gradually turns cooler in autumn, the peacock tree should be moved indoors to a warm place in time for the winter. After the peacock tree is placed indoors, be careful that the indoor temperature does not alternate between hot and cold, which would cause the plant to freeze.

2. Light

The peacock tree likes ample light but does not tolerate direct sunlight. When planting the peacock tree, in spring and autumn it can be exposed to ample light; in summer it should be shaded somewhat to avoid direct strong light; in winter no shading is needed, and supplementary light should also be provided appropriately. Be careful to give the peacock tree ample sunlight, otherwise the plant will grow leggy and lose its ornamental appearance.

3. Water

The peacock tree likes a moist environment. In spring and autumn, water should be sufficient, but watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and keeping it moist. Maintain a certain level of air humidity, and mist the plant's leaves and surroundings frequently to avoid the leaves curling and dropping due to dry air. In winter, when the temperature drops, watering should be controlled, and misting can be used instead of watering.

4. Fertilizer

The peacock tree has a relatively high demand for fertilizer. When cultivating the peacock tree, during the growing season it is necessary to frequently apply some compound fertilizer granules or mixed fertilizer solution. In summer, when the temperature is above 30°C, fertilization should be stopped; after the beginning of autumn, fertilization should also be gradually reduced; when the temperature drops below 10°C, fertilization should be stopped.

II. Precautions for Cultivating the Peacock Tree

1. Pruning

In order to promote the growth of the peacock tree and adjust its plant shape, it needs to be pruned frequently. Diseased branches, dead branches and rotten branches that appear on the peacock tree should also be cut off.

2. Pests and Diseases

The peacock tree is susceptible to leaf spot disease and anthracnose. When the air is dry, scale insects may also appear, and when spring and summer meet, red spider mites are prone to appear.

Propagation Methods for the Peacock Tree

1. Propagation by Seeding

For raising seedlings by seeding, sow the seeds after they are collected. Wash the seeds clean, then store them in moist sand, and sow once they have split open and shown white. The suitable temperature for spring sowing is 20~25°C, and seedlings will emerge in about 25~30 days. Be sure to ensure a suitable temperature, otherwise low temperatures will seriously affect the seed germination rate.

2. Propagation by Cuttage

Vermiculite, perlite, peat soil, etc. can be used as the cutting medium. Under warm conditions, treating the lower cut end of the cutting with indolebutyric acid at a concentration of 500mg/l or No. 1 ABT rooting powder for five to ten seconds will produce an ideal rooting effect. The length of the cutting is about 5~10 cm; use scissors to cut off one or two leaves at the base; insert it to a depth of about one-half the length of the cutting; then spray water, cover with film after spraying, provide appropriate shading, and maintain the temperature within the range of 20~25°C; roots will form in about twenty days.

3. Propagation by Layering

If it is a clustered plant grown in the ground, low layering should be carried out in April; if it is a taller potted plant, high layering can be carried out. When carrying out high layering, first insert a bamboo pole as a support, then tie the soil ball at the layering site to the bamboo pole.

Efficacy and Uses of the Peacock Tree

1. Ornamental Use

As an evergreen plant, the peacock tree naturally has extremely high ornamental value. Because its leaves are slender and long, growing spreading out from the middle, with a peculiar shape, it has always been a focus of people's admiration in garden landscapes.

2. Use for Cultural Playthings

In recent years, wooden cultural playthings such as yellow rosewood and small-leaf red sandalwood have once again sparked a craze. As a high-quality raw material for wooden cultural playthings, the peacock tree has also prompted many cultural plaything enthusiasts to open their purses one after another.

The peacock tree has clear grain and fine, smooth wood, and also possesses a distinctive woody fragrance. Whether as a bead bracelet, a necklace or a hanging ornament, it reveals a sense of rustic elegance.

3. Medicinal Value of the Peacock Tree

The peacock tree can also be used as medicine and has good traditional Chinese medicinal efficacy.

① Dispelling Wind and Removing Dampness

The peacock tree is pungent in taste and warm in nature. It has the effect of dispelling wind and removing dampness. People in southern regions, coastal regions and other areas who live long-term in environments with heavy dampness can take peacock tree medicinal decoction to remove dampness from the body and regulate yin and yang.

② Relieving Cough and Calming Panting

The peacock tree also has the effect of relieving cough. Generally, the bark of the peacock tree is used as medicine, and it has good therapeutic effects on conditions such as cold discomfort, sore throat and cough caused by wind-cold.

The cultivation methods and precautions for the peacock tree are all described to some extent in the text, but to grow the peacock tree very well, not only book knowledge is needed, but also the accumulation of practical experience. Overall, the peacock tree is still a plant with very wide uses, and learning to grow the peacock tree is absolutely very beneficial.