How to Grow Sterculia monosperma? The Latest Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Sterculia monosperma, also known as the phoenix eye fruit, is an evergreen tree of the genus Sterculia in the family Sterculiaceae. In Guangdong customs it is used as an offering for traditional festivals. Because the annual yield is small and the sacrificial customs have declined, there are few orchards growing it on a large scale, only scattered plantings, but the growing conditions for the Sterculia monosperma tree are not particularly demanding. Let us take a look together at the planting techniques for Sterculia monosperma.
Growth Habits of Sterculia monosperma
The bark of Sterculia monosperma is brownish-black, and the young branchlets have slight stellate hairs. The leaves are thinly leathery, oblong or elliptic. The panicle is terminal or axillary, slender and spreading, the pedicel is much longer than the flower, and the calyx is milky white at first, later turning pale red, bell-shaped. The follicle is bright red, thickly leathery, and oblong-ovate. The seeds are elliptic or oblong, dark brown. The flowering period is April to May, but a few plants often can be seen blooming a second time in October to November. It prefers well-drained fertile soil and tolerates shade. It likes a warm and humid climate.
Propagation Methods of Sterculia monosperma
1. Seed propagation: Before sowing Sterculia monosperma, the sand bed and seeds can be sterilized with thiophanate-methyl or chlorothalonil, and sown by the dibbling method. After sowing, pay attention to shading and moisture retention. Buds can emerge after 7 days, and by the second spring the plants can reach 20 to 40 cm, and can be transplanted in March to April.
2. Cutting propagation: The branches of Sterculia monosperma root easily, so cutting propagation is often used. Semi-lignified branches, lignified branches, and even old branches can all survive as cuttings. Generally, 2 to 3-year-old lignified branches are selected, cut into cuttings of about 15 cm, and inserted into the seedbed in spring and autumn.
3. Root sucker propagation: The root system of Sterculia monosperma is relatively developed and has strong regenerative ability. The root system often exposed above ground can sprout root sucker seedlings, which can be dug up and planted out, and this is also very simple.
Planting Techniques of Sterculia monosperma
1. Timely planting: For planting Sterculia monosperma, spring is suitable, and a plant spacing of 4×5 m is more appropriate, with 33 plants per mu. The digging size of the hole is 80×80×60 cm. Organic fertilizer is mainly used, combined with a small amount of chemical fertilizer, and applied as base fertilizer to promote early growth and rapid development of the seedlings and early production.
2. Reasonable fertilization: Young Sterculia monosperma trees are generally fertilized 4 to 6 times a year, once every 2 to 3 months, with either organic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer. Adult fruiting trees need more nutrients. To prevent the tree from weakening, fertilize more than 2 times a year.
3. Flowering period management: Sterculia monosperma trees tolerate waterlogging but not drought. During the flowering period and young fruit period, appropriate soil moisture and atmospheric humidity are required, commonly known as “sunny weather for mango, rainy weather for Sterculia monosperma”.
4. Pruning and shaping: If the Sterculia monosperma tree grows vigorously but flowers and fruits little, it must be properly pruned and shaped to facilitate ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy. This can reduce psyllids and the sooty mold caused by them, and also help flowering and fruit setting.
5. Pest and disease control: The main pests and diseases of Sterculia monosperma trees include anthracnose, root rot, and damage by psyllids. In combination with winter fertilization, do a good job of cleaning the orchard, collect diseased fallen leaves and burn them in a centralized manner, which can reduce sources of infection.
6. Timely harvest: Sterculia monosperma trees bear fruit 3 to 4 years after planting, reach full fruiting age at 15 years, and the yield tends to stabilize. A 30-year-old plant produces 125 kg of fruit. The main crop blooms from March to May and the fruit ripens from July to September; the secondary crop blooms from August to October, and the fruit begins to ripen in mid-December.