Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation Techniques for the Flame Tree

The flame tree is also known as the flame tree, phoenix tree, fire tree, and red flower tree. It is a deciduous tree in the legume family, genus Delonix, and because of its bright red or orange flowers combined with bright green bipinnate compound leaves, it is praised as one of the most brilliantly colored trees in the world. It is widely planted in botanical gardens and parks in cities in southern China as an ornamental tree or street tree. Let us take a look together at the cultivation techniques for the flame tree.

Growth Habits of the Flame Tree

The flame tree is a tropical tree species and begins to flower after 6-8 years of planting. It prefers high temperatures, high humidity, and a sunny environment. The optimal growth temperature is 20-30°C. It is not cold-tolerant, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C. Deep, fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter is ideal. It fears waterlogging, so drainage must be good. It is relatively drought-tolerant and tolerant of poor soil. Generally, a 1-year-old plant can reach 1.5-2 m in height, a 2-year-old plant can reach 3-4 m in height, and it begins to flower after 6-8 years of planting. In South China, winter buds sprout in early February each year, and growth peaks from April to July. In late July, due to excessively high temperatures, growth declines. After mid-to-late August, as temperatures drop, growth accelerates. After October, growth slows, and leaves fall from December to January of the following year.

Propagation Techniques for the Flame Tree

The flame tree is mainly propagated by sowing. The seeds mature in December. Collect the pods and remove the seeds for dry storage, then sow in the following spring. Before sowing, soak the seeds in boiling water, and after it cools, continue soaking for 1-2 days, changing to clean water 1-2 times during this period. After sowing, germination begins in 6-7 days, and all seedlings can emerge in more than 20 days. One-year-old seedlings can reach about 1.5 m. Young seedlings are relatively sensitive to frost. A balanced fertilizer can be applied early, with less nitrogen fertilizer. Fertilization should stop after autumn to encourage early lignification. In winter, if the leaves have not yet fallen, they can be removed by hand, and plastic film covering or individual wrapping can be used to prevent frost. One-year-old seedlings can be lifted from the nursery and planted out.

Cultivation Techniques for the Flame Tree

1. Site selection: The flame tree does not have high soil requirements and can grow well even in relatively poor soil areas, because its roots have rhizobia that can fix nitrogen and increase soil fertility. However, waterlogging will kill the rhizobia and affect plant growth, so it should be planted in a sunny location with fertile, deep soil and good drainage.

2. Timely transplanting: Flame tree seedlings should be transplanted once after 1-2 years of growth, and transplanting is best done in early spring. The spacing between plants and rows should be about 60 cm. Three-year-old seedlings can be used for planting out. The planting site should be open and sunny, and if the weather is dry, it should be watered thoroughly. Transplanting before spring sprouting gives a high survival rate, and planting can also be done in the rainy season, but some branches and leaves should be pruned to ensure survival.

3. Timely pruning: The flame tree has strong sprouting ability, and the trunk-cutting method can be used to cultivate large seedlings. After planting out, loosen the soil and weed 2-3 times each year, water timely, apply a topdressing once each in spring and autumn, and promptly remove root suckers to ensure good tree growth. The trunk will produce branches and leaves at any time. If allowed to grow naturally, the plant shape will vary greatly, so regular pruning is needed.

4. Pest and disease control: The main pests of the flame tree are moths of the Noctuidae family, whose larvae feed on plant leaves and cause damage, often eating all the leaves of the host plant, seriously affecting tree growth and ornamental value, with the most severe damage in July, August, and September. Control should focus on the period when the larvae gather in groups to cause damage, by dusting before the morning dew dries. You can dust with 2.5% trichlorfon powder, 1.5% parathion (1605) powder, or 1.5% dimethoate powder, at 1.5-2 kg per mu.