There are times when some plants cannot be kept in a pot because they need a lot of space. In the case of potted callistemon it is possible, but, Have you ever wondered what their care is? If they differ from the ones you give them when they are in the garden?
If you have a potted callistemon, or you are going to have one, we give you all the keys so that you can make it work and last a long time. Take note.
How is the callistemon
First of all we are going to talk to you about callistemon. It is a shrubby plant that also receives the names of pipe cleaner, red broom or brush tree. It is evergreen and native to Australia.
Planted in the ground it reaches easily acquire 2-4 meters in height, but in a pot it rarely exceeds one or one and a half meters in height. Its leaves are bright green lanceolate and are presented linearly along the stem. They measure between 3 and 7 centimeters long.
But what most attracts the attention of the callistemon are its flowers, which appear in spring, in the form of clusters of a very intense red color. These measure about 15 centimeters in length and aesthetically look like a broom or a bottle cleaner. Although we have said that they are red bunches, the truth is that there are varieties that can have purple or even lilac ones. But the normal thing is that they are reddish.
As for the fruit, it has it, in the form of a capsule of about 5 centimeters in diameter.
The reason why potted callistemon survives is because it is a slow growing plant, which means that it can be kept in a pot for some time, but when it is already very large, it is best to plant it in the garden.
Potted Callistemon Care
Having a callistemon in a pot we have seen that it is possible. But that does not mean that this plant does not have to be cared for, sometimes a little more seriously. What would those be? We tell you.
Location and lighting
the callistemon fits well both indoors and outdoors. Although her ideal would be away from home, the truth is that you can have her inside.
Yes, he loves the sun. Outside you would put it in full sun because it needs a lot of light. So indoors you have to try to place it in an area that receives a lot of sunlight, even direct. If you see that it begins to wither, or that the plant seems to be going out, we recommend that you take it outside, because it is because it needs more light.
Temperature
Being native to Australia means you have a tropical plant to high temperatures don't care. That is, it tolerates heat very well. But as for the cold, there not so much.
It can withstand light frosts in the winter, but for it to survive it needs to be protected. If it is in a pot, placing some protection mesh on it, or even covering the soil so that it does not suffer from the cold due to the roots, will help it to pass the cold season much better. Usually, up to -12 degrees centigrade it will resist as long as it is not a constant.
Earth
La potted callistemon soil should be somewhat acidic if we want it to develop properly. But it must also contain nutrients and drainage so that the water does not accumulate inside and can rot the roots of the plant.
As a recommendation, you can use the soil used for rhododendrons, which is very nutritious and has good drainage.
It is important to give it a soil rich in organic matter because it will be in a pot, and the plant cannot find its nutrients by itself. The good thing is that this type of soil withstands water better, so it will not have to be watered as much.
Potted callistemon watering
One of the most important potted callistemon care is watering. It should generally be watered according to the season:
- In summer, every 2-3 days.
- In winter, it will depend on the cold and humidity, but normally once a week or every 10 days.
When you have it in a pot, a little trick you can do in summer is to place a plate under it with water so that it absorbs what it needs. If you see that in 15 minutes the water has not dried up, you can remove it and add a little again the next day so that the soil is always moist (as long as you do not notice the soil is very wet).
Fertilizer
Potted callistemon will need fertilization. It does always in summer and every 15 days. With what? Well, it can be compost and earthworm humus, guano, manure... which are options that help to nourish the plant even more.
Yes, if you just planted it with new soil you should not fertilize it that season (It is planted in spring but it is not recommended to pay it in summer). Or, in case of doing so, space out the fertilization times more to avoid saturating it and the plant growing too much at once, wasting its energy.
Pruning
Two prunings are carried out: one maintenance, in which you have to cut the branches that come out of the formation of the bush that you have decided; and another in early summer, to cut the inflorescences and thus improve flowering.
In winter it is not usually cut, at most it would be to wait for spring and remove dry leaves or branches that are not useful.
Pests and diseases of potted callistemon
This is where you are going to fight a real war. And it is that it is a bush to which the red spider, the aphids and the cottony mealybugs have a special “affection” for it.
In all these cases, you have remedies to eliminate them, so you just have to be aware of the signs to act before they harm your plant.
Multiplication
Callistemon reproduction can be carried out in two different ways: through seeds; or by cuttings.
The seeds should be planted in the spring, even if they are collected in the fall. While the cuttings have to be about 30-40 centimeters long and you have to use rooting to make them go ahead.
In both cases you have to use a soil that you keep moist at all times and at first we have it in semi-shade so that, when the plants start to come out or the cutting is seen to put out its own leaves and react positively, take it to full sun. Normally this takes a month.
See how easy it is to have a potted callistemon?