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California Gardening

Irrigating silk floss tree

17 years ago

3 years ago I planted a silk floss tree in my garden. It has grown very large in that time (about 8 meters tall and around 70cm around the trunk), but has never flowered and is only now losing its leaves for the first time in 3 winters. In addition, for at least the past year, all of its leaf tips have been brown. There is no obvious sign of disease.

I am wondering if the tree has simply been under-watered. I paid no attention to irrigation then and am only now somewhat the wiser about irrigating new trees. In retrospect, this tree really only received rainwater - and we have none of that from April to November!

My question now is, how much water should I be giving this tree from now on? I feel it is finally getting settled in and I would like to give it a boost. Should I set up a loop around it and water like a new tree? ie about 10 liters a day, given its size. Should I also give it a potash fertiliser this spring to encourage blooming?

Please advise!

Thanks

Joanna

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Comment (1)

terran
17 years ago
Hi Joanna,

I remember reading recently that it may take seven years before a Floss Silk Tree will bloom.

The Sunset's Garden Climate Zones map will give some idea on the zones; the area from Los Angeles to San Diego is classed as Mediterranean climate zone, so reading the data for zones 18-24 might be helpful. Though, the information does not include precipitation; the area is considered desert. Rain totals for the year around San Diego are from 9 to 12 inches (22.86 to 30.84 cm).

As far as adding Potassium is concerned, it would depend on your soil analysis. I tend to remember a 'rule' concerning fertilization from a seminar I once took, "Don't add what you already have too much of".

CHORISIA
Floss Silk Tree
Bombacaceae
Evergreen To Briefly Deciduous Trees
Zones Vary By Species
Full Sun
Moderate Water

Native to South America. Heavy trunk is studded with thick spines; it is green in youth, turns gray with age. Leaves divided into leaflets like fingers of a hand, drop during autumn flowering or whenever temperatures fall below 27 degrees F/ -3 degrees C. Large, showy flowers somewhat resemble narrow-petaled hibiscus blooms. Fast drainage and controlled watering are keys to success. Water established trees about once a month during growing season; ease off in late summer to encourage more flowers.
Need little pruning except to remove wayward or dead growth.

C. insignis. WHITE SILK FLOSS TREE. Zones 12, 13, 15-24. To 50Feet tall(15.24 meters) tall and wide. White to pale yellow5-6inch (12.7- 15.24 cm) flowers. Blooms from fall into winter; stopped by frost.

C. speciosa. Zones 12-24; H1, H2. Grows 3-5 feet (91.44 - 152.4cm) a year for the first few years, then more slowly to an eventual 30-60 feet (9.144 - 18.288 meters) tall and wide. Pink, purplish rose, or burgundy flowers are 4 inches (10.16 cm) or more across. Grafted varieties include 'Los Angeles Beautiful', with wine red flowers, 'Majestic Beauty', a thornless variety bearing rich pink blooms

From the Sunset Western Garden Book, Sunset Publishing Corporation, Menlo Park, California USA

Sunset's Garden Climate Zones
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0,20633,845238,00.html

Terran

Here is a link that might be useful: Sunset's Garden Climate Zones
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