Hi Toni,

Well pls. do try a search, the first several items I saw on searching it (other than Kapok tree which is why I was remembering it, for its silky fibers, as I went to textile school) identify it as Tropical, originating in Brazil & Argentina, so I doubt it's a succulent.

Didn't the nursery who sold it to you give you care instructions (tho' I see you said you've had it for some time).

I believe I recognize this tree from the photos, it has huge thorns on the tree trunk down at the base of the tree. I've seen it in both San Diego & Ft. Lauderdale (unless trees w/ big thorns at their base are common, which I doubt.)

Chorisias like sun but I would be a bit careful about moving it into full sun after being in full shade... might fry all the existing leaves (but new leaves will adapt fine). This actually makes a pretty good 'bonsai' tree... I have 5 'trees' been in the same pot now for 7 years (tiny pot)... probably nothing left but roots in the pot, so I shoud break the pot, root prune and start in a new pot, but they are amazingly tolerant of such abuse. Very drought tolerant, too, though look better if watered regularly. They stop growing at somepoint so will not turn into giant trees if not allowed to... tolerate pruning heavily well

And when it gets 30' tall or so, Toni, and flowers (and then sets seed) you'll be able to make your own life preserver from its seed (the kapok or seeds were used in WWII for buoyancy material in life preservers).

Karen, when I get a plant, 'before posting on GW,' I Google pictures and info.
The difference is, discussing plants here on GW with people I've talked to on different occassions, can offer opinions. Especially those who have 'X' plant. If it wasn't for asking/answering questions here on GW, there wouldn't be a need for GW Forums. Also, if I had an answer to my questions, there would be no need to post for help. Thank you.

Sorry, I shouldn't have said I had Chorisia a while. A while can be months or years. Actually, I believe it was purchased Sept of 2010 as a youngin'. Now that it's outgrown the pot, I need help before repotting. Or whether or not it should be repotted.

Lzrddr. Thanks..You've helped much. So, Chorisia can be grown in small pots/bonsai.
Did the trunk thicken?
I wouldn't mind if it grew as tall as 3-4', but not taller.
Good luck with yours. 7-years in a small pot is a long time. Its nutrients, 'if soil was used,' are probably long gone. :)

Cactus, maybe I'll do that instead. Sell life preservers on Ebay, lol. Of course, I'd have to cut ceilings and roof so trees have enough room to grow. lol.
Thanks for the info; I'll have to read how seeds were used to make life preservers in WWII, on Wiki. Toni

Toni:

It is so nice to see a nice familiar face around these parts!

I'll bet your plant must look mighty fine and what a great idea to post here. I am sure you will grow this plant well.Thank God for people like you and your beautiful plants!

E-mail a picture if you ever think of it.

Mike:-)

Hey Mike, thank you so much. I come and go, but seems lately with flooding, lifting felled plants from super strong winds, plucking weeds when possible, and keeping an eye on succulents since we've had so much rain, I don't get online as often..Come winter, when the air is icy and snow is falling, you'll get tired of seeing me. lol.

Lzr's idea of growing the Chorisia in a small pot is a good idea. I might go that route.
Of course, I could grow one huge tree, like Cactus suggested, the only problem is I'd have to cut holes in the ceilings and roof..lol..

What do you think? Making life preservers or leaving it up to the whales?

Thanks again, Mike..will snap a picture..Toni

shot of plant in pot in front yard (amidst lots of other junk)

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stems showing maybe thumb-sized thickness of stems... plants have virtually not grown in thickness or height in 3 years now, though new leaves keep being cranked out as old ones droop and fall off. Needs to be watered weekly now in summer heat or droops too much.

{{gwi:585777}}

Lz, at first I thought your Chorisia was growing in the ground, but the pot is peeking out in the last photo.

Your Chorisia is tall. You said your Chorisia hasn't grown in 3 years?
What size is its pot, and what material? Do you fertilize? Do you want it to grow taller or growing as a bonsai?

I had to read through my plant journals to find the date I purchased my Chorisia. 9/16/2010.
Perhaps they grow faster as youngin's?

Here are pics of my Chorisia, snappe today, 7/31/11

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Closeup

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I hope the trunk thickens. Toni

Toni:

That looks exactly like a Pachira (Money Tree) unless I am wrong. Even though, that is one amazing looking plant. Good work on that one.
Stay out of deep water will you? No talk of cold and ice, ok? lol

Mike

I thought Pachira as well, tho' I don't grow them, looks healthy.

I was thinking a Pachira too. The leaves look too big and flat compared to Images I found with google and the picture above that lzrddr posted.

JoJo

Pot is about a 2 gal, made of thick clay and glazed. I fertilize when I think of it, which hasn't been in over 2 years now. I do not want it to get any taller than it is, and in fact, I am considering cutting them all down to about 1 foot tall. Though I do not fertilize, I have a sneaking suspicion at least some of the roots are down through the hole in the bottom of the pot and into the soil below. Will have to remedy that situation this year... sometime.

Hi All.
After reading everyone's posts, I thought, my Chorisia does resemble Pachira.
So, I grabbed the Chorisia pot, brought it outside to compare to two Pachiras..One braided, the other a standard trunk.

Unlike Pachira, Chorisia has serrated leaves. Little saw-like teeth surrounding leaf edges.
Color differs, too. Pachiras are deep green. Chorisia is much lighter. Unless my Chorisia has a defiency...I have nothing to compare to.

I Googled Chorisia pictures, but most are mature specimens/trees. lol.

Lz, I scrolled up but couldn't find the height of your Chorisias. Have you measured? If so, what is their height?
They look tall. Especially since you said you'd like to cut them down to a foot.

Yep, when soil dries, leaves wilt fast. I repotted from a 3" clay to a 4.5" plastic pot because soil needed daily watering.

Will you up the pot size or prune roots?
I'd like to find a variegated Chorisia, if one exists. lol. Even though I vowed, no more plants.

BTW, do you consider Chorisia fast-growing? Toni

those potted plants are about 4'-5' tall. But they've been that tall for years. I have another plant in the ground in back that is 7' tall, and it was a seed two years ago. So I would say this is a fast tree... one of the fastest I've ever grown.. though I have grown a Eucalyptus that was faster and a Palowania that was even faster still (40' tall in 4 years).

Lz, one more question. Don't know if you remember, but do you recall if your Chorisia had thorns at a young age, or did they grow as they matured?

I must remember not to try Eucalyptus or Palowania. lol.