Ochna serrulata - Mickey Mouse plant

17 years ago

What kind of care does this plant require? I took (I know, bad girl) a couple seeds from a plant that was growing in a greenhouse. They are now about 5" tall and getting their third set of leaves. I'm not sure what type of care they require. Do they like constant moisture or should they dry out between waterings? So far I've been watering them daily but haven't given them anything except ST and the SnG mix on the foliage. How fast does this plant grow and might I get flowers next season?

Karyn

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Comments (3)

bahia
17 years ago
Karyn,
i am sure they will be faster in growth in your hot steamy summers than they are here in cool coastal San Francisco/Berkeley, where they grow well enough, but certainly not fast. I have one planted out in the garden that is now blooming and is about 3 feet tall, it did nothing for me previously when it was still in a container and not getting much direct sun. In habitat in South Africa, it is a forest marginal plant is the subtropical Kwazulu-Natal area, which has a climate much more like Florida than California. It will take abit of frost and drought, but prefers not to. Acid fertilizer and a slightly acidic soil ph is the preferred medium. Good luck getting it to blooming size, the plant is stunning when it is in full bloom...
karyn1
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks so much for the info. It's definitely an interesting looking plant when in bloom. Hopefully I'll be able to get these to reach blooming size.
Karyn
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First, thank you saltcedar, you were partially right. Google saved the day. I typed in what I can remember about it, "yellow flower, Vietnamese New Year plant, pluck leaves to force flower to bloom, etc..." and BAM, I got my answer. It's a Bong Mai, or a Hoa Mai, or scientifically, Ochna serrulata (South Africa) or Ochna integerrima (Vietnam). It's also called a Mickey Mouse plant. Judging by the leaves and bark on mine, my mystery plant looks more like Ochna serrulata (South Africa). Finally, I can sleep well at night. LOL! I hate it when I have plants with no name. Here is a link that might be useful: Plants o Hawaii - Ochna serrulata (Mickey Mouse plant)
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DesertRose00, in Vietnamese,it's called Hoa Mai (see the link below and scroll down to the name). It is an ornamental plant most used in South Viet Nam during Tet, our Lunar New Year. In the North, the peach blossoms are mostly used because Hoa Mai is a tropical plant and doesn't survive with the cold climate in the north. Other common names are the Yellow Apricot Blossom and the Vietnamese Mickey Mouse plant. The plant that Eggo mentioned is of the same family. However, the common name of Mickey Mouse is more suitable for this one (Eggo's) because when the petals of the flower fall out, the sepals turns from green to red while holding the black seeds. It resembles the face of Mickey Mouse. However, Hoa Mai blossoms do not turn red. Since our Lunar New Year is of different date every year, you can force them to blossom during the New Year by picking out all the leaves 7 weeks before the New Year. The flowers will grow out before the leaves do. You may not need to use this forcing method if you live in a tropical climate but if you live in the US, you mostly do. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.floraexotica.ca/Flower.htm
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very pretty. but this is a Ochna serrulatta. easy way to separate a serrulatta from an integerrima is by the flower buds. Serrulatta buds droops downward.
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This plant is Ochna Serrulata or Mickey Mouse Plant, The flowers is yellow and a lot lot of flowers if you peel off the leaves during December time, and January or Feb will bloom a lot of flowers. if you want it fast grow, plant the tree on the ground. or larger pot. and feed with All Purpose Fertilizer. it will fast grow. Very easy to grow. you will enjoy the beauty of it's flowers. but the flowers wont last long for more than few days or maybe a week. After the flowers drop, the petal turn red and have seeds, the shape will look like the mickey mouse face.
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TropPlanter
9 years ago
Well, I have a small one, only about 2-3 years I think. I just moved and this tree was here. I just water it every other day, and it seems fine. And try using a bit of mulch or natural compost. I heard this site was reliable, but not sure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Micky Mouse Plant Care

Ochna serrulata - Mickey Mouse plant

Comments (3)

bahia

karyn1
Original Author

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Ochna serrulata - Mickey Mouse plant

Comments (3)

bahia

karyn1Original Author

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karyn1
Original Author