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Help with Purple Orchid Tree in Phoenix Autumn

last year

last modified: last year

So my neighbor has a gorgeous Orchid Tree in his backyard, which just so happens to be a straight up jungle (his backyard that is). When I first moved in I thought the house was abandoned, because there's literally a tree growing through his back patio roof! Come to find out, people live there but they have in fact completely abandoned their backyard. I'm pretty certain too that they never even step foot out there because in 4 years I've not seen nor heard them even once. Therefore, the fact that the tree not only survives our desert summers, but actually thrives, is really beyond belief!! Year after year as it produces bountiful long pods and thousands of beautiful flowers, with literally no care not even waterings, it continuously amazes me!! Well then this year, a seed must have landed in my spider plant pot, and so now I have a 2 - 3 foot sapling sprawling right out of the center of my spidey's pot. Super stoked about it, however, neither seems to be doing too great now. Obviously I need to transplant it, but we're having an abnormally cold season this year, and being a novice desert gardener, I'm not sure this is the right time to transplant it anyways. Would it be better to remove my Spider plants from the pot instead?Also, I want to mention that it looked like it may have had some mites on the leaves (which after doing more reading on the plant there's a 50/50 chance I may have been wrong about the mites), so I sprayed them with neem oil and it caused the crunchy brown spots, which I can hopefully show you once I figure out how to add photos. Is this normal with Neem? I believe that is everything, but if I think of anything helpful to add I will do so in the comments, but I'm basically just looking for some solid care advice for the Orchid Tree, along with any expert(ish) opinion on transplanting, needs, and possible pests to look out for? I will sincerely appreciate any and all advice I can get. I can't wait to grow my own to enjoy!! I hear that aside from their astounding beauty, they have many medicinal uses too! Thanks so much everyone! Happy Fall !!

My Bauhinia purpurea

My Bauhinia purpurea

Neighbor's "Jungle"
~ Bauhinia Purpurea (center)

Comments (2)

Kimi Kujawa
Original Author
last year
Advice?
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
last modified: last year
All the quite maybe because you may have stumped most of the people that frequent this forum. :^)

I know nothing personally about this plant. Only that it is in the family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family.

There are also tropical plant forums on this site https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/tropesque

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/tropical

Sources vary on the characteristics of this plant/tree, but one would think it best to give it its own place to grow. Competing plants in the same pot can cause problems when eventually trying to separate them from one another, someday.

You didn't say if you're intending to plant this in another pot or in the ground, but Transplanting is generally done during the dormant season; this would be during winter or early spring before the plant begins its annual growth. My sources say it is deciduous, so I'm going by that.

This plant most likely enjoys well-draining, rich, fertile soil. You can look up soil type for these plants including ph and watering/fertilizer requirements. Also make sure your pot has drainage holes. Only certain types of plants can sit in water continually and live.

Never treat any pest or disease problem until you are sure you have identified exactly what the problem is. Otherwise, more harm than good, many times is the result.

They are listed a quite drought tolerant, once established, so, being able to irrigate regularly, certainly when getting dry or during dry spell, for the first few years, will be required for success.

Wishing you well on your new acquisition. ;-)

eta: here's more information from AZU: https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=35
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