Thespesia POPULNEA

Thespesia POPULNEA - Portia tree, Indian tulip tree, Thespesia populnea, Pacific rosewood.

Thespesia is a member of the mallow family (Malvaceae). Its homeland is India, Hawaii, and virtually all the islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. Over time, this plant spread to the Caribbean islands, the African continent, and two of its species grow in China.

All perennial thespesias possess a shrubby or tree-like growth form; in height, the shoots of the plants do not exceed 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) when grown indoors, but in nature some varieties can reach 10-15 m (33-50 ft). The trunk of these flora representatives is erect with abundant branching; however, the crown has compact and neat contours. The shrub does not shed its foliage and can delight with lush greenery all year round. The dimensions of the leaf blade are also not too large, on average the length varies around 13 cm (5 in). The surface of the foliage is glossy. Its shape is broadly ovate, but with a point at the very apex. The color of the foliage is greenish with bluish notes.

The flower shape is often simple, the corolla with bell-shaped contours, reaching 7 cm (2.8 in) across when open. The flowers are devoid of scent. After pollination, fruiting capsules mature, varying from pear-shaped to rounded in shape. The length of the capsule is 5 cm (2 in) with a diameter of about 2 cm (0.8 in). Inside, there is a large number of triangular seeds, the size of which approaches 9 mm (0.35 in). The color of the seeds is brown, and there may be pubescence on the surface.

Thespesia populnea is an evergreen tropical tree or shrub (up to 15 m (50 ft) tall). The leaves are large, heart-shaped. The flowers are orange-yellow, cup-shaped, with a purple center. The flowering period is from spring to autumn. The fruits, flowers, and young leaves are edible.

Before planting, it is recommended to treat the seeds with nail clippers or rub them with sandpaper - this helps open the seed coat, but one must act carefully so as not to damage the interior. Most often, the seed material is soaked overnight in warm water (a very weak potassium permanganate solution can be used so that its color is slightly pinkish), although some growers do not do this; however, soaking the seeds in warm liquid promotes their faster germination. After this, they are rinsed under running water.

The seeds are planted in containers filled with peat and perlite (a peat-sand mixture can also be used). The planting depth should correspond to twice the seed diameter. The pot with the plantings is also covered with plastic wrap or a piece of glass is placed on top. With daily ventilation and subsequent moistening of the substrate, such seeds will germinate in 14-20 days. As soon as a pair of true leaves forms on the seedlings, they can be pricked out into separate small pots (diameter no more than 7 cm (2.8 in)) with more fertile soil.

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It is necessary to place the pot with the plant on southwest-facing windowsills. This will provide the necessary level of light for growth - bright and diffused. On a south-facing window, shading will be required at midday, while on a north-facing window, supplemental lighting will be needed. In summer, temperature indicators should be in the range of 20-26 °C (68-79 °F); with the arrival of autumn and throughout winter - 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), but it should not be allowed to drop below 16 °C (61 °F). When kept indoors, it is recommended to maintain higher humidity levels. In spring and summer, foliar spraying should be performed daily. However, when the plant begins to bloom, it is better not to let water droplets fall on the corolla, as this can cause dark spots on it. Usually moisture is simply sprayed around the bush, or the pot is placed in a deep tray filled with moistened expanded clay or pebbles; if none are available, plain sand can be used. In any case, it must be monitored that the poured liquid does not touch the base of the pot. In winter, damp towels are placed on hot radiators, or household steam generators and humidifiers are placed near the pot.

Watering is carried out regularly so that the soil in the pot always remains in a moistened state and drying out is not allowed. In spring and summer, watering is carried out once every 3-4 days. Only warm and soft water is used. With the arrival of winter, watering is slightly restricted, as the plant's maintenance temperature also decreases, but complete drying out of the root ball is also unacceptable. However, stagnation of moisture in the drip tray is undesirable, since delicate parts of the plant will begin to rot. From mid-spring until October, it is recommended to apply fertilizer using universal complex mineral products in a well-diluted form. Such feedings are done once every 3-4 weeks. Nevertheless, growers still advise using organic matter.

Until the bush reaches 5-6 years of age, repotting and replacing the soil is recommended every year in spring. Afterwards, such operations will be performed only once every 3-4 years. A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom of the new container so that it prevents soil souring and root rot. This will also contribute to maintaining an adequate level of moisture. Medium-sized pebbles, expanded clay, pieces of brick sifted of dust, or clay/ceramic shards can serve as such material. Drainage holes for excess liquid runoff must be provided at the bottom of the pot. General-purpose, well-drained, sand-based soil is selected. If commercial universal potting soil is used, it must be airy enough to easily allow air and water to reach the root system. River sand and peat are added to such soil mixes. If the substrate is prepared independently, it is composed of garden soil, coarse sand (perlite can be used), moist peat, or humus (leaf mold can serve as this). The proportions of these components are kept in equal parts. A little lime is also added. Overall, the soil acidity for this plant should be pH 6-7.4.

Throughout the entire time, pinching young branches and pruning stretched shoots is recommended. The flowers and fruits are suitable for food. In the summer period, the pot with the plant can be taken outdoors, but care should be taken to protect it from direct sunlight.