Psidium CATTLEIANUM 'LITTORALE'

Psidium CATTLEIANUM 'LITTORALE' - Cattley guava 'Littorale', coastal guava, strawberry guava, Peruvian guava.

Can be grown in bonsai style!

Psidium is a genus of ornamental exotic plants in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), comprising about 100 species represented by shrubs or trees. In the wild, representatives of the genus are distributed across the tropics of South America and Mexico, and in cultivation they have been introduced to Cuba, Bermuda, Africa, India, and Oceania. In our latitudes, these plants are grown as indoor plants and can be used for bonsai cultivation.

Evergreen or semi-deciduous shrubs are sometimes trained into small trees with lush canopies. Under natural conditions, plant height ranges from 1 to 4 m (3.3-13.1 ft), while indoors it grows to more modest dimensions. Young shoots have a distinct quadrangular cross-section and are covered with greenish-brown bark. Short petioles bear leathery, dark green, opposite leaves with prominent vein patterns. The oblong-oval leaf blade is slightly bent backward along the central vein. The underside of the leaves is covered with short, dense pubescence. Leaf length ranges from 7 to 15 cm (2.8-5.9 in), width - from 3 to 7 cm (1.2-2.8 in).

In spring, small white flowers gathered in small clusters of 2-3 open in the leaf axils on young stems. The flowering period is quite long; buds with short corolla tubes, 4-5 petals, and numerous yellow stamens in the center can be present on the branches simultaneously with ripening fruits, which are particularly ornamental.

Psidium produces very tasty, aromatic, and beneficial fruits, which are often simply called guavas by analogy with one of the species. The round or oval fruits have a pronounced pleasant aroma reminiscent of lemon zest and are covered with a firm green or crimson skin, under which lies juicy, fragrant flesh of white, yellow, or pink color. The center of the fruit contains numerous small, whitish, sometimes very hard seeds. Fruits can ripen even on indoor plants.

The coastal guava is an evergreen, slow-growing tree with dark green, glossy, leathery leaves 3-12 cm (1.2-4.7 in) long and 2-6 cm (0.8-2.4 in) wide. The fruit is round, 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) in diameter, with a thin dark red or purple-red skin. The pulp of red fruits is white, slightly reddish near the skin. The pulp is juicy, creamy in consistency, with a strawberry flavor and aroma. Its homeland is eastern Brazil. Psidium CATTLEIANUM 'LITTORALE' is a red-fruited variety.

Seeds are sown in a loose sandy-peat substrate to a depth of 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in), covered with soil, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun, at a temperature of 21-25 °C (70-77 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering and desiccation of sowings must be avoided. Seeds germinate within 7-14 days. When seedlings reach a height of 10-15 cm (3.9-5.9 in), they are pinched back, and a week later they are transplanted into individual small pots with soil for adult plants.

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Indoors, caring for psidium is quite straightforward when basic recommendations are followed. For cultivation, it is preferable to choose a permanent location; changing conditions causes stress, which can result in leaf drop. However, during the summer period, with a gradual change of location, it is beneficial for psidium to spend time on a balcony or in the garden. The room should be bright, with shading of shoots from direct midday sun. Supplemental lighting may be needed in winter to ensure a long daylight period. A sign of insufficient light is dull, yellowed leaves. East-, west-, and south-facing windows are well suited.

The plant is very thermophilic; for normal growth and development, it requires a temperature of 25-28 °C (77-82 °F). In winter, young plants must be kept at a temperature not lower than 18 °C (64 °F); older plants can tolerate a drop to 15 °C (59 °F), while at 10 °C (50 °F) the leaves begin to suffer damage and drop, and 3 °C (37 °F) is fatal. The best choice is year-round maintenance at stable temperatures without fluctuations. The root system has a very large number of small roots that absorb moisture quickly. In summer, generous watering at the base is necessary, ensuring thorough wetting of the soil without allowing complete desiccation. In winter, watering is reduced and carried out only after the soil dries out to a depth of 3 cm (1.2 in); waterlogging is not recommended. Psidium is undemanding regarding air humidity.

Young plants are fertilized throughout the spring-summer period once a month with a balanced fertilizer for potted plants. With the autumn reduction in day length, fertilizing is suspended; however, during winter and spring, foliar spraying with growth stimulants is recommended, as this helps the plant cope with short winter days and promotes more active growth and development in spring. Psidium develops well in an all-purpose substrate with added perlite or vermiculite, and sand. Young plants are repotted in March-April, increasing container diameter by 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) each year. Repotting is carried out using the transfer method to preserve the roots. The plant should not be disturbed during flowering.