There are different very popular ornamental plants to decorate closed spaces such as homes, offices and businesses or even gardens; let's learn about Brazilwood, one of the most sought after plants by people in Caribbean countries for its different properties and ease of care.
Brazil stick
The Brazilwood is an ornamental plant also known as the Waterwood or the Tree of Happiness, widely used to decorate the garden or the internal areas of homes, it has evergreen leaves, that is, they maintain a greenish color and do not change depending on the weather. passing of the seasons. It is characterized by being thick and elongated leaves of a very pronounced green color and in the center a yellow stripe.
Its scientific name is Dracaena Fragrans, which corresponds to a group of tropical shrubs that belong to the Asparagaceae family, being shrubs that grow very slowly and reach a maximum of one meter in height and 10 centimeters in width when grown in pots but when planted in the soil they reach approximately 6 meters in height. They form a group of white flowers with a singular fragrance.
They are plants native to the African and Asian continents, with forty different species, easy to care for and very pleasing to the eye. It can become confused as a miniature palm tree, therefore, being very practical to be used inside homes, offering beauty and a lot of color to the rooms in which they are located, in the same way when they are outdoors.
Features
The Palos de Agua or Palo de Brasil are considered a plant of tropical origin that is very common in Caribbean countries, specifically in Brazil, for this reason, it is considered the national tree of the country since 1978. It is a very common species in homes. , being used within homes as a centerpiece or decorator of the different areas of the house.
It is considered a perennial plant, so they tend to live for more than two years, being very characteristic for having unique foliage that does not need to be renewed every year and is not affected by different weather conditions, keeping its greenish color. during all seasons. In the case of Brazilwood, it has very long and thick greenish leaves, with a yellow stripe in the center.
The flowers only sprout when the plant is as an adult specimen, approximately two meters. Other of its most relevant characteristics it has a thick brown trunk with protruding rings along the stem.
Brazilwood Care
Brazilwood is considered a very prominent tree for growing in tropical areas and for being present in many homes, offices and even medical offices, because it transmits serenity in the environment and brings beauty to the whole place, making it a very popular plant and sought after by many people, therefore, it is necessary to know the different methods of care to preserve the Palo de Brasil in better conditions.
light exposure
The Brazilwood is a plant native to tropical lands, despite this it is not a very suitable plant to be in direct contact with the sun, it is recommended not to expose it directly to direct sun because its leaves tend to dry, take a shape yellowish and opaque until burned, it is better that it can receive sunlight naturally but always located in shade; Likewise, it is not favorable that it is found in very dark areas because the leaves tend to turn brown.
Temperatures
It corresponds to a plant that avoids the cold, being winter and autumn seasons very unfavorable for them to the point that the plant stops its growth and sometimes letting its leaves fall to conserve the most energy within its system; the ideal temperature is between 20ºC and 25ºC, in the same way it is essential that it is not in a dry area, but humid and ventilated.
Humidity
It should always be remembered that it is a plant of tropical origin, therefore, humidity must always be kept in mind, because in order to promote good growth it needs high humidity, therefore, it is necessary two or three times a day to spray water on it. the section of the stems or, failing that, place some wet stones in the plant's plate, in order to maintain humidity for as long as possible.
One of the main symptoms of lack of moisture in the plant is dryness at the tips and therefore discoloration until it turns completely brown, which over time can cause the leaves to fall.
Irrigation
The Brazilwood does not need abundant watering, it is recommended to keep the stem as moist as possible and add enough water to the roots but without over-abundance, therefore, it is preferable that it be between two or three times a week, while In the autumn and winter seasons it is advisable to water them once a week in case the temperatures are extreme, do it every 10 or 12 days.
In case of observing the leaves of a brown color to the point that they begin to detach, it can be attributed to the loss of water, so the plant must be prevented from reaching such a state. One of the main alternatives is to spray water directly on the leaves that are beginning to dry, in this way reviving the plant and giving it shine. Another option is to use a damp cloth and pass it through the affected leaves.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing a plant helps to provide nutrients that are initially scarce in the soil, a fertilizer is usually used to collaborate in the growth and strengthening of the plant, in this way fertility is increased and a balance in the ecosystem is favored, for Therefore, it is a very common practice when owning the Brazilwood plant grown in gardens or in pots.
There are seasons to make soil fertilizers, in the case of Palo de Agua it is recommended in the summer and spring seasons, following the methodology of every fifteen days, apply a little fertilizer preferably liquid or diluted with irrigation water. The fertilizer applied must be NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) being the essential minerals to promote plant growth.
Pruning
The growth of the plant can become abundant and even excessive, it is recommended to make a cut in the upper part of the plant, then the cut will be sealed and from this new shoots will emerge from the plant which can be sown again, in addition They should cut all those areas that are dry, being very careful not to damage the healthy part.
In case you want to transplant it, it is advisable to do it every two or three years to a much larger pot, preferably in the spring time, always adding stones, gravel at the bottom that favors drainage and also avoid the possible accumulation of water, sometimes due to their large size they do not tend to be placed in a new pot but their substrates are planted.
Reproduction
The Palo de Brasil tends to reproduce through its trunk or cuttings are those fragments that are completely separated from the worse plant for the purpose of reproduction. It represents an asexual form and a parent is always necessary, in this case it is advisable to cut a piece of the trunk and then add it to a container with water to the point that it develops roots, sometimes you can only take the cuttings and plant directly into the ground, It is necessary that it be watered regularly without over-saturating the plant.
Brazilwood Problems
Plants are always exposed to different environmental conditions such as rain, excess sun, wind or low temperatures, they normally tend to adapt to climatic conditions and survive, but there is another factor that is one of the main enemies of plants, which are pests. and diseases, let us know below which are the main attacks of pests that affect the Palo de Brasil:
Red spider
The red spider is considered one of the many species belonging to mites, they are 0,5 millimeters in size and have a similar color to plants but with red dots, they are normally located in dry environments and feed on the red cells of the plant and therefore that characteristic color. This type of mite is characterized by being able to weave cobwebs between plants, because they jump from one to another, among the main symptoms that are observed is to generate discolored or yellow spots along with cobwebs.
They normally live grouped in colonies around the leaves, in addition to producing silk threads in large quantities, being beneficial because they keep the plant hidden and control humidity, but when the number of mites exceeds it, it can cause the death of the plant, for this is considered a pest.
Mealybugs
Cochineals are considered insects or parasites that have limpet shapes, feed on the sap of plants, are usually located in the area underside of the leaves represents that section of the plant with greater porosity and thus has contact with the oral apparatus and has greater contact with the internal sections of the plant. They are larger than most insects, managing to affect the stem and leaves by completely stripping them of their color and even causing certain deformations.
Another of the main consequences is the segregation of molasses that eventually attracts ants and even fungi and other bacteria that in the long term can rot the plant. One of the most common ways to correct it is using a brush dipped in soap and water, constantly cleaning the affected areas.
Aphid
It corresponds to a 0,5 centimeter parasite, considered very small and the only species of the aphidoidea family. They are not related to fleas, since they feed directly on the plants they affect; they have a yellow or black green color, they can even be smooth, they have two pairs of membranous wings, transparent and marked with spots.
They feed mainly on the tender leaves of the plant, newer and also on those flower buds; Over time, they tend to cause loss of color in the affected area, in extreme cases they favor the formation of fungi. It should be noted that they do not cause the death of the plant, but rather its weakening. They can be controlled with yellow sticky tape traps on Brazilwood.
Septoria
Also known as septoria, it is considered a greyish-brown fungus on the leaves, for gardening enthusiasts it is considered a fungal disease, its main symptoms are spots found on the branches and leaves that tend to adhere, initially the spots are colored dark tone and as it progresses they turn yellow until finally brown.
Sometimes it is considered as a devastating plague, a fungal disease capable of completely destroying the water plant, the early presence of the disease can cause the growth of the plant to be much slower, lengthening its flowering processes and quickly leading at the death of the plant. It can be easily corrected by reducing the environmental humidity, it will notably reduce the development and advance of the fungus in the Palo de Brasil.
Brazilwood Superstitions
There are many superstitions related to plants, in some cultures they are considered as sources of positive energy to clean the environment, being one of the most important reasons that in homes and in closed places there are plants, in addition to all the properties they have as oxygenate, clean the environment, purify spaces and transmit peace, which is why they are so popular in various areas of daily life.
Some of the Feng Shui beliefs consider that plants can have a positive or negative influence, bringing good or bad luck. In this case, its importance is highlighted with the Water Stick, because they consider that it distracts good luck to all those people who move or want to start a business, so they do not recommend having it initially as part of the decoration in the place.
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