Tecoma

Family. Bignoniaceae

Origin. South and Central America.

Description. Tecoma is a perennial vine or multi-stemmed shrub with thin, straight branches. Depending on the ambient temperature, these plants may remain evergreen or lose their leaves. The leaves are arranged oppositely, glossy, green, 10 - 25 cm long, compound - consist of lanceolate segments with pronounced veins. The edges of the leaf blades have teeth. The inflorescences are apical panicles and bear several funnel-shaped bright flowers of yellow, orange, pink or red. The flowers consist of 5 fused round petals.

Height. In the natural environment, the height varies from 1.5 to 5 m. When grown indoors, it reaches 2 - 3 m in height and quite quickly.

Planting and care

Temperature conditions

It can be kept all year round at a temperature of 18 – 24° C. In winter, a cool dormant period is desirable. The minimum permissible temperature in the winter months is 10 - 12° C.

Lighting

A well-lit place, plants can take sunbaths in the morning and evening hours. Good lighting will stimulate abundant flowering. Light shading will be necessary on summer days.

Tecoma at home

Plants will appreciate being outdoors during the warmer months. After flowering, trim long stems to give a compact shape. The bush tolerates even drastic pruning well. Removing formed fruits from plants prolongs the flowering period. 

Substrate

Adapts well to most soil types as long as they have good drainage. A mixture of garden soil with leaf humus, peat and coarse river sand is suitable.

Feeding

It can do without fertilizing for a long time after planting in fresh soil. In spring and summer it is fed monthly with complex liquid fertilizers. 

Purpose

A large graceful shrub for landscaping bright and spacious rooms.

Flowering time

Summer. Individual flowers may appear at any other time of the year. 

Air humidity

Spraying can be done once every 2-3 days, in the morning, with soft water at room temperature. To increase air humidity, you can also use a room humidifier or place the plant pot on a tray with wet pebbles. 

Soil moisture

The frequency of watering directly depends on the ambient temperature. During the period of active growth, water abundantly; between waterings, the soil should dry out a little. In autumn, watering is reduced, and if during the dormant period the plant has dropped its leaves, watering is reduced to a minimum, watered only to prevent the soil from drying out. 

Transfer

Replant at the beginning of growth, young plants - annually, in spring, into larger pots. For large tecoma, change the top layer of soil 5 - 7 cm thick with fresh one annually. 

Reproduction

Easily propagated by both seeds and cuttings. Fresh seeds are sown in spring in loose, nutritious soil. Seedlings are kept warm. Semi-ripe stem cuttings 10 - 15 cm long, which take root in a mixture of wet peat and sand at a temperature of at least 20 ° C. It is advisable to use growth hormones. 

Pests and diseases

Flowering is absent when there is a lack of light. If the temperature is too low, the leaves fall off. Among the harmful insects, the flower can be attacked by  spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips. When grown in open ground, the flower is attacked by rodents.