HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Tattoo ™ Princess autograph tree . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Autograph tree diagram ( Clusia rosea ) may just be one of coolest houseplant that you ’ve never hear of . acclaim from the tropic , this ultra - trendy tree diagram is begin to show up in glasshouse and garden centers everywhere , and is well worth seeking out if you ’re looking for a lush , leafy houseplant that is unco easygoing to handle for .
As the name suggests , autograph tree ’s most singular feature is its ability to be personalized . you’re able to really carve your name or initials into one of its wooden-headed , leathery leafage and the writing will remain , even as the leaf grows in size .
It also has a gracious , full shape , with leaves and branch that extend symmetrically from a sturdy central stalk . Another plus : Autograph tree is one of the few houseplants capable of take up carbon dioxide at night and win over it into oxygen , nominate it a tops - efficient indoor air purifier .
On this page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care|Propagating|Growing Outdoors
BASICS
Botanical name:
Clusia rosea(Not to be confused withClusia guttifera , or little foliage clusia , a standardized specie unremarkably develop outside as a shrub or hedging . )
Common names:
Autograph tree , balsam apple , pitch Malus pumila , Scotch attorney , signature tree diagram , Florida clusia
Origin:
aboriginal to southerly Florida as well as the West Indies , Mexico , and Central America
Growth rate:
Fast
Size:
When grown in pots indoors , it rarely grow tall than 3 or 4 feet , but can hit heights transcend 30 feet when grown outdoors in its aboriginal habitat .
Foliage:
unremarkably deep European olive tree light-green and boat paddle - mould , growing up to 8 inches in duration . There ’s also a cultivar with striking yellow and green vary leaf ( Clusia‘Variegata ’ ) , but it can be difficult to happen .
Flowers:
Plants rarely bloom indoors , but may develop light pink and white blossom when produce outdoors , followed by small Malus pumila - same fruits .
Is autograph plant toxic?
The fruit of the autograph Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is moot to be the most toxic part , but the foliage can also induce gastrointestinal upset if ingested . Keep out of reach of child and pets . ( Seethis counselling from the ASPCA . )
Interesting fact:
Clusia roseais a hemiepiphyte , which means it often commence life as an air plant growing on other trees , get all its moisture and nutrient from the air and rain . It finally develops hang aerial root that reach the ground and take ascendent in the soil .
GROWING CLUSIA
photograph by : Benoit GVA / Shutterstock
Light:
Clusia roseaprefers medium to hopeful collateral light , such as from an east- or west - facing window or position back from a due south - face window . annul give it too much verbatim sun , which can scorch the foliage .
Temperature and humidity:
Autograph tree diagram loves greenhouse - like weather condition , with room temperature between 60 ° to 85 ° F and high humidness levels . Keep away from cold draught , and do n’t scupper plants to temperatures below 50 ° F. Also forfend placing near heating system or chill vent . In dry areas of the home , keep your industrial plant hydrated by using a humidifier , misting the leaves regularly , or setting the pot on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and body of water .
Soil:
Use a loose , tight - run out soil that allows for good radical aeration , such as a gamy - lineament potting mix augmented with coconut coir ororchid barkto improve drainage .
Pot requirements:
develop in a pot that is 2 to 4 inch all-encompassing and deeper than the root ball , with adequate drainage hole . Giving the roots enough room to spread will result in faster , more robust emergence . If your flora becomes rootbound , the growth will be slower .
HOW TO CARE FOR AUTOGRAPH PLANT
Watering:
Keep the soil lightly moist , watering whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch . Add H2O until it begins to flow out of the pot ’s drainage hole , being careful not to allow the radical to sit in soggy grease , which can conduce to root rot . Clusia roseaisn’t raw to the mineral in piss , so it ’s ok to use ordinary elbow room - temperature tap water supply .
Fertilizing:
Feed once a calendar month with awater - soluble plant fooddiluted to half strength when the plant is actively grow . recoup fertilizer during the winter .
Pruning:
Because of its fast ontogeny rate , Clusia roseamay need to be pruned once or twice a yr to observe the desired frame and forestall it from becoming leggy . Using clean paw pruners , switch off back the stems to just above a pair of leaves ; this will encourage branching and fuller , bushy growth . you’re able to redeem the stem cuttings to propagate fresh works .
Repotting:
You may ask to repot your John Hancock tree every twelvemonth or two to preclude it from outgrowing its container . If you notice roots growing out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the container , it ’s fourth dimension to repot . Move your plant to a new container about 2 inches declamatory than the existing one , and be sure to refresh the filth .
Leaf damage:
If your autograph tree has yellow or discolored leaves , it ’s usually due to stress triggered by over or underwatering , low humidness , temperature fluctuations , or too much direct sunlight . Prune off the damaged foliage and only give your plant enough water system to keep the soil more or less moist but not marshy .
Common pests:
Autograph tree seldom see serious pest or disease job , but it may occasionally be infested by spider mites , mealybugs , aphids , and graduated table . See how to describe and handle these and othercommon houseplant pest .
PROPAGATING CLUSIA
Clusia roseais easy to circularise from stem cuttings root in water or soil . The best time of yr to propagate is during spring and summertime , when the plant is actively grow .
Propagating in water:
Take a stem cutting about 4 to 6 inches long that has several healthy leave-taking on it . Place the carving in water supply , making sure the leaf is above the waterline , and change the urine every few 24-hour interval to prevent bacterium from form .
Propagating in soil:
wise stem cutting will also take antecedent if planted straight in a high - character potting mix , as long as you keep the stain evenly moist . Poke a maw into the soil for each cutting and insert the bottom of the root word , leaving the foliage above the filth . Keep the thinning in a warm place and water on a regular basis so the soil does n’t dry out out .
Growing hydroponically:
It ’s also possible to growClusia roseahydroponically in a glass vase filled with water and relinquish the soil entirely . This is one of the gentle methods of grow an autograph Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and one of the most attractive because it permit you to show off its intricate ascendent system . It also proffer the advantage of prevent under or overwatering because you just add more water to the vase as needed to ensure the roots are always covered .
Once a shank cutting take root in water it can often survive for months as long as you tote up a few drops of liquid fertilizer to the water occasionally to give your industrial plant the nutrients it involve for healthy growth .
Photo : Kyle Wicomb / Flickr .
GROWING CLUSIA OUTDOORS
In coastal arena of the mysterious South ( Zones 10 - 11),Clusia roseais often grow in the garden as a salt - tolerant evergreen shade tree or privacy hedging . There is also an attractive nanus variety ( C. rosea‘Nana ’ ) , excellent for habit as a compact bush or shrub .
If you live in a cold climate , you’re able to grow autograph tree as a potted plant life on a sunny porch or terrace during the summertime months and move it indoors over winter .
Note that John Hancock tree diagram has a tendency to naturalise sharply by reseeding . The Florida Native Plant Societyrecommends avoid its utilization in configurations where its bedcover ca n’t be ascertain . In Hawaii , autograph tree is considered to be extremely invasive and its planting is discouraged .
RELATED READING
