Castor - a splendid wonder tree with a devilish downside

Castor - a splendid wonder tree with a devilish downside

Planting castor oil properly

The wonder tree is extremely sensitive to the cold. Plant the pre-grown or pre-purchased plant in the bed from mid / late May at the earliest. Choose a sunny location with nutritious, fresh and moist soil. In advance, immerse the potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise. In the meantime you are digging a spacious pit to enrich the earth with compost and horn shavings. (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) Then pot the Ricinus communis and plant it in the middle so deep that the previous planting depth is maintained. Water generously and continue the constant supply of water continuously so that the rooting proceeds unhindered.

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also read

  • Hibernate castor oil - recommended?
  • Plant the castor oil in the garden
  • Wonder tree: what does its care include

Care tips

As long as you pay enough attention to the highly poisonous status of a Ricinus communis, the care program does not present any particular challenges. The main premise is that the majestic miracle tree shows great thirst and hunger. How to do it right:

  • Water thoroughly as soon as the soil has dried
  • From May to September fertilize organically or mineral-organically
  • In autumn, cut off the drawn-in plant parts close to the ground, if overwintering takes place
  • Pile bedding plants thickly with straw, leaves, compost and brushwood
  • Put potted plants in the bright winter quarters with temperatures of 8-10 degrees Celsius

Since the wonder tree can be easily propagated by sowing, the effort of wintering only makes sense in mild wine-growing regions.

Which location is suitable?

The wonder tree favors a sunny, warm and sheltered location on the balcony. In regions with mild winter conditions, the castor plant thrives excellently in beds with nutrient-rich, loosely humus-rich and freshly moist soil. A sunny place in front of mighty trees is ideal, which can absorb strong winds so that the herbaceous plant is not knocked over.

What soil does the plant need?

The breathtaking growth and enormous biomass of a castor plant demand a nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil. The soil should be fresh and moist, well-drained and not threatened by waterlogging. For cultivation in the tub, we recommend the use of a high-quality, structurally stable substrate on a compost basis with a low proportion of peat.

When is the flowering time?

From July to October the miracle tree puts on its flower dress. Mighty panicles of flowers rise above the fingered leaves. The arrangement of the flowers is characteristic of the castor. Only male flowers thrive in the lower part, the task of which is to fertilize the female flowers in the upper part with the help of insects. The bright red fruits can therefore always be found in the upper region.

Cut the castor oil properly

Do not cut the herbaceous plant close to the ground before winter until all the leaves have been drawn in. Then cover the root ball in the bed with leaves and brushwood. You can then move a wonder tree in a pot to the bright, frost-free winter quarters. It is up to your individual decision whether it is worthwhile considering the easy sowing.

Pour castor oil

As soon as the surface of the earth has dried, a miracle tree is watered. Let the water run until it runs out of the bottom opening. During hot summer days, this measure may be necessary every day. Preferably water your castor oil early in the morning or late in the evening.

Fertilize castor properly

You fertilize a miracle tree weekly from May to September with commercially available liquid fertilizer. If this is too time-consuming, apply a mineral-organic long-term fertilizer as sticks, cones or granules according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the bed you apply ripe compost with horn shavings. Work in the material on the surface and pour in again.

Overwinter

If your garden is located in a wine-growing region with mild winter conditions, there are good prospects for successful wintering. After the miracle tree moved in its aboveground plant parts in autumn, cover the root ball 20-30 cm high with leaves, straw and coniferous branches. Before the first frost, a castor oil plant in the bucket moves to a bright winter quarters with temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. First cut the plant close to the ground. During the cold season, water from time to time so that the root ball does not dry out.

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Increase castor oil

Sowing the seeds has proven to be an uncomplicated method of propagation in the hobby garden. How to do it right:

  • The best time for sowing is in March and April
  • Put on suitable protective clothing and gloves
  • Pour nutritious soil into 12 cm pots
  • Press 2-3 seeds into the substrate and water them
  • In the partially shaded window seat, germination begins within 14 days at 20 degrees Celsius

Until mid-May, repot the young plants whenever the previous pot becomes too narrow. Keep the substrate constantly moist and start adding diluted liquid fertilizer from the end of April.

Castor oil in the pot

On the sunny balcony, the miracle tree thrives in a large pot with high-quality compost-based potted plant soil. A few potsherds or pebbles above the floor opening do not give waterlogging a chance. Water abundantly and regularly, as drought results in growth depression. The same applies to the nutrient supply. From May to September, pamper the castor oil with liquid fertilizer every week. Wintering is possible in the light, frost-free winter quarters. Cut off the above-ground parts of the plant and only pour enough that the root ball does not dry out.

Is castor oil poisonous?

In the seeds, the miracle tree harbors a deadly danger. The prickly fruits are bulging with ricin, a highly toxic protein. Even the tiny amount of 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Fatal circulatory failure sets in no later than 48 hours after consumption. An antidote is not yet available. How to handle the life-threatening hazard potential:

  • Plant miracle trees out of the reach of children and animals
  • For reasons of caution, remove the seeds in good time and dispose of them as hazardous waste
  • Keep seeds intended for sowing in a safe place
  • Wear suitable protective clothing for maintenance and planting work

Furthermore, the production of the castor oil known as a medicine as a laxative belongs exclusively in professional hands.

Trivia

The toxic protein contained in the seeds of the castor plant is so dangerous that it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction. As a result, ricin is subject to the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention. This fact is primarily based on the fact that even tiny amounts of the seeds are deadly without an antidote available.

Nice varieties

  • Carmencita: Majestic variety with shiny, brown-red leaves and bright fruits from October
  • Apache: With a height of 100 cm, this miracle tree is ideally suited for cultivation in a tub
  • Sanguineus: The variety impresses with dark brown foliage on red stems and red fruits in autumn
  • Unguja Green: A rare Ricinus communis with consistently green leaves and cream-colored flowers from July
  • Zanzibariensis: This miracle tree produces the largest leaves from under fiery red fruit clusters