Pachira Aquatica is one of the most characteristic and easy-to-recognize tropical plants currently used as indoor plants. Its striking trunk, often braided, gives it an exotic and unique air, which can hardly be overlooked.
If you want to learn how to care for a Pachira Aquatica plant at home so that it gives a more natural touch and creates a tropical environment, keep reading us in this article about Pachira Aquatica care.
Pachira aquatica: characteristics
This plant native to Mexico, specifically its swampy areas, is a recognizable member of the Solanaceae family. Also known as bottle trees, these plants are recognized by the characteristic thickening of their trunks around the base or in the middle, where they store a reserve of water to be prepared for the dry months.
Another common feature of many Pachira Aquatica that you can see in gardens or buy in stores is that they are shown with several elaborately braided trunks. Obviously, this is not something that happens naturally, and what really happens is that the trunk of this plant is quite flexible when the plant is young so that several Pachiras are planted together to braid them since they are seedlings, being possible so they develop in a striking way without excessive inconvenience. If your Pachira has this shape, you must bear in mind that they are several different individuals when providing their necessary care.
The plant exhibits spectacular foliage and certainly beautiful flowers, although unfortunately, it does not bloom indoors, and even outdoors, it is very rare that it does so outside its natural habitat or tropical climates.
Location and climate for the Pachira aquatica
Due to the fact that it is a plant with a natural habitat of climate and very marked characteristics, Pachira is almost always cultivated as a houseplant, especially in areas with climates such as the Mediterranean.
In a controlled environment, with temperatures ranging between 16 and 23 ºC, the plant will have no problems growing in a healthy way, although, yes, it is practically certain that it will not flower. If both in winter and in summer it is going to be exposed to temperatures that go beyond that margin, it will be necessary to move it to a cooler or warmer location since, like many tropical plants, it does not tolerate very high or low temperatures.
As for light, it is not an exception to the majority of plants originating in similar latitudes: it needs abundant light, but always in the form of indirect exposure. If we expose it to direct sun the plant will suffer and it is very likely that its leaves will burn or even dry out. Finally, it is also important to mention that this plant should not be exposed to drafts, especially those of fresh air, which can dry out or cool it too much.
Irrigation of the Pachira aquatica
This is probably the most important care for Pachira Aquatica apart from its location. Between the fact that it comes from tropical areas and its name, it is common to fall into the error that it needs very frequent waterings when in reality it is the opposite.
Thanks to its ability to store reserve water in the trunk, the pachira needs to be watered very infrequently. In fact, it is not only that it does not need a lot of watering, but it is vital not to water it too much. Always wait until the substrate has completely dried before watering the pachira again, especially in cold months. Overwatering has a good chance of killing this plant, so make sure you don’t overdo it.
On the other hand, the plant does need constantly high humidity. How to achieve this in a temperate climate home? Misting or vaporizing water on or around your leaves on a daily basis is very important to actually do it on a daily basis. Here, air humidifiers or tricks such as the stones with water under the pot will be very helpful. This is the real difficulty of growing this plant.
Substrate for Pachira aquatica
At this point, the pachira is not picky at all. The only important thing is that it is soil with the best possible drainage since the plant is not very demanding neither with the pH nor with the nutrient levels. The mixture that we always recommend with equal parts peat, coconut fiber, and worm humus, enhanced with vermiculite and perlite, will work like a charm with pachira.
Pruning of the Pachira aquatica
The pachira does not require any specific pruning beyond the usual annual maintenance to remove parts in poor condition. However, if you do not want your Pachira Aquatica to grow more vertically, you can prune its trunk, or trunks if they are braided so that its vertical development will stop completely, and the plant will continue to gain volume and develop horizontally.
