Miracle tree, castor (plant) – care and wintering

The miracle tree originally comes from Northeast Africa and the Middle East. In the meantime, however, it has spread well. In the tropics, the miracle tree is a perennial plant. In our climate it is only an annual. The miracle tree is one of the fastest growing plants on our continent. Within a few months (three to four) it grows up to five meters in height. Then the plant dies above ground.

Remarkable are the large leaves, which reach up to 70 cm. They are glossy green to reddish and deep purple, depending on the variety. The leaves can be palmate with five to eleven lobes. The flowering period from August to October is also noteworthy. The miracle tree then forms large paniculate inflorescences. The flowers themselves are inconspicuous, it is the overall impression that catches the eye. The red-brown, thorn-armored capsule fruits that form later are great again. With us, the miracle tree is mainly cultivated for optical reasons. Even if the plant only grows a meter or two in a year, it still looks impressive. It won’t grow as a tree, but we don’t have the right climate for that either.

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the miracle tree. It is used in medicine and the cosmetics industry, but can also be used in other ways, for example to lubricate combustion engines. I use castor oil to make soap. It is responsible for the foam of a soap.

Attention – Toxic!

The seeds of the miracle tree are poisonous, but the oil obtained from them is not. Children are particularly at risk because the seeds look pretty and taste good (in contrast to the later oil). Even one seed can kill a child. The effect depends on how the seed is chewed. The poison does not take effect immediately, but is delayed, about two days after consumption. Castor seeds are also assembled into necklaces. Since the seeds are drilled open, the poison can escape and lead to poisoning through the skin. If you remove the faded inflorescences, no fruit will ripen and there will be no poisonous seeds.

Symptoms of poisoning:

• Severe mucosal irritation
• Damage to the kidneys, stomach, intestines and liver
• nausea, vomiting, cramps
• First remedial measure: induce vomiting!
• There is no antidote!

Miracle Tree Varieties

• Sanguineus – Red Miracle Tree of Zanzibar – green leaves, dark red veins, stems and fruits, grows to about 2 meters tall
• Carmencita – up to 3 meters tall, bronze to red glossy leaves and bright red fruits. The seed pods are also bright red
• Gibsonnii Mirabilis – dwarf variety in dark red
• Impala – miniature variety, only up to 1.20 meters high, dark red leaves, especially early flowering
• Zansibariensis – green leaves, white veined, extra large leaves

Miracle tree – care

The miracle tree requires little care. Planted specimens can manage almost alone, provided the soil is nutrient-rich and the location is right. Miracle trees cultivated in pots require a little more care. They need to be watered and fertilized regularly. They can also be overwintered, which is not the case with plants that have been planted out. All in all, the miracle tree is a small miracle. The extreme growth can be observed particularly well during sowing. You can see the development progressing almost hourly. That’s remarkable. When it comes to growth, this plant is hard to beat in our climate.

location

In order to grow well, sun is necessary. The location may be absolutely sunny. It is important to have a place that is sheltered from the wind, so that the large leaves do not shred and the shoots do not break off. Wind is not so favorable for the miracle tree. sun is ideal. The beautiful colors of the plant also come into their own in the sun. The red glows from afar.

• Full sun, warm location
• Partial shade is also sufficient
• sheltered from the wind

plant substrate

The miracle tree does not make particularly high demands on the plant substrate. It should be nutritious and permeable. In any case, too permeable is not good either, because then it flushes out the nutrients too quickly. It is good to enrich the soil with good compost before planting (about 14 days).

• The soil should be permeable and rich in nutrients.
• Adding compost or stable manure is ideal
• Deep, humus-rich soil is good to ensure the nutrient content (heavy eaters)

plant

A miracle tree looks particularly great as a solitaire. Also in perennials, with the right plants around, it looks good, but not quite as effective. In the bucket, the plant will usually not be quite as massive, because it is overwintered. You can let the bucket work on the terrace or place it in the background of a bed. There are many ways in which such a decorative plant can have an effect.

• Planting distance – one meter
• Plant out from mid-May
• Work in horn shavings when planting.
• Many roots can be formed by the next winter.
• Its roots spread very widely, so the miracle shrub should not be planted too close to banks or paths.
• It is also possible to keep them in buckets – but a large planter is required

watering and fertilizing

The miracle tree is an African plant. This ensures that not too much water is required. However, the castor bean plant can take years to grow. In our garden it should reach a considerable size within a year. This only works if there is enough water available. Nutrients are also needed. The miracle tree is one of the heavy feeders.

• Withstands longer periods of drought
• However, it is better to water regularly, because the plants evaporate a lot of water through their large leaves
• Plenty of water is needed, especially during the growing season.
• The more water you give, the better the plant grows.
• If you don’t water it or only a little, it doesn’t take any damage, it just grows significantly less.
• Avoid waterlogging
• Fertilize weekly with liquid fertilizer (complete fertilizer)

To cut

The cut is omitted. In the fall, when the garden is being winterized, the plant can be uprooted and discarded. The stems are easy to pull out.

wintering

A miracle tree or shrub that has been planted out dies in autumn, which means it loses its above-ground parts as soon as it gets cold. The underground part of the castor bean plant usually survives the winter unscathed and sprout again in the spring. However, very long and very cold winters can lead to the complete death of the subterranean parts. Covering with hay, brushwood or newspaper can prevent this. However, one must ensure that this protection cannot fly away.

Overwintering the container plant

The miracle tree is actually evergreen and perennial. It can also be cultivated as a container plant for several years, usually as long as there is enough space in height. Sufficient light is important for hibernation. The basement is not a good place. A conservatory is much more suitable. There, the miracle tree can really get a meter high. It is therefore favorable if the conservatory extends over two floors. You can grow a great big plant there. Of course, a sufficiently large planter is required. The tree, which in most cases is a shrub, not only grows tall, it also grows in width. So if you have space and enjoy the giant, you should try overwintering it. Annual culture is easier. These plants are impressive too.

• Evergreen, so plenty of light even in winter
• Good place – conservatory
• Water plentifully, depending on leaf mass and evaporation. Soil should not be permanently damp. Allow to dry between waterings.

propagation

Propagation is by sowing. This is very easy and also very quick, no wonder with this fast-growing plant. It is interesting to watch how quickly the seedling develops. In order to be able to place a strong plant outdoors, it is advisable to start sowing early in the year, preferably in mid or late February. Then you also reach a really big castor bean plant.

• Sowing – it is essential to work with gloves
• Remove seeds in autumn and keep until sowing.
• Germination – about three years
• Soak the large, hard-shelled seeds in warm water for a day. This promotes germination.
• Sow seeds individually in small pots.
• Set up bright and at room temperature. Temperatures between 20 and 25° C are ideal.
• From mid-May, the potties can go outdoors
• It only takes about two weeks from sowing to planting.

diseases and pests

There are no known diseases and pests that specifically attack the miracle tree. However, even the normal pests that are found in the garden do not avoid the plant. However, they usually do not cause any major damage. You have to watch out for snails. This can cause serious damage to young plants.

• Snails like the young, freshly planted plants. It is best to put a clay pot over the plants just before dusk.
• Protect young plants from too much moisture, otherwise root rot may occur

Conclusion
The miracle tree is an impressive plant. I especially like the red-leaved varieties. I myself have never had such a plant, because we have a dog and it is too dangerous for me with the seeds. The seed pods are one of the most impressive things about the plant and it would be a shame to cut them off. So I keep my hands off the miracle tree. For everyone who has neither children nor pets, it is a recommendable enrichment, very pretty to look at, very interesting in terms of rapid growth and very easy to care for. What more do you want?