Pistachio trees only thrive in a few areas in Germany, often in botanical gardens. The plants need sun and heat in summer and temperatures around 5°C in winter. Unfortunately, they are not frost-resistant, at least not in prolonged sub-zero temperatures. Otherwise they are not difficult to cultivate. They grow slowly, you need some patience. An appropriate location and a suitable substrate are important. In addition, it should not be watered and fertilized too much. We have put together for you what else is important to note. Inform yourself!
Table of Contents
Characteristics
- Belongs to the sumac family
- One of the oldest flowering cultivated plants
- Often called whimsy
- Native to the Middle East to Central Asia
- Stone fruit, not a nut fruit as is often assumed
- Shrub or tree up to 12 m tall
- Only 2 to 4 m in tubs
- Can live up to 300 years
- Roots up to 15 m deep
- Dioecious separate sexes
- Flower clusters of up to 300 individual flowers
- Flowering time from mid-March
- Wind or hand pollination only
- Harvest the seeds every two years
- Fruits – 1 to 2 cm long, pericarp dries up when ripe
- Can also be trained as a bonsai
The care of the pistachio tree
In order to be able to harvest pistachios, a male and a female tree are required. Alternatively, it is also possible to graft branches of the opposite sex onto a tree. The wind carries the pollen. Since it is difficult to harvest in our climate, most plant lovers keep a pistachio tree just like that, often as a bonsai. Maintenance is not really difficult.
What you should know is that pistachios take about 1,000 hours at temperatures around 5°C or even lower to induce the seed dormancy that is necessary. On the other hand, they do not cope very well with frost, although they become more frost hardy with age, at least specimens that have been planted out.
A pistachio tree can be kept well as a houseplant because the plants do well with dry air. However, it is good to be able to put them in the sun in the summer. If kept indoors, the pistachio should be placed directly on a south-facing window.
In addition to sun and warmth, the right substrate is also important. Little is poured and fertilized, but the soil should not dry out, as this damages the roots. A cut is usually not necessary, but diseased or incorrectly growing shoots should be cut out. Hibernation is not easy. Temperatures around 8°C are ideal. Propagation is by sowing. Diseases and pests are extremely rare.
location
In summer, the pistachio tree is best outdoors. In winter, on the other hand, a cool place between 5 and 8°C is recommended. Planting out can only be attempted in very mild areas, such as for wine-growing. There are also large and old specimens in Germany that also supply the delicious pistachios. Some of them are in Bonn, in the kitchen garden of the botanical garden.
- Outdoors from April to October
- Dry and hot
- As sunny and hot as it gets
- In winter indoors or in a frost-free garage
- Can also be darker because the foliage is shed
plant substrate
The plant substrate must not be too nutritious and too moist. Wetness is not tolerated at all. It is best to mix the substrate yourself from good potting soil, sand and coarse-grained parts. Alternatively, cactus soil is also suitable.
- Poor, sandy soil
- High-quality potting soil with a high proportion of coarse-grained parts, i.e. expanded clay, lava dust or gravel, and sufficient sand
- It must be loose and very permeable
- Alternatively, cactus soil is suitable
plant
When planting, care must be taken not to damage the roots. You are very sensitive. It should be noted that a single pistachio tree will never bear fruit. At least two are needed, one female and one male. Two females and one male are even better.
- The growth of the tree and the root is small
- Transplant only at intervals of a few years
- Do not hurt roots, they are very delicate
- The plants usually have to be repotted soon after purchase, because the containers are too small for purchased specimens.
- Pay attention to suitable plant substrate.
- Place the root ball in water before planting so that it can really soak up water.
- Install drainage in the bottom of the pot.
- Planted specimens also benefit from drainage in the soil, so that they are never too wet.
- Do not plant out very young plants yet, it is better to cultivate them in a container for a few more years.
watering and fertilizing
The plants like to be showered with stagnant water or rainwater from time to time. However, tap water leads to lime stains on the leaves. Otherwise, a low humidity is desirable, a desert climate so to speak. Too much moisture is very bad and often leads to the death of the trees.
- Water requirement in summer – moderate to low
- Water thoroughly and then wait several days before watering again.
- The substrate should dry well, but not be allowed to dry out.
- No waterlogging, it’s deadly
- However, don’t let it dry out completely either, because then the fine roots all around will die and this is badly tolerated
- Low nutrient requirement
- Provide nutrients at the beginning and in the middle of the growing season with organic fertilizer
- Water requirement in winter – low
- Maintain only very light soil moisture
- Don’t fertilize
- Don’t let it dry out
To cut
Since the pistachio tree grows very slowly, it rarely needs to be cut to save space. In commercial cultivation, regular pruning is important, if the wood is cultivated in tubs, you can do without such pruning measures. However, scissors should be used from time to time. It is important to disinfect the scissors with alcohol before use so that no pathogens can be transmitted.
- Pruning after harvest
- In late summer or at the end of hibernation
- Remove strong inward growing, crossed, damaged and diseased branches
- If you want to achieve a certain shape, you have to do an educational cut right from the start.
- Pistachio trees cultivated as bonsai also need regular pruning, but that’s another topic.
hibernate
Pistachio trees are not really frost hardy. Although they tolerate a few minus degrees, but only for a short time. Prolonged cold weather is very unfavourable, especially for young plants and those that have never overwintered outdoors. Over the years, the plants become more robust and can then be planted out in mild areas. But you should always keep an eye on them and protect them if necessary.
- Since they shed their leaves, they can be overwintered with very little light.
- Tolerates a few degrees of frost, but should be kept frost-free, but definitely unheated
- Temporary temperature minimum minus 10°C
- Temperatures around 8°C are ideal
- Check regularly for pest infestation, scale insects in particular like to attack the soft shoots, especially if the location is too warm
multiply
Propagation is by sowing. However, this is only possible with fresh seeds, roasted pistachio nuts are of course not suitable. It is important that the seeds are fresh, they are only germinable for a few months.
- Soak seeds in room-warm water for several days
- Then plant in potting soil or cactus soil
- Cover only lightly with soil
- Part of the core should be slightly visible
- Keep light and warm
- Keep the substrate slightly moist evenly
- No high humidity, rather dry air
- Germination after about 4 weeks
diseases and pests
Diseases only occur very rarely and if they do, it is usually due to incorrect care that the plants get sick. Often it’s just too much water. Excessive humidity is also harmful, leading to mold growth. You have to pay close attention to the plants. Pests are very rare.
- Hardly any pests
- If the hibernation is too warm – scale insects – difficult to fight, because they have a shield that protects them. In addition, they are already resistant to many agents. Here you have to fight several times, because you just don’t catch all the little animals. The eggs usually get away unscathed and then the next generation hatches. You can try a solution of soft soap and alcohol, nicotine, soapy water, fern extract, and a few others.
- Diseases mostly caused by too much water and resulting root rot
- Stink bugs (also called stink beetles or stink bugs) – feed on plant saps. However, they also eat pests such as aphids and spider mites. They are quite useful outdoors, but they have no place in the house. Pets in particular often react allergically to the secretion of the bedbugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you buy pistachio trees?
That’s very different. I would try the nursery I trust, they can definitely get plants. There are also offers on the Internet, but whether they are good plants is uncertain. You only see that when the plant arrives.
Are mastic tree and pistachio tree the same plants?
No, even if they are often mistaken for it. The mastic tree is also a pistachio, but a different species. The pistachio tree (Pistacia vera) and the mastic pistachio tree (Pistacia lentiscus) are related but not the same plants.
