With the screw tree you bring a real exotic into your home. Whether it thrives well depends on the location and your watering habits.
The pandanus has conquered many living rooms and offices as an attractive and easy-care houseplant. The palm-like leaves and the aerial roots reminiscent of mangroves provide exotic flair. Conservatories are also preferably equipped with screw trees. In order for the plants to grow luxuriantly, they make certain demands.
Origin of the screw tree
The original home of the screw tree is to be found in Africa. The plants are also found in Southeast Asia. The exotic plant finds ideal site conditions on the Mascarene islands to the east of Madagascar. There screw trees overgrow entire areas in suitable locations. In Central Europe, the screw tree has been increasingly found as a houseplant for several decades.
Features of the screw tree
| Screw Tree (Pandanus) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, overhanging |
| Growth: | more than 100 cm |
| Flower: | white pistons |
| Location: | sunny to evening sun |
| Floor: | Nutrient, slightly acidic, sandy to loamy, fresh to moderately moist |
| Usage: | Houseplant |
Botanically, the screw tree is not to be classified under the trees. Likewise, the plant, also known as pandane, is not a palm tree, although the tuft of leaves is reminiscent of it. Screw trees belong to a separate genus, consisting of around 600 species. There are four species in the screw tree family.
Growth and leaves of the screw tree
The pandans are evergreen and have an upright, shrubby shape. They form simple or branched trunks, some of which lignify with age. When the humidity is high, the exotic plants develop aerial roots through which they can absorb moisture from the air. The screw tree owes its name to
The leaves of the screw tree are arranged in a triple screw-like spiral. The exotic plant also owes its name to this fact.The leaves can grow up to a meter long and have small, hard spines on the midrib and on the edge.
Panda flowers and fruits
Screw trees have both male and female flowers. These are flask-shaped and differ in that the male flowers are branched and the female are not. Since the plants cannot pollinate themselves, you have to help with a brush. If fertilization was successful, cluster drupes form with one or more chambers containing seeds.
Tip: If screw trees are cultivated as houseplants, they only very rarely produce flowers.
Pretty strains
If you choose a screw tree, you can choose from many different types, for example:
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Aures | yellow-green striped leaves short trunk |
| Compacta | Leaves up to 60 centimeters long Leaves striped lengthwise |
| Pandanus veitchii | dark green leaves light longitudinal stripes |
Suitable location for the screw tree
In the homeland of the screw tree, the climate is hot and humid. In order for the plants to thrive well in our latitudes, they need a warm and bright location. Direct sunlight in the morning and afternoon is tolerated. The screw tree must be protected from the glaring midday sun.
In summer, the plants do well outdoors, provided the temperature does not drop below 15 degrees at night.
Tip: The brighter the location, the more intense the leaf markings appear.
If the screw tree does not get enough sun, the leaves usually do not appear grained or striped, but in a uniform dark green. Preferred locations are conservatories, flower windows and tropical greenhouses. The screw tree is also often found as a green cover for artificial watercourses and grottos in tropical water parks.
The plant finds popular plant neighbors in elephant ears, agaves or staghorn ferns.
Ideal substrate for the screw tree
In order for the screw tree to find ideal growth conditions, the substrate should be prepared accordingly. Screw trees need a slightly acidic substrate. The pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5.
Commercial potting soil can be upgraded as follows:
- Poting soil=three to fiveParts
- clay soil=one to three parts
- quartz sand=a part
Tip: If the pH value is too high, it can be lowered by adding peat or humus.
Planting and repotting the screw tree
The commercially available planters quickly become too narrow for the rapidly growing screw trees. It is therefore advisable to repot the plants immediately after purchase. At the same time, this offers the plant lover the opportunity to check the condition of the roots and thus determine whether he has acquired a he althy and vigorous plant.
Tip: Annual repotting of the screw tree is recommended.
Repotting step by step:
1. Lift the plant out of the old planter
2. Prepare a larger plant pot
3. Prepare the substrate
4. Remove the soil from the root ball
5. Check the root ball
6. Cover the ground with fresh substrate
7. Insert the plant in the middle
8. Fill up the substrate
9. Fill up with soil
10. Water the plant
The screw tree develops aerial roots. So that these can spread over a large area, the planter should not be chosen too small. Over time, the aerial roots will push out of the planter. Therefore, the soil has to be filled up every now and then.
Hint: The screw tree has hard spikes on its leaves. You should wear gloves when transplanting. Otherwise there is a risk of injury.
Watering and fertilizing screw tree
In the wild, screw pine trees are often found near water. The plants have a fairly high moisture requirement. The root ball should never dry out completely, but it must not be too wet either. Therefore, a certain amount of sensitivity is required when pouring.
Water the plant regularly and do not let it dry out. Apply the moisture directly to the substrate Avoid watering the leaf axils if possible. Ideally, you should water the screw tree with rainwater. The plants also appreciate an occasional shower from the plant sprayer. So that no limescale remains on the leaves, you should also rely on stagnant tap water or rainwater here.
During the growing season you can feed the screw tree with liquid fertilizer for green plants every 14 days.
Tip: Fertilizer stimulates the growth of the plant. If you prefer to keep your plants smaller, you should therefore be more conservative with the fertilization.
Cutting screw tree
Pruning measures are not absolutely necessary, but are well tolerated by the screw tree. You can cut into young as well as old wood. You should use scissors or a sharp knife for this. Remove dead leaves regularly.
Tip: The aerial roots of the screw tree are not pruned.
Propagate screw tree
The plant itself takes care of its propagation by producing a large number of new shoots - so-called Kindel - around the trunk. These can be left on the plant to make it look fuller.
If you pinch off the small shoots, you can use them to grow new plants. The interfaces are dried for a few hours. The plants can then be placed in a vessel with water. There, the offshoots quickly sprout new roots and can then be planted directly in the ground.
Tip: Screw trees root faster if the water container is covered with foil.
Recognize diseases and pests on the screw tree
The screw tree is hardly susceptible to diseases and pests. If the leaf axils turn brown, this is a sign that the air in the room is too dry. Then you should spray the plant more frequently.
Dry air also favors the appearance of spider mites. These are easily recognizable by their white webbing. If you shower the plant thoroughly, you can drive away the pests. Constantly high humidity kills spider mites. This can be achieved by covering the plants with transparent film, creating a microclimate.
Overwinter screw tree
A special hibernation is not necessary for the screw tree. Between October and March watering is done more sparingly and fertilization is limited or omitted entirely. The screw tree can stand a little cooler in winter. However, the thermometer should not drop below 15 degrees in the winter quarters.
In the spring, irrigation is increased again and regular fertilization is started. Plants that are outside in the summer should slowly get used to the sun.