The cake tree with its eye-catching autumn colors is a fast-growing exotic plant that is extremely resistant to pests and diseases. But only if you follow a few care instructions.
The cake tree forms the family of the Cercidiphyllaceae and belongs to the order Saxifrage. The term "cake tree" has become common because the withered leaves of the tree develop an intense gingerbread aroma. Crazy, right? Cake trees are also valued for their light-colored wood. However, there is not just a single cake tree. On the contrary - there are even many different species with different growth forms.
The cake trees originally came from Japan. Only two species of the original plants still exist in the wild. The cake trees available in our latitudes are new breeds. A special feature of the plant is the different foliage colors. When the leaves appear in spring, they are bright red in color. In the summer months, the coloring changes to a blue-green, while the stalk appears reddish. The autumn leaves are then particularly colorful in numerous shades of yellow and red.
The cake tree only thrives so colorfully if you care for it properly and recognize and fight diseases and pests in good time. The right location alone can prevent diseases.
Prevent diseases through the right location
If the plants grow poorly or if they tend to drop leaves, this is usually not due to serious diseases, but is due to incorrect care. The plant makes a number of demands. It starts with the location. The cake tree requires a lot of light, but can only tolerate a little heat. Therefore, choose a bright, but still cool location for the cake tree. The cake tree likes it cool rather than hot and needs high humidity.
The roots also need a lot of space so that the tree can develop well. So you have to consider that when choosing a location. If the roots cannot spread, the plant will lag behind in its growth. In order for it to develop optimally, you should plant it near theForgo the cake tree, because the plant does not want immediate neighbors.
Cake trees can also be cultivated as container plants. Especially young plants are used for this. Potted plants should also not be in the blazing sun and must be watered and sprayed more often. If the leaves change colour, wither and fall off, you have not met the increased water or nutrient requirements.
Meet high demands on the floor
The choice of soil is crucial for the development and he alth of the plant. Since the plants prefer sandy, loamy soil, it may be necessary to mix loam or sand into the existing substrate. The soil should be neutral to slightly acidic. A soil with a pH value between five and seven offers ideal conditions (measuring the pH value in the soil - this is how it's done). If the soil is too firm, the cake tree will not develop optimally. It is therefore necessary to loosen the soil. Since the cake tree does not tolerate constant waterlogging, the water should be able to drain off easily.
Detect water shortage
The cake tree shows a lack of water by letting the leaves hang. Usually there is no clinical picture. Even if the plant sheds its leaves, it usually only reacts sensitively to a lack of water. If you water enough, the leaves usually grow back quite quickly.
It is best to water the cake tree with a garden hose, because the leaves should also be given a shower. This meets the plant's need for high humidity. Also, always water in the morning or evening hours.
Avoid care mistakes in winter
If the cake tree is in a sheltered outdoor location, no measures are necessary and the hardy plant will usually survive the cold season unscathed. It is a little different with the cake tree in the bucket. The bucket offers the plant less protection than the soil and makes it vulnerable to frost damage. Weakened plants, in turn, are generally more susceptible to disease. Please note the following when overwintering the potted plants:
- choose a bright and sheltered location
- Place the bucket on a styrofoam plate
- Wrap the bucket with garden fleece
- Protect the soil with leaves or brushwood
Warning: If the cake tree is in the bucket, there is a risk that it will dry out. Therefore, check the soil regularly. Especially in dry winters watering canmay be required.
Verticillium wilt - the deadly danger
Even if the plant is so robust and resistant and is spared from pests - a disease can still cause great damage to exotic plants. Verticillium wilt is a fungus that causes branches and shoots to die off. Immediate action is required because an antidote is not yet known. In the case of a large-scale infestation, the only option is usually to remove the entire plant.
How is the disease identified?
At first glance, the plant seems to lack water. The suspicion seems justified, because the fungus prefers to attack the plant in heat and prolonged drought. There is one difference to thirsty pie tree leaves though. If the disease has broken out, not all leaves wilt at first, only the older foliage. If you react at this stage, you can probably still save the plant. In the advanced stage, the fungus will continue to work its way through the plant's water channels and the younger leaves will also wilt. If left untreated, the disease will inevitably lead to the death of the entire plant. These signs indicate a fungal infection:
- wilted leaves on the shoots, despite sufficient watering
- the leaf green appears paler
- the leaves are getting limp
- the bark shows cracks
- Thicker branches show crescent-shaped imprints in the incision
What to do?
Since treatment with the usual sprays will not be successful, the only option is to cut the tree back as far as possible. However, you must not put the cut off parts of the plant on the compost. Otherwise, the fungus can spread unhindered via the compost and infect other plants in the garden. After use, you should also disinfect all the gardening tools you need.
The highly infectious fungus affects around 300 native plant species and there is a good chance that Verticillium wilt will spread rapidly through the garden if you don't act accordingly. If that is the case, only a soil replacement would help. You would have to take all the plants out of the ground and discard them. Therefore, these preventive measures are extremely important:
- put only he althy looking plants in the ground
- Do not plant too deep in the ground
- Protect roots during planting
- avoid wet floors and waterlogging
- ensure nutrient-rich soil
- regularlywater
- thin out regularly
- Treat injuries, close cuts
- Avoid over-fertilization with nitrogen
This is how the cake tree generally stays he althy:
- water sufficiently
- Allow soil to dry slightly
- mix compost under the substrate in spring
- Frequently hose off the plant and ensure high humidity
- Loosen soil
- Avoid waterlogging