Jacaranda Tree

Hi Jacaranda lovers, Could anyone please offer advice on how to make my Jacaranda grow and thrive better? I planted my tree about a year ago on a sunny slope that is watered about 3 times a week. I've been furtilizing it during the growing season with just an all purpose furtilizer called 'grow power pro'. It is doing ok and always has new growth, but it doesn't seem to be much bigger which is odd for a 'fast growing tree'. I'm wondering if it could do better - or perhaps this is normal while they're just getting established in a new home??? I'm anxious for it to get larger so that it will start flowering, which is the best part of a jacaranda! What do you think? Thanks, Christina :)

This message was edited Jul 15, 2006 6:23 AM

I looked in my Western Garden Book and it talks about winter leaf-drop (deciduous). Maybe it needs a bit of a rest. I'd say reduce the watering for a few weeks. There's a comment in here, "Often fails to flower in path of ocean winds or where heat is inadequate" so maybe it really needs heat & sun to do well. Are you near the ocean or inland a bit? Do you remember what the roots were like when you planted it? Rootbound or barelyrooted? From what I remember of my little tree it preferred a fast-draining poor soil and sun. I hope something I've said helps.

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to look it up for me! You're so nice! It hasn't lost any of the leaves, but not surprising in the climate I'm in. It gets cold at night, but the days are still really warm. We are inland from the ocean about 10-15 miles, so no ocean winds (unfortunately!) and it will be a few months yet before we get some good heat. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it likes sandy soil, so maybe I'll add some. our soil is clay. Unfortunatley I didn't see the root ball as it was planted by my landscaper in an overhaul we did last year. Thank you again! Christina

Yes, Christina, you're right! I forgot to mention the comment about the sand. Mine did well in poor loose soil.

This is probably a dumb question; but if I put sand in the top inch or two of the soil, will it work it's way down eventually? I don't want to dig the whole thing up and disrupt it's comfort. Thank you

I'm not sure that will work. How is the clay soil you have? Is it poor drainage? I'd definitely reduce the water from 3 times a week to barely once a week for about a month. You could replace the soil outside of the hole you dug with porous, sandy soil so the moisture drains away from the plant and roots work their way into the sandy soil. I guess you could sprinkle some sand overtop but I'd think it best to leave it as is.

Ok, thanks. Yes the clay does have poor drainage, almost like a terra cot pot! When the tree went in, they dug a huge hole and then amended the soil and added gypsum so hopefully it's working its way down. I've also been mulching and I see that we always have tons of worms. I can't really reduce the watering that much because there's other more delicate plants that will die. I actually see that I typed my watering schedule wrong, it's every 3 days which would be slightly less than 3 times a week. Perhaps I'll try every 4 and hope for great things in the spring when everything gets going faster! :)