The coral tree (Erythrina christa-galli) is a very popular and relatively easy to care for container plant due to its striking flowers. In a suitable location in the house, this plant can also be cultivated as a houseplant all year round.
How to care for a coral tree as a houseplant?
As a houseplant, the coral tree requires a sunny location, moderate watering and a cool winter period. In winter the plant should hardly be watered and should not be fertilized. Pruning takes place in the spring before new growth.
Don't worry about falling leaves
Some plant lovers panic when the leaves of the coral tree gradually disappear with the onset of winter and the shoot tips dry out a little. However, this is no reason at all to dispose of the plant. On the contrary: This cycle is completely normal in the coral tree, the more clearly the visually striking flowers are noticed before new leaves are finally formed in spring. However, the situation is different when leaves are shed during the growth phase in spring and summer. Then you should examine the plant for care errors or diseases and pests.
Choose the perfect location
When grown as a houseplant, the coral tree should be placed in a location where the ratio of incident sunlight and the prevailing temperature is favorable. Heated winter gardens with a temperature of over 25 degrees Celsius are less suitable for caring for the coral tree than so-called cold winter gardens, which have a slightly cooler temperature. You should also give the coral tree as sunny a location as possible indoors from spring to autumn. Please be careful, however, that the coral tree can quickly become a breeding ground for annoying spider mites (€28.00 on Amazon) during heat stress and dry indoor air.
The right care in the house
When overwintering indoors, excessive moisture represents a danger to the he alth of a coral tree that should not be underestimated. So at the end of summer, let the plants and the substrate dry out before hibernation and water coral trees grown indoors as houseplants all year round gradually more economical from autumn onwards. It can also make sense to only water over a saucer, as is often done with bougainvillea. In the winter time, simulate a tropical dry season and provide the following conditions:
- no fertilization in winter
- Water the plant very rarely
- Location ideally not too warm, more like 15 degrees Celsius
Tip
Pruning, even for coral trees that have been kept indoors all year round, should only be done shortly before new shoots appear in spring, as this is then particularly easy to cope with.
