Pachira aquatica

Had to do a bit of therapy shopping yesterday so we went to the big new Dutch "Giga Center" for a wander, looking for unusual climbers.

Didn't find any climbers but we saw this plant and thought, "Oh, that's nice" and as it was only 2,65 Euros we bought it.



Can you imagine our surprise when we came home and I went on line and discovered it is a Water Chestnut tree! :D :D :D It grows in tropical estuaries and alongside rivers .... just like here .... ha, ha, ha! Anyway, we have potted it up and we'll wait and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! And who knows, maybe I'll get some water chestnuts as a bonus!

PS You'd think we'd have noticed the word "aquatica" on the label ... :rolleyes:

 

Looks quite a striking plant LoL, I've missed things on labels too.

 

Funny thing, Strongy, they were sitting there as houseplants! I think I need to put the bot in a bucket or trough ... will do that when I venture out to do a bit of gardening ... still 32C at the moment, usually wait till the magic 30 mark!

 

Just been back to work this evening to water what had dried out during the day and close the vents and it's only 17c. :(

 

You've got a cold front coming L of L :D
Monday/tuesday

 

Warming up here tomorrow strongy

 

Yes, Pete, I've seen possibly showers then. But then again, the past few days and this weekend was supposed to be around 24-26C .. that's going by Portimao which is the closest (as opposed to Faro)! I can get the Silves temperature but that's always 3-5o hotter than us as it's more inland. Roll on rain .....

 

I think you might get a short lived drop in temperature.

 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Go to surface pressure charts and watch the red dotted line.

 

Pachira aquatica has been sold as an office plant for 15 years or more in the UK, sometimes as a standard with a braided stem, mor commonly like your example. They work fine but get quite big and rangy, and look ugly if cut back (indoors I'm talking about- where everything has to look perfect). I never found they needed loads of water.

 

Actually it was the blue line, Pete ... cold front? As I said above, our temp was supposed to drop to 24-26 but it hasn't budged yet and I'm looking forward to seeing that rain tomorrow and Tuesday, but could be in my dreams! I'll keep you posted! :

Jaz, I saw on line the braided stem, looks good, mine is not. No probs coping with my 32C yet but I have watered it each day. For the money, I don't mind having a go.

 

No watch the red dotted line, the one they call thickness.
The blue line is the cold front, the red dotted is the air temps.