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Ribbon Tree

Carmichaelia sp.

Seed pre-treatment -- Scratch each seed a few times over a nail file or sandpaper to make it easier for water to enter.  Then drop the seeds in a cup of water and soak them overnight.

Planting -- Start with small pots or cups that are about 3" tall (8 cm).  Use a well-draining soil mix, such as 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite.  Fill each pot with soil, water it, put 1 seed in each pot, cover with 1/4" (6 mm) of soil, and water the top layer lightly.  I get good germination at 65-70 degrees F (18-21°C).  I've never tried sprouting them at warmer temperatures.  They should start sprouting within 2-4 weeks, but allow up to 10 weeks for any slow ones to germinate.

Watering --   Carmichaelia likes moderately moist soil.  Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, but also avoid keeping it soggy.  If your tap water is poor, i recommend using rain water or bottled spring water, at least for the first few months. You may use a moisture meter probe to monitor the moisture levels deep in the root zone.

Temperature & humidity -- Carmichaelia seems to do best between 45 and 80 degrees F (7-27°C).  Since very few people are growing this plant, i'm not sure how well it will do outside that temperature range.  Feel free to experiment with rooted cuttings.  Your plants can be grown indoors, provided that the air isn't too dry.  Between 40 and 80% humidity works well.  You may use a room humidifier if the humidity drops too low in winter.

Sun -- Carmichaelia prefers mostly sunny conditions, but give it protection from strong afternoon sun in warmer areas.  I would keep the pot shaded, to avoid overheating the roots. 

Fertilizing -- Most potting soils contain fertilizer, so you shouldn't need to feed your plants the first few weeks.  After that, start with 1/4 strength feedings with an all-purpose fertilizer every few weeks.  Yellowing older leaves might be a sign that the plant needs more fertilizer (nitrogen), or the soil is too dry.

Potting up -- When your plants are 4" (10 cm) tall, transplant to larger pots. 

Water thoroughly first to keep the soil from breaking apart, which can damage the fragile roots.   Once the plants get about 12" tall (30 cm), transplant them to a 2-5 gallon pots (8-18 liters).  After 2 years, they might need 10 gallons or more.. although smaller pots might work if the trees are pruned back regularly. 

Pests to watch for -- mealy bugs, scale (small brown disks - hard to see), spider mites, slugs & snails. 

Enjoy your plants!

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