Cashew tree
Anacardium occidentale
Caractéristiques de la plante
- Anacardium occidentale : Cashew tree
- Family : Anacardiaceae
- Origin : South America
- Height in its natural environment : 12 m
- Hardiness : 12°C
- Flower colour : white and pink
Height : about 10 to 30 cm (depending on seasons)
Fast grower
Description of the plant
With the Cashew tree, we love everything!
First of all, its delicate white flowers streaked with pink, beautifully fragrant. Then comes its amusing fruit, which looks like a bell pepper, and which can imitate yellow, orange or red! It can be eaten in jams, like peppers, or in juice. And our bell pepper has not finished surprising us: it will develop its core not inside the fruit but outside, under the fruit! This is the famous and wonderful cashew nut. The almond must be roasted before being consumed, but it contains five times more vitamin C than an orange!
Its bark is also remarkable because it is used as a yellow dye, its wood as charcoal and its young twigs are eaten as vegetables.
So, don't hesitate to put it in a warm place, it bears fruit from the third year and its nuts are as delicious to the palate as they are good for your health!
Also known as: Ancardier, Caju tree, Cashew apple tree, Cashew nut tree, …
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Growing tips
Repotting
When you receive your plant, repot it in a pot slightly larger than the bucket, which must be well pierced. Avoid pot covers which prevent residual water from draining away and encourage fungal diseases. Choose a fine potting soil, ideally with added perlite or sand to lighten the substrate (do not use garden soil or acidic soil such as heather). Then plan two repottings per year (spring and autumn), gradually increasing the size of the pot and adapting it to the size of the root network (the roots must have room, but not too much as the plant must be able to dry out its substrate between waterings). This avoids having to add fertilizer, which always risks burning the fragile roots of the plants and making the plant wither as soon as the fertilizer is stopped.
Watering
Moderate watering: watering should be copious (the whole root ball should be wet), but wait until the substrate has dried deeply before watering again (you can stick your finger in the soil: as long as you feel moisture, do not water). Your plant will recover better from a lack of water than from an excess of water. Always water at the base of the plant, and do not mist it, because stagnant water in the armpit of the leaves favors cryptogamic diseases. If your atmosphere is too dry, put bowls of water nearby (above radiators for example), so that evaporation humidifies the air.
For an indoor planting
A true houseplant, place it in a warm and bright place, like a veranda or behind a window, direct sunlight suits them perfectly.
For an outdoor planting
This plant is not frost and/or cold resistant and should not be planted outside except in limited parts of Southern Europe.
Pruning
This plant supports the pruning, but we do not advise it because that would make it lose its native form.
Fertilizer
Our plants are grown naturally, without chemical fertilizers, so we advise you to repot them regularly (twice a year) rather than adding fertilizer.
In case of pest attack
If your plants are under attack by aphids or other pests, the best way to control them is by hand. Change their soil, remove as many undesirables as possible by hand and then shower your plants with a strong stream of water to eliminate any eggs that may be present. Spray them (insist on the underside of the leaves) with liquid black soap diluted in water. Repeat the operation several times at a few days interval. Take them outside in good weather, rain, sun and wind will kill most of the aggressors!