Ricinus

The Castor tree genus, Ricinus, or Castor tree (Ricinus), has only one species - common castor (Ricinus communis), a perennial tree-like (with a lignified base, from which shoots grow annually, remaining green) culture of rapid growth. In cold climates, it is grown as an annual or biennial. It has a strong taproot with a straight branching green, red or brown hollow stem. In nature, it can reach 8 m in height, but in culture it does not exceed 4-5 m, and as an annual it grows to 1.5-2.0 m. Palmate-lobed large glossy leaves on long petioles grow up to 30 cm wide. Greenish low-decorative flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, in the upper parts of which - male, and in the lower - female flowers. They bloom in summer, and in their place round fruits (seed pods) with spines are formed, in which bright seeds are enclosed. From them, oil is obtained. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The most common decorative forms: 'Cambodian' with blackish-purple stems and large leaves; 'Gibson' with dark green stems and bronze foliage; 'Bloody' with purple leaves; 'Zanzibar' with leaves up to 80 cm wide and 'Carmencita' with bronze stems and large dark green leaves.

The Castor tree genus, Ricinus, or Castor tree (Ricinus), has only one species - common castor (Ricinus communis), a perennial tree-like (with a lignified base, from which shoots grow annually, remaining green) culture of rapid growth. In cold climates, it is grown as an annual or biennial. It has a strong taproot with a straight branching green, red or brown hollow stem. In nature, it can reach 8 m in height, but in culture it does not exceed 4-5 m, and as an annual it grows to 1.5-2.0 m. Palmate-lobed large glossy leaves on long petioles grow up to 30 cm wide. Greenish low-decorative flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, in the upper parts of which - male, and in the lower - female flowers. They bloom in summer, and in their place round fruits (seed pods) with spines are formed, in which bright seeds are enclosed. From them, oil is obtained. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

The most common decorative forms: 'Cambodian' with blackish-purple stems and large leaves; 'Gibson' with dark green stems and bronze foliage; 'Bloody' with purple leaves; 'Zanzibar' with leaves up to 80 cm wide and 'Carmencita' with bronze stems and large dark green leaves.

Cultivation

Castor oil is grown outdoors: in pots (on balconies and terraces) or in the open ground on the lawn, for wall decoration, etc. It is very decorative due to the shape of the bush and ornamental leaves. It grows well in open sunny areas on fertilized sandy loam soil. In a pot, the mixture is made up of 2/3 peat and 1/3 fertile land, apply fertilizer (rotted manure) in the amount of 500 g per bucket of soil. Plants are planted in the open ground in May, after spring frosts, at a distance of 1 m from each other. Only if the soil both in the garden and potted is very poor, a full mineral fertilizer (with a reduced nitrogen content) in the amount of 15 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Castor oil is grown outdoors: in pots (on balconies and terraces) or in the open ground on the lawn, for wall decoration, etc. It is very decorative due to the shape of the bush and ornamental leaves. It grows well in open sunny areas on fertilized sandy loam soil. In a pot, the mixture is made up of 2/3 peat and 1/3 fertile land, apply fertilizer (rotted manure) in the amount of 500 g per bucket of soil. Plants are planted in the open ground in May, after spring frosts, at a distance of 1 m from each other. Only if the soil both in the garden and potted is very poor, a full mineral fertilizer (with a reduced nitrogen content) in the amount of 15 g per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Location

Castor oil needs a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Since this plant is of tropical origin, it is afraid of low temperatures, but is resistant to very high temperatures.

Watering

It requires abundant and regular watering, especially in hot weather, as the plant is moisture-loving and has a large leaf surface.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring once every 2 years, using larger pots compared to the previous one.

Reproduction

Propagate by seed. Sow in pots or boxes for seedlings, in a heated room - at a temperature of about 20 °C. Previously, the seeds are soaked in water for a day to help increase germination. The soil is prepared from peat (70%) and sand (30%). Grown seedlings are transplanted into containers or pots of medium size (13-15 cm in diameter), put in greenhouses. In the southern regions, seeds are sown immediately in the open ground, where they germinate at a temperature of 10-12 °C.

Diseases

It is widely believed that castor oil is almost not susceptible to diseases - it is often used as a repellent. Due to fungal damage, root rot may begin, and the infection develops especially well in compacted soil, through which water hardly leaves.

Acquisition

Choose seeds of decorative forms of the most beautiful foliage color. Check the expiration date of seeds on the package.