Gumbo Limbo Tree

Description

This Carribean Queen will give any Patio Tropical Vibes

The Bursera Simaruba is native to Southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is best suited to tropical climates and can grow up to 30 feet. The Copperwood tree is famous for its easy-to-maintain nature, and can quickly grow into a large lush shade tree. 

The tree has glossy green foliage with oblong-shaped leaflets. Not only is the tree very aesthetic, but also very useful, as copper wood can be used in construction. Other parts of the tree, such as the resin, can be used as glue. 

Having a West Indian Birch is an excellent addition to your home and the best aspect about this plant is that it is straightforward to grow. Just adhere to this care guide, and you will be good to go. 

Caring for your Gumbo Limbo 

The Gumbo limbo is popular for people with backyards and those who want to grow plants that will provide shade in the summer. Please choose the best spot and meet all its care requirements for the best benefits. 

Light

This tree thrives when you keep it under the full sun. As it is native to tropical areas, it requires the most sunlight possible. It is best to grow it outdoors rather than inside your home. If you cannot give the plant direct sunlight then you can keep it in partial shade and that will be plenty for the plant to grow big. 

Soil

To grow the Gumbo Limbo, you must ensure that you choose the right soil. It will reach full growth if you keep it in moist, dry soil that is also well draining. However, these plants are not very picky and will survive in other types of soil, such as clay, sand and loam. It is best to choose alkaline soil as that helps the plant grow tall and strong. 

Water

If you forget to drink water yourself, it is likely that you will forget to water the plant. But the Chaca tree will not mind that as it is drought tolerant and can survive on very little water. During water intervals, you can wait for the plant to dry out before completely watering it the next time. Do not plant the tree next to a sprinkler, as it might take more water than it should. 

Fertilizer

If you want the plant to have optimal growth, then you can use a granular fertilizer and use it every six months or thrice a year. The plant will grow quicker if you give it the right amount of fertilizer. 

Common Issues

The Gumbo Limbo is a very resistant plant. Pests or diseases do not easily damage it, but there are some that can cause problems. Here are all the pests and diseases you need to look out for: 

Pests

The West Indian Birch is affected by pests such as Longhorn beetles. The longhorn beetle is an insect that can leave small holes in tree trunks, and that can cause damage to your tree. It is important for you to get rid of them as soon as possible, so they do not cause further damage. Use insecticidal soap to wash them away. 

Other than that, you may even find Croton scale infestation on your leaves and stems that can be very dangerous for your plants, and it is best to remove all the affected parts and treat the rest of the plant with an insecticide. 

Disease

Some of the most common diseases include Brown spots, leaf deformity and leaf scorch. The brown spots can be treated by removing the part that has these brown spots. You can do the same if your leaves are deforming and take care of the plant’s water intake to nurse the rest of the leaves back to health. 

Pruning

Your Gumbo Limbo will not require a lot of pruning. However, if you want the best growth and a good shape, then you can prune it with clean shears. Do not prune your tree unnecessarily, as that can affect the growth of the leaves. If you prune the lower part of the tree, then you may cause the plant to go into stress. 

Propagation

If you want the plant to germinate as quickly as possible, then you must propagate it using a seed. However, there are other ways to propagate the plant, and you can do that by using cuttings, but it is seen that all the trees grown from seeds have a much better shape than those grown with plant cuttings. 

Potting/Repotting

If your plant grows twice in size, then you can report it. It is possible for that to happen once every year as this plant grows more quickly. If the plant has outgrown its pot, then it will not be able to absorb nutrients the right way.