TheNaturePlanet

In the warm south, there is a flower that can always catch everyone's attention in spring, and it is the kapok.

The kapok is a large deciduous tree of the Bombacaceae family. It has an extremely upright posture and a thick trunk, which can grow up to dozens of meters high. On the branches, huge flowers bloom freely, bright and eye-catching. Interestingly, when it blooms, there are no green leaves to set it off, yet it doesn't look monotonous at all. The whole tree is bright red, and from a distance, it is extremely spectacular.

Every year from February to March is the peak time for the kapok. The flowering period can last for about 15 days. Although the time is not long, the splendor when it is in full bloom is enough to make people remember it for a whole year. Especially in Guangzhou, as the city flower of Guangzhou, whether it is in the bustling streets and alleys or the quiet parks and riverbanks, the kapok can be seen everywhere, decorating the whole city with vitality and a strong sense of spring.

The kapok is not just beautiful. It is also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is cool in nature and has the effects of clearing heat, removing dampness, and detoxifying. People in Guangdong Province must be familiar with the soup made from kapok flowers. Every season when the kapok is in full bloom, there are many dried kapok flowers for sale in the market. The soup made with it is not only delicious but also nourishing. It can help people get rid of dampness in the humid season and maintain good health.

Many people are curious whether they can plant kapok at home. In fact, it grows very fast and will become particularly tall, so it is more suitable to be planted in open places such as courtyards and parks.
If you want to plant kapok, you need to pay attention that it likes a sunny, warm and humid environment, and the soil is preferably loose, fertile, and well-drained.
Generally, it can be propagated by sowing and cuttage. For sowing, choose spring, scatter the seeds on the seedbed, keep the soil moist, and it will take root and germinate quickly. For cuttage, select healthy branches, insert them into the substrate, take good care of them, and transplant them after they take root. During the maintenance process, don't water too frequently. Follow the principle of "water only when the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when watering". Apply appropriate fertilizer during the growing season, and the kapok will grow vigorously.