Bauhinia x blakeana 'Hong Kong' Plant Care Reminders

Hong kong orchid tree

General Information

• Instruction By	Steve Brigham
  Notes	The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is one of the showiest flowering trees for coastal Southern California climates where frost seldom occurs. This grafted tree can be slow to get established, however, so it pays to get at least a 15 gallon specimen to start with. Young trees can be erratic in their blooming and foliage schedules, but older trees are stunning in bloom and well worth waiting for.
  Sunset Zones	1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45
  USDA Zones	1  2a  2b  3a  3b  4a  4b  5a  5b  6a  6b  7a  7b  8a  8b  9a  9b  10a  10b  11  12

Plant Care Instruction

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

  January 1. Water Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees.

  February 1. Water Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees.

  March 1. Water Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather.

  April 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Water Water regularly and deeply. 4. Mulch Mulch to keep roots cool and conserve water use.

  May 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Fertilize Fertilize with a balanced plant food. 4. Water Water regularly and deeply.

  June 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Water Water regularly and deeply. 4. Prune Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata.

  July 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Water Water regularly and deeply. 4. Prune Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata.

  August 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Water Water regularly and deeply. 4. Prune Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata.

  September 1. Buy Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. 2. Plant Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. 3. Fertilize Fertilize with a balanced plant food. 4. Water Water regularly and deeply. 5. Mulch Mulch to keep roots cool and conserve water use.

  October 1. Water Water regularly and deeply.

  November 1. Water Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees.

  December 1. Water Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! April Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. May Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. June Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. July Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. August Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with. September Buy grafted trees that are well established in their containers. It's better to get a large tree to start with.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? April Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. May Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. June Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. July Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. August Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost. September Plant in well-drained soil in full sun, using plenty of soil amendment. Pick a warm site that is protected from both strong winds and frost.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? May Fertilize with a balanced plant food. September Fertilize with a balanced plant food.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? January Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. February Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. March Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. April Water regularly and deeply. May Water regularly and deeply. June Water regularly and deeply. July Water regularly and deeply. August Water regularly and deeply. September Water regularly and deeply. October Water regularly and deeply. November Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather. December Water regularly during dry periods. Do not overwater during cold weather.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? June Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata. July Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata. August Prune only to shape. Remove any basal sprouts from the rootstock, which is usually Bauhinia variegata.

  Mulch Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? April Mulch to keep roots cool and conserve water use. September Mulch to keep roots cool and conserve water use.

  Protect When and how should you protect this plant from birds, deer, rabbits? Does this plant need be covered, or wrapped or painted or moved? January Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees. February Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees. November Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees. December Protect from frost and cold winds, which can severely damage trees.