I was gifted an "orchid tree" Bauhinia spp. last spring. It was approximately 6" tall. It is now 4' tall and on my porch. It has always been potted. This tree is tropical and won't take heavy frosts/freezes. It appears that these trees get 30-50' tall and as wide. Since will always have to move it inside during the fall/winter months, I have to keep it within 7' tall/wide.
I assume I can trim the central stem and branches in the winter, before it puts out new growth in the spring. Will the tree ever bloom if cut back? I know this tree is found extensively in Florida, and is even considered an invasive plant in some areas. Perhaps you sub-tropical folks can tell me what to expect with this tree. IF it will never bloom, I really have no use for it and will simply dispose of it.
Orchid tree
If kept in a large pot, shaped, and trimmed, it will do well.
Here they are often grown in pots and shaped as a standard orchard tree. When they get covered with flowers, they are breath-taking.
The problem is that I am not in HI but in (cold) Mississippi. It will be outside from March/April until October/November, but then will be brought inside. I don't know whether that will give it enough growing season to flower. So far I have seen no evidence of a flower bud.
The tree will need to reach maturity before it flowers, which may take several years.
That's exactly the information I needed. Several years, huh? I don't know if I can give it the time/space to see it finally flower. Oh well.
Thanks for the info.
You're very welcome!
This is off subject, but when I was in Maui some 25 years ago, I brought home three small plumeria cuttings. Even though I have to continue cutting them back to get them in to the house to over-winter, I still have those three original plants. The bases are now 5-6" in diameter but I keep them at 5' or less. Three years ago, I stored 95% of my plumeria in an unheated garage, but for some reason put those three old plumeria in a closet along with a handfull of others. I lost every single plumeria in the garage, several dozen of them. We had four days when the temperature never got above freezing. I was so busy dealing with checking my greenhouses and keeping everything warm there, that I completely forgot about those plumeria in the garage. I learned my lesson. Nothing goes in the garage again!
How great it must be to NOT have to put plants inside for 4-5 months every single year.