How to Plant Esperanza Seed
Esperanza (Tecoma stans) is also referred to as trumpetbush, yellowbells and yellow elder. It is a sun-loving plant that is found growing in the Southwest United States, all the way down to Central and South America. Esperanza is a densely growing, profusely blooming shrub, with 2 to 2 1/2 inch wide, trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers that are known to attract a plethora of bees. Growing esperanza from seed is easy and by the second year you will have blooming esperanza plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Esperanza seeds
- Paper bag
- 4-inch pots
- Seed starting compost
- Tweezers
- Sprayer bottle
- Tub or half wine-barrel
- Potting mix
- Wire screen
- Pea gravel
- Trowel
Instructions
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Sprouting Esperanza Seeds
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1
Remove the esperanza seeds from the pods in the fall. To do this, allow the seed pods to dry on the esperanza plant. Break the pods open and store the seeds in a paper bag at room temperature (between 60 and 65 degrees F) until spring.
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2
Pour seed-starting compost into individual 4-inch wide plastic pots. Pack down the seed starting compost in each of the 4-inch pots until the mix is well compacted.
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3
Plant two esperanza seeds into each of the 4-inch pots. Set the esperanza seeds into the seed-starting compost using a pair of tweezers, your finger tip or the blunt end of a pencil.
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4
Sprinkle a small amount, no more than approximately 1/8 of an inch, of the seed-starting compost over the esperanza seeds. Mist the soil with water to help set the esperanza seeds.
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5
Transfer the 4-inch pots to the warmest location you can provide. A temperature of between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit should allow the esperanza seeds to begin germinating within 2 to 3 weeks. If possible, provide about 8 to 10 hours of indirect light each day. Refrain from letting the pots sit in direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist, never soggy. Mist the soil with water when required.
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6
Pot up the esperanza seedlings after they are well established and are at least 3 to 4 inches tall.
Transplanting Esperanza Seedlings
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7
Fill up a suitably sized growing container with potting mix until it's half-way full. Use a large container, such as a tub, or even half a wine-barrel. Esperanza are stout growing shrubs and require a good sized container to grow.
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8
Cut out a section of wire screen that is the diameter of the bottom of your growing container. (This will prevent the potting mix from washing out the drain holes). To improve drainage, spread a 1-inch layer of pea gravel on top of the wire screen.
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9
Remove an esperanza seedling from its growing receptacle. Turn the pot horizontal. Use a hammer, or trowel to tap along the rim of the container to slide off the pot from the root ball.
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10
Set the esperanza seedling into its new growing container. Scoop in the potting mix using a trowel to fill the growing container full of soil. Use your hands or the trowel to pack the potting mix down around each of the esperanza seedlings.
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11
Water each of the esperanza seedlings until they are well saturated.
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1
Tips & Warnings
According to Floridata.com, esperanza is hardy in the USDA Zones 7 to 11.
To create your own potting soil, mix together equal portions of garden loam, peat moss and sand.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit planting and potting image by Ray Kasprzak from Fotolia.com
