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Cotton Tree

About Cotton Tree

Red Silk Cottontree is a large flowering tree in the marshmallow family native to the tropical regions of Asia and northern Australia. It has large showy red flowers and smooth white bark.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Bombax ceiba

Genus

Bombax

Family

Malvaceae

Order

Malvales

Also known as

cotton tree, Tree Cotton, Malabar silk-cotton tree; red silk-cotton, red cotton tree, silk-cotton and kapok

How to care for Cotton Tree

💦 Water

How often to water your Cotton Tree

Cotton Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Cotton Tree in your home

Cotton Tree love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Cotton Tree does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cotton Tree in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cotton Tree

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cotton Tree: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Cotton Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Cotton Tree is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

💦 Water Needs

Cotton Tree prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cotton Tree requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cotton Tree is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Cotton Tree will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cotton Tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Cotton Tree, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.