The castor bean plant impresses with its phenomenal appearance, rapid growth, huge leaves and bright red fruits. When the fluffy flowers are followed by the spectacular gooseberries, we can no longer resist the magical aura. Nevertheless, there is a life-threatening danger from the miracle tree due to the poisonous content of its seeds. How to deal with it and cultivate a majestic plant is explained in detail in the following answers to frequently asked questions.

The beautiful castor oil plant is highly poisonous

Plant castor oil properly

The miracle tree is extremely sensitive to cold. Plant the plant you have brought up yourself or bought ready-made in the bed from mid/end of May at the earliest. Choose a sunny location with nutritious, fresh, moist soil. Beforehand, immerse the potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise. Meanwhile, dig a spacious pit to enrich the soil with compost and horn shavings.(32.93€) Then pot the Ricinus communis and plant it in the middle so deep that the previous planting depth is maintained. Water generously and continue the constant water supply continuously so that the rooting progresses unhindered.
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care tips

As long as you pay enough attention to the highly toxic status of a Ricinus communis, the care regimen poses no particular challenge. The overriding premise is that the majestic wonder tree displays mighty thirst and mighty hunger. How to do it right:

  • Water thoroughly once the soil has dried
  • Fertilize organically or mineral-organically from May to September
  • In autumn, cut off the drawn-in parts of the plant close to the ground if overwintering takes place
  • Heap bedding plants thickly with straw, leaves, compost and brushwood
  • Place potted plants in bright winter quarters with temperatures of 8-10 degrees Celsius

Since the miracle tree can be easily propagated by sowing, the effort of overwintering only makes sense in mild wine-growing regions.

Which location is suitable?

The miracle tree favors a sunny, warm and sheltered location on the balcony. In regions with mild winters, the castor bean plant thrives in beds with nutrient-rich, loose, humus-rich and fresh, moist soil. A sunny spot in front of mighty trees that can absorb strong winds so that the herbaceous plant is not knocked over is ideal.

What soil does the plant need?

The breathtaking growth and massive biomass of a castor bean plant requires a nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil. The soil should be fresh and moist, well drained and not threatened by waterlogging. For cultivation in tubs, we recommend using a high-quality, structurally stable, compost-based substrate with a low peat content.

When is flowering time?

From July to October, the miracle tree puts on its blossoms. Mighty panicles of flowers rise above the fingered leaves. The arrangement of the flowers is characteristic of the castor oil plant. Only male flowers thrive in the lower part, whose task it is to fertilize the female flowers in the upper part with the help of insects. The bright red fruits can therefore always be found in the upper region.

Properly cut castor

Before winter, only cut the herbaceous plant down to the ground when all the leaves have drawn in. In the bed, you then cover the root ball with leaves and brushwood. Then place a potted miracle tree in a bright, frost-free winter quarters. It is up to you to decide whether it is worth it in view of the easy sowing.

Pour castor

As soon as the surface of the earth has dried, a miracle tree is poured. Let the water run until it runs out of the bottom opening. During hot summer days, this measure may be necessary on a daily basis. Preferably water your castor oil early in the morning or late in the evening.

Fertilize castor oil properly

Fertilize a miracle tree weekly from May to September with commercially available liquid fertilizer. If this is too time-consuming for you, apply a mineral-organic long-term fertilizer in the form of sticks, cones or granules according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the bed you administer mature compost with horn shavings. Work the material in here on the surface and then pour it in.

hibernate

If your garden is located in a wine-growing region with mild winters, there are good prospects of a successful overwintering. After the miracle tree has pulled in its plant parts above ground in autumn, cover the root ball with 20-30 cm of leaves, straw and needle brushwood. Before the first frost, a castor bean plant in a bucket moves to a bright winter quarters with temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. Cut the plant down to the ground first. Water occasionally during the cold season to keep the root ball from drying out.
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multiply castor

Sowing the seeds has proven to be an uncomplicated method of propagation in the hobby garden. How to do it right:

  • The best time for sowing is in March and April
  • Put on suitable protective clothing and gloves
  • Fill 12cm pots with fertile soil
  • Press 2-3 seeds into the substrate and water them
  • Germination starts within 14 days at 20 degrees Celsius in a partially shaded window seat

Until mid-May, repot the young plants whenever the previous pot is too small. Keep the substrate constantly moist and start giving diluted liquid fertilizer from the end of April.

Castor bean in the pot

On the sunny balcony, the miracle tree thrives in a large pot with high-quality compost-based potting soil. Some shards of pottery or pebbles above the floor opening don't give waterlogging a chance. Water plentifully and regularly as drought will result in stunted growth. The same applies to the supply of nutrients. From May to September you can pamper the Rizinus with liquid fertilizer every week. Hibernation is possible in bright, frost-free winter quarters. Cut off the above-ground parts of the plant and water only enough that the root ball does not dry out.

Is castor oil poisonous?

The miracle tree harbors a deadly danger in its seeds. The prickly fruits are packed with ricin, a highly toxic protein. Even the tiny amount of 0.25 milligrams can be deadly. Lethal circulatory failure sets in no later than 48 hours after consumption. An antidote is not yet available. How to manage the potential for life-threatening danger:

  • Plant the miracle tree out of the reach of children and animals
  • For reasons of caution, remove the seeds in good time and dispose of them in hazardous waste
  • Safely store seeds intended for sowing
  • Put on suitable protective clothing for maintenance and planting work

Furthermore, the production of castor oil, which is known as a medicine and is used as a laxative, should only be placed in professional hands.

trivia

The toxic protein contained in the seeds of the castor bean plant is so dangerous that it has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction. Accordingly, ricin is subject to the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention. This circumstance is based primarily on the fact that even tiny amounts of the seeds are deadly without an antidote being available.

Beautiful varieties

  • Carmencita: Majestic variety with shiny, brown-red leaves and bright fruits from October
  • Apache: With a growth height of 100 cm, this miracle tree is ideally suited for cultivation in tubs
  • Sanguineus: The variety impresses with dark brown foliage on red stems and red fruits in autumn
  • Unguja Green: A rare Ricinus communis with solid green leaves and cream colored flowers from July
  • Zanzibariensis: This miracle tree produces the largest leaves under fiery red infructescence

Category:

Vegetable garden