17 August 2010

BAUHINIA KOCKIANA

This is not an unusual Bauhinia. It is the common Bauhinia kockiana (Red Trailing Bauhinia) climber.

It is gaining popularity amongst my streetscape colleagues because they can be found growing on overhead bridge planting troughs, flyover planting verges, guardrails etc where they are pruned as a low shrub. At this low height, the clusters of orange flowers are obviously showy enough for passers-by or drivers to see.

However, this climber usually suffers from interveinal chlorosis, especially in small planting spaces with limited soil volume, brought about by a nutrient deficiency in the macronutrient Magnesium (Mg) and needs to be supplemented frequently with lots of straight or compound fertilizers. The deficiency usually occurs from the older leaves first before it proceeds to the younger leaves after prolonged starvation from the nutrient. Due to its ease of flowering, it is also best to supply lots of high Potassium (K) fertilizers to satisfy the heavy feeder to encourage the flowering.

Anyway, the reason why I posted this photo here is because of the beautiful way the new leaves are forming, just like the Bauhinia semibifida var. perkinsae that I posted recently.