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The Naga Linga tree has a myriad of names including Kailaspati, Mallikarjun, Nagamalli, Cannon Ball, Couroupita guianensis, and Shiva Linga.
The name depends on where you find the plant, but they all point to the same plant: a sacred tree in Hindu traditions.
In Sanskrit, Naga means serpent and Linga means Lord Shiva, the idol of a Hindu god.
The name refers to the appearance of the plant, which has crowned petals.
The petals look like Naga, a sacred serpent, and it looks like the petals are covered with Linga. You can see where the name comes from.
More interestingly, trees are common in Lord Shiva temples in India, and many people believe that praying to Lord Shiva with the cannonball flowers washes away their sins.
Apart from religious beliefs, this tree is also appreciated for its cosmetic benefits with its beautiful purple-pink flowers associated with its large fruits.
It has also been used for medicinal purposes and people rely on the pulp for headache relief. The juice from the leaves is also used to promote hair growth.
Please note that, except for decorative purposes, this blog does not encourage the use of natural products for health purposes without similar instructions from your physician.
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How to Care for a Naga Linga Tree (Cannonball Tree) in Your Home?
With its beautiful, round flowers that give off a strong aroma, it makes sense that you want this plant in your home.
The scent is so strong that it has been used in perfumes, perfumes and a range of cosmetics.
The flowers are also used to make medicines which are used to relieve conditions such as inflammation and hypertension. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wake up every day with this beauty?
The tree is well adapted to indoor conditions, making it easy to grow in any of the fifty states.
If the plant has been outdoors, you need to measure the temperature drops and before they reach forty degrees, you need to move it indoors.
Container selection
Cannonball trees do well in containers, as long as you choose the right size that is good for root development.
Keep in mind that these trees grow quickly and often need to be outdoors.
To grow them in the ground, space the rows twelve feet apart.
And if you’re growing them as individual trees, keep them at least six feet from other trees.
So you can imagine the space they need. That said, it is possible to keep them indoors provided you choose a deep and wide container.
The pot should have a diameter of at least eighteen centimeters and at least twenty centimeters to take into account the height.
Drainage is a big issue, as the plant will not do well in poorly drained soil.
Also, be sure to drill plenty of drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, paving the way for one of plants greatest enemies: root rot!
If you want to water less often, choose glazed pots.
Keep in mind that you need to have one tree per pot to ensure that the plant receives enough nutrients without competition for its basic needs.
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As mentioned above, the cannonball tree does well in well-drained soil and will not thrive in soggy soil.
Make sure that the soil does not hold water for too long to prevent the roots of the plant from staying in the water for a long time.
You can do this by mixing soil, perlite, and sand to create a nutrient-dense but well-drained mixture.
If you find that the water stays above the surface for a long time, you may need to change the potting soil.
Relief
When grown outdoors, this plant prefers direct, bright sun.
Gardeners see great results when they expose these plants to 12 hours of sunlight each day.
But even with 30% shade, the trees are doing well. How can you do this indoors? Start by finding a window location with lots of southern exposure.
The window should have a bright and sunny environment so that the plant can be exposed to the sun most of the time.
Artificial light is not necessary, but if you live in a dark environment you may need to provide some.
Water
Watering can kill your tree in two ways: overwatering and underwatering.
Finding a balance between these two extremes is often a difficult task, but you can do it.
Each time you want to water the plant, stick a finger into the top two inches of soil.
When they are dry, you can lightly soak the soil. Keep in mind that the soil should be kept moist, not wet, to ensure the roots don’t get more moisture than they need.
This would create a dirty environment that would cause root rot.
If you don’t know how to check moisture content, you can always purchase a moisture meter to take the guesswork out of the equation.
This is especially important when light conditions cause the soil to dry out quickly and you find yourself watering the soil every day.
You want to make sure the soil needs moisture before you add more and likely kill the plant.
Fertilization
Does Your Cannonball Tree Need Fertilizer? Yes and no. These trees thrive in temperate climates and during the growing season you should fertilize them as you water the soil.
It helps the plant to grow vigorously and give good produce at harvest time.
During the resting phase, you can take a step back and let the plant make do with what it already has.
Work with the entries released over time and make sure they can’t kill or burn the tree.
There is also over-fertilization and you need to make sure you have followed the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.
If you are not interested in rapid growth, you can ignore the use of inputs and the tree will grow at a slower pace.
On the plus side, you don’t risk a heavy build-up of salt in the soil that could damage the root system.
If you like this article, check out our article on What are the fastest growing evergreens for small gardens?
How to grow a Naga Linga tree (cannonball tree) from seed at home?
Considering root spread, you should get a large pot for each tree. The pot should measure at least 24 inches wide by 20 inches high.
Also make plenty of drainage holes to prevent the soil from becoming soggy and causing root rot.
The best potting soil contains soil, sand and perlite. Put enough potting soil in the pot, leaving an inch or two at the top for watering.
Sow the seed directly under the soil layer. You can even do this without using fertilizer or treating the seeds and soil, and it will still work well.
Place the pot in an area that can receive at least six hours of sunlight, i.e. towards a south-facing window.
If the area can receive up to twelve hours of direct sunlight, the plant will do better.
Water the soil until it is moist and let any excess drain off before returning the pot to its original position.
You can now track watering needs and other maintenance practices based on the requirements we covered above.
If you continue like this, the seeds will germinate in 8 to 15 days.
If you want to move seedlings, wait until they are at least 6 inches tall. Seedlings need at least a year to bear fruit.
Growth rate of naga linga tree (cannonball tree)
These trees are fast growing and in their native region they have been known to reach heights of 50 to 75 feet.
They can sometimes reach 100 feet. The tree is unlikely to reach such heights in a non-native area.
You can limit your speed to 50 feet outdoors. You may want to keep this in mind when planting the tree indoors.
Is the fruit of the Naga Linga tree (cannonball tree) edible?
Wondering where the name cannonball comes from? Well, this tree produces a ton of fruit similar to cannonballs used in war.
They are large, round and fall to the ground with a thud before bursting. Most of the time they stay there for the animals to feed on.
The fruits are edible, but you will rarely find them due to their unpleasant smell.
You may want to consult your doctor before eating the fruits or parts of this plant.
Where does the Naga Linga tree (cannonball tree) grow?
This species is native to the Amazon. However, it can grow in any area, as long as the soil is rich and moist and the location has 80-100% access to sunlight.
Outdoors it works best in zones 10a to 11, and indoors it can work with areas 4a to 11.
By adapting to indoor conditions, the plant can also thrive outside of its zone, thanks to the tree’s minimal growth requirements.
Final thoughts: How do you care for a Naga Linga tree in your home?
Caring for a Naga Linga tree, whether in your home or outdoors, should be a fairly easy task considering the minimum growing requirements.
As long as you are moderate in your approaches, the tree should work fine. Happy gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to help you solve more of your gardening problems:
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