Our care guide: Pachira
The pachira, or Guiana chestnut, is easily recognised by its braided trunk and fan-shaped leaves. Its trunk acts as a water reserve: it forgives a missed watering far more easily than an overzealous one. Let the soil dry out between waterings, once or twice a week in spring and summer, roughly every ten days in autumn and winter, and always empty any water left at the bottom of the pot.
Place it in a bright room, away from direct sunlight, at between 18 and 24°C. This guide also covers repotting, pruning and the little worries that can crop up: yellow leaves, a soft trunk at the base, pale leaves. It's considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. At By Charlot, the pachira goes by the name of L'Aviateur.
Where to place your pachira?
The pachira loves a bright room, out of direct sunlight. Place it near a window, but not pressed against the glass: midday summer sun can scorch its leaves. It tolerates slightly lower light, but its growth will slow and its leaves will pale.
It thrives between 18 and 24°C and dislikes the cold: never let it sit below 12°C. Keep it away from radiators and draughts. Once it has found its spot, try not to move it around too much: a sudden change in light can cause it to drop a few leaves.
How to water your pachira?
The pachira's trunk acts as its own water reserve: it copes far better with a little neglect than with too much water. Always let the soil dry out between waterings.
- In spring and summer, water once or twice a week depending on the heat, as soon as the soil surface feels dry.
- In autumn and winter, cut back to watering roughly once every ten days.
Empty any water left in the bottom of the pot after watering. Stagnant water causes the roots to rot, followed by the base of the trunk, which turns soft: this is the main danger for a pachira.
How can I tell if my pachira is getting the right amount of water?
Leaves that turn yellow and fall while the soil is still damp signal overwatering. Leaves that curl up or turn brown at the edges, with dry soil, signal a lack of water or air that's too dry. During the heating season, misting its foliage regularly will do it good.
When and how should you repot your pachira?
The pachira grows slowly indoors: repotting every two to three years, in spring, is plenty, or sooner if roots start poking through the bottom of the pot.
- Choose a pot just slightly larger than the previous one, with a drainage hole.
- Add a layer of clay pebbles, then a well-draining compost for green plants.
- Replant at the same height: don't bury the base of the trunk any deeper than before.
- Water, then wait for the soil to dry out before watering again.
From March to October, add fertiliser for green plants such as Tropical Elixir to every other watering, following the dosage indicated. In winter, no fertiliser.
## Should you prune a pachira? Pruning isn't essential, but it helps a pachira keep its elegant shape and encourages it to grow new leaves. If a stem becomes too long or leggy, simply trim it just above a node (where a leaf meets the stem) using clean, sharp scissors. The best time to prune is in spring, when the plant is entering its active growth phase. Remove any yellowed or dried leaves as they appear, this keeps the pachira looking its healthiest and redirects its energy towards new growth. Note: a pachira that loses a few leaves occasionally isn't necessarily unwell, it's simply renewing itself.
It's not essential, but a light trim in spring keeps its silhouette nice and dense. Cut overly long stems just above a leaf with a clean pair of secateurs: new shoots will appear at that spot. Remove yellowed or damaged leaves as you go.
The braided trunks are shaped by the grower while the plant is still young: leave them as they are, they'll carry on thickening together.
Is the pachira toxic to cats and dogs?
The pachira is among the plants considered non-toxic to cats and dogs: it's a good choice if you share your home with a pet. Even so, do try to stop them nibbling its leaves, as it's not good for them or the plant. Find more ideas in our selection of pet-friendly plants.
The little worries of the Pachira
Yellow leaves falling
Most often, this means too much water. Let the soil dry out a bit more and check there's no water left at the bottom of the pot. Leaf loss can also follow a change of location or a cold draught: the plant will bounce back once settled in.
A soft trunk at the base
This signals rot caused by overwatering. Stop watering, let the soil dry out completely and, if needed, repot into dry compost, removing any black, mushy roots.
Pale leaves and stretching stems
Your pachira is short on light: move it closer to a window, out of direct sunlight.
Tiny critters on the leaves
Mealybugs and red spider mites tend to appear in dry air. Clean the leaves with a cloth dampened with water and a few drops of black soap.
L'Aviateur, the pachira By Charlot
L'Aviateur is a Pachira aquatica with a braided trunk, available in several sizes in a hand-crafted pot that you can personalise with a name, nickname or message. It's also available as a refill, so you can change the pot without changing the plant.
