There are various ornamental species widely used for interior and garden decoration, as in this case the Birch, a thin white tree with a beautiful appearance, in addition to its great medicinal properties, let us know here in this article everything about this popular tree, the Birch.
the birch
The birch is considered one of the trees belonging to the fagales order, being part of the Betulaceae family, also known as betulas. The birch is one of the most common main trees on the European continent, being part of a large number of gardens that are exposed to temperate climates.
The structures that the Birch has are very particular because they are simply a whitish bark along its trunk, it also has a very particular autumnal appearance. It is highly sought after because it needs little space to develop, therefore, you can have a large community of Birch trees, giving the landscape a beautiful paradisiacal touch for gardens and nearby forests.
In general, the Birch can reach great heights with a great variety of feminine and characteristic flowers, it can also be used to obtain different benefits such as its wood, roots, leaves and sap, all of them being widely used for the different constructions carried out in society.
Birches stand out for their medicinal properties, due to their high content of vitamin C, methyl salicylate, resins and essential oils, presenting different benefits for the body and against a variety of diseases, therefore many studies have been developed to the properties of the Birch in the field of botany, medicine and biochemistry, highlighting its great importance for society.
Origin and Characteristics
Birch can become known as common birch, European birch, weeping birch, white birch, pendulum birch, wild poplar, biezo, beduch, white alder, albar and among others, its scientific name being Betula pendula, corresponds to a tree deciduous because during one time of the year it loses its foliage mainly in the winter seasons and some even lose their foliage during the dry seasons.
It is a tree native to Europe, it can also be seen in North Africa and Southwest Asia, species were even seen in northern Turkey, the Caucasus and also in Canada. Being a very characteristic tree of cold areas and very temperate climates.
It is characterized by having a very thin trunk (approximately 2 meters in diameter) it has a pure white bark when it becomes adult and brown when it is young, it maintains a completely dark area at the base of the trunk that cracks with age. time and with age. They usually grow in birch communities, being so thin it allows them to take up little space and therefore not be competitive with the land they cover.
In the case of the crown it is completely oval and very leafy but they tend to have very little shade, in addition the shape of their branches are upright and with leaves that measure up to 6 centimeters, they can take on a cylindrical shape, with rectilinear nerves. and reaching a leaf margin, they have a dull green color that changes to yellow according to the influences of the seasons before falling completely.
It stands out for blooming at the end of winter, where the male flowers appear in mid-autumn being seated, reaching three or six centimeters; Normally 3 flowers tend to appear by the base bracts of the flowers in contact with the leaves). In the case of female flowers, they tend to appear in catkins (spikes made up of flowers of the same sex) of approximately 1,5 to 3,5 centimeters, they can be made up of 3 flowers.
Crops and Care
All plants have a special treatment when it comes to being cultivated as an ornamental or part of a home garden, in the case of birches they stand out for special care.
Location
Birch trees should always be found in the outdoor areas of homes, planted in the garden, always in full exposure to the sun, highlighting the fact that they are very tall trees and need enough space to grow. They must be planted at least six meters away from the house, although their roots do not occupy much territorial space if they tend to cover a large part of the land.
Land
The soil is one of the main factors to take into account when growing a birch or any other plant. In this case, fresh soils that are also rich in organic matter are preferable and must have an acidic pH between 4 and 6. They can Soil with a high limestone content must be used, avoiding compaction at all times in order to facilitate drainage.
Irrigation
Irrigation corresponds to the amount of water that should be applied to the plants. In the case of Birches, it is advisable to be planted in an area where irrigation is very frequent, preferably near watercourses, in cases of not having a source. direct and natural water, watering should be regular, at least 4 to 5 days in summer.
Subscriber
The subscriber corresponds to the soil treatment stage, adding the necessary nutrients for the enrichment of the soil and the growth of the plants, in the case of loas birch, the subscriber must be carried out at the beginning of spring until mid-season. of summer, organic fertilizer is usually applied and the manure
Planting time
The periods of planting a Birch tree will depend on the seasons and the temperatures to which they are subjected, in this case it is recommended in the spring periods, because the frost time has already passed and its formation is favored.
Pruning
Pruning is responsible for maintaining cleanliness around the tree, thus reducing all dry, diseased branches or even those that are weak, they can also fall in autumn or winter, but it is advisable to keep the tree in the best conditions to favor its growth.
Multiplication
The multiplication is completely related to the sexual reproduction that the Birch tree can carry out, which can be done by two methods:
- Seeds
It is recommended when applying the multiplication of Birch trees by seeds, it is necessary to first stratify them, that is, moisten the seeds for a certain time, in this case it is advisable to subject the seeds to low temperatures such as keeping them in the refrigerator for a certain time for approximately three months, after that time it can be buried in the pot and watered regularly.
After observing that the seed begins to germinate in the seedbed, proceed to fill it with a mixture of pearls, adding a very fine layer of sulfur or copper and thus avoid the appearance of fungi and spray water throughout the seedbed, finally It should be placed in the sun outside.
- Cuttings
The cuttings are those protuberances that can be observed on the stem of the tree, being considered a form of asexual reproduction. It is considered the most common form of multiplication of birches, especially in winter time. The procedure is carried out by cutting a branch of approximately 40 centimeters, then special powdered hormones must be added along the base, and then finally sowing it in the substrate.
- Layered
Layering corresponds to an artificial method to achieve plant propagation, controlling its level of humidity, amount of soil and temperature; where the appearance of roots is allowed over time. For Birch trees, air layering tends to be applied in spring.
The procedure to follow is to cut a ring in the bark one or two centimeters wide from one of the healthy branches, then spray water and add powdered hormones, take a dark plastic bag, open it and place it on the branch. and tied on a rope. Finally, the substrate bag must be filled that is previously moistened and being irrigated with a syringe.
Species widely used as Bonsai
The word bonsai comes from bon meaning "tray" and sai "cultivate", it is considered an art practiced of Japanese origin to cultivate trees and shrubs, in this way you can control the size keeping it much smaller than its natural conditions, using special techniques for its conservation such as pruning, clamping, wire fences, among others. The main symbol of bonsai is eternity, also being considered as a bridge between the spiritual and the human.
Among some of the trees most used as bonsai are birches, being widely found in different nurseries and sought after by many people, the conditions for the conservation of the tree are the following to highlight:
- Location: They must be found in the outdoor areas of homes, being exposed to sunlight.
- Irrigation: it is advisable to water frequently. These types of trees do not survive times of drought with little water.
- Substrate: They tend to apply the akadama, it corresponds to a ball of granulated clay that gives the soil a neutral pH, essential for bonsai crops.
- Subscriber: The fertilizer is recommended to be applied in the spring and mid-summer times, being applied in liquid form that are less aggressive in the bonsai.
- Styles: The advantage of Birch bonsai can be adapted to various ecosystems such as forests and formal vertical.
- Pruning: Birch trees should be pruned from a very young age, removing extra branches that protrude and change their style.
- Transplantation: In the case of birch bonsai, they should be transplanted every 2-3 years.
Uses of Birch
The main use of Birches is ornamentally, it is considered a plant that can be grown for aesthetic and decorative purposes for the interiors of a house and even in home gardens. Many times they are used as a single species or in groups, although they are not a species that offers much shade, they can be used as natural screens and landscape decorators.
Birches are considered beautiful trees with great applicability in various fields, including spiritual confines due to their medicinal properties, representing for many cultures the symbol of purity attributed mainly to the white color around its trunk and branches.
Birch Properties
It should be noted that numerous studies have been carried out on the medicinal properties that birch trees possess, very characteristic for having a high content of vitamin C, betulin, methyl salicylate are some of the substances that provide essential properties of antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, healing, antihemorrhagic and analgesic. Being very beneficial against some diseases such as:
- Overweight and obesity: it has been used to be part of slimming diets, collaborating with weight loss.
- Fluid retention: due to its essential diuretic properties to achieve the stimulation of the kidneys, in addition to the fact that it is not aggressive with the organism, favoring an effective functioning.
- Arthritis: it is considered a very aggressive and relevant disease in a person's life, due to its anti-inflammatory properties it allows the desinflammation of the joints and also eliminates the liquids that are retained.
- Cystitis: Essential to the treatment of the bladder that can provoke the reaction against those pathogenic microorganisms.
- Diarrhea: it can be consumed by adding a part of the bark to a cup of water, after being bleached three times a day.
- Kidney stones: In this case it is advisable to use birch sap, it allows the stones to dissolve. It should be noted that it must be extracted in the winter stage and taking small doses per day.
There are a large number of healing properties of birch, but it is recommended not to abuse the infusions for more than two weeks in a row, especially if there is any consumption of anticoagulant medication or intestinal problems.
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