Bilva/Bael/Aegle marmelos - Fruit Plants & Trees

Bilva/Bael Botanically known as Aegle marmelos from Rutaceae family. Common name are Bel patra, Bael fruit, Bela, Bil, Maredu, golden apple, stone apple. It is a small to medium size deciduous tree. 

The Bael is a native India, Burma, Himalayas. It is a small spiny tree, with slender branches, the foliage divided into 3 slender leaflets with crenate edges.
Flowers with 4 to 5 narrow petals and showing numerous stamens. Fruit is globular or pear shaped, 5 to 10 cm dia, and covered with smooth, hardy gray or yellow rind which contains orange, sweet aromatic pulp in 8-16 cells with seeds. The fruit pulp is used for drinks and conserves, the flowers are made into perfume in India. Its leaves are offered to lord Shiva. The tree is considered to be sacred by Hindu religion.

MAXIMUM HEIGHT - It can reach upto 8-10 meter if planted in ground.

BLOOMING YEAR - It blooms in the month of February-May in many parts of india, sometimes it vary based on climate of particular area.

FRUITING TIME - Edible fruiting will start from 2-3 year after purchase.

SPECIAL FEATURE - Fragrant flowers & leaves, good for making also, plant for puja or prayer, suitable for avenue planting, hanging & weeping growth habit, salt/salinity tolerant.

GROWING TIPS - Easy to grow plant. Hardy and touch. Many people plant it near temples - and complain that the tree - just does not grow! This is because they over harvest the leaves. A simple solution is to let just one top branch grow. If this is done - the tree reaches to over three meters in a year or two. The leaves get beyond the reach of eager devotees and the plant grows well.

INSIDE THE BOX

*above specifications are for indicative purpose only, actual dimensions may slightly vary.

PLANT CARE  

LIGHT CONDITION - More than 6  hours of Direct Sunlight.

WATERING SCHEDULE - Water when the top soil(2-3inch) feels dry to touch. Always maintain moisture near the root zone.

SOIL TYPE - The soil should be well drained, fertile & rich in organic content. 

FERTILIZER APPLICATION - Initially upto 1 year apply any organic fertilizer once in a month. After full establishment apply any organic fertilizer 2-3 times in a year.

PLANT PROTECTION - Generally it does't affected by major pest so, apply Neem Oil if found any attack of insects & pest for primary treatment.

 INITIAL CARE FOR 10-15 DAYS JUST AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PLANT 

1. Remove the Packaging Materials carefully.
2. Press the soil in the pot & add additional soil(garden mix) if necessary.
3. Maintain moisture in the pot, Do not over water it may kill your plant, so make sure that the soil should be dry between watering.
4. Provide support with stick/moss stick(vine plant) in order to make straight growth, for needed plant only.
5. Make sure that plants get enough indirect bright light for 10-15 days & do not go for immediate transplanting(minimum 1-2 month)
6. Just prune if any branch of the plant is get damaged in transist. It happens very rare.