The difference between kapok and cotton, how to grow kapok

1. The difference between kapok and cotton

1. Appearance: In terms of appearance, the kapok tree is taller and can grow to about 25 meters in height. The bark is grayish white. Cotton is an annual woody plant, ranging in height from 0.6 to 1.5 meters. It looks much shorter and can be easily distinguished.

2. Leaves: The difference between the two is also very obvious when looking at the leaves. The leaves of kapok are palmate compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets, which are oblong to oblong-lanceolate, and glabrous on both sides. The leaves of cotton are broadly oval, glabrous above and pubescent beneath.

3. Flowers: The flowers of kapok grow solitary in the leaf axils at the top of the branches. They are usually bright red, sometimes orange-red, and bloom between March and April every year. Cotton flowers are white or light yellow, and the flowering period is in summer and autumn.

4. Fruit: The fruit of kapok is oblong and most of the fruits ripen in summer. The fruit of cotton is oval and matures in autumn.

2. How to grow kapok

When growing kapok, you need to provide it with a dry, warm, and sufficiently illuminated growing environment. It has poor cold resistance and is usually grown in warm areas in the south. It is drought-resistant but not water-resistant. During the maintenance period, it is better to keep the soil dry than wet, and water accumulation is strictly prohibited. In addition, it is suitable for growing in an environment between 20 and 30 degrees, and the temperature in winter must not be lower than 5 degrees, otherwise it will be frostbite.