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Caigua
Caigua
Caigua
Cyclanthera pedata
Also known as : Cyclanthera, Wild cucumber, Stuffing gourd
Caigua has been cultivated as a vegetable for centuries in Central America, but is considered a pest in some areas where it's been introduced. The edible fruits of this vine are typically stuffed with meat or rice and then cooked.
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
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care guide

Care Guide for Caigua

Soil Care
Soil Care
Sand, Loam, Chalky, Clay, Acidic
Details on Soil Care Soil Care
Ideal Lighting
Ideal Lighting
Full sun, Partial sun
Details on Sunlight Requirements Ideal Lighting
Ideal Temperature
Ideal Temperature
9 to 11
Details on Temperature Ideal Temperature
Harvest Time
Harvest Time
Mid summer, Late summer
Details on Harvest Time Harvest Time
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Caigua
Water
Water
Every week
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
Harvest Time
Harvest Time
Mid summer, Late summer
question

Questions About Caigua

Watering Watering Watering
Pruning Pruning Pruning
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
Temperature Temperature Temperature
Fertilizing Fertilizing Fertilizing
What is the best way to water my Caigua?
Not only does the Caigua have certain preferences regarding how much water it receives, but it also cares deeply about how you provide that water. In fact, if you don't use the proper watering technique, you risk harming your tomatoes. The best way to water Caigua is to apply the water directly to the soil in a slow and gentle manner. You should not pour all of the water into the soil at once, and you should not do overhead watering for your Caigua. Although you should water slowly, you should also water deeply to ensure that all of the soil in which your Caigua grows is sufficiently moist.
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What should I do if I water my Caigua too much or too little?
If you find that you have overwatered your Caigua and you are concerned about the associated risk of disease, you should intervene immediately. Often the best approach for an overwatered Caigua is to uproot it from its current growing location. Once the plant is out of the ground, you can allow its roots to dry a bit before planting it in a new growing location. Ensure that the new growing location has soil with good drainage. If you grow in pots, you may also want to move your plant to a pot with more or larger drainage holes. In the case of underwatering, all you will need to do is increase the frequency with which you supply water to your plant.
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How often should I water my Caigua?
Overall, Caigua requires a significant amount of water throughout the growing season. To meet that high water need, you'll need to water early and often throughout the spring and summer. During the earlier parts of the growing season, you should water your Caigua about once or twice per week. As the season progresses, you should increase your watering frequency. You may need to water it twice per day or more during summer, depending on the weather. After your Caigua have gone through their major seasonal growth phases, you can reduce the frequency of your watering to about once per week until the end of the growing season.
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How much water does my Caigua need?
Since Caigua are incredibly popular, with many professional and amateur gardeners growing them successfully, we have a pretty clear idea of how to care for these plants. That understanding includes specific knowledge about the precise volume of water an average Caigua should receive. Generally, Caigua will require about 1 - 1.5 inches of water per week. That volume should be dispersed evenly through your weekly watering. As the weather gets warmer, you may need to supply more water, but in most cases, two inches per week is a good baseline amount.
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How can I tell if i'm watering my Caigua enough?
Underwatering and overwatering can both occur as problems for your Caigua, and both these problems can manifest with similar symptoms. For example, foliage discoloration and wilting can both result from either overwatering or underwatering. When your Caigua is underwatered, its leaves will be curling and drooping at the beginning. You will see a bunch of leaves turn less vigorous. Underwatering is also likely to cause stunted growth and poor overall development as both the flowers and this plant require a high amount of water. Overwatering is more likely to lead to disease, including rot. Overwatering may also lead to unpleasant smells rising from your plant's soil. The symptoms of underwatering will show up quicker than overwatering. Overwatering can also be evident in soil conditions. Mainly, if you notice a lot of standing water or waterlogged soils, overwatering is likely to occur.
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How should I water my Caigua through the seasons?
As alluded to above, your Caigua's water needs will repeatedly change throughout the seasons. During most of spring and summer, you should water your Caigua about once every week. As the heat of summer arrives, you should plan to increase your watering frequency to once or twice per day. In the late summer and fall, towards the end of the harvest period, you can reduce your watering frequency to about once per week. After harvest has ended, you can cease watering as your Caigua has reached the end of its life cycle and will require no further soil moisture.
The maintenance schedule of Caigua will require you to alter the amount of water you provide depending on the plant's current growth stage. Early on, especially if you grow your Caigua from seeds, you'll need to provide water often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture, which encourages root development. When the plant becomes old enough to produce flowers, it will likely need even more water. During the fruit development growth stage, your Caigua will likely need the most water out of any growth period, at times requiring water more than twice per day. Following that phase, the water needs of Caigua will decline significantly.
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What's the difference between watering Caigua indoors and outdoors?
Whether you grow Caigua indoors or outdoors can also play a role in how you water them. Caigua that grows outdoors may receive water from natural rainfall, which will reduce the amount of supplemental water you should supply. However, it is incredibly rare for rainfall to adequately replace your watering entirely. Plants that grow indoors, along with any Caigua that grows in a container, will need to be watered more frequently than those that grow in the ground outdoors. If you choose this route, please make sure that the plant gets enough water by checking the soil moisture within your pot often to keep your Caigua healthy.
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Key Facts About Caigua

Attributes of Caigua

Lifespan
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Plant Type
Herb, Vine
Bloom Time
Late spring, Summer, Fall
Harvest Time
Mid summer, Late summer
Plant Height
12 m
Spread
1 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
10 cm to 20 cm
Flower Color
Green
White
Fruit Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
White
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃

Scientific Classification of Caigua

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distribution

Distribution of Caigua

Habitat of Caigua

3,000 meters above sea level
Northern Hemisphere
South Hemisphere

Distribution Map of Caigua

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
care_scenes

More Info on Caigua Growth and Care

Basic Care Guide
Lighting
Full sun
Caigua prospers optimally in areas where it can soak up extended periods of sunlight every day, though partial exposure is also acceptable. From its germination to its prime growth phases, ample light exposure is key to its health and vigor. Availability of sunlight in its original habitat plays a significant role. Over shading or overexposing may impact its healthy development.
Best Sunlight Practices
Temperature
0 - 43 ℃
Caigua is indigenous to regions with a temperate climate, requiring a temperature range of 68 to 100.4 °F (20 to 38 ℃) to thrive. To mimic its native growing conditions, maintain this temperature range throughout different seasons when necessary.
Temp for Healthy Growth
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Smooth hawksbeard
The smooth hawksbeard is distributed throughout Africa and the Northern Hemisphere. This Crepis capillaris is most often found alongside roadways, in vacant lots, or other neglected areas. The bright yellow flowers attract certain flies and moths, while the seeds can be a food source for some birds.
Bird lime tree
Bird lime tree
Bird lime tree is a medium-sized tree with sticky fruit. In China, the fruits are pickled with ginger as a delicacy, but in its native setting, insects and even small birds can get caught and trapped on these fruits, giving rise to another of this plant's common names, the Bird catcher tree.
Little ironweed
Little ironweed
Little ironweed (Cyanthillium cinereum) is an annual or perennial wildflower that can grow to 1.2 m tall. It produces purple, button-shaped flowers that consist of numerous flower heads. It can be a common weed that grows fast and can be found growing along roadsides, garden beds and construction sites. It is invasive in tropical and subtropical areas.
Purple dead-nettle
Purple dead-nettle
Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an herbaceous annual weed, commonly found in meadows, wastes, gardens, and at the edges of roads and woodlands. Though it appears similar to true nettles, purple dead-nettle gets its name because it does not have "live" nettle poison that harms the skin. It originated in Asia and prefers environments with full sun.
Common Wireweed
Common Wireweed
Sida acuta is a flowering perennial in the mallow family that is known as common Wireweed. The plant gets its name from its tough, wiry stems and branches. Though common Wireweed is native to Central America and southern North America, this hardy plant has become invasive elsewhere - its wiriness, unfortunately, makes it very difficult to remove from the ground by hand.
Three-lobed false mallow
Three-lobed false mallow
Three-lobed false mallow (Malvastrum coromandelianum) is an annual and perennial herbaceous shrub native to North America and South America. This plant has been introduced to other areas of the world and is commonly found in Australia, Asia, and Africa.
Poison ivy
Poison ivy
In pop culture, poison ivy is a symbol of an obnoxious weed because, despite its unthreatening looks, it gives a highly unpleasant contact rash to the unfortunate person who touches it. Still, it is commonly eaten by many animals, and the seeds are a favorite with birds. The leaves turn bright red in fall. Its sister species, Western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), is not considered to be invasive in the United States, but is noxious in Australia and New Zealand.
Pokeweed
Pokeweed
Although its berries look juicy and tempting, the fruits and the root of pokeweed are toxic and should not be eaten. Pokeweed is considered a pest species by farmers but is nevertheless often grown as an ornamental plant. Its berries can be made into pokeberry ink as well.
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Caigua
Caigua
Caigua
Cyclanthera pedata
Also known as: Cyclanthera, Wild cucumber, Stuffing gourd
Caigua has been cultivated as a vegetable for centuries in Central America, but is considered a pest in some areas where it's been introduced. The edible fruits of this vine are typically stuffed with meat or rice and then cooked.
Hardiness Zones
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
more
care guide

Care Guide for Caigua

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Questions About Caigua

Watering Watering Watering
Pruning Pruning Pruning
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
Temperature Temperature Temperature
Fertilizing Fertilizing Fertilizing
What is the best way to water my Caigua?
more
What should I do if I water my Caigua too much or too little?
more
How often should I water my Caigua?
more
How much water does my Caigua need?
more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Caigua enough?
more
How should I water my Caigua through the seasons?
more
What's the difference between watering Caigua indoors and outdoors?
more
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Get tips and tricks for your plants.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
Download the App
close
plant_info

Key Facts About Caigua

Attributes of Caigua

Lifespan
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Plant Type
Herb, Vine
Bloom Time
Late spring, Summer, Fall
Harvest Time
Mid summer, Late summer
Plant Height
12 m
Spread
1 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
10 cm to 20 cm
Flower Color
Green
White
Fruit Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
White
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃
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Scientific Classification of Caigua

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distribution

Distribution of Caigua

Habitat of Caigua

3,000 meters above sea level
Northern Hemisphere
South Hemisphere

Distribution Map of Caigua

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
care_scenes

More Info on Caigua Growth and Care

Basic Care Guide
plant_info

Plants Related to Caigua

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Lighting
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Indoor
Indoor
Outdoor
Choose a site here for personalized care tips.
Requirements
Full sun
Ideal
Above 6 hours sunlight
Partial sun
Tolerance
About 3-6 hours sunlight
Watch how sunlight gracefully moves through your garden, and choose spots that provide the perfect balance of light and shade for your plants, ensuring their happiness.
Essentials
Caigua prospers optimally in areas where it can soak up extended periods of sunlight every day, though partial exposure is also acceptable. From its germination to its prime growth phases, ample light exposure is key to its health and vigor. Availability of sunlight in its original habitat plays a significant role. Over shading or overexposing may impact its healthy development.
Preferred
Tolerable
Unsuitable
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Artificial lighting
Indoor plants require adequate lighting for optimal growth. When natural sunlight is insufficient, particularly in winter or in less sunny spaces, artificial lights offer a vital solution, promoting faster, healthier growth.
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Indoor plants require adequate lighting for optimal growth. When natural sunlight is insufficient, particularly in winter or in less sunny spaces, artificial lights offer a vital solution, promoting faster, healthier growth.
1. Choose the right type of artificial light: LED lights are a popular choice for indoor plant lighting because they can be customized to provide the specific wavelengths of light that your plants need.
Full sun plants need 30-50W/sq ft of artificial light, partial sun plants need 20-30W/sq ft, and full shade plants need 10-20W/sq ft.
2. Determine the appropriate distance: Place the light source 12-36 inches above the plant to mimic natural sunlight.
3. Determine the duration: Mimic the length of natural daylight hours for your plant species. most plants need 8-12 hours of light per day.
Important Symptoms
Symptoms of Insufficient Light in %s
Caigua thrives in full sunlight and is commonly cultivated outdoors. When grown indoors with limited light, it may exhibit subtle symptoms of light deficiency that can easily go unnoticed.
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(Symptom details and solutions)
Small leaves
New leaves may grow smaller in size compared to the previous ones once they have matured.
Leggy or sparse growth
The spaces between leaves or stems of your Caigua may become longer, resulting in a thin and stretched-out appearance. This can make the plant look sparse and weak, and it may easily break or lean due to its own weight.
Faster leaf drop
When plants are exposed to low light conditions, they tend to shed older leaves early to conserve resources. Within a limited time, these resources can be utilized to grow new leaves until the plant's energy reserves are depleted.
Slower or no new growth
Caigua enters a survival mode when light conditions are poor, which leads to a halt in leaf production. As a result, the plant's growth becomes delayed or stops altogether.
Lighter-colored new leaves
Insufficient sunlight can cause leaves to develop irregular color patterns or appear pale. This indicates a lack of chlorophyll and essential nutrients.
Solutions
1. To ensure optimal growth, gradually move plants to a sunnier location each week, until they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Use a south-facing window and keep curtains open during the day for maximum sunlight exposure and nutrient accumulation.2. To provide additional light for your plant, consider using artificial light if it's large or not easily movable. Keep a desk or ceiling lamp on for at least 8 hours daily, or invest in professional plant grow lights for ample light.
Symptoms of Excessive light in %s
Caigua thrives in full sun exposure and can tolerate intense sunlight. With their remarkable resilience, symptoms of sunburn may not be easily visible, as they rarely suffer from it.
View more
(Symptom details and solutions)
Chlorosis
Chlorosis is a condition where the plant's leaves lose their green color and turn yellow. This is due to the breakdown of chlorophyll from excessive sunlight, which negatively affects the plant's ability to photosynthesize.
Sunscald
Sunscald occurs when the plant's leaves or stems are damaged by intense sunlight exposure. It appears as pale, bleached, or necrotic areas on the plant tissue and can reduce the plant's overall health.
Leaf Curling
Leaf curling is a symptom where leaves curl or twist under extreme sunlight conditions. This is a defense mechanism used by the plant to reduce its surface area exposed to sunlight, minimizing water loss and damage.
Wilting
Wilting occurs when a plant loses turgor pressure and its leaves and stems begin to droop. Overexposure to sunlight can cause wilting by increasing the plant's water loss through transpiration, making it difficult for the plant to maintain adequate hydration.
Leaf Scorching
Leaf scorching is a symptom characterized by the appearance of brown, dry, and crispy edges or patches on leaves due to excessive sunlight. This can lead to a reduction in photosynthetic capacity and overall plant health.
Solutions
1. Move your plant to the optimal position where it can receive abundant sunlight but also have some shade. An east-facing window is an ideal choice as the morning sunlight is gentler. This way, your plant can enjoy ample sunlight while reducing the risk of sunburn.2. It is recommended to trim off any completely dehydrated or withered parts of the plant.
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Temperature
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Indoor
Indoor
Outdoor
Choose a site here for personalized care tips.
Requirements
Ideal
Tolerable
Unsuitable
Just like people, each plant has its own preferences. Learn about your plants' temperature needs and create a comforting environment for them to flourish. As you care for your plants, your bond with them will deepen. Trust your intuition as you learn about their temperature needs, celebrating the journey you share. Lovingly monitor the temperature around your plants and adjust their environment as needed. A thermometer can be your ally in this heartfelt endeavor. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you explore your plants' temperature needs. Cherish your successes, learn from challenges, and nurture your garden with love, creating a haven that reflects the warmth of your care.
Essentials
Caigua is indigenous to regions with a temperate climate, requiring a temperature range of 68 to 100.4 °F (20 to 38 ℃) to thrive. To mimic its native growing conditions, maintain this temperature range throughout different seasons when necessary.
Regional wintering strategies
Caigua prefers relatively warm temperatures, so maintaining temperatures above {Suitable_growth_temperature_min} during winter cultivation is beneficial for plant growth. The minimum temperature should be kept above freezing point to prevent the plant from freezing damage. When the outdoor temperature approaches -5°C (25°F) during winter, it is advisable to bring Caigua indoors or provide protection by setting up a temporary greenhouse or using materials such as plastic film or fabric to wrap the plant.
Important Symptoms
Symptoms of Low Temperature in %s
Caigua has moderate tolerance to low temperatures and thrives best when the temperature is between {Suitable_growth_temperature_min} and {Suitable_growth_temperature_max}. During winter, it should be kept above {Tolerable_growing_temperature_min}. When the temperature falls below {Limit_growth_temperature}, the leaves may darken in color. In severe cases, water-soaked necrosis, wilting, and drooping may occur, and the color of the leaves gradually turns brown.
Solutions
Trim away the frost-damaged parts. Immediately move indoors to a warm environment or set up a makeshift greenhouse for cold protection. When placing the plant indoors, choose a location near a south-facing window to ensure ample sunlight. If there is insufficient light, you can use supplemental lighting.
Symptoms of High Temperature in %s
During summer, Caigua should be kept below {Suitable_growth_temperature_max}. When the temperature exceeds {Tolerable_growing_temperature_max}, the plant's growth slows down, the color of its leaves becomes lighter, and it becomes more susceptible to sunburn.
Solutions
Trim away the sunburned and dried-up parts. Move the plant to a location that provides shade from the afternoon sun. Water the plant in the morning and evening to keep the soil moist.
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