Exotic guests of the tropics - palm trees - have long mastered the spaces of our apartments and greenhouses. In total, about 3400 representatives of this family are found on the globe, at home it grows about 30. First of all, palm trees fell in love with their special leaves, and some species won the hearts of flower growers with their stately calm and impressive size. How harmoniously an Asian palm tree with cirrus leaves looks next to a coffee table on which fragrant freshly brewed coffee is smoking !
Exotic in our house
"Palm" in Latin means "palm". There is no need to fantasize a lot to see the similarity of these trees with an open palm. If the structure of the leaves resembles a huge fan, then you look at the fan palm, and if the feather of a peacock or other exotic bird, then you have an Australian, Madagascar or maybe Asian palm tree with cirrus leaves. This plant does not propagate vegetatively, it can be grown from seed, and it grows for a long time. The best way to get a palm tree quickly is to get it in a flower shop.
Care Features
To contain such beauty in your home, you need to know the features of growth and care for palm trees. The main condition is a large room. An Asian palm tree with cirrus leaves can reach sizes up to 3 meters (coconut is even higher, however, it does not grow in greenhouses for a long time), therefore, it loves space. And since these plants come from the tropics and subtropics, they love high temperature and high humidity. In winter, you need to protect the roots of the palm tree from hypothermia, therefore, if the room temperature drops, it is better to wrap the pot with a warm cloth. It is also not recommended to water the plant at this time with cold water. Drafts can have a negative effect on the palm, a directed stream of cold air makes the leaves turn yellow.
If your palm becomes closely in a pot, its roots begin to get out of the tub, so it's time to transplant it. At a young age, this is usually done once every two years, after the palm has reached 5 years of age - once every five years, after the palm has reached a "venerable age" of 15 years, the plant can already be transplanted every six to eight years.
It is advisable to transplant the palm in the spring, when the plants begin to grow seasonally. First you need to moisten the soil a little. But the main thing is not to overdo it, because under the weight of wet soil the roots of the plant can break off and crack. Most likely, you will have to part with the old pot, because it is strictly forbidden to pick out a palm tree - broken roots can cause the plant to die. After the palm is removed, carefully inspect the root system. With proper care of the plant, its roots will be healthy and strong. If they look painful, review your palm care system. The future pot does not need to be chosen too large - these plants do not like pots, as they say, "for growth." The diameter of the pot should be about 4 centimeters larger than before. The plant is located in the center and vertically upwards, and the root neck should not go deep into the soil. Next, we abundantly water the palm tree and send it for the adaptation period (about one to two weeks) away from direct sunlight.
Howea
Howeah is from Australia. In nature, this tropical palm tree with cirrus leaves loves height and grows on rocks. This hardy evergreen grows well at home. It tolerates dry air, with excessive watering and acidification of the soil, the very tips of palm leaves become brown. With good care, it blooms and bears fruit in greenhouses.
Nature has awarded this palm tree with a large growth - up to 12 meters, so in your apartment it will easily reach the ceiling.
Hamedorea
Distinctive features of Hamedorea are numerous stems and tassels of yellow flowers. Relatively unpretentious, therefore, grows well even with the most optional gardeners. Most often, Indoor chamedorea, originating from Guatemala and Mexico , is cultivated under indoor conditions. The lack of moisture does not undermine it, for some time it can do without watering. Also, this palm tree will stoically suffer the dimming, of course, not very long, yet we must not forget that this is our tropical guest. The height of the palm tree is usually about a meter, individual specimens can reach up to 2 meters.
Date palm
Date palm is extremely popular among amateur gardeners. Delicious dates are its fruits. Many people try to grow a palm tree from a stone on their own, in most cases it turns out. In nature, this Asian palm tree with cirrus leaves is very resistant to pests. What is it called among the inhabitants of Africa and Asia, you know? “The Queen of Oases” - this is the oldest cultural definition of a date palm because it feeds people and the animal world, provides shelter and protects ponds from drying out.
At home, keeping a plant is not too easy. Date palm loves light, but direct sunlight is undesirable because of the possibility of burns. Also, this genus of palm trees with cirrus leaves is very fond of warmth and feels comfortable if the temperature in the room is maintained at least 25 degrees. For good growth, it is recommended to spray plants daily from a spray bottle or wash them with warm water.
Date African and Asian palm trees with cirrus leaves do not tolerate root damage. When transplanting, you need to be extremely careful, the plant is transferred from one pot to another. Usually this procedure is carried out every two or three years, preferably in the month of May, because new roots grow over the summer, and the palm begins to prepare for wintering.
Butia
Butia is another palm tree with cirrus leaves. What is it called by gardeners? “Caprice” - for demanding careful care of her. It grows very slowly, regular watering is required, warm air with high humidity, sunlight. But if you are patient and careful in handling this plant, the reward will be pleasant and worthy! Butia will turn into a beautiful palm tree, with picturesquely curving leaves and a strong thickened trunk. This plant will become a real decoration of your apartment.
Brachea
If you have a spacious enough apartment, get a brachea. This beautiful palm tree with a stiff crown of cirrus leaves and a dense, dark brown trunk thickened downwards grows very quickly. In addition, she is very easy to care for. It is not worth watering it plentifully, but often it is possible. This tropical palm tree with cirrus leaves quite resistant to low temperatures, up to 8 degrees Celsius. It is often grown in gardens and greenhouses, on the peninsula of Crimea it grows simply on the street.
Chrysalidocarpus
Chrysalidocarpus hails from Madagascar and the Comoros, where cirrus palm trees of this genus number about 20 species. This palm tree perfectly takes root in houses and apartments. Proper care contributes to the flowering of the plant, it may even begin to bear fruit. Several shoots grow from the rhizome of chrysalidocarpus. This palm tree with cirrus leaves is very elegant and looks beautiful both in an apartment or conservatory, and in the office.
Karyota
In nature, karyota grows on a vast territory, ranging from southeast Asia to northeast Australia. Its size, depending on the species, can range from small shrubs to tall trees up to 20-25 meters. It is considered a bipinnate palm, because the leaf is cut into two halves, which is its hallmark. There are single-barreled or multi-barreled species. These are monocarpic plants, which means they bear fruit once in a lifetime, and then die. Accordingly, the century of their shortest of all palm trees - on average, the life span of one trunk of a karyota does not exceed 20 years.
Among flower growers there is a name of karyota - “fish tail”. It requires careful care. The soil should be predominantly moist, neither dryness nor waterlogging should be allowed. This plant requires bright diffused light, but direct sunlight is undesirable. The humidity in the room should be high, and the air temperature should be about 22 degrees Celsius. Subcooling is highly undesirable. For better growth, cariota must be fertilized, in winter at least once a month. If everything is done correctly, then this palm tree will delight its owners with lush foliage and lush greenery.