Date palm at home is no longer a rarity. This exotic plant of hot countries with spreading leaves has become the lawful mistress of city apartments. In this article it will be possible to get acquainted with all the nuances of growing this crop.
Content:
Read also: Ficus Benjamin (100 Photos) - home care, varieties, reproduction, transplant, disease (Video) + Reviews
Description
Date palm, or date (Phoenix) - plants of the Palm family (Palmae), or Arecaceae (Arecaceae). In nature, it grows in a tropical, subtropical climate. It was mentioned in the writings of Pliny, Theophrastus, Herodotus. It has been grown since the 4th century BC.
She may have one or several trunks. Leaves are pinnate. Long, narrow, pointed at the top. Its fruits are eaten, fed to animals, used to make sugar.
The birthplace of all palm trees is considered to be India and Africa. Under natural conditions, these trees or shrubs live up to 150 years and grow up to 30 m in height. Their trunk is strong. It is known that it is impossible to shake a palm tree and collect fruits from it. To do this, you need to climb the plants themselves.
Read also: Kalanchoe flower (120+ Photos & Videos) - home care, transplant, reproduction, useful properties + Reviews Palm types
There are about 20 types of palm trees in nature.
All of them belong to the palm family. As indoor plants grow the following varieties:
- date ordinary, or finger (Phoenix dactylifera); One of the most famous. Relatively fast growing. It has a significant drawback - as it grows older, the stem of the plant becomes bare.
- Robelin date (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien); Can tolerate some shade. It grows to a height of 2 m. It is considered one of the shortest. The leaves of young trees may be covered with a whitish coating.
- Canarian date (Phoenix canariensis); Its growth does not exceed 2 m. The leaves are narrow, hard. The trunk is straight, strong. The petioles are covered with spines.
- curved date (Phoenix reclinata); Forms several trunks. Height - up to 8 m. The leaves are covered with white hairs. There are spines on the petioles.
- forest date (Phoenix sylvestris); It can reach up to 12 meters in height. Forms a single stem. The petioles are covered with spines.
- rocky date (Phoenix rupicola); The trunk is one. Grows up to 7 m in height. There are spines on the petiole.
- Ceylon date (Phoenix zeylanica Trimen); A tree with one trunk, the height of which reaches up to 6 m. The leaves are short, with thorns on the petioles.
Complex, pinnate leaves are the main advantage of domestic species.
Palm trees were grown indoors in the 19th century. All of them are highly resistant to pests and diseases. Not demanding on personal care. In flower shops, various types of these plants are presented, but the date palm is the most preferred for the home.
Dates on the shelves are most often representatives of the genus Phoenix dactylifera (common date). It is cultivated for industrial purposes in Saudi Arabia, Africa, Iraq, Iran. From its fruits, you can grow a date at home.
Read also: Spathiphyllum: a move at home, transplantation, reproduction (80+ Photos) + Reviews
Growing from the bone
germinated bones
Any grower, before planting this plant, should know that the date palm can reach a height of up to 2 meters. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that a lot of space for its maintenance will be needed. The best time for planting is February - March.
Seed selection for planting
To get planting material, just go to the nearest grocery store. There is no need to specifically purchase their seeds. You can buy fruits. Eat the pulp and plant the seeds.
Seeds for planting should be:
- freshly extracted from the pulp
- no mechanical damage
- without traces of damage by insects, diseases
The main condition is that they should not be subjected to heat treatment.
Older seeds that are over a year old may lose their germination capacity. When buying dates for planting, you need to look at the packing date of the product.
Seed preparation
Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds in warm water (30 - 35 ° C) for several days. You can add root formation stimulants to the water - epin, zircon, etc. Water needs to be changed several times.
When the first roots appear, they must be transplanted to a permanent place in the soil.
Another way to germinate seeds is with cotton wool. To do this, take a small amount of cotton wool. Moisten it generously with water. Placed in a vessel. A bone is placed on top of the cotton wool. Another moistened lump is placed on top of it. As necessary, cotton wool is moistened with water. The seed is kept under such conditions until it swells.
Instead of cotton, you can use:
- sawdust
- hydrogel
- gauze
For better germination, some flower growers pour boiling water over the seeds, or scratch them with sandpaper, then plant them. But a safer way is to germinate the seeds in wet vermiculite. When the first roots appear, they must be transplanted to a permanent place in the soil.
For greater confidence, it is recommended to plant several seeds at once. Plants obtained from the seeds of the same palm may differ in appearance.
young seedlings
The capacity for further transplantation is chosen deep, since the plant has long roots. But it shouldn't be too narrow. Its volume should be 20 - 35% more than the previous one.
It is better to opt for light-colored containers made of plastic and wood. They heat up less and evaporate moisture.
When choosing a place for a palm tree, you need to consider that the plant does not tolerate:
- drafts
- low air temperatures
- direct sunlight
The palm container should not be placed on a cold, stone floor or window sill. As soon as the outside temperature rises above 12 °WITH, it can be safely transferred to the street.
Soil selection
The soil for planting is chosen loose
With lots of nutrients. It should be breathable and pass water well. In stores there is a special soil for palm trees.
Suitable and universal soil for indoor plants. But you can also do it yourself.
To do this, take in equal parts:
- sand
- sod land
- compost or manure
Superphosphate can be added to the finished soil. Proportions - 1 tbsp. l. for every 3 liters of soil mixture.
Another soil option:
- 2 parts of leaf, sod land
- 1 part sand, peat
- handful of coal
Before planting a tree, it is recommended to decontaminate the soil using one of the following methods:
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate
- boiling water
- calcination in the oven (20 minutes)
- in the microwave (3 minutes), etc.
Landing Rules
For convenience, you can plant seeds in peat tablets. After germination, they can be placed in the ground along with the tablet.
The layer of earth above it should be about 1 cm. Sphagnum moss can be laid on top. For its germination, the pot should be placed in a warm place - 20 - 25 ° C. The soil surface should always be slightly damp.
To create a greenhouse effect on top, the pot can be covered with a bag. But at the same time, the shelter needs to be removed regularly and the soil ventilated. If the plant was planted during the hot season, shelter may not be needed.
When planting a stone directly into the ground, it is placed vertically in the soil
The first sprout can be seen only after 3-6 months. But fresh seeds can sprout after 20 to 26 days. The longest stored bones germinate the longest. After the emergence of seedlings, the container with the plant is transferred to a well-lit place in the house.
If more than one growth sprouts in one pot, they are transplanted when they reach a height of 10 - 15 cm. The diameter of the new container should be at least 15 cm.
For the first few years, the date palm is not distinguished by its decorative effect. Every year 1 - 2 elongated, narrow new leaves appear. Complex pinnate leaves are formed at 3-5 years of age. At this time, it cannot be cut. The plant shows all its beauty only 5-7 years after planting.
Read also: Zamioculcas (Dollar tree) (140 Photos & Videos) - home care, transplant, reproduction + Reviews Growing conditions
Date palm in the first years of life
Considering that these are plants of hot countries, it is necessary to create the most suitable conditions for it.
The home date palm can reach a height of up to 2 m. To grow it, you need to choose a spacious, bright room. A mature tree requires a lot of free space, so there should be a minimum of furniture in the room where the palm tree will grow.
This plant grows quite slowly. If the grower decided to grow a palm tree from a seed, he will reach impressive size only after a dozen years.
Lighting
In its natural environment, it grows in direct sunlight. But domestic date palms cannot grow in such conditions. The scorching sun can burn its leaves. The best place for her is next to the window facing south, west, east. On hot days, the tree is recommended to be shaded.
In daylight
If in the autumn - winter period the plant failed to provide a sufficient amount of sunlight, in the spring it must be gradually accustomed "to the sun". With an adult, a plant just purchased from a store, you should do the same.
With insufficient light, the leaves of the tree may droop or stretch out.
Temperature regime
The optimum air temperature for a date palm is 23 - 25 °WITH. In summer, it can tolerate heat up to 30 °WITH. But high temperatures must be accompanied by high levels of humidity. Otherwise, the leaves will start to dry.
Date palm in a pot, taken out for the summer in the garden
In winter, there is a dormant period. The temperature in the room should be low - up to 18 °WITH, but not less than 14 °WITH. Sudden changes in temperature adversely affect them.
In spring, the plant can be taken out to the balcony, loggia. The temperature must be at least 12°C. First, they take it out into the street for an hour, then increase the time spent in the air. If there is a threat of drafts, the plant is brought into the room at night. But it is better to wait for a stable warm air temperature. Regular movement of a plant from place to place can adversely affect it.
To ensure the optimum temperature for the tree, it is necessary to take into account the variety of the plant.
So, for a Robelin date for wintering, an air temperature is needed in the range of 16 - 18 °WITH. Canarian can well tolerate a state of rest at 8 - 10 °WITH.
The room in which the palm tree is kept should be regularly ventilated.
Read also: Fuchsia - Growing, Care, Transplanting, Reproduction at home (50+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
Care rules
Date palm care includes:
- watering
- top dressing
- pruning
- transplant
Watering
For irrigation use settled, soft, warm water - about 20°WITH
In nature, the palm tree grows in conditions with little rainfall. The plant has long roots, due to which it can extract water even in the absence of rain. But in the house she needs to provide a sufficient amount of moisture.
- If water collects under the pot, it must be drained. Wipe the bottom of the container. Do not water it with hard, chlorinated water. Watering with hard water is fraught with the appearance of chlorosis.
- In the warm season, you can carry out daily spraying of the leaves. Once a week - soft shower. During these procedures, moisture should not enter the soil. The topsoil should be covered with waterproof material.
- If the plant was planted from a stone, before a sprout appears, it should be watered occasionally. The soil in the pot should be almost dry at the time of watering.
- The ground under a young palm tree is moistened as the top layer dries - 2 - 4 cm. The greatest amount of moisture is required from April to August. In winter, the amount of watering should be minimal, as the plant goes into a dormant state.
top dressing
Flower shops have special fertilizers for palm trees. They are best suited for plant nutrition. Substances for decorative deciduous house plants are also suitable. They contain the largest amount of nitrogen. This nutrient is responsible for the lush growth of green mass.
You can use the following fertilizers:
- good power
- Uniflor growth
- Bona Forte Housing and communal services
- Ideal
- Garden of Miracles
- Etisso
- Zniflor-micro
- Agricola
- Pokon
- Giant, etc.
You should choose drugs in liquid form. If fertilizers are in dry form, they must be dissolved in water. Substances are introduced into pre-moistened soil. All fertilizers should be applied in accordance with the instructions. Like any other crop, it is better to underfeed the palm tree than to overfeed it.
There are also fertilizers in the form of tablets, sticks. They are convenient to use - you just need to stick into the ground in a pot with a tree. But some flower growers do not recommend the use of such drugs, explaining this by the possible harm from the use of such substances for plant roots.
For its fertilization, both mineral and organic substances can be used.
You can use potassium nitrate. Proportions - 10 g per 1 bucket of water.
In the cold season, palm preparations should contain the least amount of nitrogen.
You can also make and top dressing on the sheet.
Nutrients are allowed to be applied only 2 months after transplantation. The plant should get stronger in a new place. During this time, it will have enough of those substances that are present in the soil.
Under diseased trees affected by insects, nutrient mixtures should not be applied.
Signs of a lack of batteries
- With insufficient nitrogen in the soil, the leaves of the palm tree acquire a lighter shade, the plant itself stops growing.
- During a lack of potassium, the leaves of the plant become covered with bronze-brown spots. Over time, they can curl up and dry out.
- Magnesium deficiency is manifested by the formation of a yellow border on the edges of the leaf blade.
pruning
When pruning a palm tree, you need to be extremely careful. It is recommended to remove only yellowed, strongly drooping, damaged leaves of adult plants. The first few years the plant can not be cut.
The upper part of the palm tree should not be cut, since its growth point is located in this part. Cutting off the top can kill the plant.
Air humidity
The optimal indicator of humidity in the room should be 50 - 70%. During the heating season, you can not keep a palm tree next to the radiator. Its leaves must be regularly wiped with a damp cloth.
In summer, in dry weather, hot days, the leaves should be sprayed with warm water once a week.
Read also: Chlorophytum home (120 Photos) - home care, reproduction, transplant, disease + Reviews Does the date palm bear fruit at home?
date palm flowers
It blooms with yellow flowers collected in a brush. But you won't be able to see them indoors. The fruiting of a palm tree begins when it reaches a height of 10 - 15 meters. This is not possible indoors.
Another important detail - for the formation of fruits, it is necessary to plant 2 trees - male, female.
Read also: Plastic bottles, what can be done from them? Useful DIY crafts: for home and garden (60+ Photo Ideas & Videos) + Reviews Transplant Features
The date palm is difficult to transplant.
The procedure is necessary in 2 cases:
- the volume of the pot is not able to accommodate the roots of the plant
- the plant was poured, the roots began to rot
When transplanting, the depth of the pot should accommodate the entire length of the plant's roots. If the roots begin to protrude from the drainage holes, this is a signal that the plant needs an urgent transplant.
A young palm tree for the first 5 years is transplanted every year. Subsequently, as it grows. Usually every 3 years.
The roots of the plant are very tender. They are easy to damage. Therefore, they transplant it with a clod of earth, by transshipment.
Before pulling out a palm tree from a pot, it is plentifully watered in advance. If the plant cannot be pulled out of the pot, it must be broken or cut.
mature date tree
The new pot should be at least 4 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. The vessel must have drainage holes. If they are not, you need to make them yourself. In the case of plastic pots, the bottom can be pierced with a hardened nail.
You can not immediately plant a palm tree in a large container. Under such conditions, it may stop growing.
Before transplanting, the bottom of the pot is laid with a layer of drainage: small pebbles, broken bricks, gravel, expanded clay, etc. The amount of drainage depends on the size of the plant. The larger the tree, the more expanded clay, broken bricks need to be poured under its pot. After planting, the tree is watered.
If it's time to transplant a palm tree, and its pot is still able to accommodate its roots, to enrich the soil with nutrients, you can sprinkle a new layer of earth on the top of the pot. To do this, carefully remove 2-4 cm of soil from the pot and fill in new soil. This procedure is recommended to be performed once every 6 months.
Palm transplant
A rotting plant must be removed from the container. View roots. If they darken, become soft - the palm tree died. It will most likely never be restored. If there are still living roots among the rot, all the dead parts of the roots should be removed and sprinkled with crushed coal and planted in the usual way.
Read also: Projects of country houses for 6-10 acres: 120 photos, description and requirements | The most interesting ideas reproduction
Indoors, the date palm can only be grown from the seed. Some types of palms are propagated by cuttings. For example, Robelin's date. But this method should not be used at home.
Read also: Lemon: description, care, growing from the stone at home, recipes for vitamin juice and lemonade (Photo & Video) + Reviews Possible problems
The date palm is an undemanding plant. With proper care:
- watering regimen
- enough heat, light
- regular feeding.
The likelihood of any problems is minimal. Weakened plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests.
Pests
If the plant turned pale, or complex leaves began to curl and fall off, this may be the reason for the appearance of pests on it.
Most often it affects:
- spider mite
- nematodes
- mealybug
- thrips
- scab
To combat them, use:
- mechanical
- chemical
- biological control methods
Palm tree infested with pests
A small number of insects can be collected by hand, destroyed with a soap solution, garlic extract, tobacco infusion. After processing the tree, the leaves must be washed with water, dried in a warm room.
When a date palm is affected by nematodes, the plants are destroyed along with the earth and the pot, since the diseased plant is difficult to cure. It can infect nearby flowers.
Recipes for the preparation of natural solutions for processing palm leaves:
No. 1. Soap-vodka solution
It is necessary to take 15 g of any liquid (or 1 tsp of solid laundry) soap and dilute it in 1 liter of water. In the resulting solution, add 2 tbsp. l. vodka. Processing should be done in several steps - 1 time per week.
No. 2. garlic extract
About 4 heads of garlic insist in 1 liter of water for 5 days. For spraying, take 6 g of the extract and dilute it in 1 liter of water.
No. 3. Tobacco infusion
40 g of tobacco is poured into 1 liter of water. Withstand 2 days. To process the leaves, it is necessary to add another 1 liter of water to the resulting infusion.
If folk methods of struggle do not give results, you should resort to agrochemical preparations.
You can use the following insecticides:
- Fitoverm
- Actellik
- Intavir
- Pyrethrum
- Fufanon
- Confidor
- Aktara
- Phosphamide, etc.
Proportions - 2 g per 1 liter of water. But when using it, you must read the instructions for the drug.
At first, it is recommended to process only one leaf of the tree. If the plant tolerated the procedure well, after 24 hours no changes occurred with it - you can continue to apply it.
Avoid getting any insecticides into the soil. When processing leaves, cover the top layer of soil with a bag.
Diseases
sick palm
With proper care, the date palm rarely suffers from diseases. She has fungal diseases such as:
- gray spot
- pink rot
For the treatment of affected plants, antifungal drugs - fungicides are used. They are recommended to use no more than 1 time per week.
Why do plant leaves turn yellow?
Watering from the tap, hard water can lead to yellowing of the foliage. For irrigation, it is best to use not only settled, but even filtered water.
Another possible cause of yellow leaves is a lack of nutrients. It is recommended to feed her regularly.
Most often, the cause of darkened leaves is a violation of the irrigation regime. Excessive moisture leads to root rot. At the same time, the smell of rot comes from the plant, and its leaves turn brown.
To help the plant, you need to completely stop watering it until the soil is completely dry.
Drying date leaves
If only the tips of the leaves have darkened on a palm tree, this may be due to a lack of moisture, nutrients, dry air in the room, and drafts. It is necessary to adjust the growing conditions, the rules for caring for the plant.
In an adult date palm, the lower leaves may dry, turn brown due to age. Young leaves appear from above, the lower old ones eventually die off. Drying, dying off of the upper part of the tree is a sign of illness.
What to do if the palm tree has stopped growing?
Palm is a plant of hot countries. For good growth, it needs a sufficient amount of heat. At a temperature of 16 - 17 °WITH she stops growing.
It should be moved to a warmer, brighter room. The cessation of growth in winter is a natural process for a palm tree. Another reason is that the plant was planted in acidic soil.
Or it lacks essential nutrients. Growth slows down and the roots outgrow the volume of the pot.
helpful information.
Weird. On the forums of date growers they write that spraying is detrimental to a growing palm tree. Here they advise. How is it really?