Date palm - how to grow at home
Content:
Palm trees are considered exotic plants, characterized by spreading foliage and edible fruits. Trees are distributed mainly in areas with a hot climate. Despite this, people have learned to grow dates (wood) at home and use them as decorative elements. This article serves as a guide on how to grow a palm tree indoors.
Date palm description
The date palm is a plant belonging to the genus palm. India and the African continent are considered the birthplace of the tree. The name, derived from the Latin word, was given to the palm by the famous biologist K. Linnaeus.
A majestic palm tree adorns any interior
Trees have one or more tall, strong trunks. Above are spreading long green leaves, pointed at the base. Small flowers are usually yellowish.
The height of a palm tree in natural conditions can reach up to 45 m, the average life time is 150 years. The fruits of the tree are eaten and beneficial.
Can I keep it at home
The date belongs to exotic plants living in the tropics and subtropics, which are characterized by a dry and hot type of climate. You don't have to travel to another country to find out what a date tree looks like. The palm tree takes root well at home, therefore it has been actively grown in residential premises since the 19th century.
Popular varieties of indoor trees are:
- common date;
- forest date;
- the date is curved;
- stony date;
- palm date.
Date palm varieties
The Robelena date and the Canary date are considered especially popular varieties of indoor plants that are readily planted at home.
Date Robelena
The low-growing plant reaches a height of 2 m. The tree can have 2 or 3 trunks up to 60 cm long. The palm tree produces fruits that are not suitable for human consumption. Sometimes the leaves are covered with a white bloom. Optimum wintering conditions are 16-18 ° C.
Canary date
A decorative tree that is planted in the house. In nature, the Canarian date reaches a height of 20 m, and the house tree usually does not exceed 3 m. The tree has narrow, stiff leaves and a straight, strong trunk. The plant is capable of growing at a temperature of 8-10 ° C. The fruits are good for consumption.
Canary date fruits can be eaten
How to grow a date palm at home
A characteristic feature of domestic palms is the complex shape of feathery leaves. The trees do not require much maintenance, but it is recommended to follow the rules to get a beautiful plant. The instructions on how to grow a date contain information on planting, watering, feeding and caring for.
Where to get a seedling
You can grow a tree from a seedling that is sold at a flower shop, or from a seed.The fruits are available at the grocery supermarket, so there is no need to specially order the seeds.
It is important to pay attention to the bones before planting. They should not have mechanical damage and insect marks. It is recommended to take fresh fruits, as old seeds rarely germinate.
Recommended planting time is February-March. Seed germination temperature is 23-25 ° С.
Seed preparation
It is recommended to keep the bones in warm water (at a temperature of 35 ° C), which should be changed periodically. For the effect, you can add a growth stimulant.
Date seeds must be soaked in water before planting.
Some gardeners use cotton wool, sawdust, gauze, or hydrogel. The material is moistened with warm water, placed in a container, a bone is located on top, and above it is another layer of moistened cotton wool. It is necessary to withstand the seeds until they swell.
It is worth waiting for the emergence of a sprout in 90-180 days, but some fresh seeds can give rise to shoots in a month.
Preparation of soil and containers
When the root system appears, the sprout can be planted in the ground.
The soil should be rich in micronutrients. To do this, you can purchase land for palm trees in the store or make a mixture yourself. Sand, humus and sod are taken as components in equal amounts. The soil should be well permeable to water and air.
The pot should be deep so that the long roots fit comfortably inside. It is recommended to take plastic or wooden containers of light shades. This will prevent the pots from heating up quickly and releasing moisture.
Seat selection
Before planting a date, you need to remember that the height of the tree reaches at least 2 m. The best option is a spacious room.
Drafts, low temperatures and direct sunlight should not be allowed on the tree. The sun's rays can injure the leaves, leaving brown spots on them. On especially warm days, it is worth providing shade to the palm tree. You can take the pot outside only when the temperature exceeds 12 ° C. To create a greenhouse effect, you can use a bag or grow a tree in a greenhouse.
What does a date sprout look like?
The small green sprout consists of a stem and thin roots. The tree grows relatively slowly and at first does not differ in decorativeness. Every year the date increases in size and becomes overgrown with leaves. Complex greens in the form of feathers form 3 years after planting. A beautiful tree is formed after 5 years.
The sprout takes root quickly, but then grows slowly
Date palm care
To provide protection to the palm tree and to grow a beautiful ornamental tree, you need to take care of the date.
Watering
Date palms grow in subtropical and tropical climates where rainfall is rare. With a lack of moisture, the roots of the plant begin to extract water in the soil at a depth. Houseplants also have a long root system, but it is important to provide indoor trees with water. In addition, during the warm season, it is necessary to spray the leaves of the palm tree. In this case, the liquid should not get on the ground, so it must be covered with a waterproof material.
Pitted dates should be rarely watered. The soil should be relatively dry. It is recommended to look at the soil to determine the need for watering. When dry, 4 cm of top coat can be added to the pot of water. In winter, the amount of watering must be reduced to maintain the life of the palm tree.
How to feed
After 50-60 days after planting, the plant can be fed with nutrients. As fertilizers, it is recommended to use specialized preparations that are sold in flower shops. Among them stand out: Agricola, "Ideal", "Garden of Miracles", "Good Power" and "Giant".
Most palm food contains high amounts of nitrogen, which has an effect on the growth of the green parts of the plant. In winter, it is worth reducing the portions of the substance.
Fertilizers are available in several forms:
- dry mixes;
- liquids;
- pills and sticks.
Powders dissolve in water and are used as a solution. With liquids, the process is faster, and the third type involves sticking sticks into the ground.
In addition to cultivating the land, there is a method that involves the supply of minerals through the leaves.
Indoor tree needs to be fed periodically
How the date palm blooms
The date palm has yellow inflorescences, collected in a cluster. Indoors, a person will not be able to see this, as, in fact, the fruit. Dates can only be propagated when the plant reaches at least 10 m in height and is next to the opposite individual.
Transplanting a date palm at home
Transplanting a tree is a complex process that is difficult for the plant to tolerate. It is recommended to carry out the procedure only if the volume of the pot has become small for a palm tree, or the roots of the plant have begun to rot. Before removing the palm from the pot, water the plant abundantly with water. After the procedure, watering is repeated. At the bottom of the new tank, it is required to place a drainage layer: broken brick, gravel or small stones.
A young plant needs to be transplanted once a year for 5 years, then the frequency of the procedure is reduced to 1 time in 3 years.
A small tree needs to be replanted annually
An important condition for the proper growth of a palm tree is the presence of a large capacity that can accommodate a long root system. When moving a house tree to another pot, you need to be as careful as possible. The roots of the palm tree are thin and delicate, so it is easy to damage them with one awkward movement. It is best to load the tree together with the ground. If you cannot remove the seedling from the pot, then it is worth breaking or cutting the container.
Possible difficulties when growing at home
Subject to the conditions laid down, difficulties in growing a date palm should not arise. On the other hand, with improper care, problems arise.
- With an increased rate, the leaves begin to darken, and the trunk becomes soft. Low humidity causes the tips of the leaves to turn brown.
- Direct sunlight burns the leaves, leaving brown spots on it.
- Due to the increased acidity of the soil, the tree does not grow.
- With a draft, the leaves wither and fall off.
- The lack of nutrients affects the green part, which brightens, and the plant slows down in growth. Lack of potassium - brown spots, little magnesium - yellowness along the edge of the leaves.
- Due to a lack of moisture, green components lose their decorative appearance and sink.
Why do the leaves of a room palm turn yellow
The yellowness of the leaves can be caused by non-compliance with the rules of care.Watering with hard water often has unpleasant consequences. Excessive moisture also causes the leaves to turn yellow.
Why do leaves dry
Lack of nutrients causes the green parts of the plant to dry out. The palm tree must be fed with special fertilizers, which are sold in any flower shop.
Dry leaves are the result of a lack of watering
Pests
The date tree is resistant to most diseases and pests.
Pests that can infect a tree:
- spider mite;
- mealworm;
- shield;
- nematodes.
The latter parasites are considered the most dangerous. A diseased tree must be disposed of immediately along with the pot so as not to infect healthy plants nearby.
For effective pest control, it is recommended to act in a comprehensive manner. Insects can be collected by hand using rubber gloves. You should get rid of them with soap or tobacco. After that, the tree should be treated with special agents, and then washed with water.
Dangerous diseases include gray spot and pink rot. To understand that a plant is dying, it is recommended to pay attention to its roots. If even one part of the plant has become soft, then the tree will no longer be able to grow.
It is quite easy to grow a date palm in an apartment or house. Subject to the rules of planting and care, you can get a beautiful decorative tree that will delight people with its exotic appearance.
