Growing palm trees at home has long been common. The most popular representative of the tropical fauna, which is of great interest to flower growers, is the trachycarpus fortune palm. This type came to the apartments of flower lovers from Asia. In its natural environment, the trachycarpus palm can be found in the foothills of the Himalayas, East China, Myanmar and India. This culture is rather capricious in its care, but it can give the interior a bit of exoticism. In this article, we will look at the trachycarpus palm, what it looks like and how to care for it.
General description and care of the trachycarpus palm
Translated from Greek, the name of this plant literally means “rough fruit”. One of the most popular crops among flower growers is the trachycarpus palm. Home care for her is not difficult, but requires certain knowledge. This isthe plant has a certain resistance to cold, but grows extremely slowly. Trachycarpus is a fan palm that can grow up to 20 meters in nature and up to 2.5 at home. The leaves of the plant have a dissected oval shape and are located on the stem in the form of a fan, for which the trachycarpus palm is called a fan.
Leaves can reach a size of 60 centimeters. This plant blooms in late spring and early summer. The flowers give off a very strong fragrance. It is noteworthy that only wild plants are able to bloom. Trachycarpus palm grown at home does not bloom. This plant is fruitful. The berry has a rich dark blue color.
Trachycarpus palm care is not much different from what is needed for other species of the palm family. However, there are still differences. Growing this culture in an apartment is quite simple if you create the most comfortable conditions for it. When caring for a trachycarpus palm tree at home, it is worth considering its light-loving nature. In addition, during the hot season, it is advisable to ventilate the room in which the palm tree is located, but protect the plant from drafts.
An interesting point in the process of growing this crop is that for full normal development, the container in which it is contained must be rotated 180 degrees around its axis. The plant has a negative attitude to heat, so the temperature in the room should not exceed 25 degrees. If you keep it in hotter conditions, then the palm will stop its growth, and the tips of the leaves of the plantwill turn brown. In the winter season, growing and caring for trachycarpus is slightly different.
At this time, the palm tree prefers to rest, for this it needs a temperature of 10 - 12 degrees. However, this is not a prerequisite. If it is impossible to create such a temperature in the apartment, then the palm tree will survive the winter period in warmer conditions. In order to maintain the attractive appearance of this palm tree, it needs to trim dead or broken leaves. However, it is worth considering that the yellowed leaves of this culture do not indicate their complete death. Even in this state, they still feed the plant.
In addition, leaves that have turned brown should not be removed. But it is highly recommended to prune the side shoots unless the grower wants to vegetatively propagate the palm.
Lighting Requirements
Trachycarpus loves light very much, but at the same time it can live in any light. However, this plant has a negative attitude to the direct rays of the sun. Therefore, in the summer, she needs shading. An excess of light is signaled by pale yellow spots that form on the leaves. This means the plant is getting too much light.
According to experts, the most comfortable for this plant will be diffused, but bright lighting. During the hot season, it is advisable to move the trachycarpus to fresh air. It is noteworthy that this movement should occur gradually. This is necessary because if, after a longkeeping a palm tree indoors under the direct rays of the sun, you can get the effect of "baldness". All leaves of the culture will fall off. The same result threatens the plant if it is regularly rearranged from home to street and back. The best solution in this situation would be to select a lighted place, but without wind. A terrace or porch is ideal for this.
Optimal temperature conditions
When a palm tree grows and develops intensively, it needs a temperature of 18 to 25 degrees. At the end of the growing season, this crop enters a dormant stage. During this stage, flower growers recommend keeping the temperature at 15 degrees Celsius. In general, the plant is not whimsical to temperature. In winter, trachycarpus feels great in coolness, and in summer it also tolerates heat well. But it is worth remembering that the resistance to cold in a palm tree appears only after the formation of the trunk.
Irrigation of trachycarpus
Plenty of moisture is required for the palm tree only during the hot periods of summer, when the upper layers of the soil dry up. It is fairly drought tolerant and can tolerate it well. However, the trachycarpus palm does not tolerate excess water. High humidity can lead to root rot and crop death. According to flower growers, darkening leaves, on which traces of decay appear, speak of excess moisture.
If the palm experiences a lack of water, this manifests itself in the form of drying young leaves, and adults gradually turn yellow. During irrigation, avoid contact withdrops on the crown of the tree. This is especially important when the room temperature is low. Watering in such conditions is carried out at least once every two weeks. An important point is that the water with which the culture will be watered must be purified from chlorine impurities. In addition, it should be defended within a day.
Required air humidity
This type of palm family loves warm moist air. The most suitable and comfortable for this crop will be a humidity of 70-80 percent. However, if this indicator is lower, then this will not cause much harm to the plant, but it is not worth lowering the level below 50%. It is noteworthy that, unlike many other houseplants, trachycarpus does not need to be sprayed with water. This can cause fungal infections. In order to increase the humidity, you can simply place a container of water near the plant. In addition, wetting the foliage with a wet sponge is allowed.
Soil parameters
Trachycarpus is quite undemanding to the quality of the soil, but some nuances should be observed. First of all, the composition of the soil should contain compost, sand, humus and sod in equal amounts. In order to find out whether the soil is suitable for planting palm trees in it or not, you need to conduct a small experiment. The soil is poured into a container that has special holes. After that, it is watered.
If, after a few seconds after entering the container, water begins to pour out of the holes, this means that the soilchosen correctly. If moisture lingers in the soil, then it is not suitable for growing trachycarpus. The most important parameter for a soil is its permeability to both water and air.
Palm Fertilizer
Feeding this crop should be done only during its development and growth. This period at the palm takes place in the spring and summer months. At this time, you need to fertilize the plant no more than once every 3 weeks. Experts recommend a granular fertilizer that has a long period of action. In addition, ordinary fertilizers for indoor plants can also be used, however, the concentration should be divided in half.
Plant transplant
The procedure for transplanting a crop is quite simple, but is done only when necessary. The main reason, as a rule, is an overgrown root system, which eventually penetrates outside the pot through the drain holes. Since the roots of the palm tree grow quite intensively, the young plant is transplanted on an annual basis. Adult palm trees are transplanted no more than once every three years.
However, if we are talking about trachycarpus growing in large pots and having large sizes, then they do not need to be transplanted. For them, experts recommend annually replacing 5 centimeters of the topsoil. Just like the seedlings of the Wagner trachycarpus palm tree, which is distinguished by its hypersensitive root system, the roots of the Fortune also do not like to be transplanted. Therefore, transplantation must be done by transshipment. Important,so that in the process, the maximum amount of soil remains on the roots.
Before transplanting, the soil must be disinfected. For these purposes, an oven or microwave oven is suitable. In addition, a great way would be to use a solution of potassium permanganate. After disinfection is carried out, a drainage layer is placed in the container. It must be thick enough. Then the palm tree, together with the resulting lump of substrate on the roots, is placed in a pot. When the transplant is completed, the plant is watered and placed in partial shade.
Seed palm propagation method
Culture can be propagated in two ways. One of them is reproduction with the help of shoots, but the most popular is the cultivation of the trachycarpus palm tree from seeds, while the care for the seedling itself is minimized. However, the seed method requires certain labor costs and time. It is important to consider that only fresh seeds should be used for planting. If, for example, you take seed material a year old, it will not grow. In order to get good full-fledged seedlings, seeds are planted in the winter months.
They are placed in glasses with prepared soil. After the seating is completed, the containers are covered with glass. The first shoots may already be visible a month after planting. In order for the seedlings to develop intensively, it needs moderate watering and intense, but diffused light. Flower growers recommend observing the desired temperature. It should fluctuate between 20 and 23 degrees.
Propagation by shoots
Each representative of the palm family is able to reproduce with the help of root shoots. They form when moist air prevails around the culture. When overdried, their formation does not occur. The root process is subject to separation after it reaches a size of at least 7 centimeters. It is detached with a sterile sharp object. After the procedure is completed, a fungicide and a rooting compound are applied to the cut, and then planted in the ground.
It should include perlite and coarse sand. In order for the shoot to successfully take root, it needs partial shade and a temperature of at least 27 degrees Celsius. Roots form throughout the year. Landing in the ground for adult palms is carried out after the rooting of the process.
Possible crop diseases
The main enemy of this exotic plant is the humidity of the environment in which it grows. Under the influence of excess moisture, the root system can be affected by black and gray rot. This is immediately evident, as brown-brown or yellow spots appear on the leaves. An effective measure to combat such diseases will be the use of a fungicidal preparation. But it is better to follow the requirements for caring for the plant and thereby minimize the risks of disease, since the shaken he alth of the palm tree is very difficult to restore.
The second "scourge" of trachycarpus is full shading or direct sunlight. These factors lead to yellowing of the leaves,stunting and complete leaf drop. However, if all the necessary conditions are met, the trachycarpus palm will delight the eye for many more years.
