The complex Latin name of this plant is known to few, it is well known to lovers of floriculture. Areca chrysalidocarpus, or palm tree, is a plant that is loved for its unpretentiousness and attractive appearance.
A palm tree is great for landscaping an office room or growing a house. The plant tolerates dryness well in an apartment, does not suffer from temperature changes, it does not need a lot of light. In general, an almost perfect plant to create a beautiful tropical-style interior.
Popular views
The palm of chrysalidocarpus does not have a single trunk, like the classic palm familiar to everyone. Instead, there is a bush of green mass of leaves. According to the rules, this plant cannot be called a palm - the leaves are evergreen, beautiful, similar to palm trees, which form dense and slender thickets. Therefore, this plant name is "reed palm."
This plant is familiar to many, the palm tree has long taken root in apartments and public places
Originally from Madagascar, it grows in the tropics of Asia and Oceania. Palm areca chrysalidocarpus is often grown at home. Room copies, even with the best care, will never reach the height of their natural counterparts, reaching 6 meters in natural conditions. Nevertheless, indoor species can grow up to 2 meters in height, pleasing the eye with juicy long narrow-lanceolate leaves.
As for the flowers of chrysalidocarpus, in the areca house it rarely blooms, if this happens, panicles of a nondescript species are formed in the axils of the leaves, self-pollinating there, producing seeds. These seeds are poisonous; they can cause stomach disease when consumed.
Areca's view of chrysanthemum is similar to reed: the same bright, always green, with a powerful juicy mass of leaves
Among the types popular in indoor floriculture, there are three main ones:
- Chrysalidocarpus yellowish (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) - this plant is interesting in the color of stems with petioles - green-yellow. The leaves are large, can grow up to 2 meters in length with a width of up to 60 cm. In the bosom of the inflorescence during flowering, a brush is framed by yellowish flowers;
This plant is bred in nurseries for sale.
- Chrysalidocarpus madagascar (Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis) - this species is more similar to the classic palm tree than others. It has a tree trunk extended near the base. The leaves are very saturated green, dense;
Plant height can be in natural conditions up to 9 m
- Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, or chrysalidocarpus Lutescens - a palm tree grows in a lush bush without a trunk. Long petioles with leaves, even at home, grow up to one and a half meters, in general, the plant can stretch to the ceiling. This palm tree is sometimes called chrysalidocarpus yellow for its slightly yellow tips of the leaves.
Growing chrysalidocarpus from seeds
There is a way to grow plants from root processes. They are formed near the root, they can be used for breeding by transplantation. However, there is an even more interesting option, because chrysalidocarpus lutescens can be grown from seeds.
Important! Light is very important for seed germination and seedling growth, therefore sowing is done when sufficient daylight hours are set.
To do this, take the seeds and do this:
- Seeds are soaked for a couple of days in warm water.
- Pour peat-sand mixture into shallow drawers, sow seeds in a moist soil to a depth of 2 cm.
- Shoots should appear for 3-4 months, all this time the air temperature should be warm, the earth moist.
- When the first true leaves appear, young shoots must be transplanted into larger pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm. During spring and summer, the seedling will become stronger, new leaves will begin to appear in the outlet.
Home Care
It is not difficult to take care of this plant, it is enough to know the general basics of home floriculture.
Illumination
The palm tree tolerates the sun well, it is not only thermophilic, but also quite comfortable in direct sunlight. However, if it is very hot, then it is better to arrange ventilation in the room, and at least slightly shade the crown.
Chrysalidocarpus, home care
Often the plant for the summer period is taken out to the garden, left on the street, then there are no problems with strong heat. In the winter months, it is usually rearranged to the brightest place in the apartment, in dark rooms, the setting for a southerner palm can be improved with daylight lamps.
Watering
The palm is hygrophilous, it lives very well in a humid environment, because from time to time the plant needs light spraying with warm water. You can install a container of water next to the pot. In summer, the plant responds well to dousing leaves with fresh water. Water washes dust and freshens leaves. In winter, swimming is not necessary, it is enough to periodically wipe the petioles and leaves with a damp clean rag.
Watering should be plentiful and frequent. However, to whom the land should be allowed to dry slightly from above in the summer, in winter to leave it dried up to half the pot. The temperature of the water should be a couple of degrees above room temperature, it should be well-maintained.
Temperature mode
Extremely low temperature for palm trees - plus 16, below is impossible, since the plant will wither away. In the summer, it is permissible to contain a flower at plus 22-25.
Soil selection and fertilizer
Caring for chrysalidocarpus will be easier if you initially choose the right soil for it, then apply fertilizers in a timely manner. Palm trees grow well on light and fertile soils, so the land for them should contain a rich composition, including 2 parts of turf land, two parts of humus, 1 part of peat and rotted manure, 1 part of sand and half of charcoal. This mixture can also be used to transplant a plant from a smaller to a larger pot.
Tip. To feed the plant, you can buy a ready-made mixture of mineral fertilizers for palm trees and ornamental-deciduous crops. It will be necessary to apply monthly, reducing fertilizer to one top dressing in the autumn-winter time, and feeding twice a month in the period from April to October.
The reason for yellowing and drying
It happens that chrysalidocarpus leaves turn yellow, begin to die. What can it be, flower growers ask.
Often, the yellowish chrysalidocarpus Lutescens when leaving at home becomes unattractive. Typically, loss and yellowing of leaves is associated with impaired care. Manifestations of the main errors:
- from a lack of moisture or, conversely, from excessive watering, the plant may begin to turn yellow;
- with excessively dry air in the room, the leaves begin to dry;
- stagnation of water in the pot leads to the appearance of brown spots on the shoots and leaves.<
Sometimes the tips of the leaves dry in the plant
The exclusion of these disorders will again heal the plant and make it viable.
Diseases and Pests
Improper care provokes the occurrence of fungal diseases, as well as other diseases of this plant. Among these problems are, for example, a fungal infection or root rot, which first appears as brown spots on the leaves, then spreads throughout the plant. To prevent the spread of the disease, the affected areas are excised, the plant itself is treated with a fungicide solution.
Parasites in the form of spider mites also interfere with palm development. Against them there is a simple method of struggle by rubbing the leaves and shoots with an alcohol solution. Chemical insecticides can also be used to treat palm trees; this is more effective than simple wiping. Spraying should be done twice with an interval of one week.
It is possible to grow a palm areca, even if there is no experience with domestic plants. It is unpretentious, good enough and suitable for landscaping, both at home and to create a green area in the office.
