Washingtonia (palm tree) is a special plant that has won the hearts of gardeners with its beauty. This kind of palm tree is for the most part a greenhouse, but recently people are increasingly trying to grow such a miracle at home. In order to do this, you need to work hard, because the tree is quite moody. The palm tree, the photo of which can be seen here, prefers bright sunshine, since its homeland is the Mediterranean. We will talk about this and other features in our article.
general information
So, before you grow this exotic miracle, get acquainted with it. Washingtonia is a palm tree that came to us from South America. Also, this plant is found in northern Mexico. While the palm tree is used to a subtropical climate, it can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to twelve degrees of frost. Belonging to the areca family, the tree likes to be in well-lit areas. Such a plant looks great on a veranda or balcony on the south side, especially if there are such neighbors as myrtle, oleander or laurel in the company with it. In addition, Washington can also be grown in production areas, as the tree tolerates contaminated air quite calmly.
If we talk about the appearance of the plant, then the palm can grow up to thirty meters in height. It depends on its type. It also has large leaves with cuttings up to 1.5 meters. The trunk is large and covered with fibers and dry fallen leaves. When the time comes for flowering, the tree releases long three-meter peduncles on which the flowers are located. They look like panicles. And after this period ends, black berries appear in place of the flowers. This is a favorite delicacy of birds.
Types of palm trees
The tree in question has two types. They differ from each other, and therefore we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the description of both types:
- Washingtonia is nitiferous. It is also called the California fan palm . The fact is that it was in California that this beauty was first noticed, and also there you can see whole plantings and forests from plants similar to her. The maximum height of the palm tree can reach twenty meters. The leaves have a gray-green color, and you can see a lot of white stripes (threads) on them. It was this feature that gave the palm its name. The tree prefers a cold winter with a temperature of 6 to 15 degrees and a lot of light.
- Washingtonia is powerful. Just like the first species, it has a second name - the Mexican mighty palm. The tree got this name because it grows on the border of Mexico and the United States. In free growth, a palm tree can stretch up to thirty meters in height, and this must be taken into account when planting a tree. Unlike the California beauty, this plant has bright green bright leaves without any stripes, and on the petiole of each leaf there is a sharp spike. Crohn has a more accurate appearance in comparison with nitenos.
Care Rules
Many people are interested in the question: how is the palm of Washington growing at home? It grows well, but needs special conditions.
- Lighting should be bright enough. South room, porch, balcony - all this is suitable for a tropical miracle. While the plant is small, it needs constant care and maintenance, and only after becoming an adult, the tree can grow in a place with less high light.
- You need to water the plant regularly, but seasonality should be taken into account. In the summer, when the weather is hot, you need to water the palm tree once a week. In winter, when it is cold outside, watering should be reduced and only done as the soil has completely dried. During this period, the tree rests, but still you can not let it dry. This will lead to the inevitable death of the palm.
- Humidity in the room where the palm tree grows should be from 55 to 75 percent. To maintain this humidity, sprayers must be used. In winter, it is also practiced to wash the leaves with a damp cloth.
- As the tree grows, you need to turn it in relation to the light source. This is necessary for the correct formation of deciduous cover.
Top dressing
The palm tree, whose photos are shown here, needs to be replenished. Like any other plant, it needs to be fertilized. This is best done in spring and summer, as in winter she rests. Every self-respecting gardener knows that you can not disturb the plant during the dormant period. As for the type of fertilizer, in specialized stores compounds are sold that are designed for such trees as
palm, yucca, dracaena. Read the instructions carefully and act according to it. Feeding is recommended twice a month, you can a little less.
Transfer
If you have Washington (palm) growing, then sooner or later you will need to transplant it. The fact is that while the plant is young (up to three years), it needs to be replanted every year. Then, as they grow older (from three to five years), once every three years. And quite adults (more than five years) - once every five years.
In order to transplant a tree, you will need a pot with high sides, and in no case a low wide vessel. The transplant process is best done at the beginning of the spring period. As an ideal soil for such a plant, a mixture of turf, leaves, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1 is suitable. This advice applies to those who want to make the mixture themselves. For the rest, ready-made palm soil is for sale.
Breeding methods
Of course, our readers are also interested in the question of how Washington propagates. Growing from seeds is the way all palm trees reproduce. For this procedure, you need to prepare the soil. This is an equal ratio of components such as peat, sand and sphagnum. You can also take compost soil, but it must be decontaminated before that. For example, steam it in a microwave.
Seeds are planted to a centimeter depth. In the room you need to maintain a temperature of about twenty-five degrees. Carefully monitor the drying out and waterlogging of the soil. Well, if there is an opportunity to arrange the heating of the tank from below. After a couple of weeks you will notice the first sprouts. After waiting until they grow and get stronger, you need to transplant them into separate pots.
Pest control
The biggest problem when growing this tree is its growth. Think about where you can plant an adult plant when it reaches maximum height. But that is not all. Also, the tree may suffer from pest attacks. It is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the tree and respond in time to changes. Scabbard, tick and mealybug are the most frequent guests on the palm tree.
In addition, if it is improperly watered or temperature differences are allowed, then the leaves of the plant can darken, curl, spots appear on them. The main thing in this case is to timely see the problem, assess the condition of the tree and eliminate it. Affected leaves are then removed.
Interesting facts about the plant
Washingtonia (palm tree) is used in the world not only as a decorative ornament. In places where the tree came to us, it is used as a food product. Palm seeds are used to make flour, and, for example, petioles from leaflets are eaten both raw and boiled. Moreover, baskets are made from the fibrous material of palm leaves.