Date palm home care. Optimal lighting and temperature conditions

Date palm or date (Phoenix) - a genus of plants, according to various sources, including from 14 to 17 species, and belongs to the Palmae (Palm) or Arecaceae (Arek) family.

This palm is common in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Translated from Latin, "phoenix" means "palm tree".

General information

Representatives of the genus are palm trees with several or one trunk, which can be various heights with a crown of leaves, leaf sheaths, or remnants of petioles at the apex.

Large, curved, odd-pinnate leaves consist of linear-lanceolate hard leaflets with a single edge, pointed at the top, arranged evenly or in a bunch. Petioles are short, often covered with strong spines. In the axils of the leaves are paniculate inflorescences, consisting of small yellow flowers.

Dates are grown both as an ornamental plant and as fruit crop(date palm). Date fruits are eaten in any form, and they are also fed to camels and horses. From the juice of some species make wine "tari".

This palm tree is also used for medical purposes. Since, the juice of the plant is an excellent remedy for treating burns, wounds, skin diseases, and compresses based on crushed palm leaves are used for mastopathy.

Not large species date palm, such as Robelin and Canarian, are widely used as an ornamental indoor plant. And the date palm grows very strongly in short time, so it is better for him to live in winter gardens and greenhouses.

Types of date palms

(Phoenix canariensis) is a plant with a straight, strong trunk that reaches 12 to 18 meters in height and up to 1 meter in diameter and is covered with the remains of leaves.

The dense crown consists of about 200 pinnate, with more than 150 pairs of leaflets and leaves up to 6 meters long. The leaves are about 50 centimeters long and up to 3.5 centimeters wide. Their coloration is bright green.

Relatively short petioles (about 80 centimeters) are covered with strong needle-shaped spikes that are up to 20 centimeters long. Two types of inflorescences are located in the axils of the leaves - female and male. The former are branched, up to 2 meters long, while the latter are much shorter.

Widespread in nature on stony and rocky places canary islands, are cultivated as ornamental palms grown indoors and in greenhouses.

(Phoenix dactylifera) is a plant whose trunk reaches 20 to 30 meters in height and 30 centimeters in diameter. The trunk is covered with remnants of leaf petioles and has lateral shoots at the base.

In the upper part of the trunk there are arcuately bent pinnate leaves up to 6 meters long. The linear-lanceolate leaflets, cut in two at the top, have a length of 20 to 40 centimeters and are often combined into groups.

The thin, long petiole has a bluish-green color. The inflorescence, reaching more than a meter in length, is located in the axils of the leaves and hangs down under the weight of the fruit. The fleshy drupes have an oblong-ovoid shape and a length of 2.5 to 6 centimeters.

Used in food, both raw and dried, very sweet and nutritious. In culture, the date palm is common in North Africa, Southern Iran, Iraq, on the Arabian Peninsula. It is used for gardening of greenhouses and rooms.

Curved date palm (Phoenix reclinata)

Multi-stemmed trees with lateral growth, which gives them the appearance of a dense bush. Trunks can reach 8 meters in height and 10-17 centimeters in diameter.

Pinnate, with a drooping apex, curved leaves are about 6 meters long and up to 1 meter wide and consist of more than 100 pairs of leaflets. Hard bright green leaves are covered with whitish hairs that disappear with time, have a length of up to 50 centimeters and a width of about 2-3 centimeters.

The petiole is 1 meter long, covered with single or grouped 2-3 needle-like, thin 3-12 cm spikes, which are directed towards different sides. The inflorescences located in the axils of the leaves are highly branched and have a length of up to 90 centimeters.

IN natural conditions grows in damp tropical forests subtropical and tropical regions of Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental plant for growing indoors and greenhouses.

Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien)

One of the most compact representatives of the genus, reaching only 2 meters in height. This is a single or multi-stemmed tree, which is covered with the remains of the bases of the leaves.

Arcuate-curved pinnate leaves about 50-70 centimeters long have numerous soft and narrow leaflets, which are very densely placed on a thin rachis. The length of dark green leaves is from 12 to 20 centimeters. Younger leaves are covered with powdery powdery coating and whitish fibers. Axillary inflorescences are slightly branched.

Under natural conditions, this species can be found in the tropical rainforests of India, Laos, Burma. This date is suitable for growing in warm greenhouses and rooms.

(Phoenix rupicola) - a plant with a straight trunk up to 7 meters high and 20 centimeters in diameter. This species forms offspring and is not covered with leaf remnants.

The arcuately curved pinnate leaves are 2-3 meters long and consist of densely arranged green, linear, glabrous, slightly drooping leaflets, up to 40 centimeters long. The short petiole is covered with sharp spines along the edges. Under natural conditions, it grows on the hills and mountains in Sikkim, Assam (India).

Forest date palm (Phoenix sylvestris)

A plant reaching 12 meters in height, with a straight trunk with a diameter of 60 centimeters to 1 meter.

At the top of the trunk, there are downward-curved, arcuate-pinnate leaves about 4 meters long in an amount of 150 to 200 pieces. The leaf lobes are densely arranged in groups of 3-4 and have a length of up to 35 centimeters and a width of 4-5 centimeters. The leaves are bluish-gray in color.

The petioles, reaching a length of 1 meter, are covered with brownish fibers at the base, and along the edges with sharp strong spikes (from 3 to 15 centimeters long). The inflorescence with white flowers, directed upwards, has a length of about 90 centimeters. It grows wild in dry areas, river valleys and lowlands of East India.

(Phoenix zeylanica Trimen) - representatives of this species have a straight trunk, reaching from 3 to 6 meters in height and covered with the remains of petioles.

Relatively short pinnate leaves consist of numerous 18-25 cm bluish strong leaves. The short petiole is covered with spines along the edges. A branched short (30-35 centimeters long) inflorescence is located in the axils of the leaves.

Under natural conditions, the species is distributed on the island of Sri Lanka in wet lowlands. Cultivated for growing in cold greenhouses.

Date palm at home care and maintenance

Date loves bright sunlight and needs shading only in the midday summer heat. It is best to place small young plants on the windowsills of the southern and southeastern windows, larger and older plants - next to such windows.

For uniform growth and development of the palm tree crown, it is necessary to rotate it around its axis from time to time. IN summer time the plant will respond well to being kept outdoors in the garden or on the balcony, but if this is not possible, then the room should be regularly ventilated.

If the autumn-winter days did not please with enough sunlight, then in the spring the plant must be gradually accustomed to the effects of direct sunlight in order to avoid foliage burns. They do the same with a palm tree, just brought from the store.

In winter, it is desirable to illuminate the date with fluorescent lamps. With insufficient lighting, palm leaves begin to stretch and hang down, losing their decorative effect.

In spring- summer period when a date grows, it needs to be kept at a moderate temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. These tropical beauties love and more high temperature up to 28 degrees Celsius, however, high humidity is also needed, otherwise the tips of the leaves of the plant will begin to dry.

In winter, dates have a dormant period and need a temperature in the range of 15-18 degrees. Robelin date is more thermophilic and the optimal winter temperature for it is from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.

The Canarian date can spend the winter at a temperature of 8 to 10 degrees, and in adulthood, with a formed trunk, it suffers a short-term decrease to 5 degrees below zero. Palm trees do not like this kind of stagnant air. It is necessary to ensure regular ventilation of the room, while protecting the plants from drafts.

Watering the date palm at home

From April to August, the plant needs abundant watering, after which the water in the pan is left for 2-3 hours, and then drained. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced and produced only on the second day after the top layer of the earthy coma has dried.

At the same time, the lower the temperature of the content of the date, the less it is watered and vice versa. It must be remembered that the soil cannot be either waterlogged or overdried. Water for irrigation is taken warm, soft, separated.

Dates are moisture-loving plants. Very fond of daily spraying, which can be carried out all year round. Water for spraying is taken settled or, even better, filtered.

For supporting required humidity palm pots can be placed in a tray filled with wet expanded clay, moss or pebbles so that their bottom does not touch the water. Once every two weeks, date leaves are washed with water to remove dust.

Fertilizers for date palm

Starting in April and ending at the end of August, they make organic fertilizers every 10 days. Sometimes organics need to be alternated with potassium nitrate, which is taken 1 gram per 1 liter of water. IN winter period fertilize dates once a month.

Date palm transplant at home

Dates do not tolerate transplantation, as during it it is often damaged root system plants. Transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment and only in the spring. At the same time, the earthen lump is not destroyed.

Due to rapid growth, young palm trees have to be replanted annually, while adult plants, as needed, every 3-6 years. If the palm tree is too large and heavy and it is not easy to remove it unscathed from the pot, then it is recommended to break it.

A new pot is taken not much larger than the previous one, while it should be deep and not wide. At the bottom of the pot, there must be a few centimeters of drainage from expanded clay, shards or charcoal with sand.

The soil is renewed annually, removing the top 2-4 centimeters of the old substrate and replacing it with fresh.

Date palm soil

Dates are not very demanding on the composition of the soil and can grow well in both neutral and slightly acidic soils.

To prepare the substrate, sand, humus, soddy soil and compost are mixed in equal amounts. For every 3 liters of the resulting mixture, add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate.

You can also use ready-made soil mixtures for palm trees, which are sold in flower shops.

Date palm from the stone at home

Dates are most often propagated by seeds. For cultivation, it is best to use seeds from fresh fruits, since germination decreases over time, and sprouts may appear a year after planting.

Before planting, date seeds are kept in warm water (30-35 degrees) for 2-3 days. Seeds can be planted in a peat-sand substrate or in a substrate consisting of layers: the lower one is drainage, the middle one is sod land, the upper one is sand with finely chopped moss.

The prepared substrate is moistened with water, seeds are planted and covered with moss or sand. Shoots can be expected for 20-25 days. Successful germination requires timely watering and maintaining a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. Ascended palms are transplanted into soil consisting of light soddy soil, sand and humus, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

Carry out abundant watering of transplanted plants and place them in a well-lit place, shading from direct sun.

Possible difficulties

• Leaves falling down - a signal for the need for watering.
• Dry leaves or tips indicates insufficient humidity in the room.
• Leaves wither and darken under the influence of low temperatures and drafts.
• Growth arrest may be due to lack needed by the plant trace elements.

Trying sweet, incredibly tasty fruits - dates, you probably thought more than once about whether a date palm tree can grow from a seed at home? The answer is positive - yes, it can, but it will not bear fruit, since for this the tree must reach a height of 15 meters (at least). That is, a date palm with fruits at home will not grow, this is not possible. But it is quite possible to get a lush tree that will delight the eye and decorate your interior. The date palm is a beautiful, spreading tree with feathery branches.

The trading network offers small seedlings of miniature varieties of date palms adapted for home breeding. But we are interested in the process of self-growing a tree from a stone, right? How to grow a palm tree from a date seed? I want to tell you more about this.

It looks like a date tree at home

In your home, such a palm tree can grow up to 2 meters; for harmonious development, it needs space and good lighting.

Date palm, seed preparation, planting

For planting, the very bones extracted from the fruits that were bought to feast on are quite suitable. It is best to use "fresh" pits, freshly removed from healthy dates. Make sure that there is no mold and traces of insects on the bones - planting material must be perfect. Then the seeds should be placed in wet conditions(capacity with clean water) for about a day, so the remnants of the fruit pulp will swell, they can be easily removed. During the so-called soaking, it is advisable to change the water several times.

Date seeds, photo:

After 24 hours, remove the seeds, dry, lay out on a dry, clean cloth. To speed up the germination process, the bones can be lightly processed sandpaper or just scratch a little with a sharp knife.

Good results are obtained by preliminary germination of grains.

To do this, they are placed in wet vermiculite, sprinkled on top with a thin layer, put the container next to warm battery pre-covered with plastic wrap. Here you need to make sure that the agrovermiculite remains moist all the time. From time to time it should be sprayed.

Accumulated condensate should be removed in time. For spitting sprouts, sometimes two weeks is enough. After that, the planting material is planted in pots. These temporary containers will be home to young palms until the plant has a single long stem. At the bottom of the pots, as usual, pour drainage (fine expanded clay).

Young palm trees from the stone, photo:

For sprouted seeds, a special palm substrate (preferably) or a peat-sand mixture is best suited. You can plant 3-5 seeds at the same time, while the soil must be constantly moistened. Watering future palm trees should be very careful and careful, regular airing is also a must. If you do everything right, but sprouts do not appear, do not despair - this plant can “sit” underground for a long time, not be active. Continue to water and provide fresh air to the pot, there are cases that sprouts appeared even 4-5 months after planting the seeds.

date palm transplant

When wondering how to grow a date palm at home from a seed, you need to know that this exotic plant grows very slowly. Do not be surprised if two or even three years pass before the appearance of the first full-fledged leaves.

Be that as it may, the transplant should be done very carefully, for fear of damaging the delicate roots. As mentioned above, palm trees are transplanted at the stage of the appearance of the first stem. At this stage, the roots do not yet have time to braid the drainage, which makes it possible to transfer the plant along with an earthen clod (by transshipment).

There is an opinion that young palm trees need an annual transplant. Yes it is. And only then, when the plant is about five years old, you can transplant as needed. If you see that your plant is doing better after transplanting, then make sure that each subsequent pot is 3 cm larger (in diameter) than the previous one. Be mindful of drainage, use special substrates for indoor palm crops.

Palm date care at home, photo:

Sometimes it is enough to simply replace the top layer of the soil mixture: the old earth is carefully removed, and a new nutrient soil mixture is poured in its place. This process is best done in the spring.

Date palm, home care

Despite the fact that this representative is characterized by slow growth, he reacts extremely quickly to the lack of proper care. Young palm trees instantly lose their cheerful appearance at the slightest discomfort. In order for a palm tree to feel good at home, it needs to provide adequate lighting. If large trees growing in nature perfectly tolerate heat, scorching sunlight, then the home palm tree must be protected from these factors. Nevertheless indoor palm is light-loving plant. The best place for it will be a room facing south, or window sills, which are located on the west or east side.

By the end of spring, when the air temperature reaches +12..14°C, you can safely take your palm tree out to outdoor balcony. If you are unable to move the tree to open air- it's okay, it feels comfortable at home, just do not forget to ventilate the room more often. With the onset of heat, do not be too lazy to irrigate the plant with a spray bottle, and also wipe its leaves with a damp cloth. A palm tree grown from a stone loves that the soil does not dry out, but excessive waterlogging is extremely harmful to its roots. In summer, the tree needs to be watered more often, but at the same time make sure that the pan is dry, without stagnant water.

As for care in winter, it is necessary to provide the palm tree with an air temperature of at least + 16..18 ° C. The mercury column index of +12 ° C is considered critical for a domestic palm tree - it stops growing, starts to hurt.

In winter, the plant is watered less often. When the top layer of the soil mixture dries out by about 3 cm, then watering should be done.

Do Date Palms Need Drainage? Definitely needed! Make sure the tree has good drainage. Remember, the larger the palm tree and its pot, the thicker the drainage layer.

Penumbra, diffuse lighting, air temperature +15..18°C, moderate watering with water at room temperature - ideal conditions for keeping this crop. Under the straight lines sunbeams there should not be a palm tree, the leaves dry, the tree withers.

You should also mention top dressing - this plant loves them very much. Standard additives for palm crops give very good results, but if you decide to feed the tree divorced chicken manure(proportions - 1:3). Then dilute 0.5 liters of infusion with 10 liters of water. Apply 1 time in 12-14 days. The palm tree will thank you with splendor, rich color of foliage. With the onset of winter, such monthly top dressing will be very appropriate.

By and large, the indoor palm tree is unpretentious plant, but diseases and pests can get to her at home. Spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects - they are all very partial to palm crops, if you notice the first signs of infection, hurry up to treat the tree with soapy water at an early stage. If the condition is more serious, then you can’t do without chemical preparations - insectoacaricides, such as Aktellik, Dursban, Agravertin, Vertimek, will help you here.

Excessive watering (waterlogging) can provoke the appearance of pink rot, a variety of spots on the leaves. Fungicides, the drug "Mancozeb", "Fitosporin-M" fight these manifestations. The room where the palm tree is located should have a minimum humidity of at least 60%. Practice water irrigation, especially in summer. And with the onset of winter, place a small container filled with water next to the palm pot. As for the slow growth of the tree, here you should pay attention to the level of soil acidity. If the degree of acidity is increased, then palm growth may stop. A neutral pH is optimal for this plant.

Observe temperature regime, protect the plant from direct sunlight and drafts. To make a date palm from a stone at home become a lush growing tree and a real decoration of your interior, you should follow the simple rules described above.

Under natural conditions, date palms grow into a strong tree with a powerful trunk. The homeland of the plant is considered hot Africa and India.

It is known that a tree can live in conditions of heat and hot sand for up to one hundred and fifty years.

Optimal indoor conditions for growing

To grow a palm tree at home, it is necessary to provide it with the most comfortable conditions. The soil for the date palm is selected loose, well-permeable to moisture and air, soft and nutritious. You can purchase a purchased substrate for palm plants, you can cook it yourself. To do this, take sod land, humus or compost and sand in equal parts with the addition of superphosphate. A pot for a date palm is chosen, guided by height and depth, the main thing is that the long roots of the plant fit.

Did you know? Dates, along with buttermilk, are traditionally eaten by Muslims at the end of the Ramadan fast after sunset. Another Muslim tradition in Oman is that when a boy is born in a family, the father plants a date palm. The tree grows with the child and serves as a talisman for him.

Place and lighting for a palm tree

A palm tree in nature develops beautifully in conditions of the scorching sun and heat, but in an apartment, home plants are not adapted for such extreme sports. It is best to place the plant pot near windows facing south, east and west, but not in direct sunlight, the leaves should not get burned. Since the leaves always reach for the light, the palm tree needs to be rotated regularly around its axis so that the crown develops evenly, and not the leaves are stretched on one side. In winter, the palm tree needs to be provided with additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

Important! Without proper lighting, the leaves of the date palm are deformed, strongly stretched, become brittle, brittle, fall down.

Temperature regime

The temperature regime for a palm tree in an apartment is 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius. IN spring period, when the air temperature warms up to +12 degrees, the palm tree can be taken out to the loggia, gradually increasing the time of "walks". Plant loves Fresh air, so it is advisable to ventilate the room in which there is a pot of dates. In winter, the palm tree has a dormant period, it can be kept in cooler conditions, but not below 14 degrees Celsius. In summer, the palm tree tolerates high temperatures up to 30 degrees, but subject to maximum humidity.

Features of caring for a date palm at home

The date palm in its homeland lives and develops in drought conditions, but it does not remain without water, do not forget about long roots. At home, the plant requires attention not only when watering but also in nutrition maintaining the shape of the crown and increasing the area as it grows.

Let's figure out how to water a date palm at different periods of its life. If you planted a palm tree from a stone, then while the plant germinates, watering should be rare, on the verge of complete drying of the soil. When a young bush is formed, watch the top layer of soil - two to three centimeters, watering is carried out as it dries. For watering palm trees use settled water. Water that gets into the pan of the pot must be immediately drained.

Attention! In winter, the plant life processes slow down, watering is reduced to a minimum. If moisture stagnates, the root system will rot and the date will die.

Air humidity

The plant does not require specific indicators of humidity, but in winter it should be removed as far as possible from heating devices, it is advisable to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. This will perform several functions at once: it will give the plant additional moisture, clean it of dust, and serve as a prevention against insects. In summer, when the weather is dry and hot, date palm care includes spraying and warm baths once a week. During the bathing procedure, the soil lump around the palm tree trunk must be covered with a dense film and water should not get on it.

top dressing

Fertilizers for palms can be used purchased - complex preparations for large ornamental plants. The date palm responds equally well to organic matter and mineral fertilizers. In the warm season, the plant is fed twice a month, in the cold - once a month. Fertilizers for dates are desirable in liquid form. Feeding with potassium nitrate (10 g per 10 liters of water) is completely allowed. On sale there are complex formulations directly for palm trees.

Pruning palm leaves

It is important to know how to prune a palm tree so as not to destroy the plant. During the pruning procedure, dead leaves, damaged, leaning too low are removed. Side shoots are also removed when they appear, for normal development and decorative look a palm tree should have one central stem. When pruning, be careful: you can not damage the main shoot, otherwise the plant will die.

Important! Do not immediately remove yellowed leaves, the plant draws nutrients from them for some time. Do not remove more leaves than they have grown in a year.

Date palm transplant at home

Consider how to transplant a date palm. The timing of transplantation depends on the age of the palm and its size. A plant under the age of five years is transplanted every year, picking up a pot four centimeters larger. Plants over five years old are repotted every three years, or sooner if the roots are already visible through the drainage holes.

Date palm transplantation is carried out by transshipment, as its root system is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Before the procedure, the earthen ball is thoroughly watered so that it is easier to pull it out of the pot. The plant is taken out on spread paper, drainage is placed in the pot. For self cooking soil you need:

• soddy soil - 2 parts;
• sheet - 2 parts;
• peat - 1 part;
• sand - 1 part;
• a handful of charcoal.

Possible Problems When Growing Date Palms

Date palm can be attacked by pests and most often with improper care at home. Due to strong waterlogging, palm leaves may darken to brown-brown, while the trunk will soften, the plant will emit bad smell rot. Stopping watering and completely drying the soil will help correct the situation. In this situation, a careful examination of the root system will not be superfluous: if the roots are soft, then the palm tree can no longer be saved. If there are live roots, then it is necessary to remove the rotten roots, process the cuts with crushed coal and dry the soil.

If only the ends turned brown sheet plates, the reasons may be a lack of moisture, temperature changes as a result of a draft, dry air. In case of darkening lower leaves This is most likely due to age.

The date palm is a tropical rainforest tree plant that has been successfully grown indoors for many years.

The date is unpretentious in care and organically fits into the interior of the room, adding to it exoticism and unusualness.

Even a beginner can grow this plant in his apartment if he listens to the advice of experts.

Growing Rules

In order for this exotic plant turned into a beautiful and sprawling tree, you will have to be patient. And it is not necessary to count on the fruits from it. In order for dates to appear on a tree, it must reach a height of at least 15 meters. IN room conditions it's practically impossible. However, even without fruits, a palm tree will be a wonderful decoration for any interior.

Bone germination

Like any other plant, a palm tree begins with a seed. You should not look for exotic seeds in the store.

You just need to buy a date and eat it, and leave the seed for planting. But before planting a seed in the ground, it must be germinated, otherwise it will either grow for a very long time or will not be viable.

The rules for seed germination are as follows:

Seeds move into the ground after the first sharp shoots appear on them. They should be juicy and dense, only such bones will give a healthy and strong tree.

Proper soil for planting

The optimal substrate for palm trees is a special soil, which is sold in flower shops. It is he who needs to be purchased for transplanting sprouts. But it often happens that there is no opportunity to buy ready-made soil. In this case, you can do it yourself.

To prepare the substrate you will need:

• turf;
• peat;
• sand.

All components are mixed with each other in equal parts. For greater looseness, it is allowed to add sawdust. Before planting, the container is filled with drainage, and the soil is already laid on it.

Planting a sprout without errors

Opinions of flower growers about proper fit bones are very different. Someone thinks that it is enough to put the seed upright and lightly sprinkle with soil. But the majority is inclined to believe that the seed should be laid with the sprouted seam up and sprinkled with earth.

The best option will be planting several seeds in one pot. The germination and survival rate of exotics is quite low, so most of them will simply die. Germination can take up to 5 months, so the grower needs to be patient. The main thing is to cover the container with the seed with glass or polyethylene for all this time. But periodically the earth should be moistened and given access to air.

Light during germination is not important for seeds, so they can be placed in a dark place with an air temperature of at least 20 degrees. You can moisten the soil with a spray gun so that the bone is not washed out of the soil.

Date care at home

It is not enough to plant a date seed and germinate it, you need to provide the plant proper care so that it pleases the owner with its green leaves and exotic beauty. The tree reacts very sharply to any inaccuracies in care., which leads to drying and dropping foliage.

Young sprouts quickly reach for the sun, so they should be plentiful water and replant as needed:

• the pot becomes cramped;
• its height is already insufficient for a palm tree.

Growth retardation usually occurs after the appearance of the first leaf. It will not look like palm. The first leaf of the plant is narrow and oblong, with dark transverse veins. But after a while they will turn into beautiful fans that growers appreciate so much.

While the date palm is growing, care must be very thorough. The plant is very photophilous, so you should place a pot with sprouts on the brightest window - the south or southeast. In this case, the air temperature should not fall below 20 degrees. IN winter time the window sill should be additionally insulated so that the soil does not cool from it and the roots of the plant do not suffer.

If several seeds have sprouted in one pot, then you will have to transplant each plant into its own separate pot. This will require a special soil, consisting of four parts of humus, one part of peat and two parts of sand and earth.

The first transplantation of sprouts is carried out after the plant reaches a length of 15 cm. Drainage, which consists of expanded clay and crushed coal, must be poured onto the bottom of the pot. This will prevent the roots from rotting with excessive watering.

In the summer, it is worth taking the palm tree out into the air. This will help the plant to strengthen and avoid infection with many diseases. In order for the leaves on the palm tree to develop symmetrically, you need to turn the pot once a week with the other side to the light.

Plant watering rules

It is necessary to water the plant so that the earthen lump does not dry out at any time of the year. In summer, the plant is watered 3 to 4 times a week with warm, softened water. The best option would be to use rainwater. But for the winter, soil moisture can be reduced to 2 times a week.

Palm is a tropical plant, and therefore overflowing is harmful to it. Be sure to drain the water from the pan after watering so that the roots do not start to rot.

A must in summer spray and wipe the leaves regularly with a damp cloth. Once a month, the plant should be taken outside and given a warm shower. The soil at the time of the shower must be closed.

Fertilization and transplanting

Caring for a date palm at room conditions requires the mandatory application of fertilizers to the soil. This must be done during active growth- in spring and autumn. Top dressing is applied once every two weeks, but for winter time you need to reduce top dressing to once a month.

Special palm fertilizers are ideal for the plant. But you can also use mineral fertilizers, which are diluted in water and used to spray the leaves. For foliar application only, the fertilizer concentration should be halved.

The plant should be repotted in the spring. perfect time for this procedure is April. Young plants need to be transplanted annually. But after the palm tree is five years old, you can perform this procedure every two years. The palm tree will tell itself that the time has come to change the pot: its roots will entangle not only the soil, but also the drainage.

The root system of a palm tree is very fragile, despite the fact that the roots are very thick. A transplant for a plant is the strongest stress, so you need to perform the procedure as carefully as possible. It will be optimal to keep the earthen ball whole.

The capacity for transplantation must be chosen quite high. Moreover, each time its volume should be slightly larger than the previous one. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot, on top of which soil is poured to the middle of the pot. After that, the roots of the date with an intact earthy clod are carefully installed and sprinkled with earth.

In old plants, transplantation is not performed. A simple replacement of the topsoil will suffice here. So it will be possible to save the necessary nutrients in the soil.

Reproduction and pest control

Knowing how to care for a date palm, you can get the most beautiful plant in your home. It is important not only to know which fruit is ideal for seed germination, but also how to deal with pests on an adult plant.

If the plant was taken out into the street, then it could acquire spider mite and shield. But even being constantly in room conditions is not a guarantee that pests will not appear on the palm tree. In this case, the leaves of the plant will have to be treated with insecticides. Actellik is ideal for this. But processing should be carried out only on the street.

As preventive measures a monthly warm shower with the addition of a soapy solution to the water is suitable.

Palm trees are most susceptible to diseases such as spotting and pink rot. In this case, the plant will have to be treated with fungicides. But they should not contain copper in their composition. Mancozeb, Ridomil are ideal.

Problems when caring for a palm tree

If a date appeared in the house, home care should be complete. Otherwise, the plant will quickly die. So, if the palm leaves began to dry, then it lacks moisture. The plant should be sprayed more often.

But often the owners flood the palm tree, believing that the plant comes from the tropics and needs a lot of water. In this case, the plant will respond with blackening of the leaves. It will be possible to cope with the problem by reducing watering.

If there is a date palm in the apartment, caring for it at home may not cause problems if you maintain the temperature in the room and water the date in a timely manner. But if these requirements are violated, growth will stop. And when care is at the proper level, the palm tree pleases the grower with beautiful leaves and amazing growth.

The date palm is a spectacular exotic plant that will decorate any interior. Date (lat. Phoenix) belongs to the Arekov family and originates from India and Africa. In these countries, the plant has long been of practical importance: the wood was used to build houses, the leaves were used as roofing, and in dried and processed form they were used to make rugs, ropes and baskets.

As ornamental plant this palm tree began to be used in the 18th century, then many noble houses began to flaunt not only luxurious interiors, but also with a similar exotic floral decor. This plant became widespread after the start of active export of dates from the Middle East. Many simply began to grow it from seeds at no special cost, instead of spending money on an expensive grown seedling.

Date palm care and photo

Date is not the most capricious plant. However, there are certain subtleties that must be observed when leaving.

The date palm is very photophilous, place it on the sunny side

Dates are big lovers of the sun. Your plant will be most comfortable in south-facing rooms, best with big window or multiple windows but on clear days in summer it is better to shade them because of the danger of burns.

So that your date does not grow one-sided, you need to rotate the pot around the axis. This will form a beautiful symmetrical crown.

In winter, with a lack natural light leaves may stretch out and fall down. To avoid this, you can use special fluorescent lamps.

In the spring, when warm weather sets in, it is good to take the plant to fresh air. You can put it on the balcony or take it out into the garden. This should be done gradually, starting over a few hours. Do not leave the plant outdoors at night: the last frosts are still likely in spring.

Optimum temperature

Normal room temperature (in the range of 23-25 ​​degrees) is optimal for this plant, and at home, the date palm feels good. Winter is a dormant period for this plant, all its life processes slow down, and it can tolerate low temperatures (about 18 degrees, but not lower than 14). In summer, with sufficient humidity, the plant tolerates up to 28-30 degrees of heat. At any time of the year, he needs fresh air, so the owners of decorative palm trees are advised to ventilate the room more often. However, drafts should not be allowed, they are detrimental to the southern plant.

Watering and humidity

Date palm loves abundant watering

Dates love moist soil and air, they need regular abundant watering and additional foliar spraying. In summer, the optimal watering regimen is 3 times a week. In winter, watering is reduced to once a week. It is best to use warm, settled or filtered water.

Soil and top dressing for date palm

Date palms do not require special soils. You can use purchased soil, you can independently select components for the soil, for example, combine soddy soil with humus, compost and sand. It is good to add superphosphate to such a mixture (1 tablespoon per 3 liters)

In summer, the date is fertilized once every two weeks with special palm fertilizer (you can buy it at any flower shop). It is also permissible to fertilize with potassium nitrate in the proportion of 10 grams per 10 liters of water.

Transfer and transshipment

Palm should not be repotted often

Dates do not like transplants and often get sick after it. Young plants (up to 4 years old) are transplanted once a year. This must be done in the spring.

The transplantation of these plants is associated with certain difficulties. An adult palm tree can be quite large and heavy, and it is difficult to remove the plant from the pot without damaging the leaves and roots. If the root is damaged, the palm dies, so it is recommended to break the old pot, and not pull the palm out of it. Adult plants should be transplanted only if the root system of the finca has become crowded in a pot, but not more than once every 2 years.

To find out if your palm tree has grown out of a pot, look at the drainage hole - if the roots are not sticking out of it yet, a transplant is not required. How to transplant a date palm at home: the plant is planted in new pot by transshipment method - carefully, trying not to break the branches and especially the top, transfer the date into a new pot, and fill the voids around with new soil. The pot should be chosen 3-4 centimeters larger than the previous option, not too wide. Be sure to lay a drain a few centimeters thick.

Date palm can be grown from seed at home.

It is easy to grow a date palm at home from a seed, the main thing is that it has not been heat-treated. The most common dried fruits from the store will do. The most favorable period for seed germination is February and March, but you can try to grow this tree in other months. It is much easier to grow a date palm from a seed than with a layer.

So that mold does not appear on the planted bone, soaking is required - this way the bone will be cleaned of the remnants of the fruit pulp. Mold and decay can cause the death of your future date.

After soaking, the bone is placed in not too big pot or container with loosened soil and watered abundantly. You should not soak it for too long or somehow destroy the bone shell in the hope of facilitating the release of the sprout - the date sprouts well without these manipulations in 4 weeks.

You can build a greenhouse made of plastic film over the container. Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse when condensation appears. The container with the bone is placed in a fairly bright place. When a sprout appears, the greenhouse must be removed from the pot.

When a sprout has two leaves, it will slow down its growth a little - do not worry, this is normal. After the appearance of four leaves, the date is transplanted into an individual pot (if it has grown in a common container before), now you can start feeding.

The date palm can dry if it is affected by a red spider mite

If your date palm began to lose appearance, dries, loses leaves, turns brown - pests can be the cause of these changes.

Yellowed palm leaves signal an infection with a red spider mite. If you repeatedly violated the temperature regime or did not maintain humidity, a danger is very likely this disease palms. The red mite passes from the stem to the leaves and is difficult to treat.

Date palm leaves turned yellow and brown plaques formed on them - this is a scab. If the palm tree began to dry very quickly, the crown withered - this is a mealybug defeat. The leaves turned brown inside and became whitish from the outside - thrips.

To combat these date diseases, the following methods are used:

• soap sponge (wipe leaves and trunk with it, thus removing pests);
• spraying with special compounds (phosphamide, pyrethrum, fitoverm, etc.);
• treatment with medical alcohol (wipe with a cloth dipped in alcohol or spray the plant);

However the palm tree loses its healthy appearance not only from pest damage, but also with improper care. The most common mistakes:

• waterlogged soil;
• lack of watering;
• too dry air;
• drafts.

The photo shows a date palm that was heavily flooded with water.

When the leaves darken to a shade close to brown and the trunk becomes soft, the plant is flooded. Often, when overwatered, a putrefactive odor appears. If you find any of these signs in your plant, stop watering immediately. It is necessary to check the condition of the roots - if the roots become watery, the date will inevitably die. If only part of the roots has rotted, it must be removed - in this case there is a chance for the plant to recover.

If the tips of the leaves are dry, this indicates insufficient watering. Dried leaves will not recover, they must be removed. From excessive dryness of the soil, the leaves also fall, and they will have to be tied up.

Yellowing of the leaves may indicate watering with too hard water or that your date lacks nutrients, top dressing is needed.

If you want to bring elements to your home winter garden, growing room date palm will require little effort from you, but the result of the work will be healthy and beautiful plant which will thank you for your labors with a blooming appearance!

You can learn a lot more interesting things about how to care for a date palm at home from the video, we wish you a pleasant viewing.