The date palm is a great opportunity to decorate any room, be it ordinary apartment or office. This idea can be implemented in several ways. The easiest way is to purchase a plant that has the appropriate size and appearance. However, growing date palm on one's own. Naturally, to do this, you will first have to get acquainted with the agricultural technology of working in our climate, which is an order of magnitude different from the tropics.
Selection of seeds and their preparation for planting
Regardless of the tree that you are going to grow at home, the first thing you need to do is prepare planting material and provide it with favorable conditions for development. If you want to get a beautiful date palm from a pit, you should choose a variety that can grow indoors. To do this, you do not have to seek help from specialists, since any dates that have not undergone heat treatment are suitable for this.
Most suitable planting material is fresh dates. You don’t need photos for this, because if you don’t have them, you can replace them with dry fruits, which can be found at any market.
When choosing dried dates for growing ornamental palm trees, it doesn’t hurt to first ask the seller if they were boiled in sugar syrup. You should not buy fruits that have undergone such heat treatment, since the seeds taken from them will not germinate.
Preparation of planting material
When you have seeds, you can start preparing them for planting:
One more way can be proposed to speed up the ripening process. To do this, the prepared bones are placed in hot water, heated to a temperature of 80 degrees, and kept in it for one to two minutes. A sign that the seeds are ready for planting will be their swelling.
Conditions for growing date palms
The photo of the tree should make it clear that growing a beautiful date tree is not so easy as you need to be careful at every stage.
Even before you plant the seeds in the soil, you need to decide important questions:
- find suitable premises where the date palm will grow best;
- find a container of suitable size;
- prepare the ground.
Considering that the natural habitat of palm trees is the tropics, they can grow well with sufficient lighting and air humidity. But this should not be considered as a recommendation that in the tub you need to create conditions reminiscent of a swamp. For normal development date seedlings must not only be carried out frequent watering, but also provide direct sunlight for at least three to four hours a day. The most favorable conditions for growing date palms can be created on the south side.
However, keep in mind that the date palm is a fairly tall tree that can reach up to 30 meters. But it is unlikely to grow as high in room conditions, usually its height is limited to 2–3 meters. Moreover, to reach such a mark, it will take at least 5 years. To avoid delays in palm development it is necessary to provide an optimal amount of lighting throughout life. In the first years, it is allowed to grow young shoots in a pot on the windowsill. However, when the seedling matures, you will have to find appropriate place, well lit by the sun.
You can grow date palms in any suitable sized pots. But we must remember that in the first years of life they form a root, after which they form leaves. Growing palm trees begins with planting seeds in a common bed, from which the seedlings are planted in separate tubs.
The soil
To plant seeds you will need soil suitable composition. The easiest way is to buy it at flower shop. However, this must be a special soil, where there is an indication “for palm trees”. If you want to be sure of the quality of the planting soil, it is recommended to prepare it yourself.
A good base for soil will be raw sawdust, peat and sand, taken in equal quantities. Other types of soil looseners, such as perlite, are also suitable for this. Before filling the pot with soil mixture, drainage is placed at the bottom. Subsequently, when the palm tree continues to mature, it must be replanted, each time preparing new soil.
Stages of transplanting a date palm from a seed at home: from seed to palm
Proper preparation of seeds before planting is certainly an important step. However, this does not guarantee that they will grow into strong beautiful plants. If you do not follow the care rules at one of the subsequent stages, then at any moment the tree may wither and die. This can be avoided if you carry out the following activities throughout the life of the plant:
Specimens at the age of 5 years must be replanted every year. Subsequently, replanting is carried out taking into account the size of the plants. This can be determined by the roots sticking out of the ground.
When the time comes for transplantation, it is imperative to shorten rooted felt layer. This will prepare the young palm tree for artificial conditions cultivation, thereby increasing its survival rate.
Home date palms: photos
Rules for caring for a date tree
If you want to enjoy appearance date palm, you will have to provide appropriate care. Considering that she is used to growing in the tropics, the following will be useful for her:
- sunlight;
- moderate humidity;
- soft loose soil;
- periodic shower, which can be replaced by wiping the leaves with a damp cloth;
- high temperature;
- space. It is possible to grow a date palm only if there is a large enough free area so that light reaches it from all directions.
Other factors that are not included in this list are harmful to the palm tree. You can determine the deterioration of a tree by changes in leaves. They usually turn black. Most probable cause This is due to lack of sunlight or poor watering. It should also be taken into account that the plant can be affected by disease if there is a draft from the window in the room. For this reason, you need to ensure that there are no sudden temperature fluctuations in the room.
Having realized that the plant has begun to feel worse, you need to immediately take urgent measures to correct the situation. It can often be helped by increasing the air humidity, which can be done by spraying it with plain water from a spray bottle.
Conclusion
The date palm is interesting not only because it is a representative of a tropical climate, but also because of its original appearance. Even at a height of 2–3 meters, it can make the interior of any room attractive.. Growing dates at home is not so difficult if you start paying attention to the plant from the stage of sowing the seeds. It is important to remember that a date palm will only grow well if it is given enough space. Therefore, at the moment when she becomes tall enough, it is necessary to find her the optimal place where she will not feel constrained.
While trying the sweet, incredibly tasty fruits - dates, you have probably thought more than once about whether a date palm 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 will not grow at home; 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 retail chain offers small seedlings of miniature varieties of date palms, adapted for home cultivation. But we are interested in the process of independently growing a tree from a seed, right? How to grow a palm tree from a date seed? I want to tell you more about this.
This is what a date tree looks like at home
In your home, such a palm tree can grow up to 2 meters, for harmonious development she needs space and good lighting.
Date palm, seed preparation, planting
The very same seeds extracted from the fruits that were bought to be enjoyed are quite suitable for planting. It is best to use “fresh” pits, freshly removed from healthy dates. Make sure that there is no mold or traces of insects on the seeds - the planting material must be perfect. Then you should place the seeds in moist conditions (a container with clean water) for about a day, so the remaining fruit pulp will swell and 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 them, and place them on a dry, clean cloth. To speed up the germination process, the seeds can be lightly processed sandpaper or just scratch it a little with a sharp knife.
Gives good results preliminary germination grains
This is how a date root grows To do this, they are placed in damp vermiculite, sprinkled with a thin layer on top, and the container is placed next to a warm radiator, first covered with plastic film. Here you need to ensure that the agrovermiculite remains moist at all times. It should be sprayed from time to time.
Accumulated condensate should be removed promptly. Sometimes two weeks are enough for sprouts to hatch. After this, the planting material is planted in pots. These temporary containers will serve as a home for young palm trees until the plant develops one long stem. As usual, pour drainage (fine expanded clay) into the bottom of the pots.
Young palm trees from seed, photo:
What will grow from a date seed, 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, but the soil should be constantly moist. Future palm trees should be watered very carefully and carefully; regular ventilation is also necessary. If you do everything correctly, but sprouts do not appear, do not despair - this plant can “sit” underground for a long time, not showing activity. Continue to water and provide access fresh air to the pot, there are cases where sprouts appeared even 4-5 months after planting the seeds.
Replanting a date palm
When wondering how to grow a date palm at home from a seed, you need to know that this exotic plant grows very slowly. Don’t be surprised if two or even three years pass before the first full-fledged leaves appear.
Be that as it may, replanting should be done very carefully, for fear of damaging the delicate roots. As mentioned above, palm trees are replanted at the stage of the appearance of the first stem. At this stage, the roots do not yet have time to entwine the drainage, which makes it possible to move the plant along with the earthen lump (by transshipment).
There is an opinion that young palm trees need annual replanting. Yes it is. And only then, when the plant is about five years old, you can replant it as needed. If you see that your plant performs better after replanting, then make sure that each subsequent pot is 3 cm larger (in diameter) compared to the previous one. Remember about 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 soil is carefully removed, and new nutritious soil is poured in its place. earth mixture. This process is best done in the spring.
Date palm, home care
Despite the fact that this representative is characterized by slow growth, it reacts extremely quickly to the lack of proper care. Young palm trees instantly lose cheerful look at the slightest discomfort. In order for a palm tree to feel good at home, it needs to be provided with appropriate lighting. If big trees, growing in nature, tolerate heat well, scorching Sun rays, then the home palm tree needs to be protected from these factors. Nevertheless, the indoor palm tree is a light-loving plant. Optimal place for her there will be a room facing south, or window sills that 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 outside open balcony. If you are unable to move the tree to open air– it’s okay, it feels comfortable at home, just don’t forget to ventilate the room more often. With the onset of heat, do not be lazy to irrigate the plant with a spray bottle, and also wipe its leaves with a damp cloth. A palm tree grown from seed likes the soil not to 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 tray is dry, without stagnant water.
Date palm Robelena As for winter care, you need to provide the palm tree with an air temperature of at least +16..18°C. Index mercury+12°C is considered critical for a domestic palm tree - it stops growing and begins to hurt.
In winter, the plant is watered less frequently. When upper layer the soil mixture will dry out by about 3 cm, then watering should be done.
Does a date palm need drainage? Definitely needed! Provide the tree good drainage. Remember, the larger the palm tree and its pot, the thicker the drainage layer.
Partial shade, diffused lighting, air temperature +15..18°C, moderate watering room temperature – ideal conditions to maintain this culture. The palm tree should not be exposed to direct sunlight; the leaves dry out and the tree withers.
It is also worth mentioning about fertilizing - this plant loves them very much. Standard additives for palm crops give very good results, but if you decide to feed the tree with diluted chicken droppings (proportions - 1:3). Then dilute 0.5 liters of infusion with 10 liters of water. Apply once every 12-14 days. The palm tree will thank you with its splendor and rich foliage color. With the onset of winter, such monthly feeding will be very appropriate.
By and large, the indoor palm tree is unpretentious plant, but diseases and pests can reach her and the house. Spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects - they are all very partial to palm crops; if you notice the first signs of infection, hurry to treat the tree at an early stage soap solution. If the condition is more serious, then you cannot do without chemicals - insectoacaricides such as Actellik, Dursban, Agravertin, Vertimek will help you here.
Excessive watering (waterlogging) can provoke the appearance of pink rot and various spots on the leaves. Fungicides, such as Mancozeb and Fitosporin-M, combat these manifestations. The room where the palm tree is located must have a minimum air 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, you should pay attention to the acidity level of the soil. If the degree of acidity is increased, the growth of the palm tree may stop. A neutral pH is optimal for this plant.
Observe the temperature regime, protect the plant from direct rays of the sun and drafts. To make a date palm from a seed at home a lush growing tree and a real decoration for your interior, you should follow simple rules, described above.
This decorative tree, like the date palm (photo presented in the article below) pleases the eye with its long feathery leaves and looks great in any room.
As an exotic crop, it adapts perfectly to indoor conditions. About all the intricacies of planting and caring for homely beauty, we'll talk about it in our article.
Growing conditions
The date palm does not grow fast. She loves bright sunny colors, but on hot days it is necessary to create shade for her.
For uniform growth, it is useful to turn the date on each side towards the light so that the tops of the leaves point deep into the room. Natural views They are accustomed to dry conditions, but it is still worth controlling the temperature in the room.
The crop grows especially actively in spring and summer, when it needs moderate air temperatures ranging from 20 to 25°C. IN winter time the plant is able to grow normally at a cool temperature of 16–18 °C.
It is important to know: the plant does not like “walking air” around the room, and it is unwise to place containers with date palms on a cold surface.
The indoor palm tree prefers moist soil; complete drying out of the soil will negatively affect its growth. The date leaves will fall and this situation will not be restored.
Overmoistening the soil, especially when the temperature in the room is cool, can cause illness. It is important to consider the water temperature and monitor the frequency of watering.
It is necessary to control the composition and temperature of the water - the best option there will be soft water no higher than 20 °C.
Homemade exotic plants are in great need of spring-summer feeding; a liquid solution for large ones would be suitable. ornamental crops or bird droppings, but not more than once every 10 days.
How to grow from seed
For growing from seed, only seeds collected from ripe fruit are suitable.
Date kernels must be whole and not dried out, because in the end you may not grow the desired tree. Before planting the seeds, they need to be immersed in warm water to separate the seed from the pulp (this can take from 24 hours to 2 days).
Planting of seeds is carried out in ready-made synthetic soil or in soil with peat.
Note: The soil should not be dry, but moist.
Until the sprouts appear, you need to carefully care for the date, do not forget to regularly water and ventilate the room. Once the sprouts have sprouted, it is useful to monitor the amount of moisture in the growing container, because any condensation that forms must be removed.
The first shoots should appear in 10-14 days, then the seeds can be planted in pots and transferred to a sunny place. If two weeks have passed and no sprouts have appeared, the seeds may have dried out and will need a little more time to germinate.
How to care at home
It doesn’t matter whether the exotic palm tree is grown from a seed or brought from a flower shop, you need to find a place with moderate sunlight for it.
The date palm is big home plant, so it should feel comfortable in its flower pot. The culture does not tolerate transplantation well.
Young trees under 5 years old should be replanted no more than once a year, and after 5 years - once every few years.
Keep in mind: In order for the crop to continue to grow well, you need to change the top layer of soil with fresh soil once every six months.
When the time for transplantation comes, you can tell by the protruding roots from the drainage holes. The new pot is taken a little larger, 3-4 cm in diameter. Since the ornamental tree has long root shoots, preference should be given to tall containers.
The transplantation process must be careful. The focal plant is carefully transferred to a new pot and refilled additional land. The soil used is mostly loose and soft, so that water and fertilizer quickly penetrate to the roots. The plant does not like stagnation of liquids at the roots; to avoid this problem, a drainage layer is formed at the bottom of the pot.
Diseases and pests
Often exotic plant susceptible to disease if it is not properly cared for. As a result of waterlogged soil, dark leaves will appear on it, and the trunk will become soft, and perhaps a putrid odor will be felt.
With such signs, you need to start next steps: stop watering and pull crops out flower pot. If the roots darken and become soft, nothing can be done. If there are living roots, it is recommended to cut off those that have rotted and treat the cut areas with crushed coal.
When the soil becomes completely dry, the tips of the leaves become dark in color. However, if the lower leaves Brown, then this is considered normal. Bright green color crops may change to pale, the cause may be excess light or the appearance of red spider mite. If pests are not noticed, you should put the date in a dark place.
Take note: when a date succumbs to pest attacks, it begins to dry out, the leaves become dark, curl, and eventually fall off.
There are two ways to fight scale insects, mealybugs: wash the leaves with water and laundry soap or garlic extract. If traditional methods did not help, you can resort to diluting 1-2 ml of the substance per 1 liter of water.
Difficulties of content
Caring for it at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, the main thing is to water it moderately and periodically ventilate the room. However, warning signs may appear:
If you notice that the leaves have begun to dry, it means that the tree is in a room with low level humidity. It is easy to increase the humidity - wash the date leaves or spray it with water. Lack of sufficient moisture will lead to the next stage - yellowing leaves.
It is important not to forget to water the focal plant so that it continues to delight with its height and decorativeness.
If the room temperature drops below 16°C, the crop may stop growing. Under such conditions, the roots of the flower are not able to absorb nutrients.
Interesting to know: The date will not bear fruit in indoor conditions, because for productivity it needs to overcome the 30-meter mark.
In addition, the tree may lean to one side, as evidenced by a deficiency of certain microelements. Also, the cause of stunted growth can be caused by poisoning, where there are no microelements - manganese and iron. It is necessary to monitor the acidity of the soil; pH should not be lower than 7.
When growing a home palm tree, you want it to be healthy and grow faster, so you need to adhere to the main rule - the watering regime. There are several recommendations that should not be neglected:
- The earth clod should not be allowed to dry out completely, especially during the summer period, otherwise the roots will quickly begin to die or dry out in the sun.
- The decorative crop is adapted to high temperature conditions, but you should not water it during lighting, because water that gets on the leaves will cause them to burn out in the sun. Watering should be done in the evening or early in the morning.
- During the summer period, it is not necessary to loosen the soil, but when there is less watering, it is advisable to do this plastic devices so as not to harm the roots.
- If the leaves begin to turn black and the petioles turn yellow, it means that water has stagnated at the roots. It is necessary to let the plant dry, no more than 5 days.
Advice: organic compounds must be applied at intervals of 3 months.
If you wish, it is not difficult to grow an exotic beauty from a seed yourself. Suitable seeds can even be found in store-bought dates. And then, execute simple recommendations by the appearance of sprouts and watch how the exotic plant grows and develops.
How to grow a date palm from a seed, see the following video for detailed instructions:
All types of palm trees are very popular among indoor plant lovers. Palm trees are classified as ornamental deciduous focal plants. Such plants are used for landscaping residential and office premises, winter gardens, and greenhouses. Due to their large size (some palm trees good care at home they reach a height of up to 2 meters) with such plants you can fill empty space in the room or divide the room into zones.
All indoor palm trees are divided into four types: reed palms (, chrysalilocarpus), pinnate palms (, coconut, date), fan palms (chamerops, latania,) and sago palms.
Palm trees are in great demand among lovers of indoor plants, despite the fact that adult specimens are very expensive. But you can grow a palm tree like a date palm yourself from a date seed purchased at the market. But first, let's get acquainted with the secrets of caring for a palm tree.
Date palm: growing and care at home
The date is not a rather capricious plant; if you follow simple recommendations for its care, it will delight you with its beauty.
Lighting
The date palm is a light-loving plant, so choose a corner in your home where there will be enough light, but try not to let direct sunlight fall on its leaves, especially in summer time, otherwise burns cannot be avoided.
And don’t be upset if the room where you want to place your pet has windows overlooking north side. The palm tree tolerates light shading well. Therefore, if your palm tree will live in a room whose windows face north, place it closer to the window, this will be enough for it.
In the summer, if you live in your own house, it is best to take the palm tree outside when the night temperature is at least 12 degrees. Choose a quiet place for her in partial shade. If you live in an apartment, then a palm tree on the balcony would also be nice. The only thing is, if the balcony is too “sunny”, shade the windows with curtains so that the leaves do not get burned.
Temperature
The winter air temperature in the room where the palm tree will live should not exceed 16 degrees (maximum 18 degrees), but not lower than 12 degrees Celsius. If the temperature in your room in winter exceeds 18 degrees, try to place the pot with a palm tree in the coolest place (or closer to balcony door either a window or to the north wall).
Air humidity
Watering a palm tree
The most important condition for the active growth of a date palm is that the pot with the plant has good drainage; palm trees do not like stagnant water. In winter, watering should be done moderately, avoiding drying out and waterlogging of the soil. In summer you need to water more abundantly. It is advisable to leave water for irrigation for a couple of days if it is not possible to water with rain or melt.
Date transplant
Try to replant an adult palm tree only in cases of extreme necessity. She doesn't like to be bothered. If such a need arises, then try to damage the earthen ball around the roots as little as possible. Young plants can be replanted no more than once a year. It is better not to skimp on soil for palm trees. Now every flower shop has specially prepared soil mixtures for each type of plant.
The date palm reproduces by seed. To do this, take a pit from a date bought at the market or in a store and carefully break its strong shell to make it easier for the sprout to germinate. Stick the seed into the substrate (preferably peat or, mixed with sand, which retain moisture better) vertically so that top part the bones were recessed by about 1 cm.
The main condition: the temperature for germination should be high (20-30 degrees) and the soil should not be allowed to dry out. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about lighting at this time; at this stage it is not necessary. And be patient, the process of seed germination is quite long - from three months to six months. After the sprout appears, place the pot in a bright place.
Plant nutrition
The date palm is very responsive to fertilizing. You can, of course, buy special fertilizer for palm trees in the store, or you can prepare it yourself. For example, very good result Fertilizing the plant with fertilizer made from bird droppings (you can use chicken droppings, or even better, pigeon droppings).
To do this, fill 1/3 of the jar with dry manure and fill the rest with water. Let it brew for at least 10 days, stirring occasionally. When watering, use the following proportion: 1 part of ready-made fertilizer to 10 parts of water. In summer they fertilize once every 10 days, in winter less often - once every 30 days. You can also use potassium nitrate to fertilize palm trees in the summer in the ratio: 1 teaspoon of nitrate (without a slide) per 1 liter of water.
The date palm is a plant of the palm family. There are about 20 species in total. Grows mainly in Africa and Eurasia. This plant has been known to mankind for more than two thousand years. The first mention dates back to the 6th century BC - already at that time the date palm was grown in Mesopotamia (the territory of modern Iraq).
The tree belongs to the pinnate type of palm. In nature it can reach up to 30 m. The fruits of the date palm are a widely known and beloved delicacy grown in industrial scale. The juice is used to produce sugar. However, indoor date palms have long gained popularity, and interest in them especially increased when it became known that they can be successfully grown from date seeds. But before growing a date from a seed, you need to know the growing conditions of the plant in nature.
Growing conditions
In nature, it is a squat shrub or tree with feathery leaves, which are the main decorative advantage of this plant. A date palm at home from a seed can only grow up to 2 meters, but even in this case this indoor plant will require significant space. In room mature tree placed in spacious rooms with little furniture. But if it is grown from a seed, you can always make room for a small pot at home, because the date will grow for quite a long time.
The date palm blooms with panicles of yellow flowers. But you won’t be able to eat dates from this tree: it will bloom and bear fruit. exotic tree begins when it reaches a height of 15 meters, which, of course, is simply impossible at home.
Growing date palm from seed
How to grow a date palm from a seed? First of all, you should prepare the planting material for planting. For reliability, it is advisable to plant several seeds at once. Then prepare the soil for planting. Pits from fresh, dried or candied dates may be suitable - the most important thing is that the fruits are not exposed to early heat treatment. To obtain soil suitable for seed germination, you should mix sand, raw sawdust and peat in equal parts.
The seeds are placed vertically in the soil, and a 1 cm layer of the same substrate is poured on top. The container or pot is placed in a fairly warm place where the air temperature is more than 20-25 ºC. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is moist at all times, but not wet. It is recommended to keep it close to a heat source. There is no need to wait for quick results: the seed can sit in the soil and swell until the sprout appears for 3 or even 6 months.
When sprouts appear, the container should be moved to bright light, but at the same time protect the seedlings from direct rays. The soil should be regularly moistened and the seedlings should be sprayed with warm water. When the seedlings grow to 10-15 cm, they must be planted in separate pots with a diameter of 15 cm. The soil should consist of 4 parts of humus, 1 part of peat soil and two parts of sand, leaf and turf soil. You can also add 2 handfuls to the mixture charcoal. Before planting, everything is thoroughly mixed. Don't forget to put a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot.
At home, a date palm from a seed can produce leaves only after 3 or even 5 years. The plant's growing point is located at the top of the trunk, so it should not be trimmed or in any way attempted to shape the tree's crown. You need to make sure that the new arrow of the leaf is turned into the shadow. You should also turn the pot from time to time so that the crown is formed evenly.
Date palm from pits: care
Caring for a home tree is quite simple. It must be kept in a bright, sunny and well-ventilated area. In summer the air temperature can be any, but in winter period- not lower than 12-13 ºC, but not more than 18 ºC.
In the heat, the leaves of the plant can dry out at the ends, so it is advisable to spray them several times a day or wipe them with a wet sponge, and organize a shower for the plant once a week.
In summer, the palm tree should be fed weekly with minerals and organic fertilizers, in the fall, fertilize once every two weeks. In winter, it is enough to apply complex fertilizer once a month.
Watering
A date grown from a seed at home requires regular, balanced watering with settled, soft water. Balanced watering involves moistening the soil so that the plant has enough moisture, but nothing more. To prevent excess moisture from stagnating in the roots, you must remember to place a thick drainage layer in the pot when replanting.
Transfer
Young plants that have not reached the age of five are replanted annually, and those that are older - if necessary, because this tree does not like to be disturbed. When replanting, proceed very carefully so as not to damage the root of the date palm. The best way to do this is to transfer the plant from an old container to a new one. The pot should be deep enough, as it has long roots, and each next pot should be 3 or even 4 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. If the old container for the palm tree still fits, but the soil has already lost its beneficial qualities for the plant, when replanting, you should carefully remove the top layer of the old substrate and replace it with fresh one. This is done once every six months.
Reproduction
At home, the date palm is propagated only by seeds - pits.
Pests
Most often, a date palm from a seed at home suffers from the following pests if the maintenance conditions are violated:
- spider mite;
- scale insects;
- mealybugs.
The best way to control pests is to correct maintenance errors. Removing insects and traces of their activity that destroy the tree is best done mechanically, wiping the leaves with a soap and vodka solution. It is prepared as follows: take 15 g of any liquid soap, dishwashing detergent or grated dissolved in warm water solid soap and diluted in one liter of warm water. Next, add 2 tbsp to the solution. spoons of vodka. If necessary, the treatment of the leaves is repeated, just remember to protect the soil from getting the solution into it. In case of severe pest infestation, you should resort to treatment with insecticides, the best of which is Actellik.
Diseases
A date palm grown at home from seed is susceptible to the following diseases:
- spotting, which disfigures the leaf plate;
- pink rot, which affects both leaves and stems and causes them to rot.
Fortunately, only sick and weak plants are susceptible to infection by these diseases, so the key to the health of dates is, first of all, compliance with the rules of care. If a date palm, grown from seed at home, becomes ill, it is necessary to carry out double treatment with a fungicide that contains methyl thiophanate and mancozeb.
Why does the date palm start to dry out?
Sometimes the leaves of the plant begin to dry out at the tips. This indicates that in the room where the tree is located, low humidity air (normal 50%). There are many ways to increase it to the required value. Spray and wash the leaves, otherwise the plant will lose its decorative appeal, and you will feel sorry for wasted time and effort. Remember, a date palm, grown from seed at home, dries out only from careless owners.
Why does the date palm turn yellow?
The reason is irregular spraying of plant leaves, insufficient watering.
Why do date palm leaves turn dark?
If the soil in a pot where an exotic date palm from a stone grows is constantly waterlogged, the leaves gradually begin to darken and turn brown, the trunk of the plant becomes soft, and the smell of rot emanates from the tree. In this case, stop watering, remove it from the pot and inspect the roots: if they are dark, soft and watery, the palm tree has already died. But if there are still living roots between the rotted roots, then you need to cut off the dead roots, sprinkle the cuts with crushed coal, and then transplant the plant into fresh soil.
Date palm doesn't grow
As already mentioned, the temperature in the room with a palm tree should not be below 12 ºC in winter. At other times of the year, not lower than 18-20 ºC, since root growth stops at 16-17 ºC, root activity slows down significantly, and the palm tree cannot absorb the necessary nutrients. This is what leads to the cessation of growth.
High acidity of the soil, which causes a lack of iron and manganese, can also cause growth stunting, so it is quite important to adhere to the correct temperature regime, and also maintain soil acidity (pH below 7 units).
So, we looked at how to grow a date palm from a seed. There's nothing complicated about it, but decorative qualities the plants are certainly worth all the effort. Wood can fit perfectly into a modern interior.