Areca palm - how to care for a plant
Content:
Areca palm grows naturally in very warm latitudes, usually in the tropics. But in regions with a low average temperature, it is grown in room conditions. An exotic plant brings coziness and freshness to the interior, therefore it is kept in apartments, offices, halls of educational institutions.
Areca palm - what is this flower
The plant of the Arecaceae family and the Palm genus grows naturally in very humid tropical forests. Its habitat is mainly the Malay and Solomon Islands.
Areca care has several nuances
A short description of what it looks like
Areca Palm or Areca is a tall plant that, depending on the variety, can be from 40 cm to 10 m in height. Its erect and thin stems have small ring-shaped scars that can remain on them when the leaf plate grows. The leaves are elongated and are arranged in pairs over most of the surface of the stems.
The main varieties of Areca Palm
Despite the numerous varieties of Areka species in nature, only a few species are grown at home.
Areca triandra
Triandra or Three-stalked variety grows naturally in East Asia. The plant has a double-stemmed structure and reaches a height of 3-4 m. On the surface of the branches there are spherical scars characteristic of the areca. Straight sheet plates do not have an arc-like bend like other varieties. The fruits are no more than 3 cm in length.
Areca catechu, or betel nut
This species is also known under a different name - Bethel palm. In the wild, the culture grows mainly in the Malay Islands and India. The thin and high trunk has a diameter of no more than 10 cm, and the height of the bush can reach 5 m.
The feathery leaves of the areca Katechu are formed in the shape of an arc and hang slightly downward. The foliage is quite dense and densely located on the shoots. On the lower deciduous sinuses, large yellow panicle-shaped inflorescences are formed, in the place of which 5-centimeter fruits with seeds soon appear.
Areca yellowing (Areca lutescens)
In its natural environment, this type of areca is found mainly in Malaysia. Its thin, but very high stem is covered with ring-shaped scales. The bright green feathery leaves are slightly curved in an arc and reach a length of 40 cm, and their width is only 3 cm.
Areca care at home
Due to its large size and thermophilicity, the shrub requires careful care. The activities are simple to implement, but must be carried out regularly and in accordance with certain criteria.
Illumination and temperature conditions
The main thing in caring for areca palm trees at home is compliance with a certain temperature regime and lighting.
The bush needs the longest possible daily lighting, but without a long stay in direct sunlight.To this end, the pot is slightly moved away from the windows in the summer, and in winter, on the contrary, it is moved as far as possible to the window.
Areca flower can withstand a heat of 60 ° C, but a drop in temperature has a very negative effect on its health. Already at 0 ° C, the plant begins to turn yellow and dry. A pot with a palm tree should be kept in a room with a temperature range of 30 to 35 ° C.
Watering rules and humidity
The palm tree does not tolerate excessive moisture in the soil. It should be watered only when the topsoil dries out 2-5 cm deep. It is absolutely unacceptable to use chlorinated tap water for this procedure. It is better to let it settle for 4-5 hours in a wide container.
Areca feels fine in normal room summer humidity. However, in winter, room heating dries up the air, so you need to increase the humidity values yourself. During this period, you need to spray the bush with clean water every day.
Top dressing and soil quality
It is necessary to feed the shrub frequently and regularly. This is done from March to September twice a month. It is better to purchase complex mineral fertilizers designed specifically for palm trees. During flowering, it is necessary to exclude fertilizing with nitrogen preparations.
The composition of the soil in the pot should be as follows:
- humus or compost;
- loose soddy soil;
- perlite or river sand.
Since the plant does not tolerate excessive moisture, it is necessary to cover the bottom of the container with a drainage layer.
Flower container size
The size of the container depends on the age of the plant. As a rule, in the first five years, transplants are carried out every spring, choosing a pot that is larger in volume than the previous one. The plant has a high and branched crown, so the container must be wide and high. However, an overly massive pot is not suitable for a small plant; the flower will not grow in it due to a lack of nutrients.
Leaf care
The decorativeness of the palm tree lies mainly in its spectacular leaves, so they must be constantly looked after. Once a week, you need to wipe them with wet wipes from dust and spray them with a spray bottle. Rotten, yellowed and dried plates should be removed.
Division of the mother bush of the plant
Palm propagation methods
Areca can be propagated by seed and dividing the bush. The fastest and most popular way is to separate the shrub and the root system, but this method is carried out only with adult bushes.
Growing from seeds
Before planting, the planting material is soaked for about 20 minutes in a nutrient and disinfecting solution. Areca seeds are planted in a box with a nutritious and moist substrate. From above, they must be covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. The container is left in a dark, but very warm room.
By dividing the bush
Reproduction by dividing the bush is carried out as follows:
- Remove the shrub from the pot and divide it into several pieces with a sharp knife.
- They are immediately planted in separate pots.
- Moisten the soil and place the containers in a warm place protected from direct sunlight.
Areca diseases
Diseases and pests
Due to stagnant moisture, the palm tree often becomes ill with various fungal diseases. With root rot, the bush begins to wilt and dark spots form on the leaves. Often, due to a lack of minerals in the soil, the plant begins to wither, and its foliage begins to shrink. Due to prolonged exposure to the open sun, burns will also appear on it.
Frequent palm pests:
- Mealybugs - secrete white mucus on the leaves, which then begins to darken and destroy the fleshy parts of the bush.
- Scabbards - are located on leaf plates and suck out their juices.
- Whiteflies - similar to small whitish moths, are located on the back of the foliage and provoke its drying and curling.
- Spider mites - weave a thin web. They appear due to dry air, suck the juices from the bush, provoking it to dry out and stop growth.
To combat parasitic insects, special chemical preparations are used - insecticides, among which Actellik, Fitoverm and Aktara are especially effective.
One of the most decorative and exotic varieties of palms is the areca, which includes certain treatments at home. The events are simple, and novice florists can cope with them.
