Liviston palm - home care

The palm tree as a houseplant has long ceased to be considered something exotic. She is quite capricious, but there are unpretentious species that are easy to care for. One of these varieties is the Liviston palm. It will become a real decoration of the interior, thanks to the bright green feathery leaves, a bit like a fern.

Varieties of Liviston indoor palms

Sometimes this plant is mistakenly called "Livingstone palm", the correct official name sounds like "Livistona". Have the following varieties are considered the most popular of domestic florists:

• Round-leaved;
• Chinese;
• South;
• Deceiving.

All plants belong to the Palm family. They differ from each other in the height of the adult plant and the shape of the leaves. Care for these species is about the same.

Liviston's palm will take its rightful place on the window

Livistona rotundifolia - Rotundifolia (Livistona rotundifolia)

It is easy to guess that the variety "Liviston round-leaved" got its name for the peculiar shape of the leaf plates. The Latin name sounds like "Livistona Rotundifolia" (rotundifoli livistona).

If the decision is made to plant the Liviston round-leaved palm, home care will not take much time, this is one of the most undemanding and long-lived species.

The main features are fan-shaped, rounded leaves, clearly divided into segments, and brown cuttings resembling thorns. The plant can live up to 10 years, but never blooms.

The name of the flower has nothing to do with a scientist named Livingston, only a phonetic similarity

Livistona southern (Livistona australis, Corypha australis)

If properly cared for, the flower can quickly grow up to 2 meters in height at home. The leaves are round in shape, they have sharp thorns, so this species should not be planted if there are children and pets in the house.

Livistona mariae

The flower has long, light green leaves, shaped like arrows. The gray powerful trunk can reach 35-40 cm in diameter. The leaf plates bend beautifully in an arc. The trunk is widened at the bottom and gradually tapering towards the top.

The plant attracts flower growers with the beauty of the leaves.

The flowers are small, yellowish-green, of no aesthetic value.

Livistona Chinese - Latania (Livistona chinensis)

Chinese Livistona ("jade") is one of the most compact and beautiful species. The Latin name sounds like “chinensis livistona”. The flower grows slowly, but it is undemanding to light and can develop well in the shade, partial shade. Large feathery leaves have a rich green color, there are no thorns on them.

Livistona decipiens

In this variety, the leaves are directed downward and appear drooping. On the reverse side, they are light gray in color. The petioles are covered with small denticles. The flower is sensitive to temperature extremes, but is rarely affected by diseases and pests. Livistona is deceptive - a frequent "guest" in apartments, thanks to the compact form of the bush and long (more than 10 years) life expectancy.

Transfer after purchase

In all varieties of Liviston palms, the flower needs regular replanting. It must be performed as follows:

• Carefully remove the palm tree from the pot, which has become small for it;
• Move the flower along with the soil to a new vessel and add the previously prepared soil with the nutrient mixture;
• Carefully cut off partially rotted roots (this problem often occurs with improper watering);
• Lightly compact the ground.

You need to transplant a flower often, but very carefully.

Many growers make a big mistake by carefully cleaning the roots of a flower before "moving" to a new pot. You don't need to do this. Any touch to the roots is a strong stress for the plant, so it is better not to touch them at all, then the flower will adapt well and take root in a new place. The pot must be tall and stable enough so that the hanging leaves do not outweigh the vessel.

The optimal time for transplanting is the last decade of March or the first decade of April, when daylight hours are significantly lengthened. If the roots have already grown to a hole in the bottom of the vessel, you should not hesitate with this procedure - a long stay in cramped conditions can significantly slow down the development of the flower. The transplant frequency depends on the growth rate. If the palm grows quickly, you will need to replant it more often.

Soil for Livistona in a pot

The Liviston palm is quite demanding on the chemical composition of the soil. If you do not want to make the nutrient mixture yourself, it is best to purchase ready-made soil for plants of the Palm family in a specialized store. If this is not possible, the self-made mixture is in no way inferior in quality to the purchased one. The main thing is that the composition includes:

• Turf;
• Peat;
• Leafy humus;
• River sand.

It is necessary to mix all the components in equal proportions. Old rotted manure has a good effect on flower development. In order to better absorb moisture, you can add charcoal to the pot, broken into small pieces.

Bone meal is often added to the soil. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and stimulates the active growth of the plant. Pebbles, gravel, expanded clay are well suited as drainage. It is known that a high level of soil acidity interferes with the absorption of nutrients by the plant, so it is better to choose a soil with a neutral and slightly acidic reaction.

The soil must contain a large amount of nutrients

Particular attention must be paid to the drainage layer. The water should drain quickly and not stagnate in the pot. Increased soil moisture can lead to rotting of individual parts of the flower and fungal infections.

Caring for Livistona at home

If the Liviston palm tree has settled at home, home care includes the following activities:

• Pruning;
• Watering and spraying;
• Creation of the proper temperature regime;
• Top dressing.

Disease and pest control also plays an important role.

Temperature regime

The recommended temperature in the apartment, contributing to the intensive development of the flower, is 26-28 degrees. In the warm season, you can safely take the plant out to the balcony, terrace or veranda. If the palm tree has a trunk, it is able to withstand slight frosts.

The flower loves abundant watering and does not tolerate cold weather

Location and lighting

The flower loves direct or diffused sunlight, the ideal location is a house window facing south or east. In summer, at the hottest time (from noon to 3 pm), the palm tree needs to be shaded so that it does not dry out and does not get burned. Experts recommend turning the palm with its other side to the window every 2 weeks so that it grows symmetrical.

How to feed

If a florist decides to plant a Liviston palm, care necessarily includes regular fertilizing with mineral complex fertilizers.From April to August, the recommended frequency of root and foliar dressings is 3 per month. Fertilizer of industrial production "Mister Palma" gives good results. It should be entered, focusing on the step-by-step instructions on the package.

Pests, diseases and possible problems

If you do not follow the watering regime and improperly care for, the flower is often affected by rot and fungal diseases. Typical symptoms are wilting of leaves, a yellowish-brown tint of leaf plates. To eliminate the problem, it is enough to adjust the watering mode, and the leaves of the indoor flower will stop turning yellow.

Growing from seeds at home

The flower can be grown from seed. The seed is soaked in water for 2 days and planted in a pot (one seed at a time), the recommended planting depth is 1 cm. The container is covered with plastic wrap, until a sprout appears, the soil is periodically sprayed from a spray bottle. Do not pour boiling water over the seeds and immerse them in acid - this will lead to the death of the sprouts.

Seeds germinate in 80-90 days. After that, you can remove the plastic wrap.

Also, the reproduction of some species is possible with the help of lateral processes. You can only separate them from the plant with your hands, in no case using a knife or other sharp objects.

In order for the plant to please the eye for a long time, it is necessary to provide it with the proper temperature regime and monitor the humidity in the room. Regular feeding and abundant watering will help to avoid many problems and grow a strong, healthy palm. The original flower will purify the air in the apartment and remind you of distant southern countries.