Washingtonia (palm tree): growing at home, photo

Washingtonia (palm) is a special plant,which conquered the hearts of gardeners with its beauty. This kind of palm trees is mostly greenhouse, but recently people are increasingly trying to grow such a miracle at home. In order to do this, you need to work hard, because the tree is quite capricious. Palm, whose photo can be seen here, prefers bright sunshine, as its homeland is the Mediterranean. We will tell about this and other features in our article.

general information

So, before you grow this exoticmiracle, get to know him. Washingtonia is a palm tree that came to us from South America. Also, this plant is found in northern Mexico. While the palm tree is accustomed to the subtropical climate, it can withstand a short temperature drop to twelve degrees below zero. Referring to the areca family, the tree likes to be in well-lit areas. Such a plant looks great on a veranda or balcony on the south side, especially if you have neighbors such as myrtle, oleander or laurel in the company of it. In addition, Washington can be grown in industrial areas, as the tree fairly easily carries polluted air.

If we talk about the appearance of the plant, the palmcan grow up to thirty meters in height. It depends on its type. It also has large leaves with cuttings up to 1.5 meters. The trunk is large and covered with fibers and dry fallen leaves. When it is time for flowering, the tree produces a long three-meter stalks, on which are flowers. They look like panicles. And after this period ends, black berries appear in the place of flowers. This is a favorite treat of birds.

Types of palm trees

The tree in question is of two kinds. They differ from each other, and therefore we recommend to get acquainted with the description of both types:

1. Washingtonia is thread bearing.It is also called the California fan palm. The fact is that it was in California that this beauty was first noticed, and also there you can see whole plantings and forests from plants similar to it. The maximum height of a palm tree can reach twenty meters. The leaves have a gray-green color, and you can see a lot of white stripes (threads) on them. It is this feature that gave the palm its name. The tree prefers a cold winter with temperatures ranging from 6 to 15 degrees and a lot of light.
2. Washington is powerful.Just like the first species, it has a second name - the mighty Mexican palm. This tree has received the name because it grows on the border of Mexico and the United States. In free growth, a palm tree can stretch up to thirty meters in height, and this must be taken into account when planting a tree. Unlike the Californian beauty, this plant has light green bright leaves without any stripes, and there is a sharp spike on the stem of each leaf. The crown has a neater appearance compared to the nitrocary.

Care instructions

Many people are interested in the question: how does the palm washington grow at home? It grows well, but needs special conditions.

• Lighting should be bright enough.South room, veranda, balcony - all this is suitable for a tropical miracle. While the plant is small, it requires constant supervision and care, and only as an adult, the tree can grow in a place with less high illumination.
• Water the plant should be regularly, but take into accountseasonality. In summer, when the weather is hot, the palm must be watered once a week. In winter, when it is cold outside, watering should be reduced and should be done only when the soil is completely dry. During this period, the tree is resting, but still you should not let it dry. This will lead to the inevitable death of a palm tree.
• Humidity in the room where the palm tree growsshould be between 55 and 75 percent. To maintain this moisture you need to use sprayers. In winter, it is also practiced to wash the leaves with a damp cloth.
• As the tree grows, you need to rotate it in relation to the light source. It is necessary for the proper formation of leaf cover.

Additional fertilizing

Palm, whose photos are shown here,needs recharge. Like any other plant, it needs to be fertilized. This is best done in spring and summer, as it rests in winter. Every self-respecting gardener knows that you can not disturb the plant in a period of rest. As for the type of fertilizer, the specialized stores sell formulations that are intended for such trees as palm, yucca, dracaena. Read the instructions carefully and proceed according to them. It is recommended to conduct dressing twice a month, it can be a little less.

Transfer

If you grow Washington (palm), then earlyor later you will need to transplant it. The fact is that, while the plant is young (up to three years), it must be replanted every year. Then, as they grow up (from three to five years), once every three years. And quite adults (more than five years) - once every five years.

Для того чтобы пересадить дерево, вам понадобится a pot with high sides, and by no means a low wide vessel. The transplant process is best done at the beginning of the spring period. A mixture of sod, leaves, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1 is suitable for this plant as an ideal soil. This advice applies to those who want to make a mixture. For the rest, ready-made palm soil is sold.

Methods of reproduction

Of course, our readers are also interested in the question ofhow washington multiplies. Growing from seed is the way in which all palm trees multiply. For this procedure, you need to prepare the ground. This is an equal ratio of such components as peat, sand and sphagnum. You can also take compost earth, but it must be disinfected before this. For example, steam it in the microwave.

Seeds are planted at a centimeter depth.Indoors need to maintain a temperature of about twenty-five degrees. Watch carefully for drying and waterlogging. It is good if there is an opportunity to arrange heating of capacity from below. After a couple of weeks you will notice the first shoots. After waiting until they grow up and get stronger, you need to transplant them into separate pots.

Pest Control

The biggest problem with growing thisThe tree is its height. Think about where you can put an adult plant when it reaches its maximum height. But that is not all. Also, a tree can suffer from pest attacks. You need to constantly monitor the state of the tree and respond to changes in time. Shchitovka, mite, and mealybug are the most frequent guests on the palm tree.

Also, if improperly watered orallow temperature drops, the leaves of the plant may darken, coagulate, stains appear on them. The main thing in this case is to timely see the problem, assess the condition of the tree and eliminate it. The affected leaves are then removed.

Interesting facts about the plant

Washingtonia (palm) is used in the world notonly as a decorative ornament. In places where the tree came to us, it is used as a food product. Seeds of palm trees are used to make flour, and, for example, the petioles from the leaflets are eaten both raw and cooked. Moreover, baskets are made from the fibrous material of palm leaves.