Dreaming of the sea somewhere in Miami, a person imagines the deserted coast of the ocean on which palm trees grow. Meanwhile, this tree can be grown at home. An example of this is the palm tree of Washington.
Washingtonia is a tree that in its natural habitat grows up to 30 meters tall and has a meter in the circumference of the trunk. At home, it is impossible to achieve such plant sizes. It is almost as unrealistic to achieve its flowering at home.
Palm tree washingtonia
This species of palm trees has moved into the category of indoor plants relatively recently. The following factors played a role here:
- Washingtonia is a fairly unpretentious plant. She calmly tolerates temperature changes, requires watering, light and occasionally transplantation.
Interesting. This tree planted on the street can withstand frosts of up to -5 degrees and even more.
- This palm tree looks very interesting. She has large spreading leaves, divided into segments. They are very similar to fans.
- The variety cleans the air well, therefore it is recommended for places contaminated.
All this makes the palm of Washington a great option for decorating rooms.
Like many other plants, this palm tree has different types.
Filamentous
Washingtonia is filamentous, or filamentous, scientifically called Washingtoniafilifera. She comes from hot California, because she is also called the California fan-shaped filament palm. It has grayish-green leaves. Between their segments there are many finest threads, where the name comes from. The trunk of this tree is quite thick, strong. Another distinguishing feature of such a palm tree is that the leaf cuttings are green in color. In height, this type of washingtonia on the street can reach 20-25 meters.
Washingtonia is filamentous or filamentous
It’s easy for her to winter. In nature, every plant has a period of flowering and rest. For a California palm tree, 15 degrees Celsius is enough in the room where it grows, and the restriction of watering.
Robusta
Washingtonia Robusta also comes from hot lands, but from Mexico. Therefore, this palm tree is still called Mexican. There is also such a name - powerful. Its leaves are very similar to the filamentous species, they are also large and strongly dissected into segments. But the color of the leaf of Washingtonia robusta (as the palm is called scientifically) is already different - saturated green. It does not have the same threads as on the leaves of filamentous Washington. The trunk of this tree is slightly thinner, but longer: in nature, it can reach a mark of 30 meters.
Washingtonia Robusta
This type of palm tree does not need to lower the temperature during the wintering period. It may well occur in normal room conditions. It is enough to reduce watering for this period.
Powerful Santa Barbara
Speaking about growing this tree at home, you should definitely mention the special grade of Robusta's Vingtonia. It is called Santa Barbara. It is he who is most often found in people's homes, in public buildings and even in industries. This is because its ability to purify air is higher than that of other varieties.
This is a fairly unpretentious tree. He does not need any special conditions that are difficult to recreate at home. However, caring for a palm tree in Washington at home requires strict adherence to the following series of rules:
- Lighting. This plant necessarily needs a lot of sun. In this case, direct rays will not benefit. It is better to place the pot near the window where there is diffused light.
Palm tree needs a lot of ambient light and space
- The location. Washington should be protected from drafts. She does not like them.
- Temperature. This palm tree is a tree capable of withstanding temperature changes. Nitrous washingtonia in indoor conditions has a seasonal requirement: from early spring to late autumn, it needs a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius (strictly not higher than 30 degrees). In winter, she must arrange a "cooling" to 10-15 degrees. Powerful Washingtonia does not really need this, but it can also be arranged for a similar wintering.
- Watering. You cannot water a palm tree with cold water. In summer, watering is carried out as the soil dries. In winter, they wait another day or two.
- Humidity. Washingtonia loves moisture, so it is recommended to spray it additionally or wipe it with a damp cloth. In winter, additional moisture is removed.
- Transfer. A palm tree must be transplanted according to plan.
Important! Stony Washington and Robusta are usually kept at home, only while the trees are young. An adult plant is recommended (if possible) to transplant into open ground. The optimal lifespan of a palm tree at home is 7-8 years.
Little Palm Washington
There are several ways to get a green beauty at home. Among them - growing from the seeds of Washington filamentous or Robusta. This lesson will not take much effort, but it will require preparation. It will require:
- Fresh seeds
- The substrate for them (land, peat and sand in a ratio of 4-1-1);
- Tray.
Start to grow a palm tree like this:
- First, seeds are scarified. This means that they need to be slightly cut with a knife. Then they are soaked in water for a period of 2 to 5 days.
- Sowing is carried out in the spring. Germination substrate is poured into a small tray, on the layer of which seeds are laid out. They are also sprinkled with peat mixture on top.
- A greenhouse should be arranged in the tray by covering the container with cling film or glass. There should be a temperature of 25-30 degrees. At the same time, it is important not to forget to regularly arrange ventilation and watering, care for seeds that have not yet sprouted is also necessary.
- The first sprouts sprout in a couple of months. After that, the tray opens and is rearranged in a well-lit place, without direct rays of the sun. As soon as the first leaf appears on the sprout, it is time for him to put it in a separate pot, in a special substrate for adult palm trees.
Palm tree sprouts
When washingtonia is grown from seeds, powerful (including Santa Barbara) or filamentous, sooner or later the sprouts will have to be planted in pots. This is not the only case when a palm tree needs a transplant.
The tree grows, each time it needs more and more space. In addition, the soil must be saturated with mineral additives. At the age of a palm tree younger than 7 years, transplantation (this is a transplant with preservation of a clod of earth that braids the roots) is carried out every two years. From 8 to 15 years old plants, this process is carried out every three years. When the tree is even older, transshipment once every five years is enough. It is carried out according to the following rules:
- A special substrate for palm trees is used: turfy and leafy soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 2-2-2-1. The finished mixture can be bought at the store.
- The pot should increase in diameter by 4 centimeters each time.
Transplanting palm trees into a larger pot
- Each time the earth needs to be additionally saturated with special mineral additives (they are also bought in the store).
Note! When buying a pot, it must be borne in mind that, in addition to the roots themselves, a large amount will go to the required thick layer of drainage, which is poured in front of the substrate.
For a plant such as Washington palm, home care is fairly straightforward. Only before you start growing it, you should make sure that there are conditions and opportunities to contain this tree. After all, what to take up a business right away is bad, it is better not to start it at all.
