Grow a palm tree from home seeds. Date palm from stone at home - how to grow and care

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Growing such a plant is troublesome, but very exciting. A palm tree obtained from seeds will bring much more joy to the grower, because he knows her "from the very birth."

First of all, you need to know that seeds germinate palms are very long (from 6 to 20 months), which means that the risk of crop death from fungal damage is very high. In such cases, both the sterility of the seed coats and the purity of the substrate in which they will be all this time come out on top.

Choice of substrate

I think the best substrate for such work is live sphagnum moss... It has high bactericidal properties due to the content of a special anti-putrefactive substance in the tissues - sphagnol. Live sphagnum moss should not be exposed to heat treatment... The only thing to do is to soak it well in boiled water at room temperature.

In the absence of moss, palm seeds can be germinated with equal success on other substrates, for example, thoroughly washed and calcined coarse sand, fine expanded clay or vermiculite. But keeping them sterile for a long time can be problematic.

Seed preparation

WITH seeds will have to tinker a little. First, you need them scarify, i.e. slightly violate the integrity of the shells. This will give water the opportunity to more actively penetrate inside, to the embryo, and the germination period of the seeds will be significantly reduced. You can do this operation different ways.

The simplest is to shake the seeds in a mixture with coarse sand or small stones in glass jar within 15-20 minutes. If the seeds are large enough (and they are most often the case with palms), you can use a small file or a nail file. After all, scratches can be made with a simple sewing needle. In all cases, the main thing is not to overdo it and not completely destroy the shell. Secondly, the seed coat must be disinfected... The easiest and most reliable way to do this is by placing the seeds for 8-10 hours in a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing and further care

The seeds treated in this way are completely ready for sowing and are left to immediately spread on the surface of the substrate. The seeds of most palm species need enough light to germinate, so they should not be immersed too deep in the substrate. Pressing in half is usually sufficient. The pots with crops are covered with glass and placed in a warm, bright place. Further care comes down to controlling the moisture content of the substrate. Drying it out is unacceptable.

The time for action comes after the emergence of seedlings. They look completely different from most plants familiar to flower growers. They do not have a traditional pair of cotyledons, the appearance of 2-3 true leaves above which serves as a sign of the seedling's readiness for picking. The fact is that palms belong to monocotyledonous plants, which implies the presence of only one cotyledon in the seed, which, during germination, remains in it, playing an important role in the development of the plant at first.

Palm shoots can be dived after they have about a 3-centimeter primary root and a leaf of the same size. They are transferred to a substrate consisting of a mixture of leaf or compost soil, peat and coarse sand in approximately equal proportions. When planting, it is important not to burrow the seed into the soil. And, of course, do not separate it from the plant. In many palms, the remnants of the seed continue to be associated with the plant for the first 2-3 years, and their removal leads to a noticeable delay in plant development, and sometimes to a complete cessation of growth and death of the plant.

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Looking at the oblong bones inside the dates loved by kids and adults, many lovers indoor plants asked the question: "How does a real date palm grow from such a crumb, and what will happen if you plant a seed at home?"

The sweet dates sold in stores are from the Phoenix dactylifera genus. In nature, a powerful tree grows to gigantic proportions, giving huge clusters of fruits famous all over the world.

For indoor growing more miniature species adapted to the content of the room are offered. These palms can be seen and purchased at flower shops. If you want to independently start growing a date palm from a stone, there is a high probability of success.

Of course, you won't be able to wait until the tree reaches its true height of 30 meters and gives the first harvest of dates. But watch the growth and development unusual plant both parents and children will like it.

How to grow a date palm from seed?

For planting, you will need seeds that have just been extracted from ripe fruits. Shop dates are fine. The main thing is that they are healthy, not damaged by insects or mold and do not have time to dry, otherwise the probability of getting seedlings is sharply reduced:

Before the seeds are submerged in the soil, it is sometimes advised to carefully scratch them to facilitate germination. It is much healthier and safer to germinate them in wet vermiculite. The container with seeds is placed in a warm place and it is observed that the substrate does not turn out to be completely dry. In this case, after 10-14 days, as soon as the grower notices the first roots, the seeds are transferred to the soil and the pots are placed in a warm place in a well-lit place.

If the sprout has not appeared in due time, there is no need to despair. Perhaps the bone is dry before planting and it will take longer to "revive". Sometimes seedlings of a date palm were found even six months after the seeds were embedded in the ground.

The date palm tree that has emerged from the stone is afraid of damage to the roots, so it is important to carry out all transplant manipulations very carefully and carefully. Otherwise, a small seedling takes an extremely long time to acclimatize or may die altogether.

How to take care of the palm tree further at home? Unlike ordinary houseplants for a date palm, even the first pot needs a very impressive size. A seedling with a single, still closed "baby" leaf is transferred into containers of 0.3–0.5 liters. The next transplant is carried out until the moment when the long taproot of the plant penetrates into the drainage hole.

Saplings need a bright place where the plant will not be in the dark, but it will not be disturbed by the midday sun. for date palm from seed and after germination should be stingy. Overmoistening threatens the development of rot and the death of an immature plant, but it is not worth overdrying the earthen lump either.

How to care for a palm tree at home?

The date palm, like other tree crops, does not grow rapidly. But the plant reacts immediately to discomfort and insufficient care of the palm tree at home. This is especially true for young specimens.

What conditions does a palm tree need to make the plant feel "at home" and respond well to care?

Whether it's a home-grown date palm or a plant brought from a flower shop, the culture needs to find a spot with the right lighting. In nature, large trees are easily tolerated scorching sun, but it is better not to subject a photophilous indoor palm tree to such tests. The optimal location is in the back of the room, facing the south, as well as on the east or west windows.

Since May, when average daily temperature will overcome the boundary of 12 ° C, the date palm is not threatened. Therefore, the plants are safely transferred to the open air under the protection of larger crops, to a loggia or balcony.

If the grower does not have the opportunity to take the palm tree out into the air, the plant develops well at normal room temperature. But in winter time the optimum will be content in cooler air, warmed up to only 16-18 ° C. Cooling down to 12 ° C is considered critical for the date palm. In this case, growth stops, the palm stops feeding and may suffer from root decay if watering is not stopped in time.

The plant has no special requirements for the humidity of the ambient air. But in the hot season, as well as in winter, when the heating works in the room, regular home care of the palm tree includes spraying the crown and wiping the foliage with a damp cloth.

The plant does not tolerate stagnant water. Therefore, when taking care at home date palm watered so that the soil does not dry out, but is not constantly wet. In summer, watering is carried out more often, in winter, the intervals between procedures are increased and are guided by the drying out of 2-3 cm of the surface layer of the substrate. If irrigation water penetrates from the pot into the pan, it is immediately removed, and the bottom of the container is wiped. Do not forget about the powerful drainage layer. The larger the date palm and the pot intended for it, the thicker the layer of expanded clay or brick chips at the bottom.

The date palm readily accepts spring-summer dressings, for which they use liquid ones for large decorative deciduous crops. If the palm tree is taken out into the garden for the summer, the plant can be fed with bird droppings at intervals of 7-10 days, using a granular form or infusion.

The frequency of replanting the date palm shown in the photo during home care depends on the age and size of the plant. Young seedlings are transferred to a larger pot about once a year, and adult specimens are in vain trying not to disturb. If transshipment is necessary, it is carried out by first shedding an earthen lump well and trying not to damage the sensitive roots of the plant. The date palm is transplanted into ready-made soil offered by specialized stores.

To arrange drainage, you can take brick chips or expanded clay according to the size of the drainage holes. If the roots of the date palm are still visible at the bottom of the pot, in the spring you can do without replacing the top layer of soil. The old substrate is carefully removed, and fresh nutrient soil is poured in its place. Then the palm is watered.

Experience of growing dates at home - video

Palm is an original and bright plant that will decorate and make any interior stylish. But how to keep it at home? Is it difficult?

What is this plant?

Palm is a plant belonging to the monocotyledonous family and grows mainly in tropical latitudes. Many palms are arboreal, that is, they have a hard, unbranched trunk with a primary thickening. But in some species there are so-called climbing or creeping shoots. In total, the family includes about 3400 species and more than 180 genera.

In nature, a palm tree can grow to an impressive size, but in indoor conditions it will grow slowly. By the way, such a plant in many cultures and countries is considered a symbol of victory, so it can bring success to its owner. Also, the palm tree personifies the world, thanks to which it will help create a calm and supportive atmosphere.

What are they?

All palms can be roughly divided into pinnate, with leaves resembling feathers in shape, as well as fan-leaved, with rather wide leaves.

Now it is worth listing some individual types of palm trees:

• Chrysalidocarpus is considered to be quite unpretentious plant, as it tolerates partial shade and the sun well. Watering should be sufficient, the optimum temperature is 18-23 degrees.
• The rape does not tolerate direct sunlight and requires fresh air. Watering should be abundant, humidity - high, spraying - regular. This is a very moody look, so it is not suitable for beginners and busy people.
• Hovea although he loves natural light, but it grows well even with artificial lighting and also transfers the shadow. Watering should be regular, but use standing water for it. Daily spraying is also required.
• The date palm in the photo looks like a small bush. Such a plant in young age diffused light is required, but after 4-5 years it also tolerates direct sunlight. The air humidity should be high. In addition, constant access to oxygen is required, so you need to ventilate the room regularly, and in the summer you can take the pot outside. Optimum temperature- 23-27 degrees. Watering should be abundant, but moisture should not be allowed to stagnate.
• Hamedorea is perfect option for novice florists, as she is absolutely not capricious. It will grow at normal room temperature, and even in an unlit place. But watering and spraying should be regular.
• Hamerops are grown in summer on fresh air, and for the winter they are sent to a rather cool room. The air must be fresh. Frequent spraying is also required.
• The coconut palm can be called the most photophilous, so it is important to provide such a plant with sufficient lighting. The optimum temperature for growing is about 20-24 degrees. Be sure to provide fresh air and spray on the leaves. When watering, make sure that moisture does not get on the nut, as it can rot.
• Trachikarpus can grow in partial shade and in a well-lit place. Watering should be moderate, but in no case do not allow the soil clod to dry out. The leaves should be sprayed and wiped and the pot should be turned from time to time.
• Beautiful livistona loves light and moderate watering warm water... In summer, it is best to send the plant to the garden or balcony.

Growing

There are two ways to grow a palm tree: from seeds and with the help of young shoots. We will describe each method in detail.

Growing from seeds

How to grow indoor palm from seed at home? It's not easy, but still possible. Main stages:

1. Seed selection. First of all, they should be fresh, since germination is lost rather quickly, so pay attention to the date of packaging. In addition, the seed must be whole and fairly large.
2. Soak the seeds for five days.
3. Take a few plastic cups and make a hole in the bottom of each. Add some of the perlite, some of the leafy earth and some of the vermiculite.
4. Place the seeds in the soil about two centimeters deep, first sawing slightly hard shell seed and removing the fleshy soft. Water the soil.
5. Cover the cup with plastic to create a miniature greenhouse.
6. Place containers in warm place... Ventilate the soil once a day and water it constantly to keep it moist at all times.
7. Wait. It can take several months to germinate, so be patient.

Growing from shoots

During the growing season (preferably in May), carefully cut off a young shoot on the side with a knife no more than 25 centimeters high (the higher one will take longer to root). Pour palm soil into the pot and place the scion in it. Place the plant in a warm place, water it abundantly, and spray it constantly. After rooting and the beginning of growth, you can put the palm in a warm, ventilated room.

How to care for a plant?

Appropriate place

Placing a palm tree requires a well-lit place, so it is best to place it near a window. But other plants should not be nearby, they can block the light and reduce the amount of oxygen, and this is very harmful.

From May to August, the plant can be kept outdoors, and brought home for the winter.

Correct capacity

The pot must, first of all, fit in size. So, seedlings should be placed in containers with a volume of about 200-300 ml. The grown shoot must be transplanted into a pot with a volume of about 0.5 liters. Thus, each next planter should be about a third larger than the previous one. You should not buy a pot "for growth", then the plant may not receive required amount nutrients from the soil. At small sizes, the roots will be cramped.

Pay attention to the material, shape, and even color of the pot. So, its height must necessarily be greater than the diameter, that is, small containers are not suitable, since the roots grow not only to the sides, but also downward. There should be a drain hole in the bottom.

As for the material, you should choose ceramic or plastic. But since ceramics absorb moisture, watering will have to be done more often. The color should be light, since dark can heat both the container and the earthen lump, which is unacceptable.

The soil

For growing such a plant, a special soil for palm trees is suitable. You can replace it with a mixture consisting of two parts of leafy earth, three parts of humus, part river sand and three pieces of turf. Be sure to place a drain on the bottom of the pot.

Lighting

There should be sufficient lighting, but some types of palms cannot tolerate direct sunlight, so it is better to block the window with light curtains or blinds.

Humidity

The air humidity should be high.

How to water?

Watering should be sufficient and regular. The soil should be moist, but do not allow moisture to stagnate. It is advisable to use settled water at room temperature, but not cold.

Also, palm care includes spraying the leaves and wiping them with a damp cloth. It is advisable to spray the plant every day with settled water. You can wipe the palm tree once or twice a week and without cleaning agents!

Transfer

The palm tree should be transplanted every two to three years as it grows (up to three years, the transplant should be carried out annually, since there is active growth during this period). Avoid exposing the roots and move the plant along with the soil, replacing only its top layer. So as not to damage root system, you can break or cut the pot.

Top dressing

Adult plants should be fed during the growing season. It is advisable to apply fertilizers after impregnating the earthen coma. Compositions for ordinary indoor flowers are used.

• Avoid drafts.
• Do not cut off the upper shoots, otherwise the palm tree will simply die, because the growing point is at the top.
• Avoid hypothermia. In cold weather, it is better to lift the pot off the floor onto a chair.

May your palm tree be healthy, grow quickly and always make you happy!

Do you want to create a uniquely beautiful exposition? Grow up tree plant... For those who have such a desire, a date palm from a stone at home is the best option.

To grow a date palm, you have to be patient. It grows slowly and, unfortunately, will not bear fruit at home. For this, its height must be at least 15 m. But this is not necessary. Even without fruit, an attractive plant with huge fans of leaves will decorate any interior. This will require a lot of space and light.

How to germinate a date bone?

Any plant starts with a seed. The date palm is no exception. There is no need to look specifically for its seeds - you can buy dates at any grocery store. There is no point in planting date palm seeds that are not germinated. Most likely, they simply will not rise or the process will drag on for a very long time.

So, we germinate:

1. choose bones from dates bought in the store;
2. we inspect them for damage, traces of mold or insects, we reject all non-standard ones;
3. soak in clean water for a day, to remove the remnants of the pulp, changing it several times, the pulp contains substances that inhibit seed germination;
4. we wash the bones;
5. wake up the seed for 48 hours in a thermos with slightly warmed melt water with the addition of a few grains of humate;
6. put in a container with a damp loose material: vermicult, hydrogel, crushed and sterilized sphagnum moss, placing it all in plastic bag;
7. to germinate seeds, a temperature of about 35 degrees is needed - a place near a heating radiator is ideal;
8. germination lasts from 2 to 3 months, and all this time it is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the substrate and remove the condensation formed on the film.

As soon as the sharp little sprouts appeared, it was time to move the bones into the ground.

Ground requirement

Most the best soil, both for young palms and for grown plants - a palm substrate.

If it is not possible to purchase it, prepare the soil of the following composition:

• sod land;
• peat;
• sand.

All components are taken in equal parts. You can add a little steamed moss or hardwood sawdust for looseness. At this stage, a pot 10 or 12 cm high is enough for the plant. There should be drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Landing rules

There is no consensus among flower growers here. Most believe that the bone should be stuck vertically so that there is a 1 cm layer of soil above it.But there is an opinion that seeds laid in pots horizontally with a seam down and covered with a layer of soil 2 cm thick will germinate better. hassle is not worth it. Their germination capacity is not very good, so it is easier to plant several seeds in two pots in different ways and see which one is more effective. You will have to be patient while waiting for the shoots. Germination can take up to 5 months. All this time, a plastic bag should be put on the pot, which should be removed for ventilation. The soil is sprayed from a spray bottle to maintain its moisture content. The pots should be kept at a temperature between 20 and 30 degrees. They do not need light at this time.

How to care for a palm tree at home?

To grow a date palm from a stone, it is not enough to plant it, you need to properly care for the newly emerged seedlings and adult plants. This tree is very sensitive to any errors in care, to which it responds with poor health. Young, newly hatched sprouts especially need attention. They grow very quickly, which is not surprising - after all, this is a tree. Its vigor is much higher than that of herbaceous plants. Only after the first leaf has blossomed does the growth rate slow down. The first leaves are completely unlike palm leaves, they are linear with clearly visible longitudinal grooves. It is then that they split into segments that make up amazingly beautiful fans.

At the beginning of growth, the palm tree requires a lot of light, so the pots are placed on the lightest window. The air temperature for young plants should not fall below 20 degrees. In winter, you can insulate the windowsill from below so that the cold air does not lower the temperature of the soil in the pot.

If several plants have sprouted in the pot, each will need an individual container for growth.

The soil for transplanting needs the following composition:

• humus - 4 parts;
• peat - 1 part;
• turf and leafy land, sand - 2 parts each.

It is good to add crushed charcoal to the mixture. Transplanting into individual pots with a diameter of about 15 cm is carried out when the first sheet has a length of 15 cm. Drainage should consist of expanded clay with an admixture of charcoal. Its thickness is about 2 cm.

If possible, the palm tree should spend the summer outdoors. Such a "summer vacation" will benefit the tree.

The main conditions for keeping a date palm in a room:

• maximum illumination, but with diffused light; this tree in its homeland can withstand the scorching rays of the sun without damage to health, in the room they can cause burns on the leaves; even in winter, the daylight hours for a plant should not be less than 12 hours; it is extended by lighting with phytolamps.

For the symmetrical development of the crown, every 14 days the pot with the plant is turned 180 degrees.

• air humidity about 50%;
• air temperature in summer - from 20 to 25 degrees, in winter it is reduced to 16 degrees in order to slow down the metabolism in plant tissues in conditions of insufficient lighting;
• planting and transplanting into soil for date palms, which has a neutral or slightly acidic reaction;
• mandatory drainage;
• daily ventilation of the room;
• timely correct feeding and watering.

How to water properly?

The irrigation schedule and the amount of water directly depend on the season. In the summer they water it so that the earthy clod does not dry out - from 3 to 4 times a week. During the period of forced dormancy from watering to watering, the earthen lump should dry out slightly. It is enough to moisturize the palm 1-2 times a week. Overflow is harmful, therefore excess water pour out of the pallet half an hour after moistening the soil. Special attention- the quality of irrigation water. Ideally, it should be thawed or clean rain, soft with minimum amount salts. The water temperature is about 33 degrees.

The plant responds well to spraying with warm soft water, especially in summer. He will also need sanitary procedures - wiping the leaves with a damp cloth, followed by drying with a dry cloth. Plants can be given a warm shower once a month, but the potted soil should be covered to prevent it from getting wet.

Top dressing and fertilization

In the season of active growth - in spring and summer, the tree is fed with complex fertilizer for palms every 14 days. In winter, the intensity of dressing is reduced by 2-3 times.

The palm tree responds very well to foliar feeding on the leaves. They are made with the same fertilizer, but its concentration in the solution is reduced by 10 times. The frequency of dressings is from 3 to 1 times a month, depending on the strength of the plant's growth.

Plant transplant

The most the best time for transplanting palm trees - April. Young plants need this operation every year. After 5 years, the transplant is practiced every 2-3 years, and in plants older than 10 years, the top layer of the substrate is simply changed. The palm tree itself will tell you that it needs a new pot - roots will appear in the old one from the drainage hole.

They are thick, but fragile near the palm. She is extremely negative about their damage. For her, a transplant is a lot of stress; you need to do it carefully, preserving the earthen lump as much as possible.

The pot is chosen high, each transplant, its diameter is increased by 3-4 cm. Drainage must be placed on the bottom of the pot. The soil is prepared in the same way as for planting young plants.

The date palm is transplanted only by the transshipment method, without exposing the roots.

If this does happen, you will have to cut off some of the leaves in order to maintain a balance between the underground and aboveground parts. Even in not old plants, you can replace the top layer of soil - there will be more nutrition for the palm tree. This procedure is carried out every six months.

Reproduction

The date palm reproduces by seeds. In some species, shoots may appear. These include the Robelen date.

If the daughter plant has developed roots, it can be separated.

• With a sharp knife, cut off the baby as close to the trunk as possible without damaging it.
• We transplant the division into soil for palm trees, acting in the same way as when transplanting an adult plant.
• At first, you will have to put on a plastic bag on a pot with a young palm tree so that it takes root better.

Remember to spray the young plant more often.

Date palm pests and diseases

A date palm that has spent the summer outdoors may acquire spider mite, scabbard or mealybug... But even if the plant is constantly kept indoors, pests still appear. Insecticides, for example, Actellik, will help to cope with them. It is only advisable to process the plant with it in the open air. As a preventive measure, a monthly warm shower with washing the leaves is good. soapy water... But the soil in the pot must be protected from it.

The main diseases of the palm are pink rot and mottling. Plants usually get sick, weakened poor care... Control measures - fungicides, but not containing copper: Mancozeb, Ridomil.

• The tips of the leaves dry out - the air is too dry, you need to spray the plants more often.
• Leaves turn yellow - lack of moisture, you need to water more often.
• Leaves darken - waterlogging, reduce the amount of watering.
• The date palm stops growing - it's too cold indoors. At temperatures below 16 degrees, the roots function poorly, practically not assimilating nutrients... Another reason may be the high acidity of the soil. It acidifies when watered with hard water. Such a plant will have to be transplanted.

In general, caring for an indoor giant is not so difficult. Palm trees are very responsive to care and will delight the grower. good growth and a healthy look.