The word "palm tree" always evokes associations with distant and hot exotic countries, warm oceans and seas. A picture appears before your eyes - a tall tree with a bare thin trunk and leaves located closer to its crown. However, these plants do not always look the same, since the Palm family consists of a large number of genera and many species. There are approximately 20 indoor varieties from this family.
The article provides interesting information about these plants.
General information
Palm trees are almost all decorative, so they often decorate cities and towns in southern countries. Palms or Arecaceae are a family of monocot plants.
For the most part they are woody plants with unbranched stems, in which primary thickening occurs due to the activity of the main meristem and protoderm. There are several varieties with characteristic climbing or creeping shoots. In total, this family consists of 185 genera and more than 3,400 species of palm trees.
There are five main genera:
- Coconut tree (Cocos).
- Date (Phoenix).
- Roystonea.
- Bismarckia.
- Sabal.
The most common and well-known types of palms used by gardeners as decorative: brachea, butia, gioforba, hamedorea and others.
Distribution
Most palm trees naturally grow in the tropics and subtropics. Especially many varieties are noted in Colombia and Madagascar. In France (in the south) and in Spain, a fan variety grows - the squat hamerops, which can withstand frosts down to -12 degrees. In the south of mainland Greece and on the island of Crete there are groves of feathery date palms.
On the territory of Russia in areas with subtropical climatic conditions (the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Crimea), as well as in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and southern Kazakhstan, introduced palm trees of several genera grow.
Briefly about varieties
The trunk of a palm tree usually does not branch. Often these plants have the form of shrubs, and some representatives do not have stems at all, only leaves. The thickness of the trunk can reach one meter (jube), and the height is up to 60 meters (ceroxylon). In addition, among the palms there are climbing vines, the stems of which reach a thickness of up to 3 centimeters and a length of up to 300 meters (rattan).
Their leaves are fan-shaped (trachycarpus, chamerops, liviston and others), pinnate (palmshamedorea, coconut, date, "fox tail", howea and others), bipinnate (in karyota). In fan leaves, the leaves grow from one part of the petiole, forming an umbrella or fan, while in pinnate leaves, they are attached to the petiole along the entire length.
Indoor palms
Any room without plants looks lifeless and dull. They create a cozy atmosphere, bring freshness and life. Green pets are more than just decoration, as they are able to change the energy of the room, even influence the residents. Palms have been cultivated as houseplants since ancient Rome. It was believed that this beautiful tropical plant is an attribute of a prosperous and we althy home.
One of the most decorative among all Arekovi are palm trees that require certain conditions of detention. It must be taken into account that they are all representatives of hot countries, so they should be grown indoors in conditions of sufficient humidity, high temperature and good lighting. If you study all the features of this plant, it is quite possible to grow a palm tree yourself from seeds. These plants are long-lived. With proper care, they can please the eye for more than 100 years.
Chamedorea palm
This is a relatively short tree native to Central America. The plant chamedorea elegans (or graceful) is also called bamboo, reed palm or graceful collinium. It has a thin trunk and beautiful feathery leaves. At a young age, the trunk has a green color, which eventually becomeschestnut.
In room conditions, the plant can grow up to two meters in height, but most often it is much lower. In general, this palm tree is quite compact, so it is suitable for growing even in small spaces. Chamedorea elegans blooms at the age of 3-4 years. Fragrant flowers are small, yellow, collected in panicles. The fruits of the palm tree of this variety are dark small berries with seeds. Florists use them for reproduction.
Like other varieties of palm trees, chamedorea is moisture and thermophilic. In terms of illumination, it is not capricious, so a slightly shaded place where direct sunlight does not fall is enough for it.
Date palms
Sweet exotic fruits sold in Russian stores ripen on the palmate form of a date, which has long been grown by people in the open air. This plant has another name - "Bedouin bread". You can also grow this palm tree indoors. However, to a greater extent, other varieties are preferred in homes and offices, for example, Canarian dates.
Date palms have been cultivated by man for about 8 thousand years. There are 17 species of plants in the genus, each of which has both male and female forms. Under natural conditions, they grow in the territories of the countries of the Middle East, Africa, as well as in the Philippines and India. These exotic plants are preferred by areas rich in groundwater.
Halls and rooms are also good for growing Robelin dates. This plant has one or more trunks with beautiful feathery leaves up to 50 centimeters long. Theophrastus date is another species that can be successfully settled in your home or office. The homeland of the plant is the island of Crete.
Canarian date
The most popular among palms is the Canarian variety - Phoenix canariensis. The trunk of a young date is practically not expressed. Under natural growing conditions, its height can reach up to 15 meters. This is a fairly fast growing palm tree with a columnar trunk and a large number of pinnate leaves 3-5 meters long.
At home, it grows to a height of 2.5 to 3 meters. To limit too rapid growth of the palm tree, transplant it only when the roots no longer fit in the containers.
At home, the plant does not bloom. From the name it becomes clear where the date palm of this species grows. Her homeland is the Canary Islands.
Growing at home
The air temperature should be between 12 and 28°C. On dry summer days, you should ventilate the room more often. In winter, the temperature can fluctuate between 12-16°C. Lighting should be sunny and bright enough. A date palm tub is best placed near a southeast or south window. For uniform development of the crown, an exotic beauty should be periodically turned to the light in different directions.
Water needs regular. In summer and spring it should be plentiful, but notallow excess moisture in the container. In winter, water the palm tree should be moderate (the soil should always be slightly damp). It is useful to spray the leaves with settled warm water (more often in summer, less often in winter).
How to grow a palm tree from date seeds? It is very easy to do this. The date bone should be soaked for 2-3 days in water (temperature 30-35 degrees). Then it must be planted in a container with earth. The bone will grow pretty quickly. The soil for dates should be neutral or slightly acidic. A mixture of humus, sand, peat and sod land is suitable in a ratio of 2: 1: 2: 2. In gardening stores you can buy a special ready-made soil mixture for palm trees. It is profitable to acquire it, since it already takes into account all the preferences of this plant. However, with its growth and transplanting such land into a tub, quite a lot will be required. Therefore, it is important to learn how to prepare the soil mixture yourself.
Use
In many countries, palm trees are grown as crops (coconut, dates). The fruits of many species are used for food. The wood of rattan and many other representatives of the Arekov family is used in the manufacture of wicker furniture.
The huge leaves of these plants are traditionally used in the manufacture of roofs of some buildings, porches, gazebos, beach shelters from the sun, hats and other items. Many of the varieties of palms are used as ornamental plants (both in home gardens and indoors). In the southern countries they are indispensableelement of city streets and parks.
It should also be noted that palm trees in many cultures were symbols of peace and victory.
