Washingtonia - Washingtonia (Palm)

The name of the palm tree - "Washingtonia" - comes from the name of the first president of the United States of America, George Washington. This type of vegetation belongs to the Arecaceae family, it includes only two varieties: Washington Strong and Washington Thread-bearing.

Palm Washingtonia: description

Palm of Washingtonia: photos

Palm Washingtonia is a plant in the form of a tree, reaching a height of about 25 m, a diameter of 1 m. But the Washingtonia flower can only reach such a size in natural conditions. Fan-shaped leaves appear at the top of the trunk. The petiole is about 1.5 m long, covered with spines directed towards the trunk. In home cultivation, flowering of the tree is observed in very rare cases.

In Mexico and the United States, Washingtonia leaf fibers are used to make baskets, and Washingtonia palm fruits are used to make flour. In European countries, the cultivated Washingtonia palm is grown on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Cultivating a Washingtonia palm tree at home requires cool conditions and plenty of space. After a large palm tree is set, it is transferred to outdoor conditions, but only when the weather is favorable.

Planting a palm tree in Washingtonia

The plant is cultivated as a decorative leafy plant.

The culture requires very good illumination, the light must comply with such a characteristic as diffusion, this is a must. Daylight hours should last for about 16 hours. During the winter season, Washington must be illuminated with additional light sources.

In spring and summer, the plant requires temperature conditions in the range of 20-24 degrees, no more, in the winter season - about 10 degrees.

In spring and summer, the soil mixture in the container is moistened after the surface soil layer has dried. In cold weather, watering is applied in a small amount and rarely, but it is unacceptable for the soil clod to dry out.

Humidity should be high. During the growing season, the leaves of Washingtonia are moistened 2 times / 24 hours, in addition, the leaves are washed once a week with a wet sponge. In order to increase the level of humidity in the air, open containers are placed near the tree, which are filled with water. In the winter season, palm moistening is prohibited.

It is necessary to apply fertilizers from spring to autumn 1 time / 15 days, top dressing should contain a large amount of iron. Fertilizers are not applied in winter.

The beginning of the dormant period occurs late in the fall, the end - at the beginning of the spring season.

In the spring, the Washingtonia palm is replanted if needed. Up to 7 years, the plant is transplanted once every couple of years, up to 15 years - 1 time / three years, the transplant of an adult Washington is carried out 1 time / 4-5 years.

The soil mixture contains peat (or humus), sand, leafy and turfy soil for the Washingtonia palm, in a proportional ratio of 2: 1: 2: 4, respectively.

The houseplant Washingtonia is cultivated by seed.

Pests that can threaten with their attacks: scale insects, whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs.

Diseases. Rot can attack the root system of the Washingtonia palm tree due to improper watering or a lack of drainage layer in the container. Drying of Washingtonia leaf tips may occur due to dry air at home.

Palm Washingtonia: home care

Palm Washingtonia: photo at home

Illumination index.

It is often considered a mistake of florists that the Washingtonia indoor plant requires very good bright illumination. But keep in mind that Washington needs protection from direct sunlight. Lighting should be bright, however, the diffusion of light should be observed, daylight hours should last for 16 hours. To grow the Washingtonia palm tree, you need to put the plants on the east or west window. In cold weather or when there is a lack of light, Washingtonia should be additionally illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

In the summer season, the Washingtonia flower is taken out into the street, for this a well-lit area is selected, but it must be protected from direct sunlight and from rain. The place where Washingtonia is located is regularly ventilated, but the plant must be protected from a draft. Good illumination is required for the culture both in the summer season and in the winter season.

Temperature conditions.

In spring and summer, the temperature regime should be observed within 20-24 degrees. If there is an elevated air temperature in the room, about 30 degrees or more, then the Washingtonia indoor palm is transferred to a cooler place. Wait for the palm to cool, then water and spray from a spray bottle. In winter, the room should be kept at a cool temperature, about 10 degrees. Under such low temperature conditions, the plant will not die, because in nature it is used to withstanding short-term low temperature conditions up to -7 degrees.

Watering.

During the growing season, watering is applied regularly after the surface layer of the soil for the Washingtonia palm dries. Do not forget that the palm tree does not like both stagnant water and drying out of the soil. In the fall, after the beginning of the dormant period and the transfer of the tub with the plant to the cool, the earth is moistened in very rare cases, a small volume of water is used for irrigation. But it is unacceptable for the soil lump to dry out. Usually, during this period, watering is applied 2-3 days after the surface soil layer has dried. Watering Washingtonia with warm and well-settled (day) water.

Air humidity level for growing Washingtonia palm

For optimal development and growth of the plant, it is provided with increased air humidity in the room. Therefore, the Washingtonia indoor palm is sprayed twice a day every day, and an open container of water is placed near the container. In addition, dust is regularly removed from the surface of the leaves; a damp, non-rigid cloth or sponge is used for this matter.

Top dressing.

Palm of Washingtonia: photos

This culture, which is cultivated indoors, without fail systematically requires additional feeding. Fertilizer mixtures should be high in iron. The plant is fed from spring to autumn once every 15 days. Fertilizing the soil is prohibited at a time when Washingtonia is at rest and immediately after replanting the crop, as well as during the period of illness of the bush.

Circumcision procedure.

The leaves of Washingtonia, which have turned yellow, are advised by experienced growers to remove them before they are completely dry. Because of this, the natural dying off of the following leaves will slow down. If it is decided to leave the yellowed leaves, then they can not be removed at all. Then the drying foliage will hang effectively around the trunk.

Transplant Washingtonia

Transplanting a Washingtonia houseplant is carried out only as a last resort. And all because Washington has a negative attitude towards transplants, it will need a certain period of time to adapt to a new place after transplanting. During this period, growth will slow down slightly. Up to 7 years old, the palm tree is transplanted 1 time / two years, at 8-15 years old - 1 time / three years, more mature plants are transplanted 1 time / 4-5 years.

The Washingtonia flower transplant is carried out in the spring before the summer season. The optimal time is early in the spring.The culture we are considering is quite large in size, for this reason it is worth cultivating it in wooden tubs. The soil mixture should contain leaf, turf, peat (or humus) soil, sand in a proportional ratio of 2: 4: 2: 1, respectively. Organic fertilizers are added to the soil mixture for mature trees, about 5 kg. If the roots become bare during the growing period of Washingtonia, then fresh soil mixture must be poured into the tub.

Washingtonia from seeds at home

Palm of Washingtonia: photos

Reproduction of the houseplant Washingtonia at home occurs by the seed method. The seeds of the Washingtonia palm are sown in the spring, namely, from March to April. Fresh grains germinate most well, and therefore it is desirable to sow them. Do not forget that older seeds of the Washingtonia palm will germinate and germinate longer.

Right before sowing, it is advisable to lightly file the seeds of the Washingtonia palm tree with a file, after which the seeds are immersed in water for a day. Sowing of grains is carried out in a soil mixture, which includes sand, sphagnum, sawdust in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. A small amount of charcoal is also added to the substrate. Sowing of seeds is carried out only 10 mm deep. Before preparing the soil mixture, it is imperative to check the sawdust. It is required to moisten the plantings and cover them with glass or film material. Further, the container is transferred to heat with temperature conditions of 28-30 degrees. If everything is done correctly, and fresh seeds of the Washingtonia palm were applied, then the appearance of the first seedlings will occur after 15-20 days.

The picking of Washingtonia houseplant seedlings is carried out a week after the first true leaves form. You should dive in individual containers filled with a soil mixture, which contains sand, leafy and soddy soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. The first leaves do not differ in dissection, the appearance of sections occurs only on the 8 or 9 leaf blade. After a year of development, a young plant already has 4-5 leaves. Remember that diving Washington is necessary very carefully and carefully!

Palm Washingtonia: difficulties of home care

The root system can rot due to the fact that water regularly stagnates in the soil. Either due to a poor drainage layer or its absence in the container.

Falling leaves. With reduced air humidity, the plant may begin to shed its leaves.

The coloring of the tips of the foliage in a brown tint occurs because the air humidity is very low.

Pests. Often a whitefly, mealybug, scale insect, spider mite can attack a palm tree.

Washingtonia: views

Indoor plant Washingtonia filifera.

Palm of Washingtonia: photos

The homeland of this species is the eastern part of the United States. Indoor plant Washingtonia filamentous can grow up to about 20 m. The trunk is vertical and even, its top is covered with fan-shaped leaves painted in a grayish-green color. The leaf blade is cut by 1/3 and is about 2 meters long. Each leaf forms approximately 80 lobes. Elongated white filaments grow at the edges of the leaves. The flowers of the palm are also white.

Washingtonia robusta.

Other names: Washingtonia Robusta or Washingtonia sonorae. It is a perennial in the form of a tree, in the wild it grows up to 30 m. The leaves are fan-shaped, greenish in color. Leaflets are dissected two-thirds of their length. The petiole is pale red in color. Flowers are white.