How does the date palm reproduce? Date palm: tropical exotica in your home. Video: growing a date palm

The date palm is one of the most popular exotic plants that is grown at home. Moreover, if you provide this plant with comfortable conditions and care for it correctly, you can enjoy home-grown dates.

The date palm cannot be called a difficult plant to care for; for its active growth and abundant fruiting, only a few mandatory aspects of care are sufficient: sufficient light, abundant watering and regular feeding . We will tell you how to properly care for this plant at home in today’s article.

Choosing a suitable location

The date palm does not tolerate direct sunlight at all, as it leaves burns on its leaves. For this plant, it is better to select a place where there will be a sufficient amount of diffused light. If the date palm does not have enough lighting, the edges of its leaves begin to turn yellow; this is easy to notice if you place the flower in partial shade.

Optimal watering of date palm

In the summer, you should not allow the earthen ball to dry out, so you need to water the plant often and abundantly, but in winter, when the temperature should be much lower, you should water the plant when the soil is completely dry.

For watering, you need to use settled water at room temperature; tap water can cause various diseases in the plant. In the summer heat, you can add spraying the plant with a spray bottle or wiping the leaves with a damp cloth.

Optimal temperature and humidity

The most difficult task facing a gardener who wants to grow a date palm at home is maintaining a suitable temperature regime. Most often, the date palm is placed in air-conditioned rooms, where the temperature, even in the heat of summer, does not rise above +23 - +24 degrees. The optimal temperature in summer is +17 - +21 degrees, and in winter the date palm can easily tolerate a drop in temperature to +11 - +12 degrees.

The humidity level should be between 40-50%, so this plant should not be left near heating devices that dry out the air.

Necessary feeding and fertilizers

The amount and frequency of fertilizing depends solely on the goals you set for yourself. If we are simply talking about growing a date palm as a decorative decoration for various rooms, then this plant can easily tolerate the absence of additional fertilizers. But if you are interested in the fruiting of this plant, then you cannot do without additional fertilizers. On average, it is advisable to fertilize a date palm once every two weeks; complex fertilizers are perfect for these purposes. mineral fertilizers .

Transplanting a plant

Like many other palm trees, date palms do not tolerate replanting with a complete replacement of the soil and cutting off the roots, so this plant is transferred from one pot to another, only with the replacement of the top layer of soil. Transshipment Perform every year for young plants and once every 2-3 years for older representatives. For replanting, either a soil mixture for palm trees or even the simplest one - universal soil for indoor plants - is suitable.

If your date palm is still very small, then you should not choose too large a container for it; it is better to start with a small pot, and with each subsequent replanting, choose a container slightly larger than the previous one.

The best time for transshipment of date palms is mid-spring, or rather April month. During this period, the active growth of this plant is just beginning, so new soil and free space for the rhizome will contribute to the rapid growth of your palm tree.

Date palm propagation

The easiest and most popular method of date palm propagation is seminal , the best part is that even pits from dried dates bought at the market will do. First, the pit is freed from the pulp, then it must be left for three days in a container with water. You need to plant a date seed in a container with an earthen mixture, which often consists of leaf soil, turf and sand.
It’s good if there is a greenhouse in the house, then the seeds will germinate much faster. It is important to remember that the necessary attributes for the active growth of date seeds are an abundance of sunlight and a sufficient amount of moisture.

In this article, as an experienced gardener, I share the secrets of growing date palms. I will say that this plant is capricious. If you care for it incorrectly or at the wrong time, it will shed its leaves.

In order for the date palm to grow well at home, it is necessary to create a favorable temperature regime for it. You should add water on time, but do not allow the roots to rot. Let's take a closer look at decorative culture!

Its second name is Phoenix. The plant belongs to the palm family and has more than 15 species. In the wild, the date palm can be found in Europe and Asia. This culture has been known since ancient times. The first mentions of it were before our era.

It is interesting to note that the phoenix, growing in the wild, reaches a height of 28 m. The plant produces tasty, healthy fruits, for which it is highly valued. The date palm is grown on an industrial scale. Its juice is used to produce sugar.

Beginning gardeners are interested in whether it is possible to grow a tree from a seed. Before answering this question, you should study the features of decorative culture.

In what conditions does the tree take root?

A phoenix growing in the wild is a large tree or bush with squat leaves. If you grow the crop correctly at home, it will reach a height of 2 m. I advise you to place it in a room where there is almost no furniture. The date tree is often grown from the seed. I note that this method of reproduction is the most reliable.

Gardeners grow phoenix exclusively as an ornamental crop. It does not bear fruit at home. Only those trees that reach a height of 15 m bear fruit. In order for the seeds to quickly germinate in the soil, you need to sow several pieces in a pot.

The soil for the plant should be:

• light;
• fertile;
• drained.

It is better to use fresh date pits for planting. Planting material of candied and dried fruits will do. The main condition is that dates should not be subject to heat treatment.

The seed germinates slowly. To get sprouts faster, you need to rub it with sandpaper, thus breaking the outer shell. Prepare the soil mixture yourself: take fresh sawdust, clean sand, peat, and mix in equal proportions.

Correct placement of seeds

Plant the seeds vertically, deepen them by 1 - 1.5 cm. Place the container in a dry, well-lit place. The palmate date germinates well at temperatures from + 21 to + 30 degrees. I advise you to water it as needed.

Make sure that the soil is moist, but remember that the root system of future plants should not suffer from excess water. To retain moisture longer, cover the soil mixture with sphagnum (moss).

Seedling care

The date palm is a capricious crop. The sprouts may hatch in 3 or 6 months. As soon as you see them, move them to a darkened room. I note that planting material does not respond well to direct sunlight. I advise you to regularly spray the soil using soft water.

When your mini-palms grow 16 cm, pick them up and transplant them into separate containers. Prepare a soil mixture of 40% humus, 10% peat soil, 10% sand, 20% turf soil and 20% leaf soil.

In order for dates to grow well at home, you need to add 15 g of charcoal to this mixture.

Drainage made of expanded clay and sawdust should be placed at the bottom of the pot. If you grow a date palm from a seed, be prepared for it to form leaves in its fourth or fifth year. The growing point of this crop is at the top of the trunk, for this reason it cannot be cut off.

I would like to note that the phoenix does not need a haircut to promote the formation of the crown. Leaf arrows should receive enough light. I advise you to rotate the container around its axis. Thanks to this, the crown will form evenly.

How to care for a phoenix

Keep your date palm exposed to light and in a heated area. Ventilate the room periodically, but avoid drafts. In winter, the plant has a dormant period. At this time, I recommend keeping it at a temperature of + 13 to + 15 degrees. In summer you need to spray the leaves; the scorching sun can harm them.

Phoenix perceives fertilizers positively. In spring and summer, I advise you to feed it with organic matter and mineral compounds. Apply fertilizer once a week. In the fall, I recommend feeding once every 2 weeks. In winter, fertilize your phoenix as needed. Apply complex formulations once every 30 days.

Watering should be regular but balanced. I advise you to use boiled or settled water at room temperature. The roots should not be allowed to suffer from excess moisture, otherwise fungal diseases will occur.

In order to protect the root system from waterlogging, you need to put drainage on the bottom of the pot (this can be broken expanded clay). Plants that are not yet 5 years old need to be replanted. Any indoor culture does not tolerate picking. Adult phoenixes need to be replanted as needed.

Carry out the picking carefully, try not to injure the roots and fragile leaves. I recommend transferring plants from one pot to another along with a lump of earth. The date palm takes root in a deep container, as it has massive roots.

Replant plants in a pot 4 cm larger than the previous one. Don't forget to place a drainage layer on the bottom. If you think that the phoenix does not need picking, remove the top layer of soil and replace it with a new one.

Pests, possible diseases

If you do not maintain your date palm correctly, it will be attacked by pests:

• spider mites;
• scale insects;
• Scale insects.

To overcome these insects, you need to correct your mistakes and then properly care for the tree. Pests feed on leaf sap. To combat them, use a solution of liquid soap and vodka: add 30 ml of vodka and 10 ml of liquid soap to 1 liter of water.

If this treatment does not produce results, it must be repeated after a week. I advise you to apply the solution to the trunk and leaves, it is advisable that it does not come into contact with the soil mixture.

If the damage is extensive, the plant should be treated with insecticides. Actellik is popular today. Dangerous diseases include spotting and pink rot. When infected, the leaves become stained. If the tree is sick, spray it with a fungicide; carry out the second treatment after 7 days.

Problems and their solutions

It happens that the leaves of a phoenix dry out. The problem is related to low air humidity. To restore the plant, you need to humidify the air from a spray bottle. Don't forget to spray the phoenix leaves! It is recommended to keep it in a room where air humidity fluctuates within 50%.

Remember that ornamental crops require regular care! If you do not wipe or spray the leaves, they will lose their attractiveness, and the plant may be attacked by pests.

Normally, the leaves should not turn yellow. This happens if the owner of the tree does not add water on time. As I already said, you need to water the phoenix in doses. The soil should not be dry for a long time.

To keep the leaves rich in color, you need to spray them. It is very useful to humidify the air.
If you add water frequently, the plant will rot. Darkening leaves are a sign of excess water at the roots.

Treat your tree carefully, do not allow it to become overwatered!

If the root system rots, a specific smell appears and the stem becomes fragile. If you notice such a problem, carefully pull out the plant and inspect the roots, remove the dark, soft ones. If you see at least a few healthy roots, cut off the affected ones and apply crushed coal to the cuts.

In winter, the plant has a dormant period. At this time, the air temperature should remain within + 13 degrees. If you keep the crop in a warm room in winter, it will slow down in growth, as the functions of the root system will be disrupted.

To avoid all these problems, you also need to add nutritional components. As we have already noted, Phoenix loves organics and complex compositions. I do not recommend planting dates in acidic soil, as they will lack iron. The recommended Ph level for this plant is 7.

As you can see, care at home is not difficult, the main thing is to add water in moderation. Do not allow the roots to suffer from excess moisture. In winter, provide the plant with rest, keep it at a relatively low temperature (about +13 degrees).

The date palm is a spectacular exotic plant that will decorate any interior. The date (lat. Phoenix) belongs to the Arecaceae family and originates from India and Africa. In these countries, the plant has long been of practical importance: the wood was used to build houses, the leaves were used as roofing, and when dried and processed they were used to make rugs, ropes and baskets.

This palm tree began to be used as an ornamental plant in the 18th century, when many noble houses began to flaunt not only luxurious interiors, but also similar exotic plant decor. This plant became widespread after the active export of dates from the countries of the Middle East began. Many people simply began to grow it from seeds without much expense, instead of spending money on expensive grown seedlings.

Date palm care and photos

Date is not the most capricious plant. However, there are certain subtleties that must be observed when caring.

The date palm is very light-loving, place it on the sunny side

Dates are big sun lovers. Your plant will be most comfortable in rooms oriented to the south, preferably with a large window or several windows; but on clear days in summer it is better to shade them due to the risk of burns.

To prevent your date from growing one-sided, you need to rotate the pot around its axis. This will form a beautiful symmetrical crown.

In winter, with a lack of natural light, the leaves may stretch out and droop. To avoid this, you can use special fluorescent lamps.

In the spring, when warm weather sets in, it is good to take the plant out into the fresh air. You can place it on the balcony or take it out into the garden. This should be done gradually, starting from several hours. Do not leave the plant outdoors at night: last frosts are still likely in spring.

Optimal temperature

Regular room temperature (in the range of 23-25 ​​degrees) is optimal for this plant, and the date palm feels good at home. Winter is a dormant period for this plant; all its life processes slow down, and it can tolerate low temperatures (about 18 degrees, but not lower than 14). In summer, with sufficient humidity, the plant tolerates up to 28-30 degrees of heat. At any time of the year it needs fresh air, so owners of ornamental palm trees are recommended to ventilate the room more often. However, drafts should not be allowed; they are destructive for southern plants.

Watering and air humidity

The date palm loves plenty of watering.

Dates love moist soil and air; they need regular, abundant watering and additional spraying of the leaves. In summer, the optimal watering regime is 3 times a week. In winter, watering is reduced to once a week. It is best to use warm, settled or filtered water.

Soil and fertilizing for date palms

Date palms do not require special soils. You can use purchased soil, or you can select the components for the soil yourself, for example, combine turf soil with humus, compost and sand. It’s good to add superphosphate to this mixture (1 tbsp per 3 l.)

In summer, the date is fertilized once every two weeks with a special fertilizer for palm trees (it can be bought at any flower shop). It is also permissible to fertilize with potassium nitrate in a proportion of 10 grams per 10 liters of water.

Transplantation and transhipment

The palm tree should not be replanted often

Dates do not like transplants and often get sick after it. Young plants (up to 4 years old) are replanted once a year. This needs to be done in the spring.

Transplanting these plants is fraught with certain difficulties. A mature palm can be quite large and heavy, making it difficult to remove the plant from its pot without damaging the leaves and roots. If the root is damaged, the palm tree dies, so it is recommended to break the old pot rather than pull the palm tree out of it. Adult plants should be replanted only if the root system of the finca has become crowded in the pot, but not more than once every 2 years.

To tell if your palm tree has grown out of its pot, look at the drainage hole—if roots aren't already sticking out, repotting isn't necessary. How to replant a date palm at home: the plant is planted in a new pot using the transfer method - carefully, trying not to break the branches and especially the top, transfer the date into a new pot, and fill the voids around with new soil. You should choose a pot 3-4 centimeters larger than the previous option, not too wide. Be sure to lay drainage several centimeters thick.

Date palm can be grown from seed at home.

It is not difficult to grow a date palm at home from a seed, as long as it is not subjected to heat treatment. The most common dried fruits from the store will do. The most favorable period for seed germination is February and March, but you can try to grow this tree in other months. Growing a date palm from a seed is much easier than using layering.

To prevent mold from appearing on the planted seed, soaking is required - this will cleanse the seed of any remaining fruit pulp. Mold and rot can cause the death of your future date.

After soaking, the stone is placed in a not too large pot or container with loosened soil and watered generously. You should not soak it for too long or somehow destroy the bone shell in the hope of facilitating the emergence of the sprout - the date sprouts perfectly in 4 weeks even without these manipulations.

You can build a greenhouse made of plastic film over the container. Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse when condensation appears. The container with the bone is placed in a fairly bright place. When a sprout appears, the greenhouse must be removed from the pot.

When a sprout develops two leaves, it will slow down its growth a little - don’t worry, this is normal. After four leaves appear, the date is transplanted into an individual pot (if it was previously growing in a common container), now you can begin feeding.

A date palm may dry out if it is infected with red spider mites.

If your date palm begins to lose its appearance, dries out, loses leaves, turns brown, these changes may be caused by pests.

Yellowing palm leaves indicate a red spider mite infestation. If you have repeatedly violated the temperature regime or did not maintain humidity, the danger of this palm disease is very likely. Red mite moves from the stem to the leaves and is difficult to treat.

Date palm leaves have turned yellow and brown plaques have formed on them - this is a scale insect. If the palm tree begins to dry out very quickly and the crown wilts, this is a mealybug attack. The leaves turned brown on the inside and became whitish on the outside - thrips.

To combat these date diseases, the following methods are used:

• soapy sponge (they wipe the leaves and trunk with it, thus removing pests);
• spraying with special compounds (phosphamide, pyrethrum, fitoverm, etc.);
• treatment with medical alcohol (wipe with a cloth soaked in alcohol or spray the plant);

However a palm tree loses its healthy appearance not only from pest damage, but also from improper care. The most common mistakes:

• waterlogged soil;
• lack of watering;
• too dry air;
• drafts.

The photo shows a date palm that has been heavily flooded with water.

When the leaves darken to a shade close to brown and the trunk becomes soft, the plant is flooded. Often, when overwatering, a putrid odor appears. If you notice such signs in your plant, stop watering immediately. You need to check the condition of the roots - if the roots become watery, the date will inevitably die. If only part of the roots has rotted, it needs to be removed - in this case, there is a chance for the plant to recover.

If the tips of the leaves are dry, this indicates insufficient watering. Dried leaves will not recover and must be removed. Excessive dryness of the soil also causes the leaves to droop and will have to be tied up.

Yellowing of the leaves may indicate watering with too hard water or that your date does not have enough nutrients and needs feeding.

If you want to bring elements of a winter garden into your home, growing an indoor date palm will require little effort from you, but the result of your work will be a healthy and beautiful plant that will thank you for your efforts with a blooming appearance!

You can learn a lot more interesting things about how to care for a date palm at home from the video, we wish you pleasant viewing.

Note! During the growth process, the lower leaves of the date palm sometimes darken and die, which often begins to cause concern for the grower. But if it does not become widespread, then it is a common, natural phenomenon.

Top dressing

For date palms, liquid organic fertilizer is best. I do not advise beginning flower growers to experiment with preparation, but to buy ready-made fertilizer. During the period of active development, plant three times a month. Additional monthly feeding with a solution of potassium nitrate (one gram per liter of water) also gives good results. In winter, feeding does not stop, but is reduced to once a month.

Transfer

As I already noted, the date grows very slowly, so it is considered young for quite a long time, until about 5 years of age. It is transplanted annually before reaching this age. Afterwards, the palm tree is replanted only when the need arises. Most often this is necessary when the plant’s pot becomes small. For very large plants, it is practiced to only replace the top layer of soil. Moreover, if the roots protrude excessively onto the surface of the earth, then they too are cut off (a layer of 5 to 10 centimeters). If you do not want to use purchased soil, you can make it yourself by mixing turf soil, humus, compost and sand in equal parts. To avoid stagnant water, ensure good drainage.

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Date palm or date (Phoenix) is a genus of plants, which according to various sources includes from 14 to 17 species, and belongs to the Palmae (Palm) or Arecaceae (Arekov) family.

This palm is common in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Translated from Latin, "phoenix" means "palm tree".

General information

Representatives of the genus are palm trees with several or one trunk, which can be of different heights with a crown of leaves, leaf sheaths or remnants of petioles at the top.

Large, curved, odd-pinnate leaves consist of linear-lanceolate hard leaflets with a solid edge pointed at the apex, arranged evenly or in a bunch. The petioles are short, often covered with strong spines. In the axils of the leaves are paniculate inflorescences consisting of small yellow flowers.

Dates are grown both as an ornamental plant and as a fruit crop (palmata date). Date fruits are eaten in any form, and they are also fed to camels and horses. Tari wine is made from the juice of some species.

This palm tree is also used for medicinal purposes. Since the juice of the plant is an excellent remedy for the treatment of burns, wounds, skin diseases, and compresses based on crushed palm leaves are used for mastopathy.

Smaller types of date palms, such as Robelena and Canarian, are widely used as decorative houseplants. And the palmate date grows very strongly in a short time, so it is better for it to live in winter gardens and greenhouses.

Types of date palms

(Phoenix canariensis) is a plant with a straight, strong trunk that reaches from 12 to 18 meters in height and up to 1 meter in diameter and is covered with the remains of leaves.

The dense crown consists of approximately 200 pinnate leaves, having more than 150 pairs of leaflets and reaching up to 6 meters in length. The leaves are about 50 centimeters long and up to 3.5 centimeters wide. Their color is bright green.

Relatively short petioles (about 80 centimeters) are covered with strong needle-shaped spines that are up to 20 centimeters long. In the axils of the leaves there are two types of inflorescences - female and male. The first are branched, up to 2 meters long, and the second are much shorter.

Distributed in nature in rocky and rocky areas of the Canary Islands, they are cultivated as ornamental palms grown indoors and in greenhouses.

(Phoenix dactylifera) is a plant whose trunk reaches 20 to 30 meters in height and 30 centimeters in diameter. The trunk is covered with the remains of leaf petioles and has lateral shoots at the base.

In the upper part of the trunk there are arched, feathery leaves up to 6 meters long. The linear-lanceolate leaves, dissected in two at the apex, have a length of 20 to 40 centimeters and are often combined into groups.

The thin, long petiole has a bluish-green color. The inflorescence, reaching more than a meter in length, is located in the axils of the leaves and hangs down under the weight of the fruit. The fleshy drupes have an oblong-ovoid shape and a length of 2.5 to 6 centimeters.

Used for food, both raw and dried, they are very sweet and nutritious. In culture, the date palm is common in North Africa, Southern Iran, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula. Used for landscaping greenhouses and premises.

Recurved date palm (Phoenix reclinata)

Multi-stemmed trees with lateral shoots that give them the appearance of a dense bush. The trunks can reach 8 meters in height and 10-17 centimeters in diameter.

The pinnate, curved leaves with a drooping apex are about 6 meters long and up to 1 meter wide and consist of more than 100 pairs of leaflets. The hard, bright green leaves are covered with whitish hairs that disappear over time, and are up to 50 centimeters long and about 2-3 centimeters wide.

The petiole is 1 meter long, covered with single or grouped 2-3 needle-shaped, thin 3-12-centimeter spines, which are directed in different directions. The inflorescences located in the axils of the leaves are highly branched and have a length of up to 90 centimeters.

Under natural conditions it grows in tropical rainforests of subtropical and tropical regions of Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental plant for growing indoors and greenhouses.

Robelen date palm (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien)

One of the most compact representatives of the genus, reaching only 2 meters in height. This is a single-trunked or multi-trunked tree, which is covered with the remains of the bases of the leaves.

The arcuate-curved pinnate leaves, about 50-70 centimeters long, have numerous soft and narrow leaves, which are very densely located on a thin rachis. The length of the dark green leaves is from 12 to 20 centimeters. Younger leaves are covered with a dusty powdery coating and whitish fibers. The axillary inflorescences are weakly branched.

Under natural conditions, this species can be found in the tropical rainforests of India, Laos, and Burma. This date is suitable for growing in warm greenhouses and rooms.

(Phoenix rupicola) is a plant with a straight trunk up to 7 meters high and 20 centimeters in diameter. This species produces suckers and is not covered with leaf debris.

The arched, pinnate leaves are 2-3 meters long and consist of densely spaced green, linear, glabrous, slightly drooping leaves up to 40 centimeters long. The short petiole is covered at the edges with sharp spines. It grows naturally in the hills and mountains in Sikkim, Assam (India).

Forest date palm (Phoenix sylvestris)

A plant reaching 12 meters in height, with a straight trunk with a diameter of 60 centimeters to 1 meter.

At the top of the trunk there are downward, arcuate-pinnate leaves about 4 meters long in an amount of 150 to 200 pieces. The leaf lobes are densely arranged in groups of 3-4 and have a length of up to 35 centimeters and a width of 4-5 centimeters. The leaves have a bluish-gray color.

The petioles, reaching a length of 1 meter, are covered at the base with brownish fibers, and at the edges with sharp, strong spines (from 3 to 15 centimeters long). The inflorescence with white flowers directed upwards is about 90 centimeters long. It grows wild in dry areas, river valleys and lowlands of Eastern India.

(Phoenix zeylanica Trimen) - representatives of this species have a straight trunk, reaching from 3 to 6 meters in height and covered with the remains of petioles.

The relatively short pinnate leaves consist of numerous 18-25 cm strong bluish leaves. The short petiole is covered at the edges with spines. The branched short (30-35 centimeters long) inflorescence is located in the axils of the leaves.

Under natural conditions, the species is distributed on the island of Sri Lanka in humid lowlands. Cultivated for growing in cold greenhouses.

Date palm at home care and maintenance

The date loves bright sunlight and needs shading only in the midday summer heat. It is best to place small young plants on the windowsills of southern and south-eastern windows, larger and older plants - next to such windows.

For uniform growth and development of the palm tree crown, it is necessary to rotate it around its axis from time to time. In the summer, the plant responds well to being kept outdoors in the garden or on the balcony, but if this is not possible, then the room should be regularly ventilated.

If the autumn-winter days did not provide enough sunlight, then in the spring the plant must be gradually accustomed to exposure to direct rays of the sun in order to avoid burns of the foliage. They do the same with a palm tree just brought from the store.

In winter, it is advisable to illuminate the date using fluorescent lamps. With insufficient lighting, palm leaves begin to stretch and droop down, losing their decorative effect.

In the spring and summer, when the date grows, it needs to be kept at a moderate temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. These tropical beauties also love higher temperatures, up to 28 degrees Celsius, but they also need high air humidity, otherwise the tips of the plant’s leaves will begin to dry out.

In winter, dates have a dormant period and need a temperature within 15-18 degrees. The Robelena date is more thermophilic and the optimal winter temperature for it is from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.

The Canary date can spend the winter at a temperature of 8 to 10 degrees, and in adulthood with a formed trunk it tolerates a short-term decrease to 5 degrees below zero. Palm trees really don't like this kind of air stagnation. It is necessary to ensure regular ventilation of the room, while protecting the plants from drafts.

Watering a date palm at home

From April to August, the plant needs abundant watering, after which the water is left in the pan for 2-3 hours and then drained. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced and done only on the second day after the top layer of the earthen clod has dried.

Moreover, the lower the temperature of the date, the less it is watered and vice versa. It must be remembered that the soil should neither be over-moistened nor over-dry. Water for irrigation is taken warm, soft, and settled.

Dates are moisture-loving plants. They really like daily spraying, which can be done all year round. Water for spraying is taken that has settled or, even better, filtered.

To maintain the required humidity, pots with palm trees can be placed in a tray filled with damp expanded clay, moss or pebbles, so that their bottom does not touch the water. Once every two weeks, date leaves are washed with water to remove dust.

Fertilizers for date palm

Starting in April and ending at the end of August, apply organic fertilizers every 10 days. Sometimes organic matter needs to be alternated with potassium nitrate, which is taken at 1 gram per 1 liter of water. In winter, dates are fertilized once a month.

Replanting a date palm at home

Dates do not tolerate transplantation well, since during it the root system of the plant is often damaged. Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method and only in the spring. The earthen lump is not destroyed in this case.

Due to their rapid growth, young palm trees have to be replanted annually, while adult plants, as needed, every 3-6 years. If the palm tree is too large and heavy and it is not easy to remove it unharmed from the pot, then it is recommended to break it.

The new pot is not much larger than the previous one, and it should be deep and not wide. At the bottom of the pot there must be several centimeters of drainage made of expanded clay, shards or charcoal with sand.

The soil is renewed annually, removing the top 2-4 centimeters of the old substrate and replacing it with fresh one.

Soil for date palm

Dates are not very demanding on soil composition and can grow well in both neutral and slightly acidic soils.

To prepare the substrate, sand, humus, turf soil and compost are mixed in equal quantities. For every 3 liters of the resulting mixture, add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate.

You can also use ready-made soil mixtures for palm trees, which are sold in flower shops.

Date palm from seed at home

Dates are most often propagated by seeds. For cultivation, it is best to use seeds from fresh fruits, since germination rate decreases over time, and the appearance of sprouts may occur a year after planting.

Before planting, date seeds are kept in warm water (30-35 degrees) for 2-3 days. Seeds can be planted in a peat-sand substrate or in a substrate consisting of layers: bottom - drainage, middle - turf soil, top - sand with finely chopped moss.

The prepared substrate is moistened with water, seeds are planted and covered with moss or sand. Shoots can be expected on day 20-25. For successful germination, timely watering and maintaining a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees are necessary. The ascended palms are transplanted into soil consisting of light turf soil, sand and humus, taken in a ratio of 2:1:1.

The transplanted plants are watered abundantly and placed in a well-lit place, shaded from direct sun.

Possible difficulties

• Leaves falling down – signal of the need for watering.
• Dry leaves or tips indicates insufficient room humidity.
• Leaves wither and darken under the influence of low temperatures and drafts.
• Stopping growth may be due to a lack of microelements necessary for the plant.