0 грн.
Checkout
Washingtonia (lat. Washingtonia) is a tree-type plant belonging to the Palm family (Arekovy). The homeland of the plant is Central America, Mexico. In the wild, a palm tree grows up to 30 m and up to 1 m in diameter, when grown at home, its height can be 3 m.
The foliage with rich green shades is dissected in the center and looks like a fan, so the crown of the tree is very lush. After wilting, the leaves do not fall, but surround the trunk with a kind of skirt. When growing at home, Washingtonia rarely blooms and not earlier than the 12th year of its life. In nature, as a result of flowering, spherical fleshy fruits are formed, which are located along the axis of the inflorescences.
Other names for Washingtonia: Washingtonia the mighty, Washingtonia robusta, Mexican Fan Palm.
Washingtonia are popular varieties. There are 2 plant varieties:
Useful properties of Washingtonia - due to the large surface of the leaves, the plant perfectly moisturizes the air. It is an ornamental plant that creates a pleasant, calming atmosphere, therefore it is often used for landscaping the halls of administrative and other buildings, sports facilities, hotels, offices and spacious living rooms. The plant is also able to purify the air from dust, carbon dioxide, absorb harmful electromagnetic radiation, protecting a person from its negative effects.
Washingtonia is considered an unpretentious plant. She tolerates temperature changes well. A palm tree with a crown of spreading foliage, divided into segments, looks interesting and unusual. Such a plant is suitable for active people who cannot devote much time to caring for it. The palm tree fits perfectly into a modern and classic interior, and phytodesigners advise placing it in a hallway, corridor or in a large room.
Lighting. She is very fond of light. In particular, a lot of it will be needed at the very beginning of the plant's life, so it is better to place it by the window. In order for the palm tree to develop evenly, the pot with it must be turned from time to time so that different sides appear in the light. When there is little light, you can use a lamp that emits daylight. It needs to be placed 30-50 cm from Washington. The plant should receive light at least 16 hours a day, and in winter too.
Temperature. Feels best at moderate temperatures. Spring and summer months are a period of increased growth, when the optimal temperature level is + 20 + 25 ° C. If the thermometer reads more than + 30 ° C, fresh air must be supplied to the plant. In winter, the temperature for Robusta should not fall below + 5 ° C, and for thread-bearing Washingtonia - at least + 8 ° C. In winter, provide a "cold snap" for the thread-carrying variety.
Air humidity. Washingtonia grows best in the high humidity of its home region. To maintain the desired microclimate, you can place trays of water next to the palm tree, use a humidifier, or spray the plant. In the latter case, you cannot use tap water if it has increased hardness. Spraying in autumn and early spring can cause fungal infections. This process is also dangerous in cloudy weather.
Watering. She needs moderate watering. This means that between one irrigation and another, the soil must completely dry out. If yellow or blackness appears on the tips of the leaves, this indicates an excess of moisture. In summer, the plant needs to be watered taking into account the dryness of the earth, in winter - after waiting another day or two after drying. Cold water is not used for irrigation, as well as hard water. Room water needs settling for at least a day, and only after that use it for irrigation.
Top dressing. It is necessary to feed during its growing season, i.e. from March to early autumn. Top dressing is applied 1-2 times a month. Any mineral fertilizers containing iron will do, but you only need to take half the dose indicated on the package. If signs of pest damage or disease appear, feeding should be discontinued.
Transfer. Young Washingtonia should provide a transplant annually in the first 3 years. In the future, a transplant is needed as the roots grow, which completely occupy the space of the pot, or, if necessary, change the soil. On average, 3-5 year old palms are replanted every 2 or 3 years, and adults once every 5-10 years. For a plant over 10 years old, it is enough to replace the top of the soil. A deep, not too wide pot is suitable for this, be sure to lay the drainage with a thick layer. With each transplant, the diameter of the pot is increased by about 4 cm.You can buy ready-made mixtures intended for palm trees, or mix sod, leafy humus-type soil with sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1. After transplanting, mineral additives are added to the soil.
Trimming and shaping. It is necessary to cut off broken leaves, as well as those that tilt beyond the horizontal line. Additional shoots are also pruned to keep the main shoot growing. At the stage of dying off, the leaves cannot be cut off. It is very important not to damage the trunk during pruning, and also not to remove more leaves in a year than they grow during this time.
Bloom. Indoor flowering is rare. Flowering is irregular.
Reproduction. Propagated exclusively through seeds. They are soaked in water, maintaining its room temperature, and then introduced to a depth of 1 cm into a soil mixture prepared according to the same rules as for transplanting. In a month, the height of the seedlings will reach 10-15 cm. When the first leaves appear, the seedlings must be planted in separate pots. After a year and a half, they will turn into small trees. Sowing seeds is possible at any time, but the end of winter is most suitable for this.
Diseases, pests. Darkening of the leaves at the tips indicates severe dryness of the soil or air. A similar symptom occurs with a lack of potassium. Insufficient watering leads to pallor and yellowing of the leaves. With a rapid decrease in temperature, a significant excess of soil moisture, spots form on the leaves. When damaged by pests (whiteflies, scale insects, scale insects), the leaves curl, small whitish spots appear on them. In this case, you need to treat the palm tree with insecticides.
Washingtonia in winter. Winter is a dormant period for Washingtonia in natural conditions. At such a time, the air temperature should be reduced to 10-15 ° C. You can rearrange the plant on a heated loggia or in a cool winter garden, making sure that there are no drafts there. Watering in winter is reduced, the leaves are not sprayed, the plant is not fed.
Interesting Facts. Washingtonia got its name from the first president of the United States and over time has become a symbol of the American South. The fresh fruits of the tree are used for food by the indigenous people of America, and flour is made from the dried seeds. Dense wood is an excellent building material, as well as a raw material for the manufacture of dishes and other items.
