The Robelen date (Phoenix roebelenii) is found in the wild in southern China, India and Laos in moist forest soils and in climates with high levels of humidity. This beautiful exotic plant belongs to the Palm family and is a two or three-meter tree with a thin, straight trunk with a bumpy surface at the bottom and a lush bunch of openwork leaves at the top. Half-meter or meter-long dark green leaves with a silvery tint have an arcuate curved shape, and at a young age their surface is covered with a powdery coating of white. The palm tree blooms with small yellow flowers. The edible black oval fruit has an unpleasant taste and is only about one centimeter long.
Caring for Robelen's date at home
As a houseplant, the Robelena date palm is considered a rather capricious flower and requires special attention and strict adherence to all rules of care and maintenance.
Location and lighting
The growing area should be well lit or close to a light source. The Robelena date can grow in partial shade conditions and in the open sun. During the period of short daylight hours, you can use additional lighting with phytolamps. In order for the crown to have a symmetrical beautiful shape, it is recommended from time to time to turn the container with the plant from different sides to the light.
Temperature
The Robelena date is one of the most thermophilic palm species that reacts negatively to cold airs and drafts in the winter months, but does not welcome close proximity to hot central heating radiators.
The most favorable temperature in summer and spring is 20-25 degrees Celsius, in autumn and winter - 15-18 degrees Celsius.
Watering
Each next watering is recommended only after the soil surface has dried by about 2-3 cm. The Robelena date loves moisture, so watering should be abundant, but not excessive. Excess water will stagnate in the pot and lead to root rot.
Air humidity
Growing dates in a room or apartment with dry air will not work, since it prefers only high humidity. You can maintain such a high level with the help of household air humidifiers, as well as regular daily spraying in the morning and evening (or an abundant shower - once a day). For water procedures of this type, it is recommended to use only boiled water with a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius.
The soil
When purchasing a ready-made soil mixture for palm crops, it should be borne in mind that such mixtures do not have sufficient nutritional value and new soil will soon be required. It is better to immediately prepare a high-quality and nutritious substrate. This will require two parts of humus-leaf and sod land, one part of rotted manure, peat land and coarse river sand.Before laying the substrate in a flower pot, do not forget about a reliable expanded clay drainage layer, which will not allow excess water to stagnate.
When transplanting an adult plant of a large size into a new flower container, it is recommended to put a decent weighting agent on the bottom, which will not allow the palm tree to tip over under its own weight.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Complex mineral fertilizers are recommended to be applied in liquid form, the period of top dressing is every 10-15 days from March to November.
Transfer
You can transplant the Robelen date houseplant in any season, except for the autumn. An autumn transplant will lead to the death of the culture. This process itself is recommended only if absolutely necessary, since the palm tree reacts negatively to it and the root system is easily damaged. Florists advise transplanting only because of the age of the room culture, which no longer fits in the old flower container. It is very important to keep the earthen lump intact and safe. This will help to minimize stress to the plant and further reduce the time for the flower to adapt to a new place.
Indoor florists recommend renewing the topsoil in a palm pot every year. For this, a layer of earth from 3 to 10 cm is removed, and a fresh nutrient substrate is poured in its place.
Pruning
Only the lower dried or old leaves are subject to pruning, which spoil the decorative effect of the Robelen date. At the base of each petiole there are sharp long spines, this must be taken into account during the procedure.
Reproduction of the Robelen date
Most often, seeds are used to propagate the Robelen date. Since this culture belongs to slow-growing plants, it will be possible to see a large seed-grown date palm only in a few years.
Diseases and pests
To eliminate pests such as spider mites, aphids, scale insects and mealybugs, appropriate targeted or general insecticides are needed. It is recommended to use them strictly according to the instructions on the package.
Robelena's date is resistant to infectious diseases. Drying of the tips of the leaves can be one of the possible diseases. The disease is associated with non-compliance with the rules of care and maintenance. In particular, the tips of the leaves begin to dry out in dry indoor air or high ambient temperatures.
Note to the flower grower!
Indoor plant lovers with little experience may hear about multi-stemmed dates, which in fact do not exist. Such branching of trunks or "multi-stem" can be created artificially during the planting of young crops. By planting several specimens in one flower pot at once, and placing them very close to each other, you can get such an unusual Robelen date with several trunks. Such a beautiful illusion is created by the touching trunks of palm trees.
