Date palm

The date palm, or date (Phoenix) is a plant from the Arekov family. Its natural habitat is subtropical and tropical zones. This plant is also known as the date or the phoenix palm. It has been cultivated for more than two millennia. Two countries are considered the homeland of this family: Africa and India.

Growing dates at home is no longer considered a rarity. Thanks to its spectacular appearance and spreading foliage, such a palm tree is able to decorate almost any interior. All types of palms attract with their undemanding care and resistance to pests. But out of all the variety of different palms, the phoenix is ​​considered one of the most suitable for home cultivation.

Date palm description

The date tree can live up to one and a half centuries. During this time, the plant reaches about 30 m in height. The date palm can form one powerful trunk or several at once. The foliage has an odd-pinnate structure and a tapered top. Phoenix fruits - dates - have high taste. They are eaten, used as feed for livestock, and also used in production, extracting sugar from them. In addition to it, dates contain many useful trace elements, vitamins and amino acids.

At the same time, there is only one way to collect fruits from such a palm tree: by climbing to its top. They will not fall off by themselves, even if you shake the tree by the trunk. Most often dates for production purposes are grown in the countries of the Middle East and Africa. Iranian fruits are the most popular.

Brief rules for growing a date palm

The table shows brief rules for caring for a date palm at home.

How to grow a date palm from seed

Even the smallest date palm will have a very impressive size for an ordinary city apartment. An adult phoenix will be at least 2 meters tall, so before deciding to have such a plant, you need to assess the amount of free space in the house. A suitable location for the phoenix should be protected from drafts and direct sun. Low temperatures are also not suitable for the plant: a tub with a palm tree should not be placed on stone floors or pedestals, as well as on a ventilated windowsill. For the summer, the container with the date can be taken out into the air.

The fruit of the date palm, the date, allows you to grow a full-fledged plant even at home. It is not necessary to go to the store for seeds, it will be enough to purchase ripe dates with seeds, separate them and use them for planting. The very beginning of spring is considered the best time for this.

Selecting a bone

Not every date bone is suitable for planting. The best planting material should be just removed from the fruit - old seeds lose their germination. At the same time, the sugar content of the date does not affect its germination. But if the fruit was plucked more than a year ago, the likelihood of germination of such a seed is significantly reduced. The pulp should be removed (or eaten) - its presence inhibits the germination process. The extracted bones should also not have external damage and traces of disease. In addition, they should not be heat treated.

Preparing for landing

Before planting, the bones need to be prepared. Usually they are left in warm water for several days. Its temperature should be about 32 degrees. During this period, the water is changed several times. Sometimes biostimulants of growth are added to it. During this time, the most viable bones should sink to the bottom of the container.

Date pits sometimes sprout in damp cotton wool. Cotton wool must be soaked abundantly in water and placed in a container. A bone is placed on top of the cotton wool and covered with the same wet layer. As it dries, the cotton wool is moistened again, continuing to do this until the bone begins to swell. In the same capacity, napkins, gauze, hydrogel or sawdust can be used. Sometimes wet vermiculite is used for germination.

There are other ways of germination. These include brief boiling water or scarifying the seed shell with emery. But more gentle methods usually give better results.

As soon as noticeable roots appear on the bone, it is placed in the ground. But when planting several seeds at once, you should be prepared for the fact that the palms obtained from them may have a slightly different appearance, even if they were collected from the same plant.

Choice of substrate

For the cultivation of the date palm, a loose and very nutritious soil is suitable, in which water does not stagnate. You can use specialized palm substrates or all-purpose houseplant mixes.

If the soil for planting is prepared independently, the following compositions can be used. In the first case, sand is mixed with turf and humus. Sometimes superphosphate is added to the finished mixture at the rate of 1 tbsp. l per 3 liters of the mixture. But it is worth remembering that this composition contains fluoride, which is harmful to the growth of the palm tree.

The second method is to mix leafy soil and turf with sand and peat in a 2: 2: 1: 1 ratio. For disinfection, a little charcoal is added to the soil. You can disinfect the finished substrate using heat treatment (calcining, pouring boiling water or placing the soil in the microwave for a few minutes) or a manganese solution.

It is recommended to use light pots or tubs as a container: they heat up much less. Preferred material: wood or plastic. In this case, the pot, where the seedling will later be placed, must be deep enough: the root system of the date differs in length. Too narrow containers should be avoided. With further transplants, the volume of each new pot should exceed the old one by about a third.

Features of planting bones

When planting, the bone is placed vertically and buried no more than 1 cm. Sphagnum can be laid out on top. Until the seed germinates, it is kept in a warm place, maintaining a constant soil moisture. Peat tablets can also be used for seed germination. As soon as sprouts appear, they are moved into the ground without removing them from the tablet.

A bag or glass can be placed on top of the landing container, remembering to periodically remove such a shelter for ventilation. If the room is hot enough, you can leave the container open.

The sprouting process can take several months. The maximum period is considered to be six months, but fresh seeds can hatch within 3-4 weeks. As soon as the first sprouts appear, the container with them must be transferred to a more illuminated corner.

If several seeds were planted in one container, the sprouts should be distributed into separate pots only when the seedlings reach about 12 cm in size.For them, pots with a diameter of 15 cm or more are selected.

Date shoots do not resemble a palm tree too much. The first years of a plant's life are a group of narrow and long leaf plates. Their number increases by 1-2 pieces per year. The usual feathery foliage begins to appear no earlier than the 3rd year of the palm tree's life. Pruning should not be carried out during this period. Such a seedling acquires the maximum decorative effect only 5 or more years after the emergence of the sprout.

Date palm care at home

The date is a native of hot countries, so it is advisable to create similar conditions for it at home. The impressive size of the plant also makes its own adjustments to its content. A tub with a date is usually kept in a bright and uncluttered room. There is usually little furniture in it - the date palm needs a sufficient amount of free space. But low growth rates do not make it possible to resort to such measures immediately. If a palm tree is grown from a date seed, then it will turn into a real tree only after about ten years.

The date does not require complex care. For healthy development, the plant will need regular watering, periodic feeding, as well as pruning and transplanting.

Lighting

Despite the fact that the climate of their native countries has accustomed date palms to the scorching sun, domestic specimens should be protected from it. Direct rays can burn the leaves of the plant. Usually a pot with it is kept on the east or west windows. The southern direction is permissible only in case of shading. In such a room, the date palm can be placed a little further from the window.

During colder seasons, when there is less sunlight, the date palm can get used to low light. So that the bright spring sun does not become stress for the date, it should be prepared for it. The plant is brought out into the light for several hours a day, gradually increasing the rate. The same procedure is carried out with a new plant recently brought into the house.

The pot with the date must be periodically turned, exposing the different sides of the palm to the light. If this is not done, the foliage will develop fully only on one side of the plant.Lack of light has a bad effect on the appearance of the leaf plates: they begin to droop or stretch disproportionately.

Temperature

Date palm will thrive best at around 23-25 ​​degrees. In summer, the phoenix is ​​able to withstand 30-degree heat. But such an increase in temperature must be combined with an increase in humidity. Otherwise, the hot air will dry out the foliage of the palm tree.

The room with the plant must be ventilated more often. With the arrival of warm days, the phoenix can be taken out into the fresh air: on the balcony or in the garden. This can be done only if the temperature there does not drop below 12 degrees, otherwise, if there is a threat of frost, the pot will have to be taken back to the house. But the plant does not like frequent movements. In addition, the palm tree usually needs to be accustomed to a new place gradually, at first leaving it on the balcony for only a short time.

In winter, the date palm rests. At this time, it is advised to keep it at a constant temperature of no more than 18 degrees. It should not fall below 14 degrees either. More accurate recommendations for growing conditions depend on the specific type of palm tree. For example, the Robelen date is considered more thermophilic, and the Canary date is capable of hibernating at temperatures of only 8 degrees.

Watering

The native countries of the date often do not have a humid climate. The date palm uses its long roots to extract water from the depths of the earth, enduring periods of drought. But a home plant, limited by the volume of the pot, needs to be watered regularly.

The date palm needs maximum moisture during the growth period: from mid-spring to the end of August. Seedlings obtained from seeds need a special watering regime. While the sprouts have not yet emerged, the soil in the container should be kept moderately moist. Young plants try to moisturize when the top layer of the soil dries out at least a couple of centimeters. In a cool winter, the number of watering is reduced: during rest, the date palm requires less moisture.

When watering, soft water is used, from which chlorine has already disappeared. Otherwise, chlorosis may develop on the foliage. Usually it is defended for at least two days. Ideally, use rain or melt water. Excess liquid flowing into the pan should be drained, and the bottom of the pot should be wiped off. This will help to avoid stagnation of moisture at the roots.

In hot and dry weather, date foliage can be sprayed. A weekly shower will not interfere with the plant. During this procedure, the soil in the pot should be closed so as not to wet the substrate.

Humidity level

The date prefers a higher humidity level. It must be at least 50%. Because of this, the leaves of the plant can be sprayed in dry weather at least once a week. For the procedure, use lukewarm water. Periodic wiping of the leaves with a damp cloth will also be helpful. Foliage cleaning chemicals can cause disease.

In winter, the palm tub should be kept away from air-drying appliances. During this period, you should not spray the plant, especially if it hibernates in a cool corner.

Top dressing

To fertilize dates, use special formulations designed for palms or plants with beautiful foliage. Both organic and mineral preparations are suitable. The nitrogen contained in them will have a positive effect on the rate of leaf formation. Preference should be given to liquid preparations. Powder formulations must be diluted in water. When feeding, it is recommended to observe the dosage indicated in the instructions. At the same time, it is easier to cope with a lack of fertilizers than with an excess of them.

There are more modern fertilizers in the form of tablets or sticks that simply stick into the soil. With each watering, the drug gradually dissolves, going into the ground. But the benefits and harms of such funds are still the subject of discussion. It is believed that this principle of introducing nutrients can harm the root system of the date palm.

For top dressing, it is permissible to use not only purchased preparations, but also organics available at hand. For a date palm that spends the summer in the garden, use an infusion of chicken manure (dosage 1:20) or mullein (1:10), fertilizing it weekly. Potassium nitrate (10 g per bucket of water) is also suitable for the date.

In winter, the date palm continues to be fertilized, but the nitrogen level is reduced to a minimum during this time. In addition to the usual dressings, you can practice foliar feeding.

Transplanted date palms do not feed for about 2 months. During this time, the date will have time to take root in a new container and assimilate all the nutrients of the fresh soil. If a palm tree is sick or affected by pests, then it is not fed until it recovers completely. Nutrients in this case can undermine the immunity of the weakened plant.

Signs of a lack of nutrition

Lack of nutrition can be judged by the following signs:

• Lack of nitrogen manifests itself through pale foliage and a slowdown in the growth rate of the date palm;
• Lack of magnesium leads to the appearance of a yellow border along the edge of the leaf plates. The leaves themselves remain bright green;
• Potassium deficiency leads to the formation of brown or bronze specks on the leaves. Over time, such plates sometimes begin to curl and dry.
• Manganese deficiency can affect young foliage. It becomes shallow, weak and often has streaks. Most often, manganese starvation is associated with a high soil pH level or too cold room.

Transfer

They try to transplant dates only if necessary: ​​the plant is hard to tolerate this procedure. Transplanting is usually resorted to when the date palm root system ceases to fit in the pot. In this case, its roots begin to show through the drainage holes. Another reason for moving is a plant disease associated with root rot due to overflow. The decayed plant must be removed from the pot and its roots must be carefully examined. A completely dark root system means that the process is too running and the palm tree can no longer be saved. If part of the roots remains healthy, the affected areas are removed, and the sections are disinfected with crushed coal. Only then can the date be transplanted into fresh soil.

The transplant procedure is carried out only in the spring. Palm roots are considered to be very fragile. It is very easy to damage them, so the date is moved only together with the earthen clod, carefully transferring it into a new pot. Sometimes part of the roots that form a felt-like layer around the earthen coma are carefully cut off so that the plant fits better in the new container.

Before removing the date palm from the pot, water the soil in it properly. The new container must fully accommodate the root system. It can exceed the old one by about 4 cm. Too bulky pots for small young palms should not be used. This can have a negative impact on their growth rates.

The planting container must have drainage holes. In a plastic pot, you can do them yourself. For this, a hot nail is usually used. Even if there are holes at the bottom, a drainage layer must be laid under the palm bush. The larger the plant, the thicker the layer of drainage elements it will need. For these purposes, brick debris, pebbles or expanded clay are usually used.

The deepening of the trunk after the movement should remain the same. A change in soil level can lead to rotting of the palm tree. After transplanting, the plant is properly watered.

In the first years of life, the date grows more actively, so it will have to be replanted every year. From the age of 5, it will be sufficient to change the capacity about once every 3 years. If the transplant date has come, and the palm tree is still placed in the old pot, you can simply renew the top layer of soil in the container. From above, carefully remove about 3 cm of soil and replace them with fresh soil. This will help nourish the plant.You can repeat this procedure about once every six months.

Pruning

The date pruning procedure should be carried out only occasionally and with great care. Usually, only dead, lowered or damaged leaf blades, which affect the decorative effect of the plant, are subject to removal. In this case, even yellowed or brown leaves should remain on the trunk until they dry completely - the plant continues to draw strength from them. Only then can they be removed. In a year, you should not remove more leaf plates from the date palm than is formed on it during this period.

Removing the top of the plant will not lead to the emergence of new shoots: it is there that the growth point of the palm tree is located. Having lost it, the date can die. The trunk of the date palm must also not be damaged. In a bent date, additional shoots are sometimes removed so that they do not slow down the growth of the main trunk.

In the first years of life, the palm is not pruned at all.

Will the palm bear fruit at home?

It will not work to enjoy the sweet fruits of a home palm: flowering and fruiting occurs only when a certain size is reached. For dates to form, the tree must be at least 10 m in height, so this cannot be achieved at home.

Another feature of the date is that the formation of fruits is possible only if there are male and female specimens of the palm tree. To improve yields, even in ancient times, the Arabs specially placed male flowers on female trees. In this case, large clusters of dates are formed in place of the yellowish flowers-spikelets.

Date palm breeding methods

The main way of breeding dates at home is growing from seeds. Along with the seed method, some varieties can be propagated by cuttings. But at home this method is not practiced.

Diseases and pests

Phoenix is ​​quite unpretentious. If the date palm gets enough light, moisture and nutrients and is in a warm place, there should be no problems growing it. Most often, diseases and harmful insects affect plants weakened by improper care.

Pests

Harmful insects settling on a palm tree lead to the loss of decorativeness of its foliage, twisting and falling of the plates. Possible pests include nematodes, scale insects, mealybugs, as well as thrips and spider mites. Methods of dealing with them can be different and include mechanical, chemical treatment and the use of folk remedies.

Insects visible to the eye can be collected from the foliage by hand. The nematode is considered the most dangerous pest - it is especially difficult to remove it. In case of defeat, the date palm will have to be destroyed along with the soil, sometimes the pot is thrown away with them. One diseased plant can quickly infect neighboring plants.

Before using chemical processing agents, they often try to get rid of pests with the help of household products. Among the most famous are:

• A mixture of soap and vodka. About 15 g of liquid soap or 1 tsp. planed laundry soap is diluted in a liter of water. Add 2 tbsp to the solution. l vodka and process the foliage of the palm tree weekly, repeating the procedure several times.
• Tobacco infusion. 40 g of tobacco must be poured into 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture is insisted for two days, then another liter of water is poured into it again. Foliage is treated with a diluted infusion.
• Garlic extract. About 4 garlic heads are kept in a liter of water for about 5 days. 6 g of the resulting mixture (1 plastic bottle cap) is poured into a liter of water and sprayed with the solution on the foliage.

After such treatment, the foliage is thoroughly washed with water, and then allowed to dry - for this, the plant must be in a warm place.

If traditional methods do not bring the desired result, you should use purchased insecticidal products. Among them are Fitoverm, Aktellik, Pyrethrum and many other brands. The selected drug is diluted according to the instructions. Most often, the proportion is 2 g per 1 liter of water.Before processing a palm tree completely, it is necessary to carry out a test treatment. To do this, you need to apply the drug solution to just one leaf of the plant and wait a day. If nothing happened to the date, then it has endured the impact well, and the entire green part can be processed. But before complete processing, it is necessary to cover the soil in the pot so that the insect repellent does not get into the substrate.

Diseases

Sometimes the date palm can be affected by fungal diseases. These include pink rot and gray spotting. The reason for their development is usually an insufficient drainage layer, unsuitable soil or the appearance of pests. They can be cured with fungicidal preparations. For dates, it is better to select products that do not contain copper. They should be applied systematically until the plant recovers, but they should not do this more often than once a week.

If you take proper care of the date, it will practically not hurt.

Difficulties in growing a date palm

Date palm leaves turn yellow or darken

The reason for the yellowing of the leaves of the plant is often poor-quality water for irrigation. It is advisable to use not just settled, but filtered water. Yellowing can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies. In this case, feeding will help.

If the foliage has changed color to dark, the reason may be hidden in the watering schedule. From an excess of moisture in the soil, the roots of the date can begin to rot. The disease can be recognized by the characteristic odor and brown color of the foliage. In this case, the dates stop watering until the ground is completely dry. Severe lesions may require root inspection and transplantation into fresh soil.

Darkening of foliage tips is usually associated with unfavorable growing conditions. The air in the room may be too dry, the date palm is too rarely watered or fed, or it is standing in a draft. When adjusting conditions, fresh foliage should grow healthy.

The lower leaves of an adult plant may darken and fall off as they mature. If the problems started with young leaves, then the date palm is sick. Sometimes watering with too cold water can cause fresh foliage to dry out.

The date palm hardly grows

The thermophilic date slows down its growth rate if it is in a too cool room. As a rule, this happens at temperatures less than 17 degrees. If the date is in such conditions in spring or summer, it is transferred to a more comfortable and warmer room. In winter, the slowdown in the growth of the date palm is considered natural.

The reason for the slow growth of the phoenix can also be excessive acidity of the soil, lack of nutrients, or too tight a pot.

Types of date palm with photos and names

There are about 20 different types of dates. In room culture, the following are most common:

Common date (Phoenix dactylifera), or finger

One of the most famous types: this is the kind of date that is usually found on sale in specialized stores. It has a fairly fast growth rate, but as it develops, the trunk of the plant begins to bare.

Curved date (Phoenix reclinata)

Reaches 8 meters in height. Forms several trunks at once. The foliage is pubescent and covered with light hairs. The petioles have thorns.

Rocky date (Phoenix rupicola)

It grows up to 7 m. It has one trunk. There are thorns on the petioles.

Date Canary (Phoenix canariensis)

Small enough palm tree up to 2 m tall. It has tough, long foliage and petioled thorns. The trunk is strong.

Forest date (Phoenix sylvestris)

It is about 12 m high. It has only one trunk and spiny petioles.

Phoenix roebelenii

The most shade-tolerant species, able to tolerate little shade. It grows up to 2 m and is one of the shortest species. The foliage of young dates may be covered with a light bloom.

Ceylon date (Phoenix zeylanica)

The height can be up to 6 meters.It has one trunk and short foliage, on the petioles of which there are also thorns.