Livistona is a plant from the palm family, which is considered to be home to the countries of Eastern Australia and New Guinea, Polynesia and South Asia. This exotic plant is widespread in places with high levels of humidity - in swampy areas and near the sea, in fields and in humid forest areas. This fan palm grows very quickly and does not require much maintenance. The unpretentious Livistona has thirty-six different species and varieties in its genus - South, Chinese, Deceiving, Round-leaved, Beautiful and others.
Liviston palm care at home
Location and lighting
The Liviston palm is recommended to be grown in a bright room, but without direct sunlight. A slight shading of the plant from the sun at midday is allowed. The light-loving Liviston stretches its crown towards the light source, so it is advisable to occasionally turn the container with the plant. This will allow the crown to develop evenly.
Temperature
Livistona prefers to grow and develop at moderate temperatures in summer and at temperatures from 14-16 degrees in winter, but not below 8 degrees Celsius. The plant must be taken out into fresh air, but only to an area without drafts and strong gusts of wind.
Air humidity
Livistona is also a moisture-loving plant, which vitally needs daily spraying (up to three times a day) and a weekly water procedure in the form of a shower. In addition, it is recommended to wipe the palm leaves from time to time with a damp sponge or cloth. For all water procedures, you need to use warm water.
Watering
To maintain a high level of humidity in the air and soil, a flower pot with a Liviston palm tree is placed on a tray with water. Watering is carried out only after the top layer of the soil mixture has dried in the spring and summer months, but in the cold season, the plant is very rarely watered. With a lack of watering, palm leaves wither and become stained. An excess of moisture is also undesirable.
The soil
To grow Livistons, a drainage layer of expanded clay or fine gravel is required. The main soil mixture should consist of equal parts of mullein, sand and peat soil, as well as two parts of leaf, turf and clay soil and humus, as well as a small amount of wood ash.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Liviston palm grows very quickly and therefore needs a lot of nutrients during this period. Top dressing is applied once a week throughout the spring and summer. Organic fertilizers or special balanced fertilizers intended for ornamental deciduous plants are suitable as a full-fledged top dressing for a palm tree. Fertilizers are not applied from October to March. Lack of nutrients in the soil will lead to yellowing of the foliage and delayed development of the palm.
Transfer
The transplant of an adult Liviston palm is carried out once every 3-5 years or as the root part grows, which begins to germinate right through the drainage holes. The plant does not like this procedure, therefore it is recommended to use the transshipment method (to minimize disturbance to the plant).
The new pot should not be much larger than the previous one - deep, but not wide. A healthy plant is transferred along with a whole earthy clod, and in a diseased palm tree, it is necessary to check the quality of the roots before planting in a new container. It is recommended to remove all rotten and damaged parts.
Pruning
It is recommended to prune palm leaves only after the petiole is completely dry. You do not need to cut off the dry tips of the leaves, since the rest of the leaf will only dry out faster.
Breeding livistons
Liviston palm is propagated by seeds, which are sown in late February - early March. Seedlings are planted in individual containers shortly after germination. Transplanting seedlings early will allow the root of the plants to develop without interlacing and injuring each other. It takes several years for such a sprout to turn into a beautiful palm tree.
Diseases and pests
Signs of the appearance of a spider mite are a cobweb on a plant, scabies - sticky secretions on leaves and stems, a mealybug - a white fluff that looks like cotton wool. Control measures - treatment with actellik or soapy water.
With a lack of nutrition and watering, the leaves turn yellow or become stained.
