Chrysalidocarpus (Chrysalidocarpus) is an ornamental palm tree, very popular among flower growers due to the exotic beauty of the leaves and undemanding care. This is a tropical heliophyte, that is, a light-loving plant, native to the Comoros and Madagascar. The name translates as "golden fruit", in Greek "chryseus" and karpos ". Belongs to the palm family and the type genus Arekovs.
Chrysalidocarpus in nature has about 20 species, for breeding in indoor conditions only one of them is cultivated - Chrysalidocarpus yellowish. Palms from the genus Arec are both single-stemmed and multi-stemmed bushy plants with straight, unbranched, smooth shoots, growing more than 10 m in height. It has carved feathery leaves, long and wide, paired, 40-60 pieces per stem. Numerous stems of chrysalidocarpus form a lush crown, the beauty of which will add charm to any interior.
Chrysalidocarpus care at home
Location and lighting
Accustomed to the tropical sun, the chrysalidocarpus plant tolerates heat and bright light well. Plant pots can be safely placed on the southern and southeastern windows, but in summer it is better to shade them from the midday heat.
Too excessive lighting can harm the leaves, they begin to bend and curl, and from the resulting burns they turn yellow and die off. Young palms are especially sensitive to excessive light, but after the age of six, chrysalidocarpuses are more resistant, and react only with yellowed leaves.
To maintain symmetry, the palm tree must be rotated 180 degrees around its axis 1-2 times a month.
Temperature
The best is warm air of 22-25 degrees in the summer months, in winter it is slightly lower - about 18-23 degrees, but not less than 16 degrees. The older the plant, the more calmly it reacts to changes in or lower temperatures. However, drafts should be avoided.
Air humidity
The humidity in the room with the growing chrysalidocarpus should be high. During the summer months, ensure the plant is regularly sprayed with soft, clean water, and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or sponge. In winter and autumn, you do not need to spray.
Watering
For good growth and development of a palm tree, it must be watered abundantly enough, but not allowing excess moisture. It is unacceptable to use hard and chlorinated water, only settled or bottled. In the autumn-winter period, watering is reduced, allowing the substrate to dry out, but not overdrying.
The soil
The soil for chrysalidocarpus should be acidic or neutral, well-drained.This is a mixture of clay-sod (2 parts), humus-leaf (2 parts), peat (1 part) soil with the addition of coarse sand (1 part) and charcoal (1 part). Store-bought soil for palm trees will work as well.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Chrysalidocarpus should be fertilized throughout the year. In spring and summer, 2 times a month with special fertilizers for palms or ordinary fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants. In autumn and winter - less often, once a month is enough. Additional foliar dressing with microelements is carried out monthly during the growing season.
Transfer
For a successful transplant, it is necessary to keep an earthen ball, some of the roots can be cut off with a sharp knife for better placement in a new pot. Drainage is replaced, part of the earth is filled up. The best time to transplant is mid-spring. Young palms are handled annually, older specimens - once every 3-4 years.
Reproduction of chrysalidocarpus
Chrysalidocarpus can reproduce in two ways - by seeds and basal processes.
Seed propagation
In order to propagate chrysalidocarpus with the help of seeds, you must first soak them for 2-4 days. A solution of sulfuric acid or ordinary warm water (about 30 degrees) is used to soak the seeds. The optimum temperature for germination is 25-30 degrees; at a lower germination, the seedlings will appear much later. For the growth of seedlings, a well-lit, moist place is required; after the appearance of the first leaf, they are transplanted into small pots. young plants will appear in about 3-4 months.
Propagation by basal processes
Chrysalidocarpus can reproduce vegetatively at any time of the year. With the help of a sharp knife, a shoot is separated at the base of the plant, which already has a small root, and is planted in moist soil. The optimal landing time is spring and summer.
Diseases and pests
The plant can be affected by fungal infections of the helminthosporium genus - dark spots with a yellow rim appear on the leaves all over the leaf, subsequently forming significant necrotic areas. This leads to the defeat of even new, healthy leaves.
How to deal: the disease manifests itself on those plants that are often sprayed. To eliminate the disease, it is necessary to treat the chrysalidocarpus with a fungicidal solution and stop excessive moisture and watering.
Worms can infect leaves from below, damaging them and causing them to turn yellow. How to fight: rub the leaves with alcohol and treat with an insecticidal preparation.
If the leaves dry up and yellow dots appear on them, these are mites. How to fight: Acaricide is used, and the humidity in the room rises.
Growing problems
- The ends of the leaves dry and darken - dry air and substrate; low temperature and mechanical damage.
- Leaves turn yellow - there is too much sun; watering needs to be increased.
- The leaves are covered with brown spots - the soil is waterlogged; sharp temperature drop; watering with hard or tap water.
- Darkened foliage throughout the plant - too abundant watering; decay signal.
- The ends of the leaves are brown - the air is too dry; low air temperature; lack of moisture.
Popular varieties and types
Chrysalidocarpus yellowish (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
This type of palm got its name for its yellow-orange stems, which are densely branching at the base. Leaves of almost the same shade, the so-called fronds, can reach almost a meter in width and up to 2 m in length. The furrowed elongated petioles have a scaly dark cover that disappears with the age of the plant.
Yellowish chrysalidocarpus does not produce yellow fruits characteristic of other species of this genus; in rare cases, dark purple ones appear on it, which practically does not occur under room conditions.
Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis (Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis)
A palm tree with one trunk, 20-30 cm in diameter and clearly defined rings. It grows more than 8 m, feathery smooth leaves are arranged in bunches, about 2 cm wide and up to 40 cm long.Branched inflorescence in leaf axils up to 50 cm long. Can be kept in warm rooms.
