Today it has become popular to decorate homes, offices and administrative institutions with exotic plants. Most often, palm trees are preferred, as the plant is rather decorative and without flowering. In this article we will talk about date palm, is it possible to grow a palm tree from a date stone and how to do it.
Soil for planting
For seed germination, experienced growers advise using a mixture of peat and sand. After transplanting a germinated plant, the substrate must be replaced with a more suitable one. Soil for palm plants is available for sale, but it is better to prepare the soil yourself, adding all the substances necessary for the development of the plant.
So, the soil for the date palm is prepared from the following components:
- A mixture of clay-sod land - two parts;
- Mixture of humus with leaf earth - two parts;
- Sand, peat - on one part;
- Good charcoal dash.
Important! A prerequisite for growing is a good drainage layer. It is possible to use expanded clay or pebble, any other material.
How to prepare pits of a date for planting
Let's figure out which bones are suitable for planting and how to prepare to successfully germinate a date seed. The bone for planting is best taken from fresh fruit, but it can also be taken from dry fruit - in this case, ask if the dates have undergone heat treatment. If not, the bones fit; if yes - such a bone will not rise.
Prepare about eight pits, pulp to the side, rinse and dry the pits. Planting a date palm tree from a bone at home is better in winter - at this time the plant does not need as much sunlight as in a further period of development.
Bones for several days should be soaked in warm water and put in a warm place (can be attached on or near the heater), water should be changed daily. Option Two: roll the stone in several layers of wet cotton or gauze.
Then, in one or two areas of the seed surface, make punctures (according to some recommendations, make cuts on the bone) so that the water gets inside and stimulates germination. Leave in water for another three or four days. Seeds are ready for planting when they swell a little.
Planting dates seed in the ground
Next, consider in detail how to plant a date seed. For seed germination, we take a common container, plant six or eight seeds at some distance from each other into the prepared soil. The substrate described above is prepared for an already germinated plant, the bone can be germinated in a mixture of soil and sawdust.
The depth of planting should be equal to the length of the seed plus half. Planting is carried out in a moist soil, watering is not done above. The container with crops needs to be put in a warm place.
How to plant a date palm out of the seed - you have understood, now it is necessary to create all conditions for the plant.
Did you know? Date palms are masculine and feminine. "Men" differ in the look and shape of flowers. The ancient people knew: for a large crop, one male is needed for a couple of dozen women, while one palm tree gives up to 250 kg of dates.
Conditions for sprouting and caring for crops
When the substrate is wetted, the first shoots will appear in one to three months. The substrate should be hydrated, so it is better to moisturize it by spraying, rather than watering, as an adult plant.
Sprouts, which grew a strong sheet of four centimeters, it is time to replant in separate pots. The pots must be tall, designed for the long roots of the plant, the width does not matter. Drainage must be put on the bottom: small pebbles, pebbles, expanded clay.
Growing a date palm in an adult lush plant is not difficult: provide her with the right care from small shoots. The date is light-requiring, the lighting should be bright and constant. Choose a room with windows facing west, south, east.
It is better to place the pots a little further from the window, as the sun's rays can burn tender leaves. A prerequisite for the development of a young palm tree is a moderate humidity of the air and the ground, the absence of drafts.
A sharp change in temperature, excessive moisture in the soil are detrimental to the emergence of date palm trees.
Did you know? In countries with arid hot climate, dates have long been called "bread of the desert." Going on a long journey, with a sure took a few bags of this fruit. Eating only dates, you can saturate the body and moisture, and all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
How to care for shoots
In nature, date palms grow in tropical heat and often drought, but how do dates grow at home? Palm needs light, all its leaves are drawn to the light, so the pot with shoots needs to be regularly turned to the sun each side, otherwise the foliage will be unevenly stretched.
Dry air is contraindicated to the plant, which means that in winter we remove the plant away from batteries and other heating devices. In the summer, the plant should be carried out to fresh air, gradually tempering.
When the weather permits, air the room where the palm tree grows. In strong heat, spray the foliage and airspace around the palm tree. Warm shower procedures are not prohibited once a week, the only condition is well-covered ground.
Important! When watering, follow the measure - you need to water when the topsoil dries. In case of overflow, the plant will hurt, its roots do not tolerate excess moisture. Water for irrigation should be protected from chlorine and other hard impurities.
Date palm for successful cultivation at home twice a month during warm seasons must be fed, in the winter season - once a month. To do this, use both mineral fertilizers and organics.
In garden and garden stores, you can purchase ready-made complex feeding, balanced for palm plants. For dates, it is desirable to use water-soluble drugs.
Adult plants for proper growth and give them a decorative look will need to be regularly cut. There are several simple rules: remove the number of leaves equal to what has grown over the year, not more; remove damaged and lower drooping leaves.
At the beginning of palm formation, all side shoots are removed - the plant should have one strong central stem. You can not cut the top of a palm tree - it will lead to death.
Seating in separate pots
As it grows and develops, the dates become crowded in a pot. How to transplant a date palm and when to do it?
The first transplant occurs when the leaf sprout has grown to 4 cm. The second transplant is performed when the plant reaches 15 cm in height.
Since the date palm does not tolerate the transplant, it is desirable to do this only when necessary. The signal to transplant will be the apparent visibility of the roots in the drainage holes of the pot.
Young plants grow quickly and transplantation is required annually. Before the procedure, moisten the soil well so that it is easier to handle it from the pot.
Another palm tree transplant method does not work: it has a very fragile root system. The pot is selected 3-4 cm above the previous one. A palm tree with a soil lump is neatly located in a pot, fresh soil is evenly poured into the voids of the container.
Important! Adult date palm trees are transplanted once every three years, otherwise a change of topsoil is recommended.
The date palm is a spectacular ornamental plant, it grieves only that its reproduction at home is possible only with seed seeds. Although in nature, it is beautifully reproduced by root processes. And yet the green tropical tree in the house, especially in the winter cold period, significantly brightens up the expectation of heat and summer.
