Palm of the Arekov family. Their main location is the tropical rainforests of China and India, as well as the territory of the Malay Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Scientists have more than 50 varieties, and only a few areca palms are adapted for growing at home.
This unusual plant takes its name from its namesake – the name of the coast of India. Areca palm has a thin stem (in some species it may not be one), ring-shaped scars, most often near its base. The foliage is densely located at the top (resembling a comb), the leaves themselves are straight. They are in the form of feathers with a bright green color, inherent in flowers and trees of tropical and subtropical regions.
Inflorescences are collected in the form of cobs (top – male, bottom – female). Inside is a horn-shaped berry with a protein. Areca flower seeds are poisonous and can cause stomach cancer with continued use. They are also a component of the well-known betel gum in Southeast Asia, used as a narcotic and stimulant.
The growth of a palm tree is most often due to its variety, for example, Areca Dayung is only 35 cm, while some domestic species can reach 12 m and this is not the limit – in nature they are even higher.
Areca palm care at home
The most acceptable option for Areca in an apartment is diffused light. Direct sunlight is allowed, but only in summer and in limited quantities. As soon as you see that the foliage has become curly, and burns have appeared throughout its area, you should block access to the light. There are very few chances to bring the flower back to life, most often it dies in such situations. When Areca reaches six years old, it is more resistant to sunlight and does not die in case of burns, but simply changes its color. Taking proper care of the areca palm at home will ensure stable and fast growth, effective crown formation and a healthy look.
Also, if you want the palm tree to bloom evenly from all sides, when stored in the sun and without shade, it should ensure it hits from both sides, otherwise you will have to constantly rotate the flower (presumably once or twice every seven days).
The air temperature when caring for areca at home is just as important as all other components. The normal temperature for the Areca palm is 35 °, which is hardly achievable in our climate. So it’s good if you can maintain at least 23-24 °. At a prolonged temperature of 0 °, the flower may not withstand and will begin to quietly die, the older flower dies at -10 °. If such a temperature is a temporary phenomenon (two to three days), then there is a chance to save the plant.
As you remember, palm trees are native to the tropics and are used to high humidity, which must be maintained in a city apartment as well. The flower is able to retain its unusual appearance even in low humidity. “How to understand that he lacks moisture?” – you ask. It’s very simple: the foliage area is sharply reduced, and the existing ones dry out quickly.
Watering the areca when leaving at home is necessary only when its root is slightly dried. The palm is very finicky – it can die if you constantly water it with hard water. And here you have several ways out – you can either collect rainwater (but it still needs to be infused) or pour it with bottled water.
You should know that the main reason for the death of a plant in conditions of growing in an apartment is excessive watering. If there is a saucer under the pot, in which liquid accumulates, it simply needs to be removed after any watering. In no case should it sit in water – the roots begin to rot and the palm tree dies. The first symptom of decay is the darkening of the surface of the leaves and stem of Areca.
Therefore, the soil must also guarantee a good flow of water (make sure that it immediately flows out through the drainage hole). Either neutral or acidic will do.
Experts advise to prepare the following soil for it: bone meal, pumice, pine bark, charcoal, pebbles (instead of dolomite crushed stone), perlite and coarse peat. Pumice and perlite are used as the main remedies for the recovery of Areca, in case of emergency, add them to the soil of the diseased plant.
It is worth replanting the palm when the roots have filled the entire pot. Experienced gardeners advise repeating the procedure in April and be sure to keep its earthen lump. An old plant needs replanting only once every three years. The young must be subjected to a similar procedure every year. Carefully select the volume of the pot – according to the size of the plant, and it is also strongly not recommended to change the soil level.
After transplanting, the palm tree requires careful maintenance – do not forget to feed it with flower fertilizers every two weeks from April to August (vegetative period).
Variety Areca chrysalidocarpus: photo and description
A genus of the Arekov family, which is grown at home and in gardens. Its second name is yellowish chrysalidocarpus. Its natural habitat is the tropics of the island of Madagascar. This type of palm tree Areca has a wildly branching base, the stems are bush-shaped, and the graceful leaves are dark green and feather-shaped.
Smooth trunks can grow up to 10 m, foliage up to 2 m long and one meter wide. The palm tree will perfectly fit into the interiors of spacious houses and business offices, giving them comfort and sophistication. Look at this variety of areca palm in the photo:
The flower is very fond of light, but direct sunlight should be avoided, therefore diffused is best. Try to maintain a room temperature in the place where the palm tree lives throughout the year, which will allow the plant to grow and develop normally. In the summer, you can even take it outside, but only in the shade. In winter it is good to observe that the temperature in the room is not lower than 23 °, and that there is a constant source of bright light in the room.
Unlike its tropical counterparts, this species should maintain good humidity in the summer – the soil ball must be constantly moist, you can even put a saucer of water down. In winter, the amount of watering is reduced to two per day.
A transplant should be done only if the old pot has become too small or new roots begin to grow in the pallet (but this must be done only in the spring). The soil needs to be slightly acidic.
You can propagate a palm tree by planting seeds or dividing the roots. If you store the planted seeds at a temperature of at least 25 °, then after a month and a half you will see the first sprouts. But just remember that at the initial stage and during its development, it is necessary to fertilize a couple of times a month with flower fertilizers.
Areca catechu variety: photo and description
Areca catechu grows in most of the tropical Pacific, Asia and East Africa. This type of palm is also often referred to as the betel tree, as its fruits are often chewed along with the betel leaves. When compared with other brethren, the size of the palm tree is quite small – only 20 meters, and the stem is even smaller – only 10 cm in diameter. Large feathery leaves can reach two meters. Below are the photos of Areca Katechu:
The Areca palm tree catechu is often used for landscaping their gardens and plots. It is also used in large spaces like a hotel or large shopping malls. But the truth is, it grows indoors very slowly, which means that you are unlikely to wait for the fruits from it.
The constant use of areca seeds, as in other varieties, is addictive – this phenomenon is typical for residents of Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and India. Causes oral cancer with frequent use.
Areca flower can dry out if the air is too dry or cold, or if the flower simply does not have enough moisture.
