Liviston's palm is a tropical plant with dissected leaves that will add a twist to any interior. The palm has a fibrous stem with spikes, which are a characteristic feature of the Liviston genus. This plant will appeal to all lovers of exotic.
Description
Livistona is a perennial plant of the Palm family. The name comes in memory of the Scottish botanist Patrick Murray, from the city of Livingston, where he lived. During his short life P. Murray managed to collect a collection of thousands of plants.
Among the variety of specimens, there were large palm trees with beautiful glossy fan leaves reaching 50-100 cm in diameter. Liviston palm tree prefers wetlands, so in nature it can be found in tropical forests and along river banks, where it can grow to impressive 25 m. Due to the fact that palm trees grow slowly, they are great for home use. In pots, Liviston is most often grown southern and Chinese. The palm tree needs a lot of space, so it can often be seen in the halls of hotels and offices.
Kinds
Many types of Liviston can be grown at home, since they are unpretentious and do not require much attention. They prefer warmth, feel great at 20 ° C in the summer and at 15 ° C in the winter. At home, do not bloom. Flowering is possible only in the wild. More than 30 plant species are known. The most common varieties are:
- Liviston is deceiving. In the wild, it grows up to 12 m in height. A single-stemmed palm formed slowly. Leaflets consist of 50-60 segments with a large number of green veins.
- Liviston's jade. At home, it can grow up to three meters. Does not bloom. The palm tree has bright green leaves, shaped like a fan.
- Livistona Rotundifolia is a sprawling plant in which the diameter of green leaves is about one and a half meters. Fan leaves, divided into segments. Inflorescence red with yellow flowers.
- Liviston Chinese palm. In the wild reaches 25 m in height. If the palm tree is properly looked after, then at home it can grow to the ceiling. The trunk of a palm tree is formed from fragments of old leaves that fit snugly together. Palm trees need a lot of space for good growth.
- Liviston Maria is considered one of the largest palm trees and grows up to 30 m in height. Luxurious crown in diameter reaches eight meters. At home, growth slows down. Petioles about two meters, leaves are divided into segments. The inflorescence is red. The trunk is grayish in color. In the wild, yellow flowers. The apartment does not bloom.
- Livistona rotundifolia has wonderful fan leaves. At home, grows up to 2 m. This variety of palm trees is unpretentious in care.
- Liviston is beautiful. In height, slightly lower than other species. In the wild, the height is about 10 m. The hard leaves are half divided into segments, and their tips are subtly bent back.
Features of buying a plant
Liviston's home palm tree is very popular among gardeners. Before you buy a palm tree, you need to pay attention to the leaves - they must be bright green. If the palm has leaves with spots, and the tips wilted, then this is better not to buy.
Adult palm trees are expensive. After you have purchased a suitable palm, you need to transplant it. Some gardeners believe that you need to transplant a palm tree right away, while others recommend doing it only a month after the adaptation period.
Pot selection
Special attention should be paid to the capacity in which your palm will grow. The plant pot is best chosen from natural materials, thanks to which the roots will breathe better. The container should be slightly larger than the root system. The pot is best placed on a small stand, where it is not hot. It is recommended to choose a container in light colors that are able to reflect light.
Lighting
Palm tree loves the light, so it feels great at the window, which overlooks the west or east side. It is better to avoid prolonged direct sunlight on the palm tree, otherwise it will get burns and the leaves will turn yellow. In winter, it must be put in the brightest place.
Liviston’s palm is turned over in different directions to the light, so that the crown grows beautiful and symmetrical. If the apartment is dark, then it is better to buy Liviston Chinese. She tolerates a lack of light better than others. And you can also make additional lighting. Leaves should not touch walls, furniture. This contributes to better air exchange.
Air humidity
Liviston palm leaves dry due to low humidity, so you need to constantly spray it and clean the leaves from dust. Recommended air humidity above 60%. Yellow leaves should be removed. Only completely dry leaves must be carefully torn from the stem, otherwise this process will go to other leaves. If the palm is small, then it can be washed in the shower. In winter, the time interval between sprayings must be increased.
Watering
Watered palm warm settling water. In spring and summer, the irrigation procedure is carried out as soon as the soil dries, and in winter - much less often. From time to time it is necessary to pour water from the pan, so that the roots do not rot.
Top dressing
From May to September, palm trees are fed with organic fertilizers twice a month, and once a month for the rest of the period. Quality care affects palm growth. Three new leaflets grow each year.
Liviston's palm: transplant
If you notice that the pot is filled with roots, then it’s time for a palm transplant. This operation is best done on a warm spring day. The plant tolerates this operation very hard, as part of the roots is injured.
An adult palm tree should be replanted every five years, a young one - every three years. If some of the roots are rotten, then when transplanting them, you need to carefully trim them. A deep and heavy pot is suitable for a palm tree so that it does not turn over under the weight of the plant. Too loose is also not recommended, since stagnation of water causes rotting of the root system. Stagnation can be prevented by good drainage.
The soil
It is recommended to use a special mixture for palm trees. You can also prepare the substrate yourself. For this it is necessary to mix sand, charcoal, rotted manure and peat humus in equal parts in equal parts.
Breeding
Liviston propagates by seeds that can be bought in almost any flower shop, and side offspring.
Sowing seeds of palm Liviston spend spring. In order for the seeds to sprout faster, it is necessary to remove the hard shell from them, then soak in water for two days. Then the seeds are planted in a shallow container to a depth of one centimeter and covered with a film. Seeds germinate for approximately three months.
When the seedlings grow a little, it needs to be transplanted into a pot with special soil, which includes leafy soil, humus and sod. After about a year, a stronger palm is transplanted into a larger pot. From time to time, in adult palms, processes are formed that can be separated during transplantation, and the place of the cut is treated with coal powder. Reproduction by the shoots is not the best way, since they are formed very rarely.
Diseases and Pests
The following pests affect the palm: scabies, spider mites, mealybugs. As soon as pests are found, the palm tree must immediately be treated with a soapy solution. In the future, it is recommended to rinse with warm water and spray with an insecticidal preparation. Among the diseases, basically all kinds of rot. It should be treated with fungicides and the use of soil bacteria that will improve the soil. If the plant is strong and healthy, receives enough water and nutrients, then it will rarely suffer from diseases, but if it does get sick, it will recover very soon.
Possible difficulties
Liviston's palms dry and yellow leaves. The cause may be dry air and high room temperature, as well as sparse watering.
At a palm tree leaves fall, roots rot. The reason lies in frequent watering or in a tight pot.
Leaves become lethargic, colorless, new ones do not grow. This is due to the fact that the plant lacks nutrients in the ground.
Reviews
Gardeners-lovers of breeding exotic species of plants note the following advantages of the Liviston palm:
- Representative view.
- Does not cause trouble in leaving.
- The plant is not capricious.
- Suitable for beginner gardeners.
- Very beautiful plant.
- The interior looks spectacular.
Disadvantages and problems faced by gardeners when growing Livistona at home:
- The tips of the sheets are dry due to the dry air in the room.
- Affected by disease. In summer - red spider mites, in winter - aphids and scale insects.
