The Robelena date is quite popular and easy to grow. This palm is distinguished by its endurance. The main thing is to choose a bright room for her. The Robelena date is very attractive, its majestic image is very popular, and is quite popular among gardeners. It grows in areas of northern Laos, southern China and Vietnam. It is a species of date palm that is widely represented in the palm family.
With a small amount of time spent caring for the Robelen date, it can be kept in a fairly cool room without any problems. The Robelena date is an unpretentious palm tree, with minimal care requirements, and quite hardy. Thanks to these qualities, this palm tree will delight you for many years.
Under natural conditions, the Robelena date can reach a height of three meters, but in indoor conditions it can reach only 1.5-1.8 meters. Its castings droop in an arched manner and have impressive dimensions - 60-90 cm in height.
This date has special leaves; the leaf reaches 30 cm in length. Regardless of the size of the leaf, whether it is mature and well developed, or young, they all droop beautifully. From the end of spring - namely from April to May - we increase watering, but try not to overwater it, just keep the soil moist. Don’t forget to monitor the humidity, which can be increased by constant spraying. Spring and summer are the active stage of vegetation, growth and development.
The Robelena date is an unpretentious palm tree that can grow well in any house or apartment. By decorating the interior and adding a little exoticism.
To maintain decorative qualities, we constantly spray in the summer. Once a month we feed with fertilizers. In October, we begin to water less frequently, spraying once a week, but if heating is active in your room, then spraying is carried out daily. Usually by the end of autumn the resting phase begins; during this period you should stop feeding the palm tree.
In winter, reduce watering to a minimum. We water only when the earthen ball dries out. You can spray only to maintain the decorative appearance of the leaves. Try to place the plant further from windows and protect it from exposure to drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Description and characteristics of the Robelini date
The dwarf date palm in nature will grow to a maximum of 3 meters. The cultivated species of the plant is even more miniature in size, rarely exceeding 1.5 meters in height.
The trunk of the palm tree is smooth and thin. The tree trunk acquired its unusual appearance thanks to the dead leaves of the plant, which left marks on it. The leaves are thin, feathery and elongated, arched. Young leaves have a powdery whitish coating. In an adult crop, the color of the foliage depends on the lighting.
If the date is in the open sun, the leaves acquire a silvery tint; indoors they are dark green. Mature date palms bear fruit after flowering, and the elongated fruits are eaten.
Important! The dwarf palm begins to bloom in the 10th year of growth. For a plant to bear fruit, it needs cross-pollination. .
3.Varieties:
3.1.Phoenix roebelenii
A squat, feathery palm tree reaching a height of 5 m with a thick, powerful trunk covered with the remains of fallen leaves. At the tops of the trunks there is a lush, airy, green crown, formed by complex, dark green leaves ranging from 90 to 150 cm in length. The petioles of the leaves are curved and have sharp thorns at the base. The leaf segments are very narrow, glossy, entire, reaching a length of 30 - 40 cm. The inflorescence is a drooping branched panicle up to 30 cm long with small cream flowers. Male and female flowers are on different plants. As the female palms fade, they form edible fruits—dates.
3.2.Canary date - Phoenix canariensis
Large, solitary, feathery palms 10 - 20 cm high. The trunks are quite thin, graceful, covered with numerous remains of old leaves. The crown is formed from arched, complex leaves, the length of which can reach 4 -6 m. The leaf segments are dark green, 25 - 30 cm long, glossy. Branched drooping inflorescences reach a length of 50 - 70 cm. Small, cream flowers over time turn into light brown edible fruits, up to 2 cm long.
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Features of growing dates
The Robelena date, although it is a decoration for any interior, has many features during its growth.
The miniature tree is grown in open ground only in tropical or subtropical climates. The date root system is sensitive to the slightest frost. But in the summer, an exotic tree will become the center of the garden composition.
And to produce date fruits, the palm tree needs pollination, for which several plants are grown at once.
How to care
- The soil can be prepared independently; for this it is better to take two parts - compost soil and peat and add coarse sand. Or you can purchase special ready-made soil for palm trees.
— Planting is carried out in a pre-prepared pot. Be sure to lay a layer of expanded clay or small crushed stone on the bottom; you can also use shards of broken clay pots. The main thing is that the drainage hole can allow excess moisture to pass through.
— Replanting is carried out only when the root system emerges through the drainage hole - this will be a sign that the palm tree requires a larger pot.
Rules of care
The Robelen date palm is a beautiful but difficult tree to care for. In order for a plant to become a decoration of a winter garden, greenhouse or plot, it is necessary to fulfill certain conditions for the maintenance and care of a tropical tree.
Lighting
The miniature date requires a lot of light, but it does not tolerate direct sunlight. In summer, the tree feels good outdoors. But the winter existence of the plant must be brightened up with additional lighting. For this purpose, fluorescent lamps are suitable, which purposefully illuminate the palm tree for at least 12 hours a day.
Important! If the leaves on the plant begin to turn yellow, this is the first sign of a lack of light.
Temperature
During the summer months, the dwarf palm will do well with average daytime temperatures of 20 to 28 degrees. But in winter, the temperature should be much lower and should not exceed +20 degrees. In this way, the activity of the metabolic processes of the tropical guest decreases. If the palm tree remains at high temperatures in winter, then the lack of natural daylight will lead to complete depletion and death.
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Planting and caring for Chinese dates, how to grow and propagate them, disease controlRead
How to water
The date is watered carefully and in a balanced manner. Excess moisture and lack of moisture will lead to serious consequences and even death of the tree. Too frequent and abundant watering causes the spread of fungal diseases. And after a drought, the palm tree does not recover and dies.
Water the miniature tropical guest with settled, heated water. Irrigation procedures are carried out as needed. As soon as the soil around the plant dries out, it’s time to water.
Air humidity
In its natural environment, the palm tree grows in tropical rainforests. Therefore, air humidity indicators must be observed. To do this, water tanks are placed next to the plant. A nebulizer or humidifier is also used. Be sure to moisten the plant once a week with a sprayer. To avoid waterlogging, the soil is covered with a waterproof film during the procedure.
Trimming
There is no need to carry out the palm tree pruning procedure. But it is necessary to cut off dry or damaged leaves and twigs.
Important! The base of the tree petiole has a sharp, long thorn, the presence of which must be taken into account when working with the plant .
soil mixture
Soil for palm trees is purchased in specialized stores. But if this is not possible, then you can do it yourself. To do this, you will need turf, peat and humus soil with a small content of clay rocks. Sand and manure are added to the soil mixture.
Fertilizer
A small palm tree requires care and feeding in the form of fertilizers. Such work is carried out from spring to October. At least 2 times a month, the tree is fertilized with organic or mineral fertilizers. In winter, the plant does not require additional fertilizers. Specialized stores sell fertilizers for palm trees that replace other products and preparations.
Features of transplantation
Date Robelini painfully endures the invasion of his life. Therefore, replanting is stressful for the plant, although it is a mandatory procedure in the first years of a palm tree’s life. The main thing when working is not to damage the delicate roots of the date.
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The benefits and harms of dates for the human body, rules of use and contraindicationsRead
The tree is replanted by transferring it from one pot to another of larger diameter. For a painless procedure, the plant is first watered abundantly, and only then dumped out of the pot. If the tree comes out of the pot with difficulty, the pot is broken or cut.
Important! The plant should not be replanted in the autumn months. It is then that the palm tree gains strength and accumulates nutrients for a comfortable winter.
Treatment against diseases and pests
The date palm, like other plants, is susceptible to diseases and pests.
As soon as the tree has lost its appearance, and the leaves and twigs dry out, it means the plant is sick or is exposed to pests.
The following activities are carried out first:
- Wipe the branches and leaves of the tree with an alcohol solution.
- Spray the palm tree with a solution made from laundry soap.
- Treat the palm tree with a tincture of garlic and water.
If such measures to save the plant do not produce results, then special chemicals are purchased that will help cope with diseases or pests.
History of the date palm
Archaeological finds indicate that a tree called the Phoenix palm and edible dates were used by people who lived as far back as the Neolithic era.
Important! Thanks to trees growing in oases among the sands, it became possible for people to survive in desert climates.
In the shade of date palms, other edible plants grew, which were cultivated by the local population and were included in the list of agricultural crops.
Date palm blossom
Palm date trees had a cult significance in many countries:
- In ancient Egypt, palm leaves were a symbol of the sacred Phoenix bird and were used to wrap mummies.
- Israel celebrated the end of the date harvest.
- The symbol of the biblical Christ was originally palm branches.
- The Greeks at the Olympic Games honored the winners with palm branches.
- In Islam, when completing the Ramadan fast, a Muslim eats 3 dates.
Ancient people believed that a palm tree, regardless of circumstances, always grows straight and therefore its branch is rightfully a sign of courage and perseverance.
Ancient Egyptian images of date palms
Breeding methods
The Robelena date is grown in several ways.
Propagation by seeds is a long-term method of growing a new plant. From the planted seeds, the first shoots appear after 3-5 years. For propagation, daughter shoots are separated from the palm tree, which, after being kept in greenhouse conditions, can be safely planted in the soil.
Possible problems
If the tree has stopped growing or has lost its healthy appearance, then you may be faced with the following problems:
- Brown leaves on a palm tree indicate severe sunburn.
- If the tree has stopped growing, this means a lack of nutrients, low air temperature or increased acidity in the soil.
- Drafts cause leaves to fall.
- Yellow leaves on the plant indicate insufficient humidity or the palm tree is reacting to hard water.
- Drooping leaves indicate low air humidity.
By devoting a little time to caring for your date palm and providing it with the necessary growth conditions, you will get a beautiful and unusual decoration for your garden or greenhouse.
How to water
— Sufficient watering is needed, but if the room is cool and shade prevails, water more abundantly, but we try not to overwater, but to maintain moist soil in the pot.
— Feeding is applied at the moment when young leaves form on the plant, and we begin to feed the palm tree. You can use liquid fertilizers specifically for palm trees. There is no need to feed the palm tree in winter.
