Patching is often referred to as one of the most beautiful fan palms. Its large, almost spherical in shape, complex feathery fronds are really luxurious. And the unique edge on the leaf lobes was the reason for the appearance of the popular name of the plant – velvet palm. Not requiring a cool wintering, patching, nevertheless, belongs to the most capricious representatives of the palm family. It requires protection from drafts, careful maintenance and cannot boast of high resistance to pests. But the beauty of this architectural, cheerful palm tree is able to place unique accents in the interior, making the patching stand out from the rest of the room giants.
Latania loddigesii. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com tharea
Contents:
Velvet and Rare Patching
Before getting acquainted with patching, it is worth immediately clarifying the confusion caused by the similar appearance of different palm trees. Despite the fact that patching is an independent genus of plants, they are very often confused with other palms – Livistons (or rather, with one of the Liviston species), and sometimes these palms are even called one species and these names are used as synonyms. But to call patching Livistons is a big mistake. And even more so – trying to grow them according to the same principles.
Not only according to all modern botanical classifications, but also from the point of view of the capriciousness of the plant, the peculiarities of its cultivation, these palms are very different plants. Livistona needs a cool winter, but besides that, it is considered unpretentious, even tolerates low air humidity. But patching is much more difficult in culture and much more capricious, they require a warm winter, but more capricious in leaving. And although both palms are fan-shaped and are characterized by a rounded leaf shape, outwardly the difference between them is still obvious.
In patching, the leaves in general shape more closely resemble peacock feathers, represent an almost ideal closed circle with radially diverging lobes, and in Livistons, their shape is more like a garden rake for collecting dry foliage, the lobes form a semicircle or a truncated semicircle.
In the West, patching is known by the very beautiful nickname of the velvet palm tree. Indeed, the pubescence of cuttings and veins on the leaves, a very beautiful reddish color, the incredible scope of round fans resemble luxurious velvet in their textures. Found only in the east of the African continent and individual islands, patching palms are unusually rare and valuable palms.
Patching (Flying) Is a small genus of large palms belonging to the Kaprov family. The genus of patching includes only 3 species of plants, of which only one species is actively used in room culture – Latania Loddigesa (Flying loddigesii). In nature, it grows up to 10 m, forming powerful, fibrous trunks with very beautiful growths that remain after the petioles fall off. In a room patching culture, the trunk is not formed, and their height is limited to a maximum of 2-3 m, although for a long time patching remains a compact meter-long palm tree. But on the other hand, patching retains a not too positive feature of wild relatives – the ability to produce only a few sheets per year, and sometimes even one single sheet.
The fan-shaped leaves of this plant, collected in a spreading bunch, are velvety, luxurious, close in almost a perfect circle. Unlike other fan-shaped palms, their leaves are much more like peacock feathers, much more spherical. The color of the leaves of this type of patching is always gray-green, the petioles are fibrous, as a rule, painted in a contrasting reddish color. In patching, they are convex and very strong, require careful handling: the thorns along the very edge are almost invisible, but they can cause considerable harm. The leaf plates are cut only at the ends.
The leaf lobes are usually perfectly straight and almost radial. The diameter of the leaves never reaches 1,5 m, characteristic of natural patching, but in the oldest indoor palms it is able to get close to 1 m. Blooming patching cannot be seen even in greenhouse conditions, and not only in indoor culture. The plant blooms only in the natural environment, releasing amazingly beautiful lush panicles of inflorescences with creamy yellowish flowers, in the place of which the fruit is tied with black, pea-like berries.
The other two are – Patching lantaroid (Flying lontaroides) and Patching Vershaffelt (Latania verschaffeltii) – are considered cultures that do not adapt well to the room environment and are less common in the interior, although outwardly they are practically indistinguishable from patching Loddiges. The main feature of these two types of patching is the limited area of โโdistribution and a slightly different shape and color of the leaves. Patching Loddiges has a more grayish-blue color of leaves, while patching lantaroid leaves are reddish, and the Vershaffelt subspecies flaunts with its yellow petioles and veins.
Palm of Latania. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Forest & Kim Starr
Patching care at home
It is no coincidence that the magnificent velvet patching palm is called one of the most beautiful representatives of the palm family. This plant is not only difficult to grow, but very difficult. Patching feels good only where tropical conditions with high humidity and warmth are created for it. Moreover, stable humidity is important not only in terms of indoor air characteristics, but also in the frequency of watering.
The requirement to regularly carry out additional procedures and monitor the condition of the plant, carefully monitor its development, as well as the need to handle the palm tree with extreme care during transplantation, make patching the palm tree, which can only be grown by very experienced flower growers. You need to buy these plants at the age of 1 – 2 years, since older crops are very poorly adapted to new conditions.
Lighting for patching
Like most plants of African origin, patching is a photophilous plant. Despite the fact that direct rays of the sun can leave burns on the leaves, such sensitivity is characteristic of a plant only to midday rays, and direct sunlight for up to 2 – 3 hours is quite acceptable for a palm tree. The ideal location for this large beauty is considered to be locations similar to the eastern and western windowsills.
The dormant period for this plant comes forcedly, due to a decrease in illumination and a decrease in air humidity. If patching could provide stable conditions even in winter, then in the cold season in greenhouses it would continue to release spectacular leaves. In fact, stable conditions in winter keep plants in the stage of active growth throughout the year.
When choosing a location for patching, it should be borne in mind that the large leaves of this plant form a very open crown. It is necessary to provide free space for this palm tree, it is suitable only for large rooms of a large area. The need for sufficient space for patching is due to the fact that without normal air exchange, uniform access of fresh air, the palm tree often gets sick. Plants cannot be placed directly against the walls, especially so that the sheets rest against any surfaces, and also be placed next to heating devices or air conditioners.
Comfortable temperature
Patching belongs to thermophilic palms and does not need a cold winter. In spring or summer, she is able to put up with practically hot conditions, in winter she needs to lower the temperature, but still only to the lower “room” indicators. During the winter, the air temperature should also not fall below 18 degrees, but at the same time it should be lowered in comparison with the active growth period.
During the spring and summer, this palm tree must be provided with a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Patching tolerates heat well, but during maintenance it is necessary in every possible way to avoid any sudden temperature changes, changing conditions even by 5 degrees.
Patching does not tolerate cold drafts and in winter it must be protected in every possible way during the ventilation of the premises. But at the same time, ventilation is very important, since without access to fresh air, the leaves suffer from accelerated drying. Despite the dislike of drafts, this palm tree in summer can be moved under the open sky, into a garden, onto a terrace or balcony. The main thing is to find a suitable protected place with semi-shaded lighting for patching.
Patching lantaroid (Latania lontaroides). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com B.navez
Watering and air humidity
Patching needs a fairly abundant watering during the active phase of development, especially if the plant produces young leaves. Usually, watering is carried out as soon as the top layer of the substrate in the containers dries out. The classic frequency of procedures for this phase is about 3 waterings per week from spring to autumn. The palm tree does not react well to the complete drying of the earthen coma, and to its waterlogging. In winter, moisture is reduced, allowing the substrate to dry out partially and in the middle layer.
Patching is watered only with settled water, the temperature of which is slightly higher than the air in the room with the plant. During the period of active growth, watering with water at room temperature is extremely undesirable. Watering with warm water satisfies the patching need for warm and constantly moist soil.
If a sufficiently powerful drainage has been laid for the plant, then you can try to repeat the experience of some greenhouses in which patching is grown by placing the pot with the plant in a large container with water, from which the plant independently “draws” the required amount of moisture. This palm tree loves self-watering pots.
Patching can be safely ranked among the most demanding palm trees for air humidity. If you want to succeed in growing and not lose more foliage than the plant can produce, then you have to take care to create truly tropical conditions. The minimum moisture content acceptable for this palm is 60%. Higher humidity has a positive effect on the growth rate and beauty of the leaves.
A favorite method of increasing air humidity for patching is frequent spraying. In summer, it is advisable to carry out the procedures about 2 times a day. Other methods of humidifying the air for this palm are considered less effective. In particular, patching prefers spraying even to the installation of humidifier devices. When carrying out this procedure, it is important to make sure that the water used for spraying is not only settled, but also warm.
In addition to the actual measures to increase the level of air humidity, patching will not refuse from very frequent washing of the leaves. It plays not only the function of a measure against the accumulation of dust and allergens, but also acts as an important preventive step against pests. If the palm is compact, then instead of rubbing the leaves, you can simply submerge the crown in water.
Top dressing for patching
For a velvet palm, an atypical approach to the feeding regime is needed. Fertilizers for this plant are applied throughout the year, however, during the rest period, feeding should really be minimal. But during the period of active growth, top dressing should be quite active, with a frequency of 1 time in 10-14 days. Patching loves organic fertilizers, although conventional complex mixtures will suit them. Of the mineral-organic compounds, it is best to choose special fertilizers for palms.
Palm Latania (Latania). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Claus Willich
Trim patching
Palm leaves gradually die off, dry up, need pruning. But if you cut off an unattractive leaf before it dries completely, you start the process of even more accelerated shedding, the palm leaves will literally dry out one by one. You can cut off the patching stalk only after the entire leaf plate has completely dried and be sure to leave a dry cut strip 3-4 mm thick.
Patching transplant and substrate
For patching it is necessary to select a very light and nutritious soil mixture. Special commercial palm substrates are ideal for this plant, but you can make up the soil yourself. For patching, a substrate is usually prepared based on leafy soil and sand, but an earth mixture consisting of equal parts of leafy and soddy soil and half the amount of sand is more suitable for her. The substrate should have a slightly acidic or neutral reaction (permissible pH values โโfrom 5,0 to 7,0).
The patching transplant procedure is rather difficult not so much because of the large size of the plants, the spreading shape of the leaves or thorny petioles, but because of the extreme fear of mechanical damage by the voluminous and sloping rhizome. This plant is transplanted as needed, only when the roots fully absorb the available substrate. Annual transplantation will be needed only for young patches, adult plants are transplanted much less frequently, with a frequency of 2 to 5 years. The optimal time for transplanting is spring, although the procedure can be carried out at any time of the year, except for winter.
During the procedure, it is very important to lay a high drainage layer on the bottom of the container. The loose roots of this palm tree that come out of the holes, which are without soil, are laid in rings on the bottom of the container, and they do not carry out work around the main earthen clod, the free soil is not removed, trying to carefully remove only the contaminated upper layer of the substrate. The level of penetration for patching must be kept the same as compared to the previous pot. Deepening the root collar during transplanting can lead to a serious risk of death of the palm tree.
Immediately after transplanting, patching is carried out with very restrained watering, and the usual procedures are resumed only after the plants get used to the new conditions. For 2 weeks after transplanting, the palm tree must be installed in a shaded location to speed up adaptation and provide it with a very abundant spraying.
In order to provide the plant with more space for development and reduce the frequency of replanting, the pots need to be increased much more than for other palms, at least 7-10 cm in diameter. The shape of the container should be classic, with a height exceeding the diameter.
Palm seeds of Latania Loddigesa. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Karelj
Patching diseases and pests
Patching is hardly a pest-resistant palm. In case of violation of care and deviation from the recommended growing conditions, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects often settle on the plant. With stagnant waterlogging of the substrate, the plant is threatened by root rot, and it can be dealt with only by completely drying the earthen tree (an emergency transplant for this palm is unacceptable and always leads to the death of the plant). Pests are best dealt with with insecticides.
Common problems in growing patchwork:
- the appearance of spots on the leaves with dry air, temperature fluctuations, drafts or insufficient watering;
- drying of greens, drying of leaves literally one after another with improper cutting of a dried leaf;
- the appearance of brown tips on the leaves with dry air or waterlogging of the substrate.
Reproduction of patches
This palm can only be propagated by seed, although it is not easy to get it. Sometimes other palms are sold under the name of patching, and to buy the seeds of a velvet palm tree, you need to carefully check the Latin name of the plant. Germinate the seeds of this palm tree in shallow containers and in a nutritious substrate. For about two months, they must be kept in a room with a temperature of at least 25 degrees (the optimum temperature is about 28-30 degrees Celsius), under a film and with daily ventilation. Under normal conditions, seeds will germinate in about 60 days.
Vegetative propagation methods for this palm are unacceptable.
