Description of Hovey’s indoor palm tree
In nature, the plant is found only on Lord Howe Island, which belongs to Australia. This genus of the Palm family unites only two species. Outwardly they are similar: they have wide-spreading green feathery leaves, a smooth trunk, and can also form inflorescences from the axils of the lower leaves. In natural conditions , the height of such a plant can reach 12-15 m . When grown in indoor conditions, the height does not exceed three meters.
Hovei are single-stemmed palm trees, and for greater density, several plants are planted in one container at the same time. A large number of stems are formed on the upper part, on which large pinnately dissected leaves are located.
The plant is characterized by very slow growth (only 2 or 3 new leaf plates grow in a year). If such plants are properly cared for, and provide suitable conditions for growth, then they can live for several decades. The domestic hovea does not bloom, but only blooms grown in the open ground or in a greenhouse.
Howey’s Home Palm Care
The indoor palm of Hovea is very popular among flower growers. Suitable for cultivation for experienced flower growers and beginners. Care at home is not particularly difficult. In order for a palm tree to grow beautiful and lush, you need to take good care of it, providing optimal conditions for growth. The main rule is an abundance of free space and sunlight. All that is needed for the normal growth and development of palm trees is warmth and enough light.
Lighting
Shade-tolerant plants that do not require intensive lighting can grow well both in the shade and in a bright place. Young bushes should be protected from the scorching rays of the sun, otherwise the leaves may burn.
In summer, the palm tree can be taken out into the fresh air, but you should choose a place for it that will be well protected from the scorching rays of the sun. If brown markings appear on the leaves, the plant has received an excess of sunlight and it’s time to partially shade it.
Temperature
The Kentiya palm grows well in a warmer room, but in this case it should be systematically moistened with a sprayer and often ventilated. Suitable room temperature is 20 -26 ° C. It easily tolerates a slight decrease in temperature, and an increase will lead to yellowing and dying of foliage. In winter, the air temperature should not fall below 16 ° C. A draft is dangerous for her.
Pay attention! In the winter months, the Hovei plant has a dormant period. At this time , it should be at a temperature from 15 ° C to 18 ° C .
Watering Hovea
The palm tree needs regular abundant watering as the soil dries up, more in summer than in winter. It is necessary to water with warm settled water (the plant does not tolerate lime water well). The soil should be slightly moist, and in the autumn-winter period the earthen lump is a little dry. The water in the soil should not stagnate, otherwise brown spots will begin to appear on the tips of the leaves.
Humidity
Humidity is very important and it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air, On hot summer days, spray with water at room temperature. If there is dry warm air in the room, then the plant will stop growing at the same level. In the worst case, the tips of the leaves will begin to dry up. Darkened edges are the first signal that the palm needs spraying. If it is not possible to spray the flower every day, you can use an air humidifier, or put a container of water next to the flower pot. In the winter months, place it as far away from heating appliances as possible.
Fertilizers
They are fed only in the spring and summer period. To do this, use a complex mineral fertilizer for indoor deciduous plants or for palm trees. Top dressing should be done once or twice a month.
Additional information! If desired, you can feed the plant through the foliage during watering, alternating these methods. For foliar fertilizing, a low-concentration fertilizer solution is used.
Organic fertilizers alternate with mineral additives. Hovea reacts well to nettle infusions.
Transfer
Young plants are transplanted every year, and adults every three years, as the roots fill the pot. The soil mixture is gradually depleted, and over time it needs to be replaced with fresh. It is necessary to transplant a palm tree in the spring, but if absolutely necessary, it can be done in the fall. The soil substrate, if desired, can be made by yourself in the ratio 2: 2: 1: 1: 1:
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- leaf and turf soil;
- humus;
- river sand;
- peat,
To enrich the substrate, a small amount of wood ash and bark can be added to it. Before planting, a drainage layer of 3-4 cm is poured onto the bottom of the pot, using crushed stone, brick chips or expanded clay.
Please note! Adult plants do not tolerate transplanting well. The best option is to change the top ball of the earth without touching the roots.
The dormancy period of the palm tree begins in October and lasts until February. At this time, it does not grow. She needs a minor pruning. When removing dead and broken leaves, it is important not to damage the trunk of the palm tree.
Breeding methods
You can propagate this palm tree in two ways: by seeds or by taking an outgrowth from an adult tree. Both of these methods are very complex. It is difficult to grow a healthy tree from seeds, a mini-greenhouse is needed, and when transplanting sprouts, you may encounter a fragile root system. In addition, it is almost impossible to get seeds from Hovea, because it does not bloom in indoor conditions. If desired, seed material can be purchased in the store, but it should be borne in mind that their germination rate will not exceed 50 percent. If you still manage to get seedlings, then they will become beautiful palm trees only in 2-3 years.
The division of the bush is carried out during transplantation. The lateral shoots are separated and transplanted into a new pot in a soil mixture consisting of sand and peat. If the sprout releases its roots, then it will be possible to transplant it to a permanent place in a nutritious soil only after 2-3 months. The easiest option is to buy a new palm tree in the nursery.
Diseases and pests of Hovea
Thrips and ticks settle on the trunk of a tree, leaves and petioles. The leaves begin to turn yellow and subsequently dry up. After a while, if you do not take action, the plant may die.
If the liquid stagnates in the soil mixture, then because of this the plant can be affected by gray or black rot. You can get rid of diseases and pests with the help of special drugs sold in specialized stores.
Pay attention! Yellowing and wilting of the lower leaves is a natural process of the old leaf dying off. When several leaves die at the same time, the cause may be excessive watering, less often a lack of light.
In order to avoid the appearance of pests, it is necessary to systematically inspect the bush, wash the leaves and maintain high humidity in the room. Special attention should be paid to the wrong surface of the leaf plates. After detecting parasites, they need to be removed with a sponge with a soap solution applied.
Also, the substrate surface is regularly carefully examined. If a gray or white plaque has formed, this may indicate that mealybugs have settled there or a fungus has appeared.
Other possible problems
Despite the fact that Kentia tolerates low light, a bright place with indirect sunlight in the morning supports this outdoor plant. In low light, the plant can contain only 4-6 branches, in medium light – twice as much, and the more indirect light, the better.
- If brown or yellow spots appear on the foliage, it may be a low level of humidity, or sunburn.
- Twisting of the tips of the leaves may occur due to very low air temperature or finding the plant in a draft.
- Drooping leaves indicate stagnation of water in the root system.
- If pests have settled on the bush, a white plaque forms on the foliage
- Withering and overflowing of the lower leaves is most often due to the fact that the palm lacks nutrients.
- Slow growth and faded foliage is a sign of poor lighting.
Periodically wipe the leaves of Hovea from dust. This will not only make the plant more attractive in appearance, but also get rid of pests, fungus, parasites.
Types of Hovea
Hovea has few varieties.
Howea Belmoreana
Growing in nature, it has a height of 10 to 12 m . When grown indoors, this palm tree differs from the wild only in height, and can grow up to 2-2.5 m. The lush crown has an emerald hue. Dark green beautifully curved leaves can reach from 2 to 2.5 m in length.
On the surface of the trunk, each dead leaf leaves an annular trace.
Howea Forsteriana
This view differs from the previous one in that it is higher. In the upper part of the straight trunk, long petioles are formed, on which large leaves of a pinnately dissected shape grow, painted in a bright green color.
In adult palm trees, their length can reach four meters. Indoors, the height of the bush reaches 3-3.5 m.
Plants at home have a positive effect on performance and mood in the house. Hovei will clean the air from chemical pollution.
