Looking at the oblong seeds inside the dates beloved by children and adults, many lovers indoor plants asked the question: “How does a real date palm grow from such a crumb, and what will happen if you plant the seed at home?”
The sweet dates sold in stores are the fruit of a palm tree of the genus Phoenix dactylifera. In nature, the powerful tree grows to gigantic sizes, producing huge clusters of fruits that are famous all over the world.
For indoor growing More miniature species adapted for indoor use are offered. Such palms can be seen and purchased in flower shops. If you want to independently grow a date palm from a seed, there is a high probability of success. 
Of course, it won’t be possible to wait until the tree reaches its true height of 30 meters and produces the first harvest of dates. But watch the growth and development unusual plant Both parents and children will like it.
For planting, you will need seeds freshly extracted from ripe fruits. Stones from store-bought dates are quite suitable. The main thing is that they are healthy, not damaged by insects or mold, and do not have time to dry out, otherwise the likelihood of getting seedlings is sharply reduced:
Before the seeds are immersed in the soil, it is sometimes recommended to carefully scratch them to facilitate germination. It is much healthier and safer to germinate them in moist vermiculite. Place the container with the seeds in a warm place and make sure that the substrate does not become completely dry. In this case, after 10–14 days, as soon as the gardener notices the first roots, the seeds are transferred to the soil and the pots are placed in a warm, well-lit place.
If the sprout does not appear in due time, there is no need to despair. Perhaps the seed dried out before planting and will need more time to “revive”. Sometimes date palm seedlings were found even six months after the seeds were planted in the ground.
A date palm emerging from a seed is afraid of damage to the roots, so it is important to carry out all replanting procedures very carefully and carefully. Otherwise, the small seedling will take an extremely long time to acclimatize or may even die.
How to further care for palm trees at home? Unlike ordinary indoor plants, even the first pot for a date palm needs a very impressive size. A seedling with a single, still closed “baby” leaf is transferred into containers of 0.3–0.5 liters. The next transplant is carried out until the long taproot plants will penetrate into the drainage hole.
Seedlings need a bright place where the plant will not be in the dark, but will not be disturbed by the midday sun. for date palm from the pit and after germination should be stingy. Overmoistening threatens the development of rot and the death of a fragile plant, but you should not overdry the earthen lump.
Date palm, like other tree crops, is not characterized by rapid growth. But the plant reacts immediately to discomfort and insufficient care of the palm tree at home. This especially applies to young specimens.
What conditions are needed for a palm tree to make the plant feel “at home” and respond well to care?
Whether it's a home-grown date palm from a seed or a plant brought from flower shop, the culture needs to find a place with suitable lighting. In nature large trees easily tolerate the scorching sun, but light-loving indoor palm tree It’s better not to subject yourself to such tests. The optimal location is in the back of the room, facing south, as well as on east or west windows.
Already in May, when the average daily temperature exceeds 12 °C, nothing threatens the date palm. Therefore, plants are safely transferred to the open air under the protection of more large crops, on the loggia or on the balcony.
If the grower does not have the opportunity to take the palm tree out into the air, the plant develops well at normal room temperature. But in winter time It is optimal to keep them in cooler air, warmed up to only 16–18 °C. Cooling down to 12 °C is considered critical for the date palm. In this case, growth stops, the palm tree stops feeding and may suffer from root rot if watering is not stopped in time.
The plant has no special requirements for ambient air humidity. But in the hot season, as well as in winter, when the heating is on in the room, regular care of the palm tree at home includes spraying the crown and wiping the foliage with a damp cloth.
The plant does not tolerate stagnation of water. Therefore, when caring at home, the date palm is watered so that the soil does not dry out, but is not constantly wet. In summer, watering is carried out more often; in winter, the intervals between procedures are increased and are aimed at drying 2–3 cm of the surface layer of the substrate. If irrigation water penetrates from the pot into the pan, it is immediately removed and the bottom of the container is wiped. Do not forget about the powerful drainage layer. The larger the date palm and the pot intended for it, the thicker the layer of expanded clay or brick chips at the bottom.
The date palm readily accepts spring-summer fertilizing, for which liquid fertilizers are used for large decorative leafy crops. If the palm tree is taken out into the garden for the summer, the plant can be fed with bird droppings every 7–10 days, using a granular form or infusion.
The frequency of replanting the date palm shown in the photo when caring for it at home depends on the age and size of the plant. Young seedlings are transferred to a larger pot approximately once a year, and adults try not to disturb them in vain. If transshipment is necessary, it is carried out by first thoroughly pouring the earthen ball and trying not to damage the sensitive roots of the plant. Date palm transplantation is carried out in ready-made soil, offered by specialized stores.
To arrange drainage, you can take brick chips or expanded clay according to the size of the drainage holes. If the roots of the date palm are still visible at the bottom of the pot, you can get by in the spring by replacing the top layer of soil. The old substrate is carefully removed, and fresh nutrient soil is poured in its place. After which the palm tree is watered.
Palm tree is an original and bright plant that will decorate and make any interior stylish. But how to keep it at home? Is it difficult?
The palm tree is a plant belonging to the monocotyledonous family and grows mainly in tropical latitudes. Many palms are arboreal, that is, they have a hard, unbranched trunk with a primary thickening. But in some species there are so-called climbing or creeping shoots. In total, the family includes about 3,400 species and more than 180 genera.
In nature, a palm tree can grow to impressive sizes, but in room conditions it will grow slowly. By the way, such a plant is considered a symbol of victory in many cultures and countries, so it can bring success to its owner. The palm tree also represents peace, thanks to which it will help create a calm and favorable atmosphere.
All palms can be roughly divided into pinnate, which have leaves shaped like feathers, and fan-leaved, which have fairly wide leaves.
Now it’s worth listing some individual types of palm trees:
There are two ways to grow a palm tree: from seeds and using young shoots. We will describe each method in detail.
How to grow an indoor palm tree from a seed at home? It's not easy, but it's still possible. Main stages:
During the growing season (preferably in May), carefully separate with a knife a young shoot located on the side no more than 25 centimeters high (a taller one will take longer to take root). Pour palm soil into the pot and place the shoot in it. Place the plant in a warm place, water it abundantly and spray it constantly. After rooting and growth begins, you can place the palm tree in a warm, ventilated room.
The palm tree requires a well-lit place to place it, so it is best to place it near a window. But there should be no other plants nearby; they can block the light and reduce the amount of oxygen, and this is very harmful.
From May to August, the plant can be kept outdoors and brought home for the winter.
The pot must, first of all, be the right size. So, seedlings should be placed in containers with a volume of about 200-300 ml. The grown shoot needs to be transplanted into a pot with a volume of approximately 0.5 liters. Thus, each next pot should be about a third larger than the previous one. You should not buy a pot “for growth”, then the plant may not receive the required amount of nutrients from the soil. If the size is small, the roots will be cramped.
Pay attention to the material, shape and even color of the pot. So, its height must necessarily be greater than its diameter, that is, small containers are not suitable, since the roots grow not only to the sides, but also downwards. There must be a drain hole in the bottom.
As for the material, you should choose ceramics or plastic. But since ceramics absorbs moisture, watering will have to be done more often. The color should be light, since dark color can heat up both the container and the earthen lump, which is unacceptable.
To grow such a plant, special soil for palm trees is suitable. It can be replaced with a mixture consisting of two parts leaf soil, three parts humus, part river sand and three parts of turf. Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the pot.
The lighting should be sufficient, but some types of palm trees do not tolerate direct sunlight, so it is better to block the window with light curtains or blinds.
Air humidity should be high.
Watering should be sufficient and regular. The soil should be moist, but do not allow moisture to stagnate. It is advisable to use distilled water room temperature, but not cold at all.
Palm tree care also includes spraying the leaves and wiping them with a damp cloth. It is advisable to spray the plant every day with settled water. You can wipe the palm tree once or twice a week and without cleaning products!
The palm tree should be replanted every two to three years as it grows (up to three years transplantation should be carried out annually, since active growth is observed during this period). Avoid exposing the roots and move the plant along with the soil, replacing only it upper layer. To avoid damage root system, you can break or cut the pot.
Adult plants should be fed during the growing season. It is advisable to apply fertilizer after soaking the earthen clod. Compositions for ordinary indoor flowers are used.
Let your palm tree be healthy, grow quickly and always make you happy!
Do you want to create a uniquely beautiful exhibition? Grow a tree plant. For those who have such a desire, a date palm from a seed at home is the best option.
To grow a date palm you will have to be patient. It grows slowly and, unfortunately, will not bear fruit at home. To do this, its height must be at least 15 m. But this is not necessary. Even without fruits, an attractive plant with huge fans of leaves will decorate any interior. This will require a lot of space and light.
Every plant starts with a seed. The date palm is no exception. There is no need to specifically look for its seeds - you can buy dates at any vegetable store. There is no point in planting date palm seeds that have not been germinated. Most likely, they simply will not sprout or the process will drag on for a very long time.
As soon as sharp sprouts appeared, it was time to move the seeds into the ground.
Most best soil, both for young palm trees and for grown plants - palm substrate.
All components are taken in equal parts. You can add a little steamed moss or hardwood sawdust for looseness. At this stage, a pot 10 or 12 cm high is enough for the plant. There should be drainage at the bottom of the pot.
There is no consensus among flower growers here. Most believe that the seed should be stuck vertically so that there is a 1 cm layer of soil above it. But there is an opinion that seeds placed in pots horizontally with the seam down and covered with a 2 cm thick layer of soil germinate better. In any case, start for the sake of one seed not worth the hassle. Their germination is not very good, so it’s easier to plant a few seeds in two pots different ways and see which one is more effective. You will have to be patient while waiting for the shoots to emerge. Germination can take up to 5 months. All this time, a plastic bag should be placed on the pot, which should be removed for ventilation. The soil is sprayed with a spray bottle to maintain its moisture. The pots should be kept at a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees. They don't need light at this time.
To grow a date palm from a seed, it is not enough to plant it; you need to properly care for the newly emerged seedlings and mature plants. This tree is very sensitive to any errors in care, to which it responds with poor health. Young sprouts that have just hatched especially need attention. They grow very quickly, which is not surprising - after all, this is a tree. Its growth power is much higher than that of herbaceous plants. Only after the first leaf blooms does the growth rate slow down. The first leaves are completely different from palm leaves; they are linear with clearly visible longitudinal grooves. Then they split into segments, which make up amazingly beautiful fans.
At the beginning of growth, the palm tree requires especially a lot of light, so the pots are placed in the brightest window. The air temperature for young plants should not fall below 20 degrees. In winter, you can insulate the window sill from below to cold air did not lower the temperature of the soil in the pot.
If several plants have sprouted in a pot, each will need its own growing container.
It is good to add crushed charcoal to the mixture. Transplantation into individual pots with a diameter of about 15 cm is carried out when the first leaf is 15 cm long. Drainage should consist of expanded clay with an admixture charcoal. Its thickness is about 2 cm.
If possible, the palm tree should spend the summer outdoors. Such a “summer vacation” will benefit the tree.
For symmetrical development of the crown, every 14 days the pot with the plant is turned 180 degrees.
The watering schedule and amount of water directly depends on the time of year. In summer, water so that the earthen ball does not dry out - 3 to 4 times a week. During the period of forced rest from watering to watering, the earthen lump should dry out slightly. It is enough to moisturize the palm tree 1-2 times a week. Overwatering is harmful, so excess water It should be poured out of the pan half an hour after the soil has been moistened. Special attention— quality of irrigation water. Ideally, it should be melted or clean rain, soft with a minimum amount of salts. Water temperature is about 33 degrees.
The plant responds well to spraying with warm, soft water, especially in summer. It will also require sanitary procedures - wiping the leaves with a damp cloth and then drying with a dry cloth. Once a month, plants can be given warm shower, but the soil in the pot needs to be covered so that it does not get wet.
During the season of active growth - spring and summer, the tree is fed complex fertilizer for palm trees every 14 days. In winter, the intensity of fertilizing is reduced by 2-3 times.
Palma responds very well to foliar feeding by leaves. They are made with the same fertilizer, but its concentration in the solution is reduced by 10 times. The frequency of fertilizing is from 3 to 1 time per month, depending on the vigor of plant growth.
The most best time for palm tree transplantation - April. Young plants need this operation annually. After 5 years, replanting is practiced once every 2-3 years, and for plants older than 10 years, the top layer of the substrate is simply changed. The palm tree itself will tell you that it needs a new pot - roots will appear in the old one from the drainage hole.
They are thick on the palm tree, but fragile. She has an extremely negative attitude towards their damage. For her, transplanting is a lot of stress; it needs to be done carefully, preserving the earthen lump as much as possible.
Choose a tall pot, and increase its diameter by 3-4 cm with each transplant. Drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot. The soil is prepared in the same way as for planting young plants.
The date palm is replanted only by transshipment, without exposing the roots.
If this does happen, you will have to cut off some of the leaves to maintain a balance between the underground and above-ground parts. Even for not old plants, you can replace the top layer of soil - the palm tree will have more nutrition. This procedure is carried out once every six months.
The date palm reproduces by seed. In some species, shoots may appear. These include the Robelena date.
Do not forget to spray the young plant more often.
A date palm that has spent the summer outside may acquire spider mite, scale insects or mealybugs. But even if the plant is constantly kept indoors, pests still appear. Insecticides, for example, Actellik, will help to cope with them. It is only advisable to treat the plant with it outdoors. From preventive measures A monthly warm shower with washing the leaves with soapy water is good. But the soil in the pot needs to be protected from it.
The main palm diseases are pink rot and spotting. Plants that are weakened usually get sick. poor care. Control measures are fungicides, but do not contain copper: Mancozeb, Ridomil.
In general, caring for an indoor giant is not that difficult. Palm trees are very responsive to care and will delight the gardener good growth and healthy looking.
