Areca

Family. Palmaceae.

Homeland. Madagascar.

What it looks like. Areca is one of the most common tropical feathery palms for colorful interiors.

Its leaves are large, curved, feathery, each of which consists of 100 segments.

The stems are similar to bamboo - geniculate, covered with dark green skin, new shoots grow from the roots. The stems develop slowly and leisurely, in optimal conditions only 2-3 leaves open per year.

The palm very rarely blooms indoors, and you will be very lucky if you see small bright yellow flowers appearing from under the leaves.

Over time, the flowers turn into light green or yellow fruits, which become yellow-orange as they ripen.

Arecas are very attractive plants. Adult specimens are quite expensive, so it is worth purchasing a small palm tree, which adds 9–25 cm per year. 

Height.  Up to 6 m in the wild, the domestic palm reaches 2 - 3 m in a tub.

Care at home

How to care and trim 

Areca is one of the few palms that tolerate pruning without problems, which allows you to keep adult specimens indoors for up to 10 years.

Occasionally wipe the leaves with a damp cloth so that the palm can "breathe".

The indoor tree is very sensitive to the effects of salts and minerals, so use softened water when watering.

From time to time, old, dry leaves appear at the base of the crown - they should be promptly trimmed at the base with a sharp tool to maintain a neat appearance.

All lateral basal shoots that will periodically appear should also be removed. If this is not done, the plant will stop developing the main trunk and transfer strength to the side branches.

Do not place the flowerpot next to working batteries or under an air conditioner.

Due to its relative unpretentiousness, this species is often grown as an indoor plant.

Diseases and pests

• Areca leaves dry out 2-3 times a year for natural reasons - you shouldn’t attach much importance to this.
• In direct sunlight, the leaves turn yellowish-green.
• Leaves turn yellow in the absence of magnesium, iron and other trace elements.
• Leaf blades curl and become covered with orange speckles due to a lack of potassium.
• A lack of nitrogen will result in stunted growth and the leaves will become pale.
• With a lack of manganese, young leaves become smaller and grow more slowly.
• A lack of zinc causes the leaves to become covered with small necrotic spots.
• Arecas do not like fluoridated water.
• Leaf spotting is also common.
• Dark leaf blades that have lost turgor will indicate that the temperature is too low.
• If there is insufficient air humidity, leaf segments dry out and their tips become brittle and brown.
• The tree does not grow in winter - this is normal; new leaves will begin to form in the spring.
• Frequent and abundant watering in autumn and winter and insufficient drainage lead to the appearance of root rot.
• Deepening of the root collar during transplantation leads to the appearance of rot.
• Growing in an alkaline substrate can cause chlorosis.

The most dangerous pests are mites, thrips, whiteflies and aphids; scale insects are common.

Transplanting

The tree should be replanted as necessary every two to three years, in the spring, only if the roots are too large and begin to push the plant out of the pot. Also, the tips of the root system may appear in the drainage holes of the pot. The tree does not like frequent transplants.

The most appropriate time for transplantation will be the beginning of new growth.

Young specimens are replanted as they grow - usually every year - their root system develops and requires more and more space. Each time you plant, the size of the pot is slightly increased - by about 3 - 5 cm in diameter.

The palm should not be planted in a large pot right away - an excess amount of soil will accumulate water and lead to rotting of the root system.

If the tree is too large and replanting it causes difficulties, then in the spring it is enough to simply replace the top layer of soil with fresh soil mixture.

Palms purchased in flower shops are subject to replanting. Usually, flower gardens use the cheapest peat soil for planting, which is poor in nutrients, and the tree cannot be left in such conditions for a long time.

Replanting is carried out 1-2 weeks after purchase, when the areca has already adapted to the new conditions.

The growing pot must be stable; to make it heavier, you can even put a brick on the bottom. The main thing is that the stone or brick does not cover the drainage holes.

1. Representatives of this genus like small containers - they limit growth, in addition, the pot should have large drainage holes.
2. Plant the palm tree at the same depth as it was growing in the previous pot; planting it too deep can cause serious root problems.
3. Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot or tub - it will help quickly remove excess moisture from the root system after watering.
4. Place some substrate on the drainage.
5. Free the plant from old soil and examine the roots - if there are signs of rot, then cut such areas to healthy tissue. After pruning, sprinkle the wound surface with coal powder or ash.
6. Place the flower in the center of the pot, straightening the roots and making sure they are not pointing up or twisted.
7. Cover the palms with fresh potting soil.
8. After filling the container with soil, compact the surface with your hands, then water thoroughly to remove any air pockets, then compact the soil again.

Place the seedling in a place protected from direct sunlight for a week.

Fertilizers should be applied after transplanting after 3-4 weeks - before this time, the solution can damage the wounds that may have formed on the roots during transplantation.

If the tree looks healthy and has no signs of root rot, then it is simply transplanted in the spring into a slightly larger pot, keeping the soil ball intact.

Such specimens quickly adapt to new conditions and begin to grow, since the root system does not receive any damage during transplantation.

Reproduction

Areca is propagated by division during spring transplantation or by sowing seeds.

Seeds for propagation must be fully ripened and fairly fresh. If more than 3 years have passed since the seeds were collected, their germination rate is sharply reduced. 

Areca seeds are sown in spring or early summer.

Since the planting material has a very hard outer shell that prevents its germination, before planting it is destroyed mechanically - scarified or chemicals are used.

The seeds are scratched with sandpaper or a file or, if you have some experience working with chemicals, soaked in sulfuric acid for 10 minutes. After this soaking, the seeds are washed with plenty of running water.

Instead of sulfuric acid, you can soak the planting material in warm water for 2-4 days, adding growth hormones to the water.

1. For planting, prepare small cups or pots with drainage holes.
2. Place 2 - 3 cm of expanded clay, broken brick or polystyrene foam balls at the bottom of the pot.
3. Loose nutrient soil mixture is poured onto the drainage.
4. The substrate is moistened from a spray bottle with water at room temperature.
5. Seeds are placed on the surface of the soil - 1 - 2 in each cup and the crops are covered with soil about 2 cm thick on top, then sprayed again.
6. The crops are placed in a very warm room with an air temperature of about 27°C. A lower temperature at the time of germination will inhibit the development of sprouts and the first shoots will appear later than expected.
7. To create a greenhouse effect, the crops are covered on top with transparent plastic film. The cover is removed with the appearance of the first shoots.
8. The location for seedlings should be well lit, but not exposed to direct sunlight. 

Germination will take about 4 - 6 weeks with relatively high humidity in the peat.  Young palms are fed with a weak solution of nitrogen fertilizers for rapid development. 

As the trees grow, they are transplanted into new, slightly larger pots. 

Areca can be propagated by division when the palm tree has several new leaves about 30 cm high. As a result of division, each part should receive its own root system and green mass.

1. Division is carried out in the spring, when new growth begins, plants are usually divided when transplanting.
2. The palm trees are removed from the old pot, cleaned of any remaining soil and divided by hand.
3. If necessary, cut the rhizomes with a sharp sterile pruner or knife.
4. The root system is sprinkled with charcoal or ash for drying and disinfection.
5. The divisions are planted in small individual pots.
6. After transplantation, watering is carried out carefully, but the crown is regularly sprayed with solutions of growth preparations.
7. Young specimens are kept in the shade, protected from direct sunlight.

The emergence of new growth in transplanted trees usually occurs in 2-3 weeks - young leaves will indicate that the cuttings are successfully growing a root system underground. After another couple of weeks, the divisions are fed with mineral fertilizers for the first time.

Watering 

Plants should be watered frequently enough to keep the soil slightly moist in the spring and summer while the tree is growing. Between waterings during this period, the top 3-4 cm of substrate can dry out.

In the autumn and winter, let the soil dry out a little between waterings - the lower the temperature at this time, the less often you should water.

Like many palms, areca is sensitive to over-watering and does not tolerate stagnant moisture at the roots - excess water that appears in the tray after watering must be drained.

For watering, it is necessary to settle tap water for 1-2 days so that chlorine evaporates and calcium salts settle at the bottom of the watering can.

You can water with filtered or melted water. Rainwater for irrigation should be collected outside the city - such moisture will contain a minimum of harmful substances.

Make sure that the water for irrigation is at room temperature.

Soil

To maintain areca, a slightly acidic or neutral soil is selected that easily allows moisture to pass through and allows the root system to absorb oxygen. The optimal pH level is considered to be between 6.0 and 7.8.

A peat-based soil mixture with good drainage is suitable. 1 part loam, 1 part sphagnum or leaf soil, 1 part coarse sand and a little organic matter, also add bone meal. 

To improve moisture permeability, coarse river sand or perlite and vermiculite are mixed into the substrate. 

Flowering time

Areca blooms indoors very rarely - only with proper care and maintenance in a cool and bright room. The beginning of flowering can be facilitated by a period of rest in the winter months.

In nature, palms bloom in spring or in the first half of summer.

Fertilizing

Potted plants have a limited feeding area and require regular fertilizing.

Fertilizing is done regularly in spring and summer - every 2 weeks - this allows the root system to receive most of the nutrients it needs for the entire season.

For fertilization, you can use a liquid mineral product specially designed for palms, or fertilizer for other indoor species.

When the temperature drops in the autumn-winter period and a cool dormant period begins, fertilizing is stopped until spring. If the plant is at normal room temperature all year round, then the frequency of fertilizing in the winter months is simply reduced to once a month.

For areca, foliar fertilizing is often used - nutrient solutions are sprayed directly onto the leaves.

Fertilizer cannot be added to a dry substrate - a too concentrated solution in such conditions can cause burns to the root system.

You can also feed with well-rotted organic matter - add humus to the substrate when planting or water with slurry.

Lighting

The key to successfully growing areca at home is plenty of light.

Young seedlings will need mandatory shading from the sun's rays, and with age, the leaves will tolerate sunlight more easily. Many individuals grow successfully in partial shade.

Bright, direct light during the daytime in spring and summer should not fall directly on the leaves - the sun's rays can leave burns. The tree can bathe in sunlight only in the morning and evening hours - 3-5 hours daily to look strong and healthy.

The most suitable for placement will be windows on the east or west side - it is in these conditions that the sun's rays will fall on the leaves in the morning and evening. If there are southern windowsills, then the flower is protected from direct rays by a curtain or placed in the back of the room.

When kept in conditions of insufficient natural light, it is worth using artificial lighting. Fluorescent or LED lamps, as well as special phytolamps of the red-blue spectrum, can be used as light sources for palms.

If possible, the pot is turned around its axis once a week so that the crown does not lean towards the light source and remains symmetrical.

Containment temperature

During the growth period, which begins in spring and summer, the areca should be provided with a warm place with a difference in daily temperatures. If night temperatures at this time will be about 15 - 21 ° C, then daytime temperatures should be within the range of 24 - 29 ° C.

The most intense heat cannot harm a palm tree if it is provided with adequate watering and high air humidity.

In  the winter months, a period of rest is desirable, which should take place in a fairly cool room with an air temperature of about 13 ° C. 

The indoor areca needs a winter rest in cool conditions and less water from late fall to early spring. At this time, plants slow down their development and insufficient illumination in the autumn-winter period will not cause the appearance of weak and loose growth.

It is interesting that adult specimens, being in a fairly dry substrate, easily tolerate small negative temperatures - for example, they can withstand air temperatures down to -6 ° C.

Also, sharp temperature changes should not be allowed.

Spraying 

Areca tolerates fairly dry indoor air with central heating, but will appreciate humid conditions and will do well on a tray of wet pebbles. Make sure that the surface of the water in this case always remains below the bottom of the pot.

Daily spraying will also be beneficial and will help to avoid pests. Spray with water at room temperature using a spray bottle. Unsettled tap water will leave whitish spots on the leaves when spraying.

Spray in the first half of the day so that the water has time to dry and the tree does not spend the night with wet leaves. When kept in a cool place during the dormant period, away from heating systems, there is no need to increase the air humidity.

The sun's rays should also not fall on wet foliage - water, acting as a lens, will cause a burn.

To increase the air humidity for large tub plants, you can use any open container with water or a room humidifier.

Placing several specimens in a small room also increases the air humidity well - their leaf blades will evaporate water.

With high humidity, do not forget about sufficient air circulation - a stagnant humid atmosphere will lead to the appearance of fungal diseases.

The tree does not like drafts and sudden temperature changes - in the winter months, take it to another room for ventilation.

Purpose

The areca is a large, showy, indoor palm that needs to be given plenty of room to grow. 

Note

It is believed that representatives of the genus are able to clean indoor air from harmful impurities.

The seeds contain a special substance - arecoline, which is recognized in official medicine and is used to reduce intraocular pressure. Arecoline is also used in veterinary practice as an anthelmintic and laxative.

The seeds are used in the light industry to dye natural fabrics in dark red or brown shades.

Hydroponics

Excellent for hydroculture if properly acclimatized.

Varieties:

Areca catechu or betel

The betel palm or areca catechu is a beautiful medium-sized palm tree, up to 20 m high, with a slender ringed trunk 10 - 15 cm in diameter, a crown with a diameter of 1.5 - 4 m and consists of numerous rounded, feathery leaves. The petioles are wide and rigid. The inflorescences are branched and bear many male and female flowers. Male flowers are small and numerous; The female flowers are solitary or in small groups of two or three flowers, much larger than the male flowers. All flowers are fragrant, whitish-yellow. Produces ovoid, dark yellow with a red tint, smooth fruits 5 - 8 cm long. 

Areca lutescens, Chrysalidocarpus

The genus Chrysalidocarpus includes about 20 species of very delicate and fluffy evergreen palms. At a young age, these plants have basal leaves, but with age they form thin, slender trunks, covered with the remains of old leaves. The leaves are pinnate, on long petioles, and consist of numerous linear segments of green color with a glossy sheen. The inflorescence is drooping, axillary, consisting of a large number of small flowers, branched.