Archontophoenix

Family. Arecaceae.

Origin. Australia.

Description.  The genus Archontophoenix consists of 6 species and all of them come from Australia. Decorative palm trees are very popular and widespread throughout the world. The trunk is tall, thin, up to 45 cm in diameter, widens towards the base, gray or gray-brown in color, ringed. Scars from old fallen leaves remain on the lower part of the trunk. The upper part of the stem is smooth. At the top of the trunk there is a crown with a diameter of up to 6 m, consisting of 7 - 15 pinnate leaves up to 2 m long, they are hard, shiny green on top and silvery on the underside. Young leaves often have a bronze tint. Petiole up to 40 cm long. Small round flowers appear under the leaves on cream drooping peduncles resembling a waterfall from 70 to 150 cm long. Fruits are ellipsoidal or round, up to 2.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, bright red when maturation. The seeds are almost spherical, up to 2.3 cm long and 1.8 cm wide, light brown, shiny. It grows quickly and adds from 30 cm to 1 m per year.

Height. Up to 30 m in height; in culture, archontophoenix grows up to 4 meters. 

Home care

Temperature conditions

The temperature during the resting period is not lower than 10° C and not higher than 24° C; during the period of active growth, 16 - 24° C is considered optimal for growing archontophoenix. 

Lighting

In a bright or semi-shady place. 

Caring for your home palm tree

One of the most undemanding fan palms for cultivation.

Substrate

Archontophoenix prefers medium-moist soil with good drainage.

Feeding

From April to August, feed every 14 days.

Purpose

A species that is especially resistant to indoor culture. With proper care (in a greenhouse) it blooms and bears fruit regularly. Cultivated in moderately warm greenhouses. 

Flowering time

Spring Summer.

Air humidity

Air humidity is high, use a room humidifier or regularly spray archontophoenix.

Soil moisture

Watering indoor palm trees moderately during the dormant period, and abundantly during the period of active growth. 

Transplanting a palm tree

Young plants annually in the spring as they grow and fill the pot with an earthen lump, adults - every 2 - 3 years in a fresh substrate or change the top layer of soil.

Reproduction

The palm tree reproduces by seeds, germination time is from 6 weeks to 2 months. The seeds must be fresh and soaked in water for 12 hours.

Pests and diseases

Yellowing of the leaves indicates that the air in the room is too dry.

If kept too dry, the plant is attacked by mealybugs and spider mites.