Licuala

Family. Arecaceae or Palms.

Origin. Pacific Coast.

Description. Licuala is a very showy fan palm. The trunk is up to 3 m high, about 10 cm in diameter, and contains traces of fallen leaves. The leaves are large - up to 60 cm in diameter, round, green, segmented - contain up to 30 leaves, glossy, massive, form a spreading crown. Each tree has 12 - 20 leaves on long petioles armed with thorns. The inflorescences are long, branched, pendulous, with many small, white flowers. After flowering, round red berries are formed.

Height. In culture, young specimens of small size are kept - up to 2 m. Grows slowly.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Keep at temperatures above 20° C all year round. Do not expose the palm tree to temperatures below 16° C.

Lighting

Young specimens prefer a well-lit place without direct sunlight. Mature trees can take sun baths in the morning and evening for several hours a day with sufficient watering and air humidity.

Care

Licuala will appreciate being outdoors in the warmer months, protected from the wind. Trim off old, yellowed leaves at the base.

Substrate

Suitable nutritious soil with a high content of organic matter in the form of peat and leaf humus and the addition of coarse river sand to improve drainage. 

Feeding

Feed during the growing season - from spring to autumn with fertilizers in half concentration.

Purpose

Large and very impressive trees, suitable for landscaping large halls and offices.

Flowering time

Summer, in cultivation it blooms very rarely. 

Air humidity

Avoid placing the licuala near heating or air conditioning equipment. Provide the palm with good air circulation. If the air in the room becomes too dry or the temperature too high, increase the humidity by placing a room humidifier or a tray of wet pebbles near the plant.

Soil moisture

Palm trees appreciate regular watering during the growth period. Between waterings, the soil should dry out slightly to a depth of 5-6 cm. In the autumn-winter period, the frequency of watering is reduced and the soil is dried to half the depth. Excess moisture that appears in the pan must be drained. For irrigation, use soft rain or bottled water at room temperature. 

Transfer

Licuala is replanted only if necessary. Mature specimens need to be replanted approximately every 3 years. For large tub palms, the top 5-7 cm of soil is replaced with fresh soil annually. After planting, the soil around the root system should be compacted.

Reproduction

Seeds, however this is a very long process. 

Pests and diseases

Leaves become dry, brown and fall off when kept in too dry an atmosphere. Overwatering leads to rotting of the plant.

Among the harmful insects that can attack a palm tree are spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects.