Chrysalidocarpus

Family. Arecaceae.

Origin. Madagascar.

Description. 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.

Height. In nature it reaches a height of 10 meters, in indoor culture the height of plants will not exceed 2 - 3 m.

Care at home

How to care 

Chrysalidocarpus is quite easy to grow indoors and is therefore the most common species in indoor culture. Of the difficulties - the palm needs high air humidity. Remove old and yellowed leaves at the base of the crown.

Transplantation

Young specimens are replanted in spring, every 2 years in spring. Adult plants have impressive sizes and are difficult to replant - replace the top layer of substrate with a fresh mixture in spring, every year. After planting, compact the soil around the roots to remove all air pockets.

Diseases and pests 

The tips of the leaves turn yellow with prolonged drying of the soil or low air humidity. Among the harmful insects that can encroach on a palm tree are spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects, whiteflies, and thrips.

Reproduction

Seeds can be sown in spring, but it will take many years to produce a mature tree. Daughter suckers that appear near the mother palm.

Soil 

Well-drained soil with a sufficient content of coarse river sand and a neutral or slightly acidic pH. A mixture based on peat with the addition of leaf humus, sphagnum moss, pine bark, fallen pine needles and small pieces of charcoal is suitable. The substrate must allow water and air to pass through well. 

Watering

In spring and summer, watering should be regular and abundant. Between waterings, dry the top layer of soil 3 - 5 cm thick. In the autumn-winter period, the frequency of watering will depend on the ambient temperature. At low temperatures, the palm tree is kept in an almost dry substrate. For irrigation, use softened water. 

When it blooms 

Flowering occurs extremely rarely in culture.

Light 

Chrysalidocarpus prefers brightly lit places with shading during hot daylight hours, but can also grow in partial shade. It is possible to grow under artificial lighting conditions. 

What to feed 

Feed from spring to fall with water-soluble fertilizers every two weeks.

Containment temperature

This palm tree loves moderately warm conditions throughout the year in the temperature range from 17 to 23 ° C. In the winter months, the temperature in the room with the plant should not fall below 13 ° C. 

Spraying 

High humidity is required for cultivation. Spray the leaves in the morning with filtered or bottled water. Tap water can leave unsightly whitish spots on the leaves. Make sure the droplets evaporate before dusk. Use a room humidifier or a tray with wet pebbles to increase humidity. Remember that the palm should be in a ventilated room with good air circulation.

Purpose

A large palm tree for a winter garden or landscaping in offices and hallways. 

Note

All parts of the plant are poisonous - keep it away from children and pets. 

Hydroponics

Chrysalidocarpus is easily grown in hydroponic solution.

Varieties:

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens

Chrysalidocarpus yellowish is the only species of chrysalidocarpus that is grown as a houseplant. It is an elegant, multi-stemmed palm tree with smooth, thin, bamboo-like stems. At the tops of the stems there are oblong, gracefully curved, pinnate leaves up to 60 cm long. The leaf segments are glossy, hard, linear, light green, sometimes yellowish, up to 60 cm long and only 1 cm wide. In their natural habitat, plants can reach height 9 m., when grown indoors, its height often does not exceed 2 m. Young plants are kept indoors. During the flowering period, these palms form drooping, branched inflorescences with many very small, white flowers, which over time give way to dark purple, oblong berries. Unfortunately, flowering rarely occurs indoors.