Carludovica

Family. Cyclanthaceae.

Origin. Tropical America.

Description. The genus "Carludovica" contains 3 species of large, perennial, evergreen plants similar to palms, but unlike palms they do not have a woody trunk. The leaves are bright green, entire with parallel veins, sometimes divided into segments with age, appear directly from the rhizome or are arranged alternately on a low stem, up to 90 cm wide. The flowers are orange-red, male and female, often fragrant, collected in dense inflorescences - cylindrical cobs.

Height. Up to 180 cm.

Temperature conditions

A heat-loving plant, it prefers to be kept in rooms with a temperature of 20 - 25° C. The minimum temperature in winter is about 13° C.

Lighting

Preferably a bright location with direct morning and evening sunlight.

Care

Wipe large leaf blades from dust with a damp sponge. Remove old, yellowed leaves to maintain an attractive appearance and prevent the development of diseases.

Substrate

Carludovica is grown in tubs, pots filled with nutritious, well-drained soil, rich in organic matter.

Feeding

Every week with liquid fertilizers at half strength from spring to autumn. 

Purpose

Large tub plant.

Flowering time

When grown indoors, flowering occurs rarely; in nature, buds form in the summer months.

Air humidity

Carludovica does not tolerate cold drafts. The leaves should be periodically sprayed with warm water. To increase air humidity, also use a room humidifier. 

Soil moisture

You only need to water the bush when the top layer of soil dries out. The frequency of watering depends on the temperature of the content. In winter, just try not to overdry the soil.

Transfer

Transplant young plants when the roots have filled the pot, in March, into larger pots. For large plants, the top layer of soil is replaced with fresh one annually. 

Reproduction

Propagated by seeds or small shoots that appear around the mother plant.

Pests and diseases

Carludovica leaves turn yellow when kept in too cool conditions or when exposed to direct sunlight on hot summer days.

Spider mites and thrips sometimes appear as harmful insects. 

Note

The leaves of the plant are bleached and used to make hats.