How to care for Forster Howe's: growing room palm

Surely many people grow exotic plants in their homes, which usually fit perfectly into the interior. The choice of a green resident depends on the personal preferences of the homeowner, but, as practice shows, it is increasingly common for indoor palms. Therefore, in this article we will consider the features of planting and caring for one of them - Hovei, and, perhaps, you will also want to purchase this plant for yourself.

General description of the genus

For true connoisseurs of home plants hovey needs no introduction. She has long been known for her tolerance for mistakes in care, thanks to which she won universal love. Palma came to us from Lord Howe Island, from which it got its name, and since Victorian times it has become more often grown in private estates (if you are fond of English films, you may have noticed that highways are present in many of them as decoration for hotels and rich houses).Of course, it is difficult to call such a palm tree a magnificent decoration, but its whole appearance speaks of grace and refinement.

All Hovei (in particular, the Forster plant, which is often grown at home) are single-stemmed palm trees, but to make them look better, you can plant several plants in one pot at once.

Since any Howei refers to the genus Palm, then in nature, a tree can be quite large, growing to 12 meters in height. Long leaves often reach 2.5-4.5 meters, although in open sale in our regions you can often find smaller specimens, up to 1-1.5 meters high. They are characterized by low rates of growth and development, giving only a few new leaves a year.

In addition to Forster's Hovei, Khoveya Belmore is often cultivated in culture, the peculiarities of which are largely similar. True, the plants themselves have certain differences. For example, the long stalks of Hovei Forster are practically not curved.

Growing conditions

There is nothing supernatural in the cultivation of hovei, and when buying a palm tree, you need to take into account the standard requirements for room illumination, temperature indicators and soil type, because only with all these features you can grow a really beautiful plant. Of course, each of them is individual, so let's find out what our tropical beauty likes.

Lighting

Kentia Forster does not tolerate direct sunlight on its leaves, therefore, when placed near a non-curtained window, they quickly begin to dry. The ideal option would be diffused light or even partial shade, with 40-60% of sunlight. The impact of direct rays from April to August is especially dangerous, so at this time you need to move the palm deep into the room.

In addition, if you want to maintain the symmetry of the Hovei, which will have a positive effect on the decorative functions of the plant, then do not forget to unfold the pot 180 ° every two weeks. Excessive lighting in the room during the summer period will tell you brown and yellow spots on the leaves of Kentia. Under optimal illumination conditions, about 9-12 leaves will be on each, while a low figure will reduce their number to 4-6.

Air temperature and humidity

Given the natural habitat of the Hovei, it is not surprising that such palm trees prefer warm so, the temperature in the room should not fall below + 16 ... +18 ° C. However, if you want the grown plant to be as comfortable as possible in your home, then the temperature indicators should not be below + 20 ... +25 ° C in summer, and not below +15 ° C - in winter, when the illumination is the room is somewhat reduced. Adult palms cope with short-term lowering of temperatures to +5 or even 0 ° C.

With regard to humidity, then it is also worth remembering the tropics, because the thermophilic beauty does not tolerate arid climate. Of course, in the room indicated indicator should be at a high or medium level (60-70%). However, try not to overdo it, as high humidity will lead to yellowing or blackening of the tips of the leaves of the plant. In the summer, you can spray a palm tree with water.

Soil type

Any species of Hovey are not particularly demanding on the composition of the substrate on which they grow. Nevertheless, it is best to choose for them rich loamy soil, with well-organized drainage. The basis can be taken and ready-made substrate for decorative leafy plants and palm trees, and then add to it the turf ground and leaf humus (in equal proportions). Perlite will help ensure good drainage.

Remember, the earth should not be too wet or damp, otherwise it will begin to sour over time and may destroy the plant.

How to plant hovey

Howey Forsteriana is usually sold in flower shops already in pots, but if you want to propagate it yourself at home, you can do it in one of two ways: seed and by dividing the bush.

Growing from seed

Most often palm trees it is grown by planting seeds (better to take fresh), but you need to immediately take into account the complexity of this method. At the early stage of its development, Hoveya is characterized by very slow growth, and it will take at least 5-7 years to grow noticeably from the seed.

Planting is done at the end of February or at the beginning of March, and a mixture of sand and peat is used as a substrate. During the germination period, the air temperature in the room should not fall below + 25 ... +30 ° C. The first shoots appear after about 2-12 months, and as soon as the first leaf grows on the plant, the seedlings should be planted in separate containers (pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm).

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Some growers practice and the method of reproduction hovey Forster by dividing the bush, which is easiest to accomplish in the palm tree transplant process. All that is needed is to separate the side shoots from the mother bush and plant them in another container with the substrate. For young plants, greenhouse growing conditions are required, which accelerate root formation and survival in a new place.

Before carrying out the procedure, be sure to prepare a sterilized soil (a mixture of turf soil, leaf humus and perlite in a ratio of 1: 2: 2) and a sufficiently capacious vessel in which the plant root system will feel free. When removing a shrub from a former pot, be sure to loosen the soil by shaking an earthen clod, after which you must carefully remove the ground and divide the palm tree.

Peculiarities of home care

From the moment of planting or buying Hovei, the process of caring for the plant begins. Of course, as in any other case, it consists of several important components: watering, fertilizing and pruning, although a less important point, in this case, is the transplant of a palm tree to a new place.

How to water the plant

Kentia forster needs regular and moderate fluid application throughout the year. Determine the time of the next watering can be based on the state of the soil in a pot with a palm tree. If the top layer is covered with a crust, it means that your darling is tormented by thirst, and it's time to take a jug of water. In the summer, when the palm tree is actively growing, its need for liquid increases, and you yourself will notice that the soil will dry out faster.

In the winter season, especially with reduced light in the room and a cool temperature of maintenance, the need for kentia in irrigation is significantly reduced, and the soil remains moist longer. Therefore, the frequency of introducing fluid into the soil also needs to be reduced, making irrigation less abundant.

Always try to stick to the "golden mean", because an excess of moisture, as well as its lack, will lead to damage to the plant and the formation of large brown spots on the leaves. Errors in the mode of watering most of all harm the hovey.

Top dressing of a room palm tree

When growing any plant, its fertilizer is not the last in importance. So, the described indoor palm tree, with its active growth, needs to be fed twice a month, and the rest of the time it will be enough to make one-time complex formulations (designed specifically for palm trees). In winter, when the plant stops growing, top dressing should be excluded. No need to fertilize the plants and in the year of transplantation, it is better to wait for the next year.

Good growth of Hovei is able to provide mainly organic compounds: for example, infusion of cow manure (diluted with water in the ratio of 1:15), although it can be replaced with mineral mixtures for houseplants.

Palm trees older than 10 years are often deficient in magnesium and potassium, which should also be taken into account when choosing a compound for fertilizer.

Pruning

Howay Forster does not need frequent pruning, and you are only required to promptly remove dead and broken leaves. In this case, the cut should be carried out at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from the trunk of the palm tree and with very careful movements in order not to damage the plant.

If the air in the room is very dry and the tips of the leaves have already dried up, then they must also be removed, that is, only the dried part of the leaf.

All about plant replanting

For young hovey plants, annual transplantation will be helpful by careful transfer to a slightly larger capacity. At the same time, adult specimens do not need frequent changes in the place of growth and can calmly grow in one pot for up to three years; it is only necessary to regularly change the top layer of soil. It is best to perform a transplant procedure in April.

Forster has a very fragile root system, therefore, it must be treated very carefully. Like all palm crops, the described plant is recommended to be transplanted along with an earthy clod, waiting for the moment when the root system fills the entire container.In order for the palm tree to fit in a new vessel, a portion of the felt layer must be cut with a sharp knife.

You cannot move the kentia into an oversized pot or bury the plant during transshipment or transplanting, the soil level should in any case remain the same.

Inaccurate transplantation can destroy the earthy lump and expose the roots of a palm tree, and if this happens, then to reduce evaporation, you will have to remove half the leaves on the plant.

You can remove dust from the Forster hawai by arranging a cool shower for her in the summer or simply wiping each leaf with a damp sponge (dust is removed from the underside with a palm)

Major diseases and pests of Hovei Forster

The relative ease of caring for Hovey does not exclude the possibility of pest attacks or the spread of disease. So, the palm tree often suffers from leaf blotch and pink rot, which is mainly exposed to plants grown in pots with poor drainage or affected by pest infestations in the past.

The presence of these diseases can be determined by the characteristic symptoms: damaged leaf plate, leaf rot at the base, stunted young shoots and rot damage.In some cases, even the trunk may rot. On closer inspection, you will surely find a pinkish mass along with a thick brown liquid. Specially selected fungicides containing methyl thiophanate and mancozeb will help you get rid of these problems. The interval between treatments should be not less than a week, and the duration of treatment depends on the duration of the disease (that is, it lasts until the recovery of the palm).

When growing Hovei, chlorosis of the leaves (often lower) is often encountered, which is accompanied by weak or lagging growth of leaf plates. The cause of this disease is usually the reduced temperature of the palm and the lack of lighting in the room with it.

The causes of chlorosis in young leaves are the increased acidity of the soil, lack of nutrients (in particular, manganese and iron), which is manifested in meszylkovy chlorosis and necrotic spots in chlorotic tissues. The problem can be solved by normalizing the acidity of the soil and regular application of foliar dressings.

All hovey is very sensitive to marshy and poorly aerated substrates,Because of this, the palm tree often suffers from marginal burns of leaves that appear soon after damage to the root system of the plant. Faced with this problem, will have to replace the soil in the pot and reduce its further watering.

Of the pests, Fester kentiny is often attacked by scythos, thrips, spider mites, spreading on the trunk and palm stalks. As a result of their vital activity, white or yellowish spots appear on the leaf plates, which eventually cause them to dry and fall. The plant gradually dies.

To protect Hovei from their intrusive attention, you can wash the leaves under the faucet and increase the humidity in the room, and wipe the active parasites with a tampon soaked in soapy water from their homes. When pests appear on a massive scale, spraying with chemical compounds, for example, Aktara or Fitoverm, will help to cope with them.

Generally Care for Forster is not very complex, and you do not spend more time on it than when growing any other house plants.