How to Grow Potted Areca Palm? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Care Methods
The areca palm, also known as the yellow coconut, purple palm and so on, is a clumping evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Dypsis in the palm family Arecaceae. In tropical regions it is mostly grown in courtyards as an ornamental tree on lawns, in shade, or beside houses, while in northern regions it is mainly grown in pots as a high-grade potted foliage plant for decorating living rooms, dining rooms, meeting rooms, family rooms or balconies, so let us take a look at how to grow a potted areca palm!
The Growth Habits of the Areca Palm
The areca palm is a tropical plant that prefers warm, humid, semi-shaded environments. Its cold tolerance is not strong; below 20°C the leaves turn yellow, and the minimum overwintering temperature must be above 10°C, while around 5°C it will freeze to death. In South China it can still be grown in the open, while in the Yangtze River basin and areas to the north it should be kept in a greenhouse. Seedlings grow slowly, then grow rapidly afterward. It prefers loose, well-drained, fertile soil. Its branches and leaves are dense, it stays evergreen all year round, and it has strong shade tolerance.
Propagation Methods for the Areca Palm
1. Division: The areca palm can be propagated by division in all four seasons. Around April, choose a plant with many tillers at the base, remove some of the old potting soil, and use a sharp knife to cut it from the connecting point at the base into several clumps; the wounds must be coated with plant ash or sulfur powder for disinfection. Each clump should not be too small; it must have 2 to 3 plants and retain a good root system. Avoid prolonged exposure to strong light, water moderately, and keep it at 20 to 25°C; it will recover and take shape fairly quickly.
2. Sowing: For areca palms from which seeds can be obtained, wash the harvested fruit and remove the flesh, soak the seeds in warm water at 35°C for two days, then sow them. Transplant them as they germinate, and on sunny days spray the leaves with water more often. Generally, though, growth is slow in the young stage and rapid once mature.
How to Grow a Potted Areca Palm?
1. Soil: For indoor potted areca palms, a slightly acidic soil should be chosen. In the north, care should be taken to use a sandy loam with a high humus content; a potting mix can be made from leaf mold, peat soil plus 1/3 river sand and some base fertilizer. The tiller buds grow relatively close to the rhizome, so when potting, plant slightly deeper than before so that new buds can root better. May to October is its peak growing season, and relatively sufficient water and fertilizer must be provided.
2. Potting: When potting areca palm seedlings, first place a 2 to 3 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1 to 2 cm thick, then cover with a thin layer of substrate about 1 to 2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots.
3. Watering: Watering should follow the principle of dry thoroughly, wet thoroughly, according to the season. In dry, hot seasons water a little more, while in low-temperature rainy weather control watering. In northern regions, especially where the water contains more salt and alkali, care should be taken to regularly use black alum to adjust the soil acidity. Normally keep the potting soil moist at all times. During the high-temperature period in summer and autumn, also keep the air humidity around the plant relatively high, but never let the potting soil become waterlogged, so as to avoid root rot.
4. Fertilizing: May to October is the peak growing season for the areca palm, and relatively sufficient water and fertilizer must be provided. Generally apply a decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every 1 to 2 weeks to promote vigorous growth and deep green leaf color. In autumn and winter, fertilize less or not at all, while keeping the potting soil in a dry-wet state.
5. Light: The areca palm likes semi-shade, and in spring, summer and autumn it should be shaded by 50%. It most dislikes direct scorching sun; even a short period of exposure can cause the leaves to scorch yellow, and it is very hard to recover. When grown indoors for ornament, it should be placed in a spot with relatively strong scattered light. It can also tolerate a relatively dark environment, but it should be moved outdoors to a spot with better light periodically for care, so as to help it recover and maintain a relatively high ornamental state.
6. Temperature: The areca palm likes warmth, and its optimum growth temperature is 20 to 35°C. If it exceeds 35°C or falls below 10°C, and cultivation management is slightly improper, its lower leaves will turn from green to yellow. In winter, good insulation and freeze protection work must be done; generally around 10°C it can overwinter relatively safely. If the temperature is too low, the leaves will turn yellow, the leaf tips will dry up, and the roots will be damaged, affecting the growth of the coming year.