Reasons for the dry, withered leaves of the Chinese fan palm, plus how to grow it and points to note

When it comes to the Chinese fan palm, many people will find this plant rather unfamiliar, but if you mention woven fans made from its leaves, they will probably recognise it. The Chinese fan palm has broad leaves shaped like a fan, with serrated edges and a bright green colour, making it highly ornamental, and its leaf stalks also have certain medicinal value, with properties that can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and relieve pain.

So how should gardeners care for it after buying it and bringing it home? First of all, the Chinese fan palm likes plenty of sunlight, so it is best placed in any position that gets sun, ensuring at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Its optimum growing temperature is 20-30°C; above 35°C it needs increased ventilation and misting to cool it down. It can tolerate low temperatures of 0°C, and the recommended overwintering temperature is above 5°C.

As for watering, during the high-temperature period in summer the Chinese fan palm needs extra water supplementation, and when watering, be careful not to pour it on the leaves, to avoid causing disease. At the same time, during the dog days of summer, you can also increase misting of the surrounding environment around the leaves to raise air humidity, to prevent the leaves from wilting and turning yellow, or even dying. In short, the soil should follow a slightly moist state, and the best way to judge this is to feel it with your hand: if it is slightly dry, watering is appropriate.

As for fertilising and pruning, spring and summer are its growing seasons, so apply fertiliser once a month, using slow-release fertiliser or liquid fertiliser. Also, regularly pruning dead leaves and overly dense branches helps with ventilation and light penetration, promoting healthy growth.

In other special situations, if you find the tips and edges of the Chinese fan palm's leaves in a dry, withered state, then first promptly move it to a shady place, and during this period first mist the surrounding environment to keep it moist; on no account should water be left standing in the pot. If during care it suddenly drops a large number of leaves, then take note: this may be root rot caused by overwatering. At this point you can reduce the frequency of watering, and in severe cases you need to take it out of the pot and trim the roots, then repot it with fresh soil. If you find bacterial diseases such as leaf spot, anthracnose, or red spider mites, you need to promptly use medication to clear the diseased parts, buying some suitable fungicide to sterilise, and during this period be sure to provide good light penetration and ventilation.