Ornamental plant - washington
Washingtonia (Washingtonia) is a plant from the genus of fan-shaped palm trees of the Arecaceae family (lat. "Arecaceae" or "Palmae").
In nature, the genus Washingtonia is represented by two species:
- Washingtonia is thread-bearing or "filamentous" (English "CaliforniaFanPalm", Latin. "Washingtonia filifera") is considered a decorative palm tree.
- Washingtonia powerful (eng. "MexicanFanPalm", lat. "Washingtoniarobusta") refers to the ornamental indoor plants, due to the thinner stem (compared to the nylon palm) grows quite high.
Appearance
Washingtonian's feathery leaves can reach a diameter of up to 1.5 m. Reliable anchorage to the trunk is the reason that even when dried, the leaves do not fall off for several years, forming a high “skirt” around the trunk.
Gray straight trunk can be as smooth, freed from old leaves, and rough (due to the rest of the knots and foliage). Under favorable conditions, it grows to 25-30 m with a trunk diameter up to 90 cm.
Washingtonia inflorescence is long, paniculate, up to 3 m long. The flowers are bisexual, without aroma. In the culture blooms quite rarely, after 12-15 years of life.
Location
Loves the subtropics. Most often found in arid areas of Southern California, in Arizona and areas of northwestern Mexico. It is actively cultivated on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and the Crimea, as well as in greenhouses of various countries.
Care
Washingtonia prefers soft diffused light without direct exposure to bright sunlight.
The temperature in summer ranges from + 20 ° С to + 30 ° С (in nature it quietly allows + 50 ° С), in winter - from + 5 ° С to + 10 ° С.
Watering moderate, without allowing stagnation of water. Humidity is moderate, several times a year it is allowed to wipe leaves from dust and debris with a damp sponge.
Breeding
Enough laborious exercise for a beginner. Washington is propagated by seeds, which must be soaked for 12 hours in water at room temperature (or slightly higher) before planting. Then laid out in the substrate, covering with a thin layer of soil.
Transfer
The plant can be transplanted on demand in the spring time, creating a new permeable substrate for this. The pot must be chosen high.
Pests and problems
When the air is dry, Washingtonia reacts by darkening the tips of the leaves. Periodically affected spider mite and shield.
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