We organize proper care for Forster's Hove at home
Kings, nobles and nobles considered it an honor to have a tropical palm tree in their chambers. Today, growing an ornamental plant is not difficult at all, because caring for Forster's hoveia at home does not require special academic knowledge. Still, it must be taken into account that in a natural habitat, culture grows on the slopes of the islands of Australia and Oceania at an altitude of 300 m above sea level.
A little about the characteristics of the palm
The variety belongs to the Palm family. It reaches a height of 15-20 m (in nature). The stem is presented in the form of a thin trunk, intercepted by rings that form when the foliage dries. Cirrus-dissected leaves with a smooth edge are collected in a lush drooping fan. Each of them is located on elongated petioles (1.5 m). Deciduous plates have a dark green tint. On the reverse side, they are covered with inclusions or scales.
Characteristic features of kentia:
- slow growth (2-3 leaves per year);
- does not bloom in indoor conditions;
- maximum height - 2-3 m;
- single-barrel varieties.
The hovei genus has only two varieties: forsteriana and Bolmer. To obtain excellent decorative properties, the plant is planted in groups, several copies in one pot. This cultivation technique allows you to give the palm a more luxurious look.
Kentia is the most unpretentious culture. Nevertheless, when buying a plant, they pay attention to the quality of the foliage. The presence of brown spots indicates diseases of the root system.
Effective home care for Forster's Hove
Forsteriana belongs to subtropical palms, therefore it takes root very well in indoor conditions. Choose a suitable place for the flowerpot. Young specimens need bright enough sunlight. Therefore, they are placed in well-lit areas of the house.
It could be:
- north-east side of the apartment;
- northern part of the house;
- southern windows (only in the back of the room, so that there is partial shade).
The third option is more suitable for mature plants that have already formed a lush crown. Caring for a hovea palm tree at home involves a symmetrical crown formation. To do this, the pot is periodically turned over in different directions to the light source. Then the culture stretches evenly and takes on a more graceful look.
Young 5-year-old Kentians need both additional shading and lighting. Sounds paradoxical, yet phytolamps recommended for use in conditions of short daylight hours.
Temperature and humidity
The exotic culture adapts to cold snaps quite easily and quickly. In emergency cases, it is able to withstand a drop in temperature to 0-5˚С, but no more than 2-3 days.
However, the optimal growing conditions are such indicators:
- in summer: + 20 ... + 25˚С;
- in winter: 15-18˚С;
- short period of time: + 12˚С.
Particular attention is paid to air humidity, which should vary between 60-70%. During wintering and in the heat, you need to understand how to care for the hovea.
When heating appliances are in operation or in hot weather, the microclimate in the room becomes unusually dry, therefore florists advise:
- spray the palm tree twice a day;
- take out on the street or balcony (in summer);
- water as the top layer dries (20-25 mm).
Too high dry air contributes to the appearance of spider mites.
In summer, the culture is watered more often, because the soil substrate dries up much faster. Complete drying out of the soil has a bad effect on the well-being of Kentia. At the same time, water stagnation is not allowed, otherwise the roots will begin to rot. The liquid must be settled and warm, otherwise it will become stressful for the plant. In winter, the amount and abundance of watering is significantly reduced.
What you need to know about boarding
Forsteriana forms a powerful root system. For this reason, it is planted in spacious flowerpots or masonry. When choosing a container, a simple rule is taken into account: each subsequent pot is 3-4 cm larger than the previous one. Be sure to make a drainage hole. A massive "pillow" of expanded clay, pebbles or broken brick is formed at the bottom.
The soil mixture is bought in company stores or prepared independently by mixing:
- deciduous humus;
- sod land;
- peat;
- rotted manure;
- coarse sand.
The first two components are taken in 2 parts, and all the others - only one at a time. Often, sand is replaced with perlite. Thanks to this, the soil becomes loose enough to allow moisture and air to pass through. Some people choose loamy soils fertilized with humus. Such a substrate must be disinfected either in the oven or with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Hoveya Forster does not need frequent transplants, as it grows very slowly. In this regard, every year the topsoil of an adult perennial plant is renewed.
During the first 5 years, young specimens are transplanted annually in the spring (in April). The pot is selected in accordance with the size of the rhizome. The procedure is carried out very carefully, practically by the transfer method, so as not to damage the roots.
Subtleties of reproduction
Since it is impossible to see the flowering of Forster's hovea in indoor conditions, the palm tree is propagated only by dividing the bush. When the culture reaches medium size, the flowerpot is divided into several parts. Very delicately remove the remnants of the earth from the rhizome. The event is carried out quickly enough so that the roots do not have time to dry out. Several plants are formed from one plant. Planted in separate containers in accordance with the above recommendations.
After planting, new palms are watered abundantly with settled water. They put flowerpots in a room with diffused light at a temperature of 20-25˚С. After 7-14 days, top dressing is applied.
Additional scope of work
Often, the leaves of Forster's hovea dry out, which may be a sign of excess or lack of moisture. Too waterlogged specimens are "reanimated" by drying the earthen coma. The culture is taken out of the pot, the affected roots are removed. Disinfect the sections with charcoal. Return the palm to the container. But if the soil is completely dry, then the crown is first sprayed, and then the soil is watered with water, starting from the edge of the pot. For the effectiveness of the recovery procedure, an additional solution is added Zircon (4 drops / l). The frequency of watering is 1-2 times a week.
In some cases, whitish spots appear on the foliage, which indicates the defeat of forsteriana by a spider mite. Then the culture is treated with an acaricidal agent, and is also often sprayed.
Sometimes kentia malaise can be caused by a deficiency of nitrogen, magnesium and potassium. Regular feeding, carried out from April to September, will help fill in the missing trace elements. Nutrient formulations are applied every 2 weeks. With such thoughtful home care, Forster's Hovea will grow luxuriantly in a penny and transform a city apartment into an imperial apartment.