Chamaedorea: care

Chamaedorea are palm trees that take up little space, which is why they can be kept in pots or in small gardens. In addition, they have very beautiful pinnate leaves, green or bluish in color, and their trunk is very thin, so much so that they look like bamboo canes.

For this reason, they are very loved plants to decorate, since they are also easy to maintain. If you have doubts, Next we are going to explain to you what the care of chamaedorea is.

Indoors or outdoors?

In general, it is customary to think that the Chamaedorea, all of them, do not resist the cold and that, therefore, they must be indoors. But the reality is that it depends on the species and the climate in our area. So here we tell you how much the most cultivated species resist:

• Chamaedorea cataractarum: up to -3ºC.
• Chamaedorea elegans: which is the most common, resists up to -2ºC. See file.
• Chamaedorea metallica: up to -2ºC.

  

  Image - Flickr / Leonora (Ellie) Enking

  

  Image - Wikimedia / Danerikk

  

  Image – Flickr/Mauricio Mercadante // Chamaedorea seifrizii

  
  
• Chamaedorea microspadix: up to -3,5ºC.
• Chamaedoa Radicalis.: up to -3ºC.
• Chamaedorea seifrizi: up to -3ºC.

As you can see, it is not entirely true that they do not like low temperatures. They are quite cold tolerant, but frost is another matter. They will hold the weak ones without problems, but only if they are of short duration. Likewise, it is important that they be kept in sheltered areas, for example, in a patio with a roof, between large plants that cut off the wind a bit, in a corner of the lot.

If in doubt, it is best to keep them indoors, where they will also grow very well.

Sun or shade?

In the garden they must be in shade, otherwise the sun would burn them. But inside the house we will put them in a room where there is a lot of light, but never near a window, and is that otherwise the rays of the star king could also cause significant burns when passing through the glass.

What type of soil is good for them?

They are palm trees that grow in light, fertile soils. They can do it in limestone, although if it is very compact and / or with a tendency to erode, it is important to make a hole at least half a meter wide and deep, and then fill it with universal substrate, or with a mixture of equal parts peat, perlite (for sale here) and worm castings.

In the case of having them in pots, you can use substrate for green plants (for sale here). But yes, keep in mind that, in addition, the container in which they are going to be must have holes in its base, since otherwise the roots could die as a result of the accumulation of water inside the pot.

How and when to water the Chamaedorea?

Irrigation is one of the main care we have to provide to the Chamaedorea. They are not drought-tolerant palms, but excess water also causes problems for them. Because, should be watered frequently during the summer, more or less twice a week, and more if they are outside since in these conditions the land dries quickly.

During the cold months they hardly grow, and as the soil remains much more humid for a long time, we have to allow more days to pass between one watering and the next. What's more, whenever possible we will use rainwater; Not surprisingly, it is the best that plants can receive; but in case we cannot get it, you can use one that is suitable for human consumption, or even the tap as long as it does not have a lot of lime.

Every time they have to be watered, we will pour the water to the earth, without wetting the leaves. You have to pour until the earth is soaked.

When to pay them?

The Chamaedorea should be fertilized during the spring, which is when they begin to grow, but also in summer. This way we will get them to make the most of their growing season. Therefore, we will use specific fertilizers for these plants (for sale here), although it is also advisable to pay them with natural products, such as earthworm humus or guano (for sale here), especially if they are planted in the ground.

But in any case, the instructions on the packaging must be followed. Not by adding more quantity we are going to make them grow faster, on the contrary. When the soil has excess compost or fertilizer, the roots burn.

What is the best time to transplant them?

As they are plants that tolerate cold but not frost, and that need heat to grow, we will have to plant them in larger pots or in the ground during spring, or if you like in early summer. In any case, it must be done delicately, trying not to manipulate the roots.

In addition, you only have to do it when it has rooted well in the pot; that is, when its root system has grown so large that its roots begin to intertwine outside the container. In this way, when removing the plant from the pot, the soil or root ball bread will not crumble, something that will ensure the success of the transplant.

Taking this into account, If we want to plant them in a bigger pot, we have to find one that is about 5 or 6 centimeters wider and taller than the one you already have.; and if we are going to have them on the ground, before taking them out we have to dig the hole and prepare it, so that later we only have to put them in it.

Most common problems of Chamaedorea

These plants are not usually too delicate, but sometimes they can have problems:

• Wrinkled sheets: it may be that it is going through a lot of heat, but also that it has a plague. Check the underside of the leaves, open it if you see it closed, and see if it has mealybugs or aphids, which are two of the pests that cause its leaves to fold. In case there is nothing, then take it to a cooler room; but if you have pests, clean the leaves with mild soap and water, or treat them with diatomaceous earth (for sale No products found.) or potassium soap.
• Dry leaves: it may be due to low humidity, drafts, poor watering or an inappropriate location where the sun is shining directly or through a window. For this reason, they must be put in the shade if they are outside, or in a room where there is a lot of natural light if they are going to be at home; Furthermore, if the environment is dry, its leaves should be sprayed with lime-free water, and never put them near devices that generate air currents, such as fans or the air conditioning unit. If we have doubts about when to water them, we can use a humidity meter (for sale here).
• Discolored leaves: It could be that you are in a room where there is little light, that you are burning from the sun or that you have a plague such as spider mites, thrips or aphids. In the first case, we would take her to a room with more natural light; in the second we would move her away from the star king or the window, and in the third we would treat her with potassium soap (on sale No products found.) for instance.

We hope that now you know what the care of Chamaedorea is.