Palm growing tips

Palm trees are plants that have a very special "something". It does not matter what species they belong to; they will always be perfect in any corner. In addition, they provide a »tropicality» capable of transforming any garden into a true paradise. However, It is very important that we take into account that each of them has its own needs.

So that you can avoid wasting money in vain, We are going to give you a series of tips on growing palm trees.

Choose species resistant to your climate

It is the most important and, at the same time, what is least thought about. The palms They are so beautiful that more than one and more than two of us would like to have a plot of one hectare (at least) to be able to plant a lot of species. But we have to know how to control ourselves and, above all, look for information on which species are best adapted to our climate. And when I say this I mean that they have to be able to live well with the conditions in the garden.

For example, I live in the south of Mallorca, with temperatures ranging from 38ºC in summer to -1ºC or -2ºC in winter. In principle, grow a lot of tropical species, such as the Dictyosperma album or the Roystonea regia, since these frosts are punctual and of very short duration, but ... the reality is very different. For these palm trees to survive, after the frost the temperature would have to rise to 15-18ºC or more, something that does not happen (it stays at 5-10ºC).

For all this, when you look for species, I recommend that you choose those in which the books say that they are more resistant to cold. In my case, I have to opt for those that in books, encyclopedias, etc. They say that they support up to -4ºC, because I know that those -4ºC that they can have in their natural habitat are the -2ºC that they will have here in Mallorca.

Put them in the right place

We are very used to seeing palm trees growing in full sun. Phoenix, Washingtonia, Chamaerops, Butia ... There are many that have to be exposed to the star king. But We have to know that there are others that the sun's rays can seriously harm, such as Chamaedorea, Ceroxylon, Dypsis, or Arenga, among others.. For this reason, we must put them in the most appropriate place, where they can grow without problems.

The roots are not invasive, but it will be necessary to take into account their adult dimensions to plant them in one place or another, since this way they will be able to grow and develop correctly.

Fertilize them with organic fertilizers

Subscribing is essential for the proper growth of palm trees. East has to be applied from early spring to late fall. In the nurseries we will find specific fertilizers for these plants, but at home we also have some 😉: egg and banana shells, tea bags, old vegetables (expired or that can no longer be eaten), compost, expired animal feed, ... Of course, if they are being grown in pots, we must use liquid fertilizers, being highly recommended guano.

Prune them in fall

Surely you have seen several workers pruning palm trees in summer, but that is a very big mistake for two reasons:

• In midsummer the palm trees are growing, which means that a large amount of sap is transported through its conductive vessels. When pruning them, it is inevitable that the plants lose some of that sap, which can greatly weaken them.
• If you live in an area where the Red weevil or paysandisia are circulating, they expose the palm trees to their attacks. You have to think that these two pests kill palm trees in a matter of days, weeks or months (depending on the climate). When pruning, these insects are very attracted to the smell of plants, so they target them.

Therefore, we advise pruning, only if strictly necessary, in autumn using tools previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.

And for the rest, there is only one thing left to say: enjoy your palm trees.