Dwarf Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) 3 seeds

European Fan Palm - Chamaerops humilis - 3 Seeds

Chamaerops humilis palm has become very popular in recent years, primarily due to its cold resistance. Its frost hardiness is -12°C, at this temperature the leaves begin to freeze heavily, but if well covered, it can withstand even more and will regrow in spring.

It originates from the Mediterranean region. It grows to a height of 3-6m. It has fan-shaped leaves that are silvery. They are about 50 cm wide, however younger plants have fans 30-40 cm wide. The petioles are up to one meter long with rigid thorns. This palm species grows very slowly in height, specimens larger than a human are very rare. With proper care, it will begin flowering early. This palm can be grown not only in containers, but also planted out in the garden.

How to Grow Chamaerops humilis

• Requires a bright, sunny location. Watering should be abundant in summer, but do not pour water into the leaf rosette, otherwise the heart will rot! In winter for outdoor planted palms once a month, especially in the absence of snow and on frost-free days. Container palms should be watered moderately, only after the substrate has completely dried out. Can overwinter in a cellar or garage even in poor light conditions. Good ventilation is essential during overwintering.

• Sowing is done year-round. First soak the seeds for at least 3 days in warm water. Change the water daily. Then plant the seeds in a substrate composed of perlite and peat in a 1:1 ratio. Sow shallowly. Seeds germinate in 2-3 months in constantly moist substrate. The substrate should have a higher than room temperature, approximately 26 degrees Celsius. Transplant plants that are approximately 10 cm tall into their own containers.

• The ideal base for most palms is a mixture of compost soil or peat with a small proportion of clay component and yellow, dug sand. It can be purchased directly as palm substrate. Good drainage at the bottom of the container is essential, of course.

• Regular fertilization of palms from March to September every 2 to 3 weeks is essential. It is better to fertilize more frequently in lower concentrations than occasionally with a strong concentration of fertilizer. Before applying fertilizer, it is necessary that the plant is watered. Do not apply fertilizer to the palm heart, do not fertilize on leaves, do not fertilize sick plants, do not fertilize small seedlings, do not fertilize freshly transplanted plants for several months.

  During vegetation, fertilize every 3 weeks. It is advisable to use Humvit fertilizer, which does not risk overdosing the plant. It can be alternated in spring with Fytovit. In summer with Hahrmavit. Always apply only one third of the given fertilizer amount as indicated in the instructions.

• Animal pests are biting and sucking insects and their larvae sucking sap from leaves and draining energy, which weakens the organism and leads to plant death. Mealybugs, scale insects and soft scales are recognized by brown hard shells on the plant. The plant becomes stunted, leaves fall off and a sticky coating appears. The cause is always dry air. Protection is spraying with Savel. You can also scrape off the shells and treat affected areas with an alcohol swab.

  Woolly aphids, mites and thrips create white cotton-like nests and slimy excretions on the underside of leaves. The cause is again dry air. Rub white tufts and individual specimens with oil, humidify the air, or use special sprays, such as Biool (oil emulsion) or Mospilan 20 SP or Sumithion super in combination with Applaud WP, Actellic 50 EC, Talstar 10 EC, at least 5 sprays (every 2 days).

  White insects that fly away at the slightest disturbance, sticky and deformed leaves, spots on leaves. These are all signs of whitefly infestation. Whiteflies love humid heat, so they appear most often in greenhouses. Protection is to provide plants with a cooler and more ventilated environment and use yellow sticky traps or sprays: Applaud 25 WP in combination with Sumithion super, Mospilan 20 SP.

  Plants are also attacked by aphids. Suitable protection includes spraying with soap solutions or spraying with Pirimor 25 WG or Fast K180, Aztec 140 EW, Agrion delta preparations.

  Spider mites create webs on the upper or lower side of leaves. Leaves turn yellow and later dry out. It is advisable to use insecticides in spray form (Vertimec 2x 5ml - works almost immediately) Fast K 180, Apollo 50 SC, Omite 57 EW.

  Fungus gnats are black flies whose larvae are translucent with black heads, they love humus and peat and usually attack and destroy the roots of young plants. Protection must come immediately, otherwise there is no chance of rescue. Hang yellow sticky traps (Stopset traps), use insecticides in spray form (Decis), at least 5 sprays (every 2 days).

  Before overwintering, it is advisable to carry out a preventive spray against fungal diseases (Fundazol 50 WP, Novozir MN, Polyram WG, Rovral 50 WP, Kuprikol 50). Most fungal diseases manifest when the plant is too weakened by unfavorable growing conditions.

  Among the most common palm diseases is sooty mold. It manifests as a sticky blackish surface on the leaves. Protection is to remove contaminated leaves, spray with Novozir MN.

  Gray mold creates a gray-white coating on plants. The best protection is to cut off affected parts of plants, ventilate the room where we grow the plant and use protective agents such as Novozir MN, Ronilan, Dithane.

  Rust manifests as reddish-brown spots on leaves, shoots may soften. Affected leaves need to be destroyed and when watering, they must not be sprayed, otherwise rust spores spread further throughout the plant. Protection is carried out with sprays Baycor 25 WP, Polyram WG.

Photo sources:
By tota grasso - Own work (personal work), CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1333755
By © Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3875156