Red Palm (Cyrtostachys Renda) 4 seeds

Cyrtostachys Renda

A slow-growing slender palm native to the Malay Peninsula. It can reach heights of up to 16 m. When grown indoors, it reaches only 6 m. Its fruits are green and oval, turning blue-black when ripe. The plant is most commonly grown for its unusual leaf coloration. The leaves of this palm grow up to 1.5 meters. It can be grown in a greenhouse, conservatory, or with occasional misting in a warm apartment. Prolonged exposure to temperatures below 15°C can damage the palm. Therefore, it is only suitable for very warm areas. This is a very attractive palm species with an orange stem. The orange color of the stems is caused by wax content, which was used for red seals. It is a collector's item and one of the most beautiful and sought-after palms in the world.

How to Grow the Orange Palm

• Requires a very warm and bright location. Just as in its native habitat, it prefers constantly moist soil when grown here. It thrives in humid climates, so we recommend growing it in a conservatory or greenhouse. Watering must be very generous. It is resistant to waterlogging and can even be grown long-term in standing water. It absolutely does not tolerate drought. We only grow it in places where the year-round temperature does not drop below 15 degrees Celsius.

• Sowing is done year-round. First soak the seeds for about 5 days in warm water around 30 degrees Celsius. 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. This should be at higher than room temperature, approximately 26 degrees Celsius. Transplant plants about 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, excavated sand. It can be purchased directly as palm substrate. The basis is, of course, good drainage at the bottom of the container.

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

  During the growing season, fertilize every 3 weeks. It is suitable to use Humvit fertilizer, which does not pose a risk of plant overdose. 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 that suck sap from leaves and drain energy, weakening the organism and leading to plant death. Mealybugs, scale insects and scale 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 preparation. Shells can also be scraped off and affected areas treated with an alcohol-soaked swab.

  Woolly aphids, mites and thrips create white cottony nests and slimy secretions 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 sprayings (every 2 days).

  White insects that fly up at the slightest disturbance, sticky and deformed leaves, spots on leaves. All these are signs of whitefly infestation. Whiteflies love humid heat, so they most commonly appear 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 sprays 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 suitable to use spray insecticides (Vertimec 2x 5ml - acts 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 spray insecticides (Decis), at least 5 sprayings (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 appear if the plant is too weakened by unfavorable growing conditions.

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

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

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