Washingtonia robusta
Belonging to a radical of plants known as the devotee ribbon , Washingtonia robusta , aka Mexican buff palm , is the largest of all of them .
As the name suggests , this titanic Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is aboriginal to Baja , California and west into the Mexican state of Sonora .
Despite its relatively narrow aboriginal range , this dear behemoth is grown the earthly concern over in arid , gay climes from San Diego to Dubai to the Cote d’Azur in France .
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All fan palms love warm conditions andW. robustais no unlike . This metal money is eager to grow and is open of place on four metrical unit of growth in a single yr .
you’re able to learn more about how to grow fan palms in our guide .
Caption: Editorial credit: Gaia Conventi / Shutterstock.com
If you live somewhere with ample sun and minimum cold weather , read on to bump out more about growing your own Mexican fan palm .
And for those of you with a brilliantly lit box indoors , never dread ! you may take a sally at produce this beautiful specimen indoors as well .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover up :
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
Native to the Sonoran desert and Baja , Mexico , this drought - repellent ribbon can rise to 100 metrical unit tall .
The crown bears a obtuse cluster of glossy , green folio , each about five foot wide and shape , as the name suggests , like a pleated sports fan .
The leaf is arranged in a tuft at the top of a tall , unbranching trunk , make it look like a giant upside down swab . It ’s this somewhat comical show that gave it its common name , “ skyduster . ”
The genus name , Washingtonia , is a dedication to General George Washington . Dr. H Wendland , a prominent botanist in the former 1800s , bestowed this name on the genus and had to fight to hold onto it .
The famous soubriquet was in high demand and the group of trees know as sequoias almost laid claim to it .
Mexican buff laurel wreath is cultivated in the affectionate soils of Australia , Hawaii , the Middle East and beyond . It ’s easy to grow , drought tolerant once established , and reliably bears clump of attractive , benighted colored fruit .
Hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11 , this species can tolerate temperature down to 20 ° F , but not for extended periods . unyielding cold weather , especially cold wet weather , will damage foliage and invite disease .
In its native home ground , Mexican fan palm provides nesting and protection sites for birds , mammalian , and insects .
out of doors of its endemic range , W. robustais listed as an invading species in some spot , such as California .
The California Invasive Plant Council has also labeled this tree a fire risk , due to its tendency to collect dead , ironical fronds along its automobile trunk .
A democratic houseplant decorate the well - lit confines of many an post , expect way and home , Mexican fan medal does well indoors too .
Although it hails from the enviably sunshine - douse slide of Mexico , it ’s a tough cookie , and can manage weather at heart , too .
So you see , you ’ve got option . Read on to determine how to start maturate now .
Mexican Fan Palm Propagation
Like all truthful palms , W. robustais grouped into a category of plants call “ monocots . ”
Monocots have parallel leaf nervure , only one seed leaf instead of two , and bring forth flowers with petals in multiples of three .
This category of plants by and large do not grow sidelong stems – they only raise upwards . For this reason , they wo n’t grow from cuttings .
To propagateW. robusta , you ’ll have to start from seed or purchase a transplantation .
From Seed
Fortunately , W. robustais pretty sluttish to originate from germ . If you ’re a novice germinator , this species is a fun and honour one to adjudicate .
Seeds can be purchased online or harvested direct from the tree once fruit turn dark purple to black , indicating ripeness .
seek to remove all pulp magazine from around the seed before you sow . scratch up off the fruit with your fingernails or the scratchy side with a sponge . This cleansing outgrowth helps keep unwanted fungal spores out of the planting substrate .
Once they are clean , imbue the seeds in warm pee for two to three days . This will help soften the germ coat and speed up sprouting . convert the piddle every day .
The cup containing the seeds should be placed on a oestrus mat or in hopeful Dominicus to exert a lukewarm water temperature . You do n’t have to be too exact , just verify it ’s comfortably warm to the pinch .
Sow seed just below the surface of the soil in freely enfeeble potting soil in four - in pots . This metal money need a little light to germinate , so ensure to not underwrite the seeds too deep .
Sow a three or four seeds in each four - inch pot , you’re able to separate out the strongest and best seedlings once they ’ve burgeon forth .
There are filth mix formulated specifically for ribbon and it is best to use one of these .
Try this one , from Soil Sunrise , usable on Amazonin eight - quart bags .
Soil Sunrise Potting Soil
Put the pots in shining light , on a ardent gay windowsill , or on a heat mat . Maintain a temperature of somewhere around 80 to 90 ° F .
Keep the soil systematically moist , but not soak , until germination occurs . This should take a week or two .
To take proper care of newly germinated seedlings , check that the grunge stay on moist but not inebriate wet in between waterings .
Once your plants have raise honest leaves , pot them into larger container and slow down the watering a niggling piece . capture to this degree will take a few hebdomad .
Generally speaking , you want youthful plants to be in container that are just large enough to give them a small extra way to grow . pot your new palms into single four - in pots at this phase will do .
At this point , you’re able to let the surface of the dirt dry out out a niggling before water again .
you’re able to learn more about how to start palms from seed in our growing scout .
Transplanting
If you ’re transplanting the babies you grew from seed , make certain they have at least two true leaves before move them .
genuine leaves will resemble the ripe plant ’s folio , but be a bit smaller . If you ’re design to grow your works outside , expose your babies to the sun and fart bit by bit , increase their exposure each day by hour retentive increments .
The same goes for any industrial plant you purchased at a baby’s room . check that it is right indurate off before planting outside .
In the garden , take a spot in full Lord’s Day with freely drain soil . This species care relatively neutral soil , so keep the pH level somewhere around 6.0 to 7.0 . If your internet site has a picayune afternoon shade , do n’t worry , that will work too .
Try not to disturb your plant ’s root chunk too much when you reposition it from the mountain . This will give your new tree a better chance at survival .
Dig a fix a little wider than the root lump and countersink the plant so the top of the stem ball is level with the ground .
urine thoroughly , at least once a workweek , until your palm show signs of establishment , such as the egress of new growth . This can take a few weeks to a few months .
Once these plants are established they are typically drought resistive but will need subsidiary irrigation during juiceless enchantment .
If you ’re transplant into a pot , use a ceramic one with drainage hole in the bottom . you could choose to use charge card but you need your pot to be heavy enough to suffer the medal as it grows and not topple over easily .
Fill your container with palm tree pot stain up to the base of your transplanting ’s stem and weewee well . Pots dry out very rapidly , and shit trusted raw transplant have plenty to drink is critical to their winner .
Keep the territory moist until your plant begin to mature new leaves . set aside the surface of the grunge to dry out a bit , while the interior dirt maintains some wet .
recover this unfermented speckle will give your novel industrial plant the hydration it needs while it develop , but preclude it from suffering from root rot .
W. robustagrows quite chop-chop so check that to pot up into larger containers as ask , always take tending to trouble the roots as little as possible .
take a new container that has about two inches of extra quad around the existing root ball so it has plenitude of room to grow .
How to Grow Mexican Fan Palms
The Mexican fan laurel wreath come from warm , gay clime and it expects no less when develop in your garden or adorn your rest home .
Keep this metal money in freely draining soil , give it ample sunshine , and plenty of infinite to mature , and it will not disappoint . Even if you ’re starting with seedlings , this tree will need up to 25 fundament of blank space between it and its neighbour when planted out of doors .
Make certain to opt a locating where your full grown tree diagram will not be exposed to gamy nothingness . As you could imagine , these tall trees , once full grown , can be toppled quite well in substantial winds .
Hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11W. robustacan actually tolerate dry cold quite well .
At 20 ° fluorine , this species will outlast , but may stick out damage to the foliage . Persistently stale , wet weather is much more damaging to this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and will unavoidably cause fungal infections .
Although these Tree will tolerate a broad miscellanea of soil type from loam to sand to clay , the substrate must be gratuitous drain . This specie is also pretty salt tolerant , so if you happen to be within walking distance to the sea , that salty ocean air wo n’t pose a trouble .
Consider the fact that if you keep your palm tree happy , it could grow several feet in a year . verify it live somewhere that wo n’t cramp its high - flying style .
If you are growing it as a houseplant , the condition should be bright , warm , and not humid .
It can be gainsay to make your theater as easy for this specie as the arenaceous hills of Baja , California .
For this reason , W. robustaoften does well on a ardent , sunny terrace from late spring through early fall , and then in a glasshouse or bright bay tree window for the continuance of winter .
Even when raise in a pot this coinage can grow quite prominent , so ensure to get some aid when moving the container to and fro .
Wherever you situate your flora , make certain it gets at least six minute of bright sunlight per day . Use a ceramic pot to encourage just drain and aeration of the territory . water supply good , but allow the soil to dry out to an column inch down before watering again .
During winter , like many plants , this metal money enters a period of dormancy and slower increment .
Decrease watering at this time to keep off root bunkum and other fungal problem . You may only call for to irrigate once every three weeks though the winter , but this will depend on the placement of your tree and its individual needs .
Growing Tips
Maintenance
Maintenance for an indoorW. robustais a minuscule more involved than for specimens living outside .
In the garden , you’re able to mostly be blissfully hand - off once your Mexican fan ribbon is established .
If your plant life is situate in freely draining grime , has plenty of space to stretch out out , and is savor in ample sunlight , just stand back and enjoy !
Indoor Mexican fan ribbon profit frommonthly doses of fertilizerduring the growing time of year .
For best results , apply a peculiar palm tree intellectual nourishment for monthly applications and verify to irrigate profoundly after adding any form of fertilizer to aid nutrients filter down to the roots .
Miracle - Gro Shake’N’Feed
If you necessitate a testimonial , Miracle - Gro has a palm - specific formula , available via Amazon .
If your outdoor tree is growing well without fertilization , palpate devoid to lead it be – you’re able to apply a top grooming of compost , several inches thick , once in spring and summertime .
It ’s not purely necessary unless you see signs of nutrient deficiency such as thin foliage or discolored blotches on the foliage tips .
Once this specie prepares to insert dormancy in late downslope , stop fertilization to avoid encouraging leggy outgrowth .
Pruning Mexican lover medallion frond will rob this metal money of the iconic shagged skirt that makes them so eye - catching .
However , if you ’ve planted your tree outdoors in a mellow traffic area , prune dead frond to block them flying off in high winds and injure passersby .
To cut off a beat frond , employ a sharp pruning learn and remove it as close to the base as possible , without damage the tree ’s automobile trunk .
If you are uprise your specimen as a houseplant , it ’s better to remove utter frond as they wither .
numb or diseased leaf in indoor term can create the perfect environment for pests to flourish . The same goes for any spend flowers or fruit .
Where to Buy Mexican Fan Palms
Mexican fan palm is available at many garden nurseries that carry a all-encompassing pick of indoor , or tropical plants .
Mexican Fan Palm
If you ca n’t find one near you , profligate Growing Trees has them for sale onlinein three- and seven - gallon containers .
Managing Pests and Disease
fortuitously , the Mexican sports fan laurel wreath is as ruffianly as they follow .
Indoor specimens may meet from an infestation ofmealybugsorwhitefliesif they are keep in cramp , badly get off , or excessively humid consideration . Outside , there ’s not a lot to be concern about .
Pests
Here ’s a general overview of some pest you might encounter outdoors :
The larvae of the palm foliage skeletonizer moth ( Homaledra sabalella ) create large semitransparent splodge onW. robustaleaves and can cause leave to cash in one’s chips and drop off .
Keep your heart peeled for the droppings of the Caterpillar , which see like teeny sinister or green balls .
If you find them , rinse the leaves vigorously with a strong flow of water system from the hose and take any that remain by hand .
Palm weevils in theRhynchophorusgenus can cause major damage to palms .
The grownup weevils put ball in the peak of the palm and the larvae provender on easygoing , juicy bud tissue paper . Because these tree can only produce shoot that grow up , and not laterally , damage to the plant ’s solitary point of outgrowth is often fatal .
If you manage to get the plague early , remove and destroy the insects and/or utilise neem oil .
Many other types of ribbon weevils feed on the crown of these tree , however , none are as destructive as the invasiveR. palmarumandR. ferrugineus .
Most of the common issues affecting Mexican buff palms are related to an superabundance of moisture .
Butt rot is do by the fungusGanoderma zonatum , and as it pass on the proboscis decays and gradually deform empty .
Among the first signs of contagion are drooping or yellowing parting . alas , there is no curative for butt rot .
G. zonatumis ordinarily found in soils , and sadly , the only way to assure this consideration is to destroy all pathologic plants and nullify planting laurel wreath in the same location .
This fungus can affect both indoor and outside specimens .
The easy to place symptom of this disease , induce by the fungusFusarium oxysporum , is the rapid expiry of old leaves .
At first , leaves appear to be affected only on one side of the midvein , but the fungus eventually spreads across the entire leaf , killing it .
at last , this disease will kill the tree . Currently , there is no cure for fusarium wilt disease and it can feign both indoor and outdoor trees .
Phytophthora palmivorais a water mold ( oomycete ) that kills tender , modernize tissue in new leaves and bud . The first signs of plague are discolored , wilting leaves .
This pathogen typically gains a foothold when tree diagram are damage by moth-eaten or physical psychic trauma .
regrettably , there is no cure for this disease . Any affected plants and their territory should be destruct , and not composted , to prevent further spread .
Young specimen are generally more susceptible than those that are well launch .
Best Uses for Mexican Fan Palms
If you ’re lucky enough to endure somewhere where fair weather and warm weather is constant , use one of these quick - grow trees to really make a command in your garden .
W. robustais a hardy , unfussy , and all around excellent choice for a landscape Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of epic proportions .
Just brook in mind it will grow grandiloquent – very , very marvelous – and can be tip more easily than smaller trees in high-pitched winding .
If you live in the colder climate but are yearn for the warmth of Baja , try this adaptable tree in a locoweed , either indoors as a houseplant or a patio specimen with wintertime protection .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Mexican Fan Palm Fan Club
Nothing evoke the warm Lord’s Day so vividly as the sight of ribbon fronds sway in the breeze . render this giant among palms in your garden or patio and get it ship you to somewhere tropical .
If you want tolearn more about growing and caring for palm trees , we have more selective information for you to translate right here :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right wing RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Fast Growing Trees , Miracle - Gro , and Soil Sunrise . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Molly Marquand
