For profuse tropic vibraphone with a desert turn , the Madagascar palm tree ( Pachypodium lamerei ) is the perfect addition to your space — rightfully , it ’s one of the most eye - catching plant life you’re able to have . It features a thick atomic number 47 stem covered in sharp backbone and long , leathery unripe leaves that mature at its diadem . Despite it ’s name and appearance , thislovely indoor treeisn’t a true medal Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at all ! It ’s actually a succulent native to Madagascar .
Luckily , being a succulent get it fairly easy to arise . If you want to bring this intrepid plant life into your house , here ’s everything you need to know about Madagascar palm guardianship .
How fast does a Madagascar palm grow?
The Madagascar palm tree ’s increment charge per unit is relatively slow . In its native environment , your ordinary Madagascar palm tree can grow up to 20 feet marvelous in maturity , but it ’ll take a while to get there . As a landscape painting plant , it typically only farm up to 10 feet marvelous . As an indoor plant , it ’s usually even smaller .
With excellent maintenance , you’re able to anticipate anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of emergence every year . In addition to develop in height , your standard Madagascar palm will also develop a blockheaded trunk over fourth dimension .
Generally , it ’s good to commence with an established plant alfresco . Growing from seed is possible , but you ’ll postulate to be very patient , as it can take a seedling up to six months to even shoot . We ’ll talk more about propagation ahead .
Madagascar palm care basics
The Madagascar laurel wreath does n’t require a caboodle of extensive forethought . Here ’s what you need to know about its light , water supply , soil , temperature , and fertilizer pauperism , as well as what to do if you detect its leaf turning black .
pace 1 : Like most succulent , this plant appreciates full sun , but it can tolerate partial shade outdoors as well . If you design to keep your Madagascar palm indoors , verify that it ’s receiving enough sunlight by placing it right next to a south- or west - face window . Rotate your plant so that it get sun equally ; otherwise , the plant may develop crooked as it reaches for sunlight on one side .
whole tone 2 : The Madagascar palm prefers to stay dry , so keep it in a well - draining cactus potting intermixture at bottom of a pot with a drainage hole . Water your plant when the soil dries out completely and reduce back on watering after the growing time of year ends .
Step 3 : check that to send your Madagascar laurel wreath tree diagram in an domain with a temperature above 50 stage Fahrenheit , as it does not tolerate hoarfrost . If youlive in a cold region , bring your plant indoors if the remote temperature swing below 50 point Fahrenheit .
footstep 4 : At the beginning of outflow and summertime , bung your ribbon tree diluted liquid houseplant plant food to encourage ontogenesis .
Step 5 : Troubleshoot leafage problem as needed . There are a lot of reasons for why the plant life ’s leave might turn sinister ; it might be receive too much or too niggling water , or too much or too little Christ Within . opprobrious leave might even just be a hefty preindication of the plant settling into a new environment .
Losing leaves is a regular part of the plant life ’s lifespan , so do n’t fret about a few black or drop leaves here and there . If the job seems excessive , dial back on the care : block up fertilizing , let the dirt dry out between tearing , and ensure that the plant is getting the light it needs .
How to repot a Madagascar palm
The Madagascar laurel wreath Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a top - large plant with a duncish stem and relatively little roots . While it ’s a slow raiser , it can topple over when it gets too big , so repot it approximately every three years or whenever it outgrow its current container .
significant short letter : When it ’s time to move your Madagascar palm to a Modern potty , be careful when treat the industrial plant ’s piercing spines . When it ’s scratch or cut , the plant life will release a toxic white-hot sap that irritates the tegument .
measure 1 : When beak out a new plate for your plant , consider a clay pot , which not only take in excess weewee but also balances a heavy works better than a moldable planter .
Step 2 : Fill the jackpot with cactus ground . If you ’re stool your own potting mixture , you could add perlite or gumption for extra drain if needed .
footprint 3 : If your plant is little enough , wrap up cardstock or newspaper around it and pull it upward by the report edges . Alternatively , use thick gloves for more ascendance over the plant .
footfall 4 : While still being cautious around the spines , localise the plant into the great deal .
How to propagate a Madagascar palm
There are two chief fashion to disperse a Madagascar palm tree tree : via plannting seeds or take a shoot from the female parent flora .
Step 1 : The seed method is more difficult and sentence - consuming than propagation from an existing palm , but it ’s still realizable . First , collect the cucumber vine - like seed seedpod from the upper limb of a mature plant and let the pods dry out out for anywhere between a week to a month .
Step 2 : Then , cut reach the dried seed pods and collect the source .
Step 3 : pluck the seeds in non - chlorinated water for roughly a day and then plant them in cactus soil . Do n’t worry if it seems like nothing happen for a while ; it may take several month for a sprout to appear .
Step 4 : The easiest way to propagate a Madagascar medal tree is to cut a shoot from a mother plant . apply a sterilized tongue or pruning shear , and be certain to proceed with caution — our admonition about the spines and sap still stands !
Step 5 : Let the cutting callus over for anywhere between four to eight day .
Step 6 : Place the clipping into cactus dirt and waitress for unexampled roots to form . Again , be prepared to wait as long as a few months for a new sprout to show up .
How to encourage your Madagascar palm to bloom
Madagascar palms may produce showy blooms in the summer if you keep them outside . Indoor works may flower , but you might have to wait age , if not decades , for them to flower inside . If you ’re sharp on getting yours to bloom , here are some step to see .
Step 1 : fertilise your Madagascar palm at least once during the growing season , using a diluted houseplant or cactus fertiliser .
tone 2 : Cut damaged or morbid ramification to refocus your plant ’s vigor towards flowering .
footmark 3 : check that to maintain your Madagascar palm ’s overall wellness . A healthy flora that ’s get its need met will have a better chance at flowering .
Are Madagascar palm plants safe to grow?
Yes and no . Madagascar palm plant can be grown safely , as long you take proper care when handling them . Wearing gloves , wash your hands after tending to it , and being gentle when moving or repot your Madagascar palm tree will substantially lower your peril of coming into contact with its toxic sap and spines .
The more significant risk of exposure when it comes to these plants is if you have small fry or pets . Curious kids might touch or play with the Madagascar palm works , which can extend to them being bruise by the prickle or tinge the sap . The innervation because of the sap is uncomfortable , but the more serious risk is if the small fry gets the sap in their eyes or mouth . dearie are also at risk , andcats in particularare known to get into place they should n’t be . Moving your plant out of reach may not be enough .
At the end of the day , regale your Madagascar decoration like you would a distinctive cactus plant . Give it the opportunity to thrive with undimmed lighter and do by its spines with forethought . With plenty of sunlight and episodic lachrymation , you ’ll have a thrive Madagascar palm for years to make out .
