Date palms are considered robust and easy to care for. However, you should keep a few points in mind when caring for a date palm. Only if you care for this type of palm tree properly will it delight you with good growth. Date Palm Care Tips.
How do you properly care for a date palm?
When caring for a date palm, you should water regularly without causing waterlogging, increase the humidity, fertilize every 14 days, repot if necessary and keep it cool and bright in winter. Brown leaves can be removed.
How do you water a date palm properly?
Date palms should never dry out completely. But they don't like waterlogging either, at least not for several days. Water the palm regularly and thoroughly during the growing season. Watering is always recommended when the surface of the substrate has dried out to a depth of several centimeters.
Too low humidity causes problems for the date palm. Spray the leaves regularly with soft water - even in winter.
Rainwater is best. If necessary, you can use stale tap water that has as little lime as possible. However, very hard water is harmful.
When and how is fertilization done?
Fertilize the date palm at 14-day intervals with liquid fertilizer for houseplants (€14.00 on Amazon).
Do date palms need to be repotted?
As soon as the pot or bucket has become too small, you have to repot the date palm. This is always the case when the plant grows beyond the edge of the pot.
The best time for repotting is early spring. The taproots must not be damaged.
Can you transplant a date palm in the garden?
It's better to avoid transplanting in the garden. The palm tree forms long plant roots that are difficult to get out of the ground without damaging them.
Are date palms pruned?
A date palm is not cut. If necessary, cut off any brown leaves.
What diseases and pests can occur?
Diseases are very rare because date palms are very robust. If the plant is too wet for a long time, root rot can develop.
Pests particularly affect palm trees in locations with very low humidity. Some of the more common pests include:
- Spider mites
- Scale insects
- Thrips
Treat a pest infestation as soon as possible. It often helps to rinse the date palm with a shower. Increase the humidity by misting the palm tree regularly.
Why does the date palm get brown leaves?
Various causes are possible. Maybe you watered too much, causing waterlogging. Sometimes it is also due to the humidity being too low.
How do date palms overwinter properly?
Date palms can tolerate frost down to -6 degrees. However, it is better to overwinter potted plants indoors. A place that is as bright as possible and with temperatures up to a maximum of 12 degrees is suitable.
In winter, the date palm is watered less frequently, so the root ball is just barely moist. There is no fertilization between October and the beginning of March.
Tip
Date palms can be grown from seeds. However, this takes some time. It can take up to three years for the first fronds to develop.