The Feathery coconut it is, probably, one of the palm trees that gives the garden the greatest touch of exoticism. Its beautiful feathery leaves flutter in the wind, just as those of coconut trees do on tropical beaches but, unlike this one, our protagonist endures several degrees below zero.
So now you know, if you want to have a green paradise without having to go live in the Caribbean, plant some specimens and you will see how it changes.
Origin and characteristics of the feathery coconut
Image – Flickr / mauro halpern
Botanists know our protagonist by the scientific name of Syagrus romanzoffiana. It belongs to the Arecaceae family (formerly Palmaceae), and is native to Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguay. It is popularly known as the feathery coconut, pineapple palm, or arecastrum. Its leaves are pinnate, with a length that can be up to 4m. It has a smooth trunk, with a thickness that, generally, does not exceed 30cm; although specimens have been seen whose trunks measured 50cm in diameter at their base. It grows up to 10 meters in height.
It is a dioecious species, which means that there are feet that are male and others that are female. The flowers are grouped in inflorescences, under the crown of leaves, and are yellow or white. The fruit is a drupe about 2cm in diameter, which contains a brown seed.
How do you take care of yourself?
The Syagrus romanzoffiana It is a kind of palm tree perfect to have in temperate climates thanks to its rusticity and beauty. In fact, it is common to find it in streets, avenues and parks. The care you need are the following:
Location
This palm tree is not demanding when it comes to cultivation. The only thing we have to keep in mind is that it should be located in an area where direct sunlight reaches itsince otherwise its leaves would have to grow more than normal to be able to capture more light.
In addition, it is highly recommended that it be planted in the garden from a young age. It grows at a good rate, and due to the size that it reaches as an adult, it is better to keep it in the ground from an early age so that it can develop correctly.
Irrigation and fertilizer
Irrigation has to be frequentabout twice a week during the summer season, and once a week the rest of the year. The water to use must be rainwater, or failing that, one with a pH between 6 and 7, since if it is watered with a very rich in lime, its leaves turn yellow due to the lack of iron.
Likewise, it is highly recommended to fertilize using a specific fertilizer for palm trees during the entire vegetative period (spring and summer), or with guano or humus.
Planting or transplanting time
The springAs soon as the risk of frost is left behind, and shortly before or after the palm tree resumes its growth (something it will do when there is 18ºC or more of minimum temperature) you can plant it in the garden or change it pot.
Said container must be about 7-10cm wider and deeper than the previous one, and it must also have holes in its base.
Multiplication
Image – Wikimedia / mauroguanandi
If what you want is to see it germinate and develop, get a few seeds in spring or summerremove the shell that surrounds them (the one you can see in the image above), put them in a glass with water for about 24 hours, and sow them the next day in a seedbed with equal parts peat and perlite. In just 1 month the first ones will wake up.
Related article:
Palm tree reproduction: seeds
Pruning
It is not advisable to prune itas it would lose its natural charm. In case you want to do it, you should only cut the leaves that are already completely dry, at the end of winter.
Plagues and diseases
It is a very resistant palm. However, if you live in an area or region where there is weevil I peasantryIt is highly recommended to carry out preventive treatments, for example with Chlorpyrifos and Imidacloprid, to keep it protected from these pests during spring, summer and even autumn if the weather is warm.
Related article:
Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)
Rusticity
By the way, if you live in an area where winter is very harsh (down to -7ºC), you are in luck. The Feathery Coco will withstand them without problems. As for heat, it can withstand temperatures of 40ºC well, as long as you have water at your disposal.
Most frequent problems of the pindó palm tree
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Mauro Halpern
To finish, tell you that there are a number of problems that tend to happen quite frequently when growing. Let’s see what they are and how to treat them:
Feathery coconut with yellow leaves
If your palm tree has yellow leaves, it may be for any of these reasons:
- Lack of minerals: if the soil is clayey and / or is watered with a water whose pH is higher than 7, the leaves will start to turn yellow from the end inwards. To correct it, you must add iron and manganese, or fertilize with a fertilizer for acidic plants that has microelements.
- Lack of water: the leaves will dry, starting with the tips. In these cases you have to water more, and ensure that when you water, the whole earth is moistened well.
- Excess of water: when it has been watered excessively, or if there has been, for example, a flood and it is difficult for the earth to absorb and drain the water, the palm tree will stop producing new leaves. Also, older leaves will tend to yellow, and the leaflets or pinnae may fold. The only thing that can be done is to suspend the watering and treat with a fungicide, since the fungi could not take long to damage the roots.
Feathery coconut does not grow
When a palm tree does not grow, one of these circumstances may occur:
- Has been in the same pot for a long time: the transplant must be carried out every 2-3 years, and always to a larger pot; otherwise it will not grow. Likewise, the substrate to be used must be rich in organic matter and with good drainage. For example, a good mix would be 60% peat or mulch + 30% perlite + 10% worm castings.
- It has been planted in the grass: the grass wants a lot of water, much more than the feathery coconut. If it is also watered with alkaline water, the palm tree will stop its growth, and also, it could start to have yellow leaves.
- The soil is clayey and / or very compact: the most beautiful feathery coconuts are those that grow in soils with a slightly acidic pH, light, and with an excellent water absorption capacity. For this reason, in many parts of Spain, such as in the Mediterranean region, these plants need to be fertilized with fertilizers rich in microelements in order to preserve their green leaves, since when growing in clay soils, they cannot get those nutrients that we said. before (iron, manganese) otherwise.
Image – Flickr / Salome Bielsa
Do you dare to cultivate your own Syagrus romanzoffiana?
