Karyota

Today we will tell you about an amazing indoor palm called Cariota. She has a very original structure of leaf plates, and the crown is lush, spectacular and quite thick. That is why the Cariot palm differs among other representatives of this family, and this beauty has a huge variety of subspecies and varieties, and in the room it always looks spectacular. Despite such an exotic form, this culture is not so difficult to grow, however, you still have to follow certain agrotechnical rules, for this plant you will need to provide a comfortable living environment, you should pay special attention to air humidity. For the rest, the Kariota palm is considered not a particularly whimsical plant, it is worth noting that over time it will be necessary to take care of the plant less and less intensively, the main thing is to provide optimal conditions for growth and development in the first years of this indoor flower. In today's article, we will tell you about the methods of propagation of a palm tree, the possible problems that you will have to face in the process of growing this crop, as well as the rules for caring for the plant. We hope the information provided will be interesting and useful to you.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

Palm Cariota: description of the variety

Cariota is considered more than an unusual plant, the leaf plates of this palm are special, spectacular, the shape of the crown of the palm is asymmetric, which is not typical for other representatives of this family. That is why this plant will definitely decorate your apartment. Palm Cariota has a bizarre leaf shape, in its natural habitat it grows in tropical rainforests, which is why special attention should be paid to air humidity. However, her crown is more than amazing, despite the characteristic features of the variety, the palm is considered unpretentious and quite hardy, so you will not have big problems in the process of growing this crop. Cariota is considered an evergreen plant, in their natural habitat they reach a height of several meters, however, trees adapted for growing in apartments are not very large, they usually grow no more than 2 m in height. These bushy palms have many trunks, so mature trees look more like thickets, however, sometimes the plants form only one trunk. The foliage of the palm tree is large, feathery, precisely because of the attractive shape of the leaf plates, the caryote is very fond of flower growers. The leaves have a different shape, so they do not have any placenta lobes, wide feathers are asymmetric, the wedges are oblique, the foliage looks as if the top of each was cut off, it is due to this originality that the palm tree has a wonderful appearance. The serration along the edges of the leaves is uneven, light, and the petioles are rather long. The foliage is in the form of irregular triangles, and the edges are usually torn. Unfortunately, this culture does not bloom at home, and even in specially equipped botanical gardens, this palm does not throw out peduncles. In its natural habitat, this plant blooms at an already very respectable age, and the palm tree blooms for only a few years, but every year.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

The humid tropics are suitable for growing the Cariota palm; it is in these conditions that very beautiful inflorescences are formed in these trees. They have a branched shape, rather large, the twigs droop to the bottom, so very often the inflorescences resemble horse tails.It should be said that the palm tree blooms in stages, inflorescences are formed from top to bottom, flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves, starting from the top, gradually dropping to the base of the tree. Interestingly, the difference in flowering is so great that when the flowers bloom below, the fruits at the top of the palms begin to ripen. However, shoots die off after fruiting is complete. That is why if the tree has a single trunk, then the plant dies entirely, but if the crown of the karyote is formed in the form of a bush, then the basal processes resume the growth of the palm tree in the future, so the plant does not die completely. The inside of the fruit has sharp crystals that often damage the skin. Cariota is considered a bushy palm, so do not confuse it with other species, however, the variety of varieties in palm trees is really amazing. But these trees very often cross spontaneously to form different species, so it is very difficult to isolate pure varieties of plants in their natural habitat. However, analyzing certain similarities, breeders currently identify more than 10 species of various palms.

Of course, the plants still differ from each other, but they are similar in many varietal characteristics. Not all types of Cariot grow at home. Currently, there are two main varieties.

• The first one is Delicate cariota... These plants form many trunks; in their natural habitat, trees grow to a height of almost 10 m, but at home they are no more than one and a half meters. However, the crown of this palm tree grows intensively in breadth. It is easy to propagate this tree by dividing the bush. The foliage of these palms is rather large, wedge-shaped, and the lobes are asymmetric, denticles are noticeable along the edges, the leaves are half dissected, and a non-pointed tip is formed at the tips of the leaves. Each triangular leaf has very interesting edges. The foliage is usually wider than the length, the shoots reach 50 cm, the inflorescences are also voluminous, the fruits are red in color, and are usually small in size.
• The second type of karyote is Wine palm... It usually has one trunk, the leaves have an asymmetric triangular shape, their tops are dissected, and the leaves are narrow, pointed. The inflorescences hang down, in their natural habitat they can even reach several meters. But the fruits of this palm are the same, red, but much larger than those of the previous variety.

Palm Cariota: home care

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

It is not difficult to take care of the Kariote palm tree, but you still need to adhere to certain agrotechnical rules. The crown of this palm tree is quite bushy, the shoots are densely located around the trunk. The foliage of the palm is original, in its shape it resembles a fish tail. That is why sometimes this palm is called fish. In their natural environment, these plants develop more than intensively. However, it is easy to grow this palm tree at home. This culture is considered to be quite hardy and unpretentious, and Kariota feels well in an apartment in warm winter, so if you sometimes neglect the rules of care, then this culture is able to endure many adverse events. However, you should remember that these plants are very sensitive to the level of humidity in the air, as well as to the filling of the substrate in which the plant grows. Otherwise, it will not be difficult to grow this palm tree, even if you consider yourself a novice gardener or florist. You can also easily propagate a plant using vegetative methods, usually cuttings and cuttings have a high survival rate, so by planting one plant, in a few years you will be able to grow a real greenhouse. It is believed that this palm is a light-loving crop, however, direct sunlight should not fall on the foliage.Otherwise, your karyote may get burned, and this will not have a favorable effect on the growth of shoots.

It is best to choose a place for the Kariote pot where the diffused light is focused. It is especially important to remember this in summer, since it is during this period that the sun's rays behave most aggressively. If you plan to send the Cariota palm to the southern window, then do not put the Cariota on the windowsill, it is better to darken it a little, you can even use a specially created screen for this. However, it is best to grow this palm near the east and west windows. The plant will be more comfortable there. And it should also be remembered that overheating of the roots adversely affects the growth and development of this culture, so if you put the pot on the floor, make sure that the palm is not too hot. It is best to put this beauty on a low stand. But make sure that in this case the plant is not too dark, in such conditions the growth of the palm tree slows down, and over time it loses its decorative appearance and attractiveness.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

If we talk about the temperature regime, then we immediately note that the Cariot palm tree will be comfortable both in the cool and in rather hot conditions. If a person is warm in the room, then the palm tree will feel normal in this temperature regime. However, the air temperature below 18 degrees has a bad effect on the development of plants, if it is too cold in your apartment in winter or autumn, then the tree may die, but in these conditions the person is not comfortable enough either. Therefore, treat the palm tree as a living organism, if you feel warm, then your houseplant will be equally good, and if not, turn on the heater. If we talk about numbers, then it is best to grow this palm tree at a temperature of + 20-25 degrees, but remember, in the heat the air becomes drier, and this has a bad effect on plant growth, and as you remember, the humid tropics are considered the natural habitat of the palm tree, and This means that fresh and moist air is a must for cariotes. Do not place pots with this indoor flower and where the air temperature has sharp drops, this culture does not like drafts. The temperature of the air and lighting must always be stable. However, you are unlikely to constantly move the palm tree around the apartment, since the size of this plant is impressive. Therefore, most likely, a karyote will stand for decades in the same place. It is not recommended to take the palm tree out to the terraces, balconies and verandas, where the foliage of the plant can suffer from the invasion of any pests, and the drafts that walk on the street adversely affect the plant.

Moistening the soil is also fairly easy. The substrate should be slightly damp at all times. Therefore, the soil should neither dry out nor become waterlogged. Otherwise, the decorativeness of the palm will be lost. Watering the Kariote plant in the spring-summer period is quite active. But only the top layer of the soil should be dry, the lower part of the substrate should always be wet. But in autumn and winter, palm trees are watered more restrainedly, moistening the soil is not so intense. In order to prevent moisture from accumulating in the pot, drain the water from the trays as necessary, if you don’t do this, the karyote may die, because the root system often rots from an excess of moisture. Perhaps the most important thing to take care of is the humidity in the air. As you remember, this palm tree is very fond of a humid environment, so you will definitely need to humidify the air in the room, but you should not use special devices for this. And you can easily limit yourself to regular watering of the crop, as well as daily spraying. Do not forget to remove dust from the sheet plates in a timely manner by wiping them with a damp sponge or cotton rag.Watering and spraying plants is recommended with soft, settled water, its temperature is also important, it should be within plus 20-25 degrees.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

The Karioto palm is usually fed in spring and summer. These procedures are recommended to be carried out no more than three times a month. However, you should not apply fertilizers intended for other crops into the soil. For Cariota, it is best to prepare special complex fertilizers that are intended for palms. It is in such dressings that the balance of nutrients and microelements is optimally observed. Cariote needs calcium, copper, nitrogen, as well as other elements, so if the plant lacks any substance, this may well lead to serious disruptions in the growth and development of the tree. That is why it is better to use special feeding, which will contain all the necessary nutrients. But in the autumn-winter period, palm trees are not fed at all, fertilizers with a long-term effect are also not suitable for this culture, and foliar fertilization should not be used either. But the substrate can be universal, intended for indoor plants. This culture is also not demanding for the type of soil, but remember, the soil must be air and permeable, well structured.

You can easily buy a ready-made substrate for growing a Cariote palm tree, as well as prepare the necessary soil mixture yourself, for this, sand, humus, compost are added to the universal soil. Everything is thoroughly mixed and sent to the pot. Decide in advance on the size of the pot, as you remember, the palm tree has a well-developed root system, so it is so important to choose the right container for planting. The height of the container must necessarily exceed its width, because the karyote intensively grows in breadth. The stem roots lie deep in this culture, so the pot should be voluminous. If the plant has become cramped, then it will need to be transplanted, and the new container must necessarily be about 5 cm larger than the previous one. But it is not worth replanting plants without the need. This is usually done no more than once every few years. Mature trees are transplanted even less frequently. Usually once every four years. The earthen lump will need to be preserved during the transplantation process; the plant is transplanted by the transshipment method. At the same time, do not damage the root system, if the rhizome of the palm tree is severely injured, then the karyote may die altogether. And remember to put good drainage in the bottom of the container in the process. Plants often die from an excess of moisture, remember this.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

Pests and diseases

The immunity of the Cariota palm is average, so the plant will need to be protected from diseases and pests. If the rules of care are violated, then signs of illness may appear on the palm tree. Foliage and shoots are often affected by pests. A spider mite, scale insect sometimes settles on a palm tree. Late blight and fusarium are considered dangerous for Cariota. The plant will need to be protected in various ways, including by adjusting the growing conditions, agrotechnical methods of care. Often the foliage of the plant is washed with soapy water, do not neglect biological preparations. If any parts of the palm tree are badly damaged, then it is better to remove them. Plants are sprayed with both conventional means and with fungicides and insecticides. But with proper care, cariota rarely gets sick.

Problems in growing Cariotes

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

Of course, every florist has repeatedly faced various problems in growing a particular crop, and the process of growing a palm tree is no exception. If the foliage has lost its decorative effect, then this most often indicates an excess or lack of any trace elements.If necrotic spots began to appear on the leaves, this indicates a lack of zinc, if necrotic stripes began to form on small leaves, this indicates a deficiency of such an element as manganese. If the foliage began to curl, dry out, and translucent pink spots began to appear on the tips of the shoots, then most likely your plants do not have enough potassium. But if the foliage has become too pale, then it is recommended to add a little nitrogen to the soil. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow from a lack of moisture in the soil, and darken, on the contrary, from an excess of water in the soil. If light yellow, brown spots appeared on the foliage, and the leaf blades began to curl, then this indicates an overabundance of light in the room. Chlorosis often develops when the plant lacks nutrients, but if there is poor ventilation and low air temperature in your room, then the lower leaves often begin to turn white, but drafts also adversely affect the development of plants. When the tips of the leaves begin to dry out, this indicates a lack of nutrients, moisture, so you will need to adjust the watering regime, as well as observe the air humidity. As you understand, the Kariota plant itself suggests what exactly it lacks, so carry out prevention as often as possible.

Reproduction of the Cariote palm at home

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

As you remember, we promised to tell you how to propagate this culture correctly. Unlike many other types of palms, the karyote can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by any vegetative method. However, the latter method is used only for propagation of bush varieties, therefore, you will not be able to propagate single-barreled Cariotes using this method. The hardest part is to separate mature plants. Often palms grow together very strongly, so this method is considered the most difficult. In addition, after such reproduction, the tree may die, so keep this in mind, the risk of an unfavorable outcome is great. The easiest way to share this culture is during transplantation, but at the same time you will need to be very careful about the rhizome, do not harm it, after transplanting, provide optimal care, the air humidity during this period should be high, this will help the palm tree adapt to new conditions. The easiest way to propagate this plant is by cuttings. This method is loved by many flower growers, but the offspring will need to be rooted just as carefully. The shoots are separated from the main bush only in adulthood, so as not to damage the root system of the mother plant. It is recommended to root the cuttings in the sand, while the air temperature in the room should be approximately + 22-25 degrees. Remember to spray the scions frequently and protect them from the sun. Direct sunlight adversely affects rooting.

Palm Cariota: photo of a plant

After the foliage appears on the offspring, you can transplant the karyote into a pot; in the future, you will need to care for the plant in the usual way. But planting seeds is not very effective. And all this is due to the fact that they germinate for a very long time, and the germination rate of this planting material is low. Therefore, such reproduction is not always successful. The seeds are best disinfected before planting, they are planted in spring, the soil in the container must be light, well-structured. Before planting, the seeds are recommended to be soaked in a growth stimulator, this slightly increases the percentage of germination. They are buried in the ground to a depth of 1.5 cm. The containers for planting should be large, but not high. And the air temperature under the film should also be high. Remember to air the containers daily, initially the seeds are germinated in the dark. When the first shoots appear, the pots are rearranged on the windowsill.However, direct sunlight should not fall on the seedlings, the light should be diffused. When one healthy leaf appears on each plant, the seedlings can be dived into separate containers, but this will need to be done very carefully. Do not damage fragile stems during transplanting. It is not difficult to take care of this fish palm as a whole, however, certain rules must be observed.

Pay special attention to the Kariote irrigation regime, air humidity. Do not forget that the humid tropics are considered the birthplace of this culture, so the climate of your apartment should be close to natural conditions, and then this palm tree will delight you with its exotic foliage for a long time.

Palma Cariota: video