Pandanus (Pandanus) is a very effective plant of the Pandanaceae family. Its bright crown consists of many long, spiky leaves. They are arranged helically with respect to the central axis, which is why flower growers also call the flower "spiral palm." The homeland of Pandanus are the African tropics, the island of Madagascar and the forests of Polynesia. In our country, pandanus is grown as a houseplant. For ease of care, pandanus can be recommended to novice flower lovers.
Botanical Description
Pandanus is an evergreen perennial, in the natural environment it can reach more than 13 m in height. A houseplant rarely exceeds 3 meters in height. Thick, dense roots go deep into the ground. It is noteworthy that the flower has not only underground, but also an air rhizome.
Above the surface of the earth is a smooth short trunk, covered with a light brown bark. It is almost completely hidden under sessile leaves. The top is decorated with a spreading crown of many belt-shaped leaves. They grow along the stem in a spiral. Leaflets at the base fit snugly against each other. The leaf has a pronounced central vein and bright green color. The length of the plate is 60-120 cm, and the width is 3-8 cm. Short but very sharp spines are located on the sides of the sheet, as well as below the central vein. They grow at an angle toward the edge of the leaf.
In the natural environment, a spiral pandanus palm tree produces flowers annually. On one tree you can find male inflorescences in the form of an ear and female conical-like flowers. As a result of pollination, large edible fruits are formed, similar to a rounded pineapple. They have a pleasant sweetish taste and contain medium-sized seeds. Alas, it is almost impossible to achieve flowering indoor pandanus.
Types of Pandanus
The genus of pandanus has 600 species of plants, but most of them can exist only in the natural environment. Among indoor copies, the following are most popular:
Pandanus Veitch. This evergreen has a short tree trunk. Down from it, as if stilted, lignified roots descend. Indoor plants grow slowly, after a decade in height they are no more than 1.5 m. The xiphoid foliage fits snugly at the base and diverges in the form of a fan. The length of the leaf plate is 60-90 cm with a width of 5-8 cm. There is a contrasting white stripe on the bright green foliage on the sides. The edges of the foliage are dotted with light brown spikes.
Pandanus is helpful. A houseplant is a sprawling tree up to 3 m high. The old trunk can branch. The top of the stem is crowned with a spiral crown of drooping leaves. The leaf length is 100-130 cm, and the width is 5-10 cm. Dark green foliage has serrated edges and keel.
Pandanus Sandera. Rigid belt-shaped leaves are 80 cm long and 5 cm wide. Narrow yellow stripes and brownish spikes are located along the edges of the dark green leaf.
Pandanus hiding. The dense shrub up to 4 m high has a branched stem. Its base is elevated due to aerial roots. The crown has a pyramidal shape and consists of hard straight leaves of a uniform color.
In addition to the main species, there are several decorative varieties, which allows you to choose a pandanus with the most interesting appearance.
Palm tree at home
Some gardeners are wary of starting pandanus at home. The reason for this is unjustified superstition. They say that with his thorns he attracts negative energy. However, even worshipers of spiritual practices do not confirm this version.
At home, the plant is used as a forage crop, as well as for weaving baskets. By chewing a leaf of pandanus, locals get rid of toothache. Sharp thorns are the only reason for concern, therefore it is not recommended to place a palm tree in an accessible place for children.
Breeding
Pandanus flower can propagate by seed and vegetative methods. Seed propagation is possible only in the wild, as seeds are planted with part of the pulp immediately after ripening.
At home, a new plant can be obtained from the lateral processes (children) or by dividing the bush. At the base of the stem between the aerial roots, young shoots appear almost all the time. They have their own roots and a leaf outlet. When the process reaches a height of 18-20 cm, it is carefully separated with a sharp knife. Rooted seedlings in moist sand and peat soil. After 1-2 weeks, the plant adapts and begins to grow.
Some species of pandanus do not let children out, so they are propagated by dividing the bush. It is necessary to cut off a part of the leaf outlet with aerial roots. The place of cut is sprinkled with crushed charcoal and dried in air during the day. Rooted cuttings in sandy peat soil with the addition of sphagnum moss. Seedlings should be covered and placed in a well-lit room with an air temperature of + 24 ... + 28 ° C. Every day the greenhouse is ventilated and moistened. Rooting ends in 4-7 weeks.
Plant care
The rules for caring for pandanus at home are simple. Even if the content is far from ideal, the plant looks good and grows in size. However, it will not differ in special beauty and large leaves. To achieve a spreading crown, you should follow a few simple rules.
Pandanus needs a long daylight and bright lighting, it can easily tolerate direct sunlight. The ideal place would be the eastern or western windowsills. With a lack of light, the leaves lose their elasticity and begin to droop more, in variegated forms, a bright color disappears. In winter, with a short daylight, bright backlight should be used for 6-8 hours.
The optimum temperature for an adult plant is + 22 ... + 25 ° C. Cooling below + 15 ° C is fatal to him. For the summer, it is advisable to take the pandanus flower to fresh air, however, protection from strong gusts of wind and cold air will be required. Palm tree does not need an artificial decrease in temperature in the winter.
Pandan is undemanding to air humidity. It responds well to rubbing leaflets from dust and periodic spraying. Care for the palm tree should be careful so as not to get injured on sharp spikes. When spraying or bathing, you need to make sure that moisture does not linger in the axils of the leaves, otherwise rot will develop.
Pandanus needs abundant and frequent watering, however, between the irrigations, the soil should dry by half. Water for irrigation is taken purified and slightly acidified. Its temperature should be in the range + 25 ... + 30 ° C. With cooling, watering is reduced. You should focus on the condition of the soil.
In March-October, the plant is fertilized with liquid mineral compounds for deciduous plants. Top dressing is applied to the ground twice a month. They should be well diluted with water so as not to burn the rhizome.
Palma pandanus has excellent immunity to diseases and parasites. In rare cases, scabies or worms can be found on the plant. Effective insecticides (Actara, Karbofos) help to quickly cope with insects.
Transfer
It is hard to imagine the right care for a pandanus without a regular transplant. At home, it is carried out infrequently, since the aerial and underground roots of the plant are quite fragile. The plant is transplanted when the roots completely cover the earthen lump. The pot is chosen deep, a few centimeters wider than the previous one. The drainage layer should be about a third of the tank. The soil for pandanus should be light and have a slightly acidic reaction. It consists of:
- hardwood soil;
- humus;
- soddy soil;
- river sand.
The transplant is carried out by transshipment. Do not deepen the palm tree. Aerial roots should remain on the surface. Care must be taken not to break them.
