- origin
- growth
- offshoot
- leaves
- blossom
- fruit
- use
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Screw tree in a pot
- balcony
- propagate screw tree
- Water screw tree
- Fertilize screw tree properly
- Cut screw tree correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- sorts
A conservatory gets an exotic atmosphere with the screw tree. The plant looks like a palm tree with its tuft of leaves and the aerial roots are reminiscent of mangroves. The plants have very specific requirements when it comes to location and care so that they grow luxuriantly.
The screw tree is a popular pot plant for us
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- offshoot
- leaves
- blossom
- fruit
- use
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Screw tree in a pot
- balcony
- propagate screw tree
- Water screw tree
- Fertilize screw tree properly
- Cut screw tree correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- sorts
- antler fern
- agaves
- Anthurium flowers
- elephant ear
- three to five parts of conventional potting soil
- 1.5 to three parts of clay soil
- a part of quartz sand (15.85€) or perlite
- Get the young plants used to the air in the room over the next two weeks
- to do this, remove the film a little longer every day
- water moderately over the next two months
- Pandanus veitchii: Dark green leaves with light vertical stripes, up to 100 centimeters long. The most commonly cultivated pandanus species.
- compacta: Pandanus veitchii variety with 50 to 60 centimeter long leaves, whitish marginal stripes and clear longitudinal stripes.
- aureus: Pandanus baptistii short-stemmed variety. Leaves striped yellow-green, reminiscent of grass lilies.
origin
The pandanus genus includes over 600 species. They are sometimes referred to as pandans or screw palms, although they have nothing in common with other palm trees. These species belong to the screw tree family and originally come from warmer regions of the eastern hemisphere. They are native to numerous islands in the Indian Ocean and the Mascarene Islands. Here the plants colonize coastal areas and develop an impenetrable vegetation.
growth
Pandans are evergreen plants with a tree or shrub shape. They grow persistently and form simple or multi-branched trunks, some of which lignify with age. When the humidity is very high, screw trees develop aerial roots. With the help of these roots, which grow freely on the ground, the plants absorb moisture from the air. They make the actual trunk appear wide. The plants reach stature heights of more than 100 centimeters.
offshoot
Over time, small side shoots develop on the trunk, which you can cut off with a sharp knife and use as offshoots. In some species, the shoots already develop tiny roots on the trunk. To support wound healing, you can dust the cutting point on the trunk with some charcoal. The dust absorbs moisture and at the same time has a disinfecting effect, preventing the development of diseases.
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leaves
The leaves of the screw trees stand in a dense tuft at the end of the trunk. The leaf blade goes directly into a leaf sheath. Both midribs and leaf margins are occupied by thorns. The large leaves are simple in structure and drawn out linearly. They overhang so screw trees look like palm trees. Due to their triple spiral arrangement, the upper part appears twisted, which is how the plants got their German name.
blossom
Pandanas develop male and female flowers that differ in shape. While the male cobs are multiply branched, female cob flowers appear simple. In indoor culture it is very rare for flowers to develop. Birds and insects are responsible for pollination. Screw trees are mainly pollinated by the wind.
fruit
After successful fertilization, screw trees develop drupes, which consist of several chambers. There are numerous tiny seeds in each chamber. There are some species like Pandanus utilis that develop edible fruits.
use
With their picturesque growth, screw trees are used for indoor greening. Due to their requirements, they are only suitable for planting in containers. Pandanas adorn potted gardens and tropical warmhouses. The plants line artificial waterfalls and grottos in tropical pools.
Perfect Neighbors for Screwpine Trees:
Which location is suitable?
Screw trees prefer a hot and humid climate. They thrive in a bright spot that gets several hours of sunshine each day. Pandans are found to be thriving when exposed to sun during the morning and mid-afternoon hours. The plants cannot tolerate the blazing midday sun. If you can't provide these conditions, consider using a grow light ($24.99). Screw trees require a minimum illuminance of between 900 and 1,000 lux.
What soil does the plant need?
Screw palms thrive in a slightly acidic substrate with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If you use commercial compost-based potting soil, the pH should be in this range. Deviating values lead to unhealthy growth. Mix the soil with peat or coir, sand or perlite to ensure optimal water and nutrient regulation.
With a self-made mixture you prevent rapid substrate compaction. This saves you time, since the annual repotting is no longer necessary. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and check the pH with indicator strips or a pH meter. If the value is too low, you can increase it by adding land soil. A value above 6.5 can be lowered with acidic peat or humus substrate.
This goes in the substrate mix:
Screw tree in a pot
Screw trees can be cultivated hydroponically or planted in containers. As the plants become top-heavy over time and tend to tip over, you should choose a heavy pot. You can also place the planter in a larger planter and cover it with stones. Planters with an irrigation system (€32.95) are ideal alternatives to conventional tubs.
balcony
If the thermometer does not drop below 15 degrees Celsius at night, you can put the screw tree on the balcony. Gradually acclimate the plant to outdoor conditions by placing it in a shady spot first. After a few days it can migrate to its final place in the light penumbra. The more light the tree gets, the more intense the leaf markings become. In dark locations, the leaves remain dark green.
propagate screw tree
The simplest method of propagation is to cut off and pot the Kindel, which screw trees use to reproduce vegetatively. The offshoots are stuck in the ground or placed in a water-filled vase. Use a blue-tinted glass because this supports root formation. When growing in soil, the humidity is crucial for successful rooting. Therefore, use it in a mini greenhouse or put a film over the container. It takes between four and six weeks for the cutting to root.
Further care:
Water screw tree
When screw trees are in the growth phase, they need regular watering. The root ball should be constantly moist. The exotic plants tolerate neither drought nor waterlogging. Allow the surface of the substrate to dry before each pouring unit. In winter it is watered more sparingly so that the roots do not fall dry. Use soft water at room temperature. Stale tap water is just as suitable as clean rainwater. Since the leaves quickly dry up and turn brown if the humidity is too low, you should spray the plant daily.
Fertilize screw tree properly
Between spring and summer, the screw tree enjoys fertilizing every two weeks. Use a low concentration liquid fertilizer for green plants. Excessive nutrient supply leads to faster growth. With an economical dosage you can keep your pandans small.
Cut screw tree correctly
You can clip the bolt tree's tuft if branching is desired. Unsightly and out of shape plants are cut back by half. Screw trees can be pruned down to the old wood. Use a sharp knife for non-lignified shoots. Woody parts of the plant are cut off with secateurs. If the shoot is very thick, you can use pruning shears.
Remove dead leaves regularly and be careful not to damage the aerial roots. You can regularly remove the side shoots that develop on the trunk and use them for propagation. If the children stay on the trunk and grow there, the plant will increase significantly in size.
How do I plant correctly?
When the supporting aerial roots are erratic and the plants are trending in one direction, it's time to transplant. The plant needs a larger container, which provides more stability. Like all green plants, screw trees are repotted in the spring. Once the plants have reached their final size, they will not be repotted. It is sufficient if you cover the roots on the surface with fresh substrate.
hibernate
Growth stagnates between October and March, so you need to water and fertilize the plant less. Watering is necessary when the top layer of soil has dried out. One or two fertilizations are sufficient during the winter. You can put the bucket in a cool bedroom. The temperature should not fall below 16 degrees Celsius.
pests
Sucking pests occur on screw trees that are improperly cared for or cultivated under suboptimal site conditions. So that the plant is not damaged too much, rapid control is necessary.
spider mites
Occasionally, fine cobwebs can be seen in the leaf axils and between the thorns on the leaf margin. They indicate an infestation by spider mites, which tend to spread when the room air is too dry. The affected leaves show yellowish-white to silver-colored spots with a slight pest infestation. Severely damaged leaves turn gray-brown until they dry up completely.
Shower off infested plants and rub the undersides of affected leaves with a cloth. Put a large sack or clear box over the plant so the humidity is very high for the next three to four days. The spider mites are killed by the moist microclimate.
Mealybugs and Mealybugs
These pests are more common on screw trees. Small white webs reminiscent of cotton balls indicate an infestation. The leaves turn yellow and become shriveled. They are covered by a sticky film that provides fungal spores with optimal growth conditions. Neem oil supplements have been shown to be effective control agents.
tips
Pandanus species unfold their full effect in tall containers, because here the leaves can hang far down. Also place the jar on a shelf. If the plant stands on the ground, the leaves lie flat and look unsightly.