- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- fruit
- use
- Is Livistona toxic?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply Livistona
- Livistona in the pot
- balcony
- Pour Livistona
- Fertilize Livistona properly
- Properly cut Livistona
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- brown leaves
- sorts
Livistona palms adorn offices and living rooms as decorative leaf plants. Cultivation is not difficult when temperature and light requirements are taken into account. In the right location, the umbrella palm proves to be robust, so that it requires little attention in terms of care.
The Livistona is a popular ornamental palm with us
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- fruit
- use
- Is Livistona toxic?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply Livistona
- Livistona in the pot
- balcony
- Pour Livistona
- Fertilize Livistona properly
- Properly cut Livistona
- How do I plant correctly?
- hibernate
- pests
- brown leaves
- sorts
- coconut tree
- A leaf
- clivia
- deep so that the taproots have enough space
- heavy to ensure stability
- larger than the root ball
- Livistoniums also tolerate low humidity between 40 and 60 percent
- put a bowl of water next to the bucket in winter
- soft and stagnant tap water or rainwater is ideal
- Chinese umbrella palm: Leaves incised almost to the base. Up to 12 meters tall, shorter as a container plant.
- Australian Umbrella Palm: Sturdy species with grey-brown trunk covered with fibrous material. Leaves incised to the base. Up to 15 meters tall, smaller in pots.
origin
Behind the name Livistona hides a genus that belongs to the palm family. The plants are mainly found in Southeast Asia. In the north, their range extends to the Himalayas. In the south, the species occur in Indochina, New Guinea and Malesia. There are some habitats in Australia and the Horn of Africa where Livistonia species thrive.
Their habitats are very different. The species known as umbrella palms inhabit swamp and mountain forests or areas near rivers and streams with fresh water. They occur in the undergrowth of tropical and subtropical rain forests and characterize the dry woody vegetation in the savannah. Livistona species also grow in desert canyons that continuously carry water.
growth
The plants grow as single-stemmed palms, the height of which varies greatly. Some species remain dwarf, while other members of the genus grow to several meters in height. Their stems are formed by stacked leaf sheaths that dry up over time. In pot culture, the ornamental plants usually grow as stemless shrubs.
leaves
Livistoniums develop leaves that give the plant an exotic character. They are divided into a fan-shaped incised leaf blade with stiff or slightly drooping leaf sections and a stalk that can be spiny or glabrous. When the leaves wither, they remain on the plant. The dead leaves form a kind of dress around the trunk. Depending on the species, the leaf blade can be up to 60 centimeters long.
blossom
The flowers are tightly packed in inflorescences. They grow from the leaf axils and can branch up to five times. Umbrella palms are hermaphroditic. Only a few species develop purely male and female plants. The individual flowers are very small and mostly cream-colored. Livistoniums bloom several times a year. Plants cultivated indoors rarely develop flowers because the room conditions do not correspond to natural conditions.
fruit
After flowering, the inflorescence is covered with spherical small fruits. Their coloring differs depending on the species. The color palette ranges from scarlet and green to blue-green, blue-black and dark brown to black.
use
Livistonias adorn potted gardens on balconies and terraces during the summer months. They are only suitable for planting in tubs and beautify living spaces, conservatories or passageways flooded with light. In combination with other exotic plants, a tropical atmosphere is created.
Between these plants Livistonien feel comfortable:
Is Livistona toxic?
Umbrella palms do not contain any toxic substances and can therefore be cultivated without hesitation in households with children or pets. The pointed leaves and prickly petioles of some species pose a risk of injury. Place the bucket out of the reach of small children, cats or dogs. Fallen leaves should be disposed of quickly.
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Which location is suitable?
A bright location offers Livistonien optimal growth conditions. The plants tolerate several hours of direct sunlight, provided they are not exposed to the blazing midday sun. The darker the location, the slower the palm grows. In sunnier areas, the plant should be sprayed regularly. It thrives best at temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius.
What soil does the plant need?
Livistonia species should be grown in a well-drained soil mix that offers slightly acidic conditions. A mixture of potting soil, compost and sharp-edged sand is ideal. For improved permeability, you can alternatively use gravel, lava granules (€13.99) or expanded clay (€19.73). You should avoid pure peat and humus soil. The substrate sags over time so that the roots are no longer adequately aerated.
multiply Livistona
Umbrella palms can be propagated from seeds of mature infructescences. You can get the seeds in specialist shops for Mediterranean plants and palm trees. Place the grains in a shallow bowl of lukewarm water and let the seeds soak for 24 hours. During this time, the outer shell softens and the seeds can germinate more easily.
Germination occurs at different speeds. It can take up to four months for the first shoot tips to appear. It is favored by a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
Livistona in the pot
Livistoniums require a sufficiently large pot made of clay or terracotta that has enough drainage holes. If you use a plastic pot with a planter, you should cover the bottom of the pot with stones. The irrigation water collects here and does not pose a threat to the roots. The water evaporates and ensures a humid microclimate.
This is how the right planter is made:
balcony
During the summer months, the umbrella palm enjoys an outdoor location. It should be gradually acclimated to the outside conditions, as the intensive UV radiation on the balcony and terrace damages the leaves.
First place the bucket in a sheltered, shady place and bring it back in in the evening when the temperature drops below ten degrees Celsius. If the thermometer stays in the two-digit range, the plant can stay outside at night. After two weeks, the leaves have developed a natural protection against the sun's rays, so the umbrella palm can move to a sunnier place.
Pour Livistona
Livistoniums have a medium water requirement between spring and autumn. Water the palm evenly so that the root ball neither dries out nor gets wet. It should be soaked to the bottom. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. If the summer months are very hot, you should check the substrate every two to three days.
During the cool winter period it takes longer for the surface of the soil to dry. During this time it does not harm the plant if two thirds of the substrate has dried.
Good to know:
Fertilize Livistona properly
If you bought a new umbrella palm tree or just repotted it, you no longer have to fertilize it in the same year. The plants are satisfied with the existing nutrients that are in the finished substrates. From the second year onwards, you can provide the plant with a special fertilizer for palm trees every two weeks or at monthly intervals between spring and autumn. Alternatively, you can use fertilizer sticks (€4.48), which are inserted into the substrate in spring and summer.
Properly cut Livistona
Pruning measures damage the plant because it only has one vegetation point. Dead leaves can be removed periodically. Wait until the leaves have completely dried up. This will save the plant stress as it draws excess nutrients from the fronds. Cut off the dead leaf near the base, leaving a piece of the petiole. This makes the trunks appear thick and even.
How do I plant correctly?
Repotting is recommended every two to three years to give the roots more space. This measure takes place between March and April, before the new growth phase begins. Place the root ball in a slightly larger container. Completely replace the substrate with fresh soil.
hibernate
The dormant phase begins in October, during which Livistoniums hardly grow. The tubs can be placed in an unheated room where bright conditions prevail. Most umbrella palms tolerate a drop in temperature to ten degrees Celsius during this time. Livistona rotundifolia needs temperatures between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius. Adjust the watering to the temperature and do without fertilization. From February, intensify the watering rhythm and supply the plant with nutrients again.
pests
If the site conditions are suboptimal, Livistona species can be attacked by pests.
scale insects
Upon closer inspection, these pests can be easily identified. The lice live under a hardened shield built up from secretions. Scale insects stay in one place and suck plant sap from the leaf veins. Only in the case of a severe infestation are clear signs recognizable on the plant. Their leaves wither and slowly die.
In order to combat scale insects in the long term, systematically effective toxins are necessary. These are available in stick form or as a liquid and are absorbed by the plant. The active ingredients spread in the plant juices and effectively kill the pests.
thrips
If the room air is too dry, thrips occasionally spread on the leaves of Livistoniums and damage the plant. It shows stunted growth and silvery white spots on the leaves. If the infestation is severe, the leaves die off. Means that are absorbed by the plant and distributed in the organism via the plant sap have proven to be effective. To prevent an infestation, you should pay attention to high humidity, especially in winter.
brown leaves
If the umbrella palm is placed directly in the sun after showering, the still wet leaves will quickly develop brown spots. Instead of a shower head, use a fine spray bottle to wet the plant with water. The tips of the leaves turn brown if the plant is too wet or too dry.
tips
Livistoniums are sometimes referred to as fan palms, but you shouldn't confuse the palm family with the related Washingtonia species.