Date Canary: description of the variety, planting and care, growing from seeds at home

Botanical features of the Canary date palm

The Canary Islands are considered the birthplace of the Canary date palm. In their natural environment, the trees grow in the humid forests of South Asia and Africa.

Today, the Canary date, or Luxor, is found in all regions with tropical and subtropical climates.

Under natural conditions, a palm tree grows on average from 15 to 25 m. A date tree grown in a greenhouse or at home will reach a height of 1.5-2 m.

The trunk of the perennial palm is straight, with multiple scars remaining after shedding the leaf blades. The crown is lush, concentrated at the top of the tree.

Each leaf blade contains up to 150 sharp, narrow leaves of silver-green shades. The length of the leaf blade of an adult tree reaches 6 m. In adult trees, long, sharp thorns are formed in the lower part of the leaf cover.

During the flowering period, inflorescences appear on the tree, male, cream-colored, and large female, yellow and orange flowers.

In place of the flowers, small, sweet and fleshy fruits of orange shades are formed, each of which contains a large seed.

Interesting! African tribes still use large palm leaves to cover the roofs of houses to this day.

General information and description

Already from the name it becomes clear that this cute exotic plant comes from the Canary Islands. Palm trees came to the attention of man and, thanks to his activity, were distributed and naturalized in many areas of the planet with a subtropical climate.

Today, the growing area of the Canarian date extends from the north of France to the south of Chile. It is most popular in the Mediterranean countries, as well as in Turkey, Iran, France, some US states, southern Brazil, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

The Canary date is also cultivated in the countries of the former Soviet Union; it can be found in the Caucasus, more precisely the Black Sea coast, the Southern Crimean coast, in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

This is interesting! The Canary palm, introduced by humans, “liked” it so much in New Zealand that it began to reproduce profusely, negatively affecting the local flora. As a result, the exotic plant was included in the list of aggressive weeds.

The Canary palm is a member of the Palm family and in its homeland it prefers to grow in rocky areas. Unlike indoor specimens, “wild” counterparts are quite tall, reaching a height of 18 meters in their natural environment. Large dates have a trunk width of about 1 meter. It is straight, strong, unbranched, the surface of the trunk is covered with multiple stumps - these are the remains of dead and fallen leaves.

The foliage remains only in the upper part of the tree; one and a half to two hundred plates form a lush crown. Their length can reach 6 meters. The leaves are gray-green in color and consist of narrow, dense leaflets.

Flowers are divided into male flowers, which are creamy-beige in color, and female flowers, colored yellowish-orange. They form large, branched inflorescences.

The fruits are small, about 20 mm, oval, orange in color, and contain one large seed.

Advantages and characteristics of the plant

The main advantage of the Canary date palm is its ease of care. With good lighting and timely watering, the tree grows and develops quickly.

The Canary date takes root well and purifies indoor air from the negative effects of the environment.

Exotic crops are grown in winter gardens, greenhouses, greenhouses, loggias and indoors. At home, a well-lit, free space is chosen for the date palm.

Distribution and ecology

The plant's homeland is the Canary Islands. It was spread by humans and naturalized in many subtropical regions of the planet. Currently, this palm grows from France in the north to southern Chile in the south. The plant is especially popular in Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, northern Iran (see Shomal), southern and western France, the USA (mainly California and Florida), southern Brazil (Rio state) Grande do Sul) in Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In the countries of the former USSR it grows on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (in Sochi, Abkhazia and Georgia), the southern coast of Crimea and in the south of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. In some countries, particularly New Zealand, the plant has become an invasive weed.

Variety varieties

Luxor, a variety of the Canarian date palm, adapted for indoor cultivation. The tree is distinguished by its compactness; with proper care, it grows from 1.5 to 2 m. The crown is lush, branched, with many large, feathery leaves of bright green shades.

The miniature palm tree is used for landscaping apartments, houses and office premises.

Important! The Luxor palm grows lush and beautiful only under conditions of good sunlight and high humidity.

What not to do with high blood pressure

First of all, hypertensive patients need to limit or refuse the consumption of unhealthy foods (excessively salty, spicy, fatty, as well as flour products). It is also worth adjusting your lifestyle:

regular walks in the air;
regular feasible physical activity;
normal work and rest schedule;
adequate sleep at least 7-8 hours a day;
quitting smoking and alcohol (strong drinks are especially harmful);
restrictions on going to the bathhouse, steam rooms, etc.

In some cases, it is advisable to change jobs. Frequent physical and psychological stress, stressful conditions lead to problems in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, including increased blood pressure.

Published: March 1, 2021

Author

All materials presented on the site are for educational purposes only and are not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The site administration, editors and authors of articles are not responsible for any consequences or losses that may arise when using site materials.

What you will need

Before planting the Canary date palm, stock up on fresh seeds and patience. After all, the period of germination of seeds of an exotic tree will take from 2 to 4 months.

Container and drainage

Palm rhizomes develop in depth, so deep and tall pots are chosen for planting.

At the bottom of the container in which Luxor is planned to be planted, lay a thick drainage layer of small stone, crushed stone or pebbles.

Stagnation of water in the pot will lead to rotting of the root system and death of the tree.

Required soil composition

Soil for planting date seeds can be purchased from flower shops or prepared independently.

To do this, mix peat, compost, light, turf soil, charcoal and sand. A little organic matter is added to the finished mixture.

If it is not possible to prepare the soil yourself, buy universal soil for growing flowers in the store.

Growing dates from seeds

Many plant lovers have experience growing dates from seeds. The correct choice of soil, processing of material before sowing, compliance with growing conditions are of great importance. Growing dates from seeds is a long process that takes an average of 3 months.

Selecting a seed to plant

Seeds for sowing are taken only from those fruits that have not been subjected to heat treatment. For these purposes, limp or dried dates are suitable. Planting several seeds at once will help increase the chances of getting seedlings.

Seed preparation

Before planting, it is important to properly prepare the seed, for which purpose its surface is thoroughly cleaned of pulp. Poor removal will lead to mold growth and negatively affect shoot germination. After this, the bone is placed in cold water for 48 hours, periodically it is necessary to change the liquid with a new one. After 2 days, a repeat cleaning procedure is carried out to remove any remaining pulp.

Experienced gardeners advise resorting to some tricks to speed up the emergence of seedlings. The most popular include:

immerse the seed in hot water for 10 minutes, which will allow the seedlings to germinate in a couple of weeks;
make a hole in the surface of the bone or sand the base, which will help penetrate the moisture.

Required soil composition

For successful germination of seedlings and further growth, it is necessary to provide the date with light, loose soil. The palm tree has a weak and fragile root system, so heavy soil is not suitable for these purposes. An easier option is to purchase a substrate for date varieties in a specialized store, but you can also prepare the soil yourself from sawdust, humus, peat and sand.

Selecting and preparing seeds for planting

The main condition when choosing planting material is that the palm seeds are not subjected to heat treatment.

The seeds can simply be planted in fertile soil and wait 5-6 months for the first shoots to appear. But to speed up the process of germinating date seeds, you will have to do the following:

Date pits are thoroughly cleaned and washed, then dried.
Before soaking, the seeds are scalded with boiling water or small cuts are made on them. Such measures will allow moisture to quickly get inside the planting seed.
To soak a date pit, you will need any natural fabric or cotton wool.
The seeds are wrapped in material and thoroughly moistened.
The container with the seeds wrapped in a wet cloth is placed in a warm place.
Until the bone swells, constant hydration is maintained.
As soon as the seeds have increased in volume, they are transplanted into fertile soil.

Important! For germination, prepare a few date pits. After all, plants tend to get sick and die if transplants are unsuccessful, so in order to grow a healthy and beautiful tree, it is better to play it safe.

Reproduction of the Canarian date

The only possible way to grow a date palm is by planting seeds. They can be purchased at a specialized sales point. It is permissible to use seed from a palm fruit if it has not been subjected to heat treatment.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

The fruit is placed in a container with warm water and remains in it until the pulp begins to separate well. It is important to completely clear the seed of it, otherwise the crop will become moldy.
Small pots with a volume of 300-500 ml are prepared. Palm substrate is poured into them and moistened.
One seed is planted in each pot; it should be stuck vertically.

Planting care includes minimal watering, preventing excess water in the soil. You should also maintain a stable temperature of the soil substrate; it should not be below +21 degrees.

The seed obtained from the dried fruit of the Canarian date is best germinated in vermiculite:

It should be placed in a container with warm water for 8-10 hours and cleared of skin and pulp.
Layered material is laid out in a container equipped with a lid, and seeds are placed on top.
The container is closed with a tight lid and sent to the heat. It is not difficult to care for the planting - moisture is added to the substrate, 10-20 ml at a time. This will help prevent it from drying out.

The hatched sprouts are carefully transferred from the container to the pots and sprinkled with a 2-3 cm layer of soil. You should act carefully so as not to break off the green part.

As the plant develops, it should produce a juvenile leaf; later it will produce an arrow consisting of 2-3 leaves. It needs to be provided with diffused lighting and infrequent watering. Air humidity should be high.

A young palm develops one root, but it is quite long. And if you damage it during transplantation, then the risks of further death of the fragile tree are high.

Step-by-step algorithm for planting a seed

The process of planting prepared date seeds is simple and does not take much time.

Fertile soil is poured into the prepared pot.
The soaked seeds are placed in the soil in a vertical position at a level of 1 to 1.5 cm from the soil surface.
The seeds are sprinkled with a layer of soil and watered.
Pots of dates are sent to a warm, well-ventilated and humidified room, and covered with film. Remove the film after the first shoots appear.
As the tree germinates, it pushes the bone shell to the surface of the soil, exposing the roots. Do not allow the shoot to become exposed; periodically add fertile soil.
The first above-ground shoots appear after 1.5-2 months. Young plants are planted in separate containers.

Advice! It is best to germinate date palm seeds in early spring. In this case, during the summer period the shoots will take root and take root, and will receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and heat.

How to plant date pits at home

Stones from dried dates bought in a store or freshly collected from a tree are suitable for planting. The planting technology is very simple:

Remove the seeds from the fruit and rinse thoroughly with water. For fresh ones, a simple wash is enough; pits from dry store-bought dates can be soaked for two days in boiled water at room temperature.
Before sowing, date pits are removed from the fruit.
Place each seed in a separate small glass with damp soil. You can stick them in vertically (it doesn’t matter which end is up - blunt or sharp) or lay them horizontally with the slit down. There should be a centimeter layer of constantly moist soil above the planted seeds.
Date pits are stuck into the ground vertically or laid horizontally with the slit down.
Keep pots with crops in a warm place with a temperature of +25..+35°C. It will take from one to three months before the shoots appear.
Date seedlings should be kept on the brightest windowsill with a temperature of +20..+30°C.
Date palm seedlings at first look like wide blades of grass, and not like an adult palm tree
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Date palm shoots do not look at all like adult palm leaves, but look like wide blades of grass with a fold. It will take at least a year before true feathery leaves appear on young plants. If two-year-old palm trees still have intact leaves, this is a sign of insufficient lighting.

Sometimes it is advised to pre-germinate the seeds before planting in wet sawdust or hydrogel on a radiator, but this method has at least two big drawbacks:

it is very difficult to ensure that the sawdust on the battery never dries out within a month;
The sprouts are quite fragile, and there is a risk of breaking them off when planting - planting unsprouted seeds in the ground is much easier and more convenient.

Growing a date palm from a seed - video

Necessary conditions for crop germination

To germinate date palm kernels at home, it is important to observe the temperature regime and maintain the humidity necessary for the plant.

Placement and lighting

The Canary date palm will grow beautiful and healthy only if there is good lighting. Pots with seeds are placed on window sills in the southern part of the premises.

Luxor, an exotic crop, therefore requires sunshine all year round. In winter, the tree is additionally illuminated, and the pot with the plant is evenly rotated so that each side of the plant receives the same amount of lighting.

Optimal temperature conditions

When air humidity is low, the Canary date begins to ache. The leaves of the tree dry out and fall off. The tree and the room are additionally sprayed with water, creating conditions comfortable for growth and development.

When germinating seeds, it is also important to observe the temperature regime. In the room where the pots with seeds are located, the temperature is maintained at least +22 degrees. If the temperature rises, the room is additionally humidified.

Ventilation

In the process of growth and development, Luxor requires an influx of fresh air. Until the seeds germinate, remove the film daily and ventilate the pots with the planted plants.

Planting process

Even an inexperienced gardener can plant a palm tree, however, a number of important nuances should be taken into account. First of all, palm trees are somewhat different from most house flowers, which means they have their own special needs:

Palm trees can be sown regardless of the season, however, the sprouts require a well-lit place; if there is a lack of light, they will have to be provided with artificial lighting;
germination and duration of germination are related to the shelf life of the seed material, so it is better to sow it immediately after purchase;
prepared seeds are placed in a light soil mixture - this can be a ready-made material for germinating seeds; in addition, gardeners often use a mixture of perlite and vermiculite, with the addition of sphagnum or a substrate made of coconut fibers; they should be moistened, but not wet; It is advisable to first disinfect the material by steaming it for 8–12 minutes in the microwave;
There is no need to place the seeds too deep; a depth of 1–2 times the diameter of the seeds is sufficient; if you deepen them too much, they begin to rot; if the seeds are scarified, they should be planted with the cut side down;

You can take any container, but it is best to use containers made of transparent plastic with a lid - these are used to sell confectionery and baked goods; in a closed container, the seeds will not dry out, and thanks to the transparent bottom it is easier to observe the process of seedling growth; the planting should be placed in a warm place, the air temperature should be +25-+32 degrees; however, this indicator depends on the type of palm tree: for some, the normal germination temperature is +25 degrees, while for others, +30 is not enough; to eliminate the possibility of mold formation and rotting of seeds, daily ventilation should be arranged - it is enough to open the container lid for 15–20 minutes a day, ensuring free access of air; palm seeds grown at home do not need to be watered; as the substrate dries, the substrate should be carefully sprayed with a spray bottle;

Some particularly advanced “palmaholics” purchase special mini-greenhouses, with installed heating devices and a thermostat. But this pleasure is not cheap.

In summer, a container with palm seeds can be placed on the windowsill, but you just have to consider the following:

the window sill should be warm, without drafts and constant shadow;
The substrate and seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

If there is no place with suitable conditions, then there is a way out: future palm trees will feel good on the cabinet, where the thermometer will always show more degrees than in other areas of the room.

How to care for a sprout

The Canary date palm is an unpretentious crop. It is enough to follow the rules of care, which include watering, maintaining air humidity and timely feeding of the exotic plant.

Watering

Young shoots require frequent and thorough watering. Irrigation measures are carried out as soon as the top layer of soil dries out.

Date seedlings react negatively to waterlogged soil. Stagnation of water in the pot causes softening and loss of color in the leaf plates. Lack of watering is also not tolerated by shoots. Green leaves droop and do not recover.

Water the tree with warm, settled water. In winter, irrigation activities are reduced.

Fertilizer application

Additional nutrition is important for a developing plant. Mineral and organic fertilizers are alternately used as fertilizers.

In spring and summer, seedlings are fed once every 10-12 days. In winter, fertilizing is reduced to 1 time per month.

Leaf trimming

The formation of the date palm crown occurs during the process of plant growth and development. First of all, cut off broken, dry and dead leaves.

Trim the leaves carefully without damaging the trunk and roots of the plant.

In winter, dried, yellowed leaves often form on the date tree. It is not worth pruning them, because the root system uses the dying leaf plates as additional nutrition, sucking out the last juices from them.

Transfer

During the first 3 years of growth, Luxor is replanted annually. The exotic crop develops roots quickly, so the pots for the tree become small.

Containers for transplantation are selected twice as large as the previous one. To replant young trees, the soil is completely changed. And for large palm trees, only the top layer of soil is replaced once every 3-4 years.

Important! Transplantation is carried out carefully, avoiding damage to the roots of the plant. Luxor has difficulty with the transplant procedure and often gets sick after moving to a new place of residence.

How to lower blood pressure without pills

Along with the described instructions, you can use other home remedies to reduce blood pressure:

Warm, but not hot tea with mint leaves (brew for 10-15 minutes).
External compress with apple cider vinegar - soak a cloth and apply it to the feet for the same time. This method works, but you need to use apple cider vinegar, not any other kind.
Valerian or Corvalol – 15-30 drops per 3 tablespoons of water. Helps to calm down, thanks to which the indicator stabilizes.
You can take a glass of warm water with 1 tablespoon of honey and half a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Moreover, instead of ordinary water, you can use mineral water.
Diuretic tea, for example, based on lingonberries, rose hips, bearberry leaves, and linden flowers, will also help reduce blood pressure.

It is important to understand that the measures described help stabilize blood pressure only for a while. Therefore, in the long term, you should adjust your lifestyle, give up bad habits, follow dietary requirements and start losing weight. Thus, one lost kilogram of excess weight leads to a persistent decrease in blood pressure by 1 point.

Possible problems and their solutions

Canary date palm grown at home is not susceptible to multiple infections by fungal and viral diseases. Also, the plant is rarely affected by pests. But if the appearance of the tree has changed dramatically, and the leaves turn yellow or darken, then it’s time to take urgent measures to save the exotic plant.

Pests and diseases: prevention and treatment

If the rules of care are violated and the air humidity is low, pests appear on the trees. To avoid infection, the trees are carefully inspected, and if uninvited guests are detected, the palm leaves are washed with running water and treated with professional preparations.

Leaves turn yellow and darken

If several leaves on a palm tree have turned yellow, this is the first sign that they are dying. For a plant, this condition is considered normal. But when most of the leaf blades turn yellow, this means that the tree does not have enough sunlight and moisture.

Dark, dry tips of foliage warn of a lack of humidity in the air. In this case, the palm tree and the room are sprayed with water. Large dark spots on leaf blades may appear due to excess moisture or too low room temperature.

Growing problems

You can see what a healthy plant looks like in the Canarian date photo. Sometimes problems arise during cultivation.

If the air is very dry, the leaves dry out at the tips. You can increase the number of sprays or use humidifiers. But the device cannot be placed near the plant.
Small light spots appear on the leaves after frostbite or exposure to cold air.
When the leaves are overcooled or improperly watered, brown spots appear on them.
If the lower foliage gradually turns yellow, this is a natural process. If this is observed throughout the entire crown, it is due to dryness or lack of lighting. If conditions are brought back to normal, the condition will improve.
The leaves turn whitish due to mite infestation. This happens as a result of lack of ventilation and dry soil. The plant is treated with acaricides and washed with water.
If the young leaves do not open, are dry and brown, this can lead to the death of the date if the growing point is affected.

General information

Representatives of the genus are palm trees with several or one trunk, which can be of different heights with a crown of leaves, leaf sheaths or remnants of petioles at the top.

Large, curved, odd-pinnate leaves consist of linear-lanceolate hard leaflets with a solid edge pointed at the apex, arranged evenly or in a bunch. The petioles are short, often covered with strong spines. In the axils of the leaves are paniculate inflorescences consisting of small yellow flowers.

Dates are grown both as an ornamental plant and as a fruit crop (palmata date). Date fruits are eaten in any form, and they are also fed to camels and horses. Tari wine is made from the juice of some species.

This palm tree is also used for medicinal purposes. Since the juice of the plant is an excellent remedy for the treatment of burns, wounds, skin diseases, and compresses based on crushed palm leaves are used for mastopathy.

Smaller species of date palm, such as Robelena and Canarian, are widespread as an ornamental houseplant. And the palmate date grows very strongly in a short time, so it is better for it to live in winter gardens and greenhouses.

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Diseases and pests

The practice of cultivating the Canarian date has shown that this subtropical inhabitant does not suffer from any specific ailments, has a strong immune system and gets sick only with improper care or lack thereof, as well as if it grows in conditions that are absolutely unsuitable for it.

Most often, inexperienced owners encounter the following difficulties when growing this Canary palm:

The tips of the leaves of the plant dry out - the main reason for this is low air humidity. This indicator should be increased using all possible methods.
The foliage becomes covered with small whitish spots - a symptom of frostbite. They usually occur when palm leaves touch cold window glass or are damaged during transportation. You should be more attentive to the green pet when the air conditioner is functioning, the flow of cold air can harm the palm tree.
Brownish spots on leaf blades - this occurs when there is an excess or deficiency of moisture in the soil. It is important to regulate the irrigation regime in a timely manner and not use cold water for these purposes.
Yellowing of the lower leaves is common for palm trees; their foliage sooner or later dies. There is no need to worry if there are no other signs of disease and the palm tree looks strong and healthy.
The young top leaves or the entire crown turn yellow - there is not enough light for the pet or the earthen lump is too dry.
Young leaves dry without opening - in normal condition, the surface of the plates is gray-silver, this color is given to them by the smallest scales. In this form, the leaves can be mistaken for dry, however, when unfolded, their green part becomes noticeable. But if they are yellowish-brown, then the palm tree does not have enough water.

Pests of the Canarian guest rarely attack, but even on this palm tree, under the accompanying conditions, some of them can appear:

The spider mite is a small insect with a reddish body that leaves secretions that resemble the finest cobwebs. The foliage of the affected tree turns yellow and becomes covered with tiny black dots.
Mealybugs are whitish worms whose secretions resemble fluff or lumps of cotton wool. The leaf blades curl.
Scale insect is a pest insect covered with a brown shell. When a palm tree is affected, dark round growths appear on the foliage and petioles.

If parasites are detected, the infected tree must be immediately isolated. Its crown should be treated with a sponge or cloth soaked in a solution of laundry soap. After some time, the leaves need to be wiped with a napkin and clean water, removing any remaining product.

If a colony of pests has managed to multiply greatly, then it is worth resorting to special means. The plant can be rid of spider mites using acaricidal preparations, and the rest - using insecticides.

It is recommended to quarantine all newly acquired specimens for a week and a half; this will help avoid possible outbreaks of diseases among domestic vegetation. A favorable environment for harmful parasites is dry, stale air and lack of light.

Incredible survivability

In Israel in 2005, scientists decided to conduct an interesting experiment. During excavations of King Herod, who lived during the time of Jesus Christ, date stones were discovered in clay vessels. Scientists decided to plant them. Two months later, one of the seeds sprouted.

After 5 years, the height of the plant reached two meters. It is noteworthy that this type of date palm disappeared from the face of the Earth 800 years ago. That is, scientists managed to resurrect an extinct species of tree.

Today, researchers are determining what medicinal properties this type of palm tree has. Scientists have not yet seen how dates grow on it. Until she bears fruit.

So, today we learned how dates grow and what their benefits are, and we also learned how to grow a palm tree at home.