Image – Wikimedia/Forest & Kim Starr
Palms, with a few exceptions, are not drought resistant plants for long. And none will if growing in a pot. But you have to be careful, because what they won’t tolerate either is having their roots soaked.
For this reason, I will explain to you when to water palm trees. This way you can ensure that your plants are well hydrated.
How many times a week should you water palm trees?
Image – Flickr/Sheep»R»Us
I wish I could give you a universal answer, but when it comes to watering plants, there are no one-size-fits-all answersBecause the climate of Madrid, for example, is different from that of the Caribbean. Even within the same province, it changes a lot: for example, I am on the island of Majorca and I can tell you that in certain points in the northwest the temperature is about 4 degrees lower than in my region, which is the south, and also it rains more. So of course, if we add the dryness to the typical Mediterranean heat, the palm trees will have to be watered frequently.
But things change dramatically if it rains often where you live, and also if your plant is in the ground or in a pot. Because? Because a palm planted in the garden will need less water than a potted palmfor the simple reason that the soil takes longer to dry.
So you can’t say how often you have to water it, because it will depend a lot, not only if it rains or not, but also if you have it in a pot or on the ground, indoors or outdoors. outside. What I can tell you is that if in doubt, plant a wooden stick in the ground, very close to the stem of the plant. Then, extract it: if you see that it comes out with adherent earth, it is that it is wet and therefore, it will not be necessary to water yet.
Why is it important to check humidity? Because It can be a mistake to think that because the surface of the substrate is dry, it means that the whole substrate is dry.. It’s not always the case.
It is normal for it to dry before, because the surface is the most exposed part. But the deeper layers take longer to dry. For this reason, one can find a palm that only has dry soil on the surface, and the roots are still damp below.
What irrigation water is best for palm trees?
Good, The best water for any plant is rainwater.. But assuming you live in an area where it doesn’t rain much, or where it can go months without rain, then you’ll have to look for alternatives. And here are several options:
- Bottled water.
- Tap water if fit for human consumption.
- Well water provided it is drinkable. It also helps you if the well is closed (i.e. if the water comes from a tanker).
- Water whose pH is between 5 and 7, and whose lime content is low.
How should they be watered?
There are two ways to water palm trees:
- From above: that is to say, to pour the water on the ground.
- From below: put a plate under the pot and fill it.
Also, the most suitable for watering palm trees is the first, but there are exceptions, as nurseries need to be irrigated from below so as not to lose the seeds. In addition, there are species which, if temperatures exceed 30°C in summer, appreciate having a plate below with a little (a thin layer) of water, such as the Archontophoenix.
Now, I advise against watering from below except on rare occasions due to the high risk of root rotsince we could tend to pour more and more frequently a little water in the dish, without even checking if the earth is dry or not.
But, how is it watered from above? Well, pour the water near the stem/trunk. Likewise, the necessary amount should be added so that all the soil is moist. Therefore, if it is in a pot, it will be watered until the water comes out of the drainage holes; and in the case that it is planted in the ground, it will be watered until we see that the earth is already very, very humid.
How to prevent palm trees from suffering from excess water?
Overwatering palm trees is often a life ending problem. The roots do not tolerate waterlogging, so it is important that preventive measures are taken to ensure that they do not end up with their leaves full of fungus:
- If it’s gonna be potted: this one must have holes in its base. In addition, a plate should not be put under it, unless it empties after each watering. The substrate must be light, spongy, like the universal one (on sale here) or the one for green plants like this one.
- If it’s gonna be in the field: the soil should be light, with good drainage. If it is one of those that forms puddles easily, a hole will be made in it as large as possible (more or less than 1 x 1 meter), and it will be filled with a mixture of peat and perlite in equal parts. It may also be highly recommended to install a drainage pipe system in case the soil takes hours to absorb water.
Is it possible to salvage a drowning palm tree?
It will depend on its severity. If we gently pull the new leaf out and it comes out easily, we won’t be able to do anything.. But if it’s still green and still strong, then what we’ll do is stop watering, apply systemic fungicide, and if there’s a plaque underneath, remove it.
Can I do anything to keep it from drying out?
Image – Flickr/Scot Nelson
Underwatering is also a serious problem, but not as much as overwatering. Indeed, to prevent your palm tree from drying out, all you have to do is:
- If it’s gonna be potted: Make sure the media is of good quality. It must be, as I have already said, soft and light.
- If it’s gonna be in the field: The soil should have good drainage, but it should not resemble beach sand which does not hold moisture. It is important that the soil remains moist for some time.
How to recover a dry palm tree?
If one day you see that the leaves of your palm tree are beginning to dry up, starting with the most recent ones, and if you notice that the earth is very dry and weighs little, then all you have to do is water it. But if you also have it in a pot, immerse it – not the plant – in a basin of water for about twenty minutes. Thereafter, it is necessary to water more often.
This way, you can water your palm trees properly.