It is shaped like a palm tree, it measures like a palm tree, it has palm leaves, and its name refers to a palm tree. And yet the Madagascar palm or Madagascar palm it’s not a palm tree.
This is the case of what is scientifically called Pachypodium lamereia species of tree (although it is no longer known what to call it) of great height belonging to the genus Pachypodium. These species are typical of a specific area of Africa, located in Madagascar, Namibia and Angola.
The interesting thing is that the Madagascar palm is fast growing (it grows about 30 centimeters per year), so it is perfect for grow in pots and indoors during the first years.
As for its appearance, although at the beginning of the article we talked about its great resemblance to palm trees, it has one characteristic that absolutely differentiates them, and that is its thorny trunk.
Its exotic beauty and ease of cultivation and adapted to any warm environment makes the Madagascar palm an option chosen by growers and garden enthusiasts, since it is also relatively easy to find in specialized nurseries.
In this article, we tell you about their characteristics, curiosities and way of growing of this palm tree which, no, is not a palm tree. How do we classify it then? Like a succulent plant.
Contents
Characteristics of the Madagascar palm
The Madagascar palm is a succulent native to regions with consistently warm temperatures throughout the year, as well as medium to high humidity. Of slow but constant development, it can exceed 6 meters in height in its adult stage, forming a trunk which thickens over the years and exceeds 80 cm in diameter, covered with ears.
The leaves, when grouped, bear a certain similarity to the palms from afar, at least in the form and the fall which they make on the central crown. However, when little by little we get closer Pacypodium lamerei, They have nothing to do with it. They are lying down, 40cm average length, but they are not fibrous like those of the palms. Its appearance is leathery, showing an intense green that, to the touch, can remind us of the Monstera plant.
Another interesting aspect of the Madagascar palm is its fantastic flowering, white in color and composed of large flowers (about 6-8 cm).
taxonomy
| Order | Gentianales |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genre | Pachypodium |
| Species | Pachypodium lamerei |
Common names by which it is known: madagascar palm, madagascar palm.
Flowering period: It usually blooms in the spring, although it depends on the weather and can bloom at any time of the year, preferably in times of warmer temperatures.
How to Grow Madagascar Palm
As we mentioned in the introduction to this article, the Madagascar palm is a hardy option that adapts easily to hot climates with some humidity.
This is why the option of pot culture is often chosen, the most common form of presentation in most nurseries. Due to its slow development, we will only have to transplant it every 2 years or soable to take advantage of its exotic appearance for several years before its final transplant.
Climatology
hot temperatures, no risk of frost in winter and, preferably, a little higher humidity, more typical of coastal areas. This would be the summary of the optimal conditions for the Madagascar palm.
However, its hardiness makes it possible to skip or extend the range of these conditions. We will comment on which are the main ones.
temperatures: ideal continuously throughout the year between 18-35 ºC. It tolerates minimum temperatures up to 10 ºC, from which it must be protected from the cold.
Humidity: This succulent plant needs a constant ambient humidity above 60%, although this is not the most important requirement. Under conditions of severe environmental drought, leaf margins may turn brown and brittle.
Flash: it grows in well-lit environments, although we will try to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest months of the year, as its leaves can be affected, presenting spots and a general loss of its green appearance, changing to more chlorotic or yellow tones.
Palma de Magascar grown in a pot. Photography: Anish Nellickalthe type of soil
Madagascar palm grows best in a substrate or soil that strikes a happy medium between moisture retention and drainage. As a succulent plant, it does not tolerate excess humidity, but it appreciates a more tropical environment, where the substrate must not be dry.
If grown in a pot, a ideal substrate would compound it as follows.
- 50% Universal Substrate
- 40% coconut fiber or perlite
- 10% worm humus
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The ideal pH is slightly acidic, a range where it allows the absorption of most nutrients, although it is not a primary factor in its growth.
The periodic incorporation of organic matter, the replacement of earthworm humus or any type of vegetable soil promotes the development of its leaves and its germination after the end of winter. We can do it twice a year.
Water requirements of the Madagascar palm
Succulents like the Madagascar palm need moderate risks. Usually there is a tendency to water excessively, so before watering we must always ask ourselves if the substrate still has enough moisture or if it needs to be hydrated.
A watering plan for growing this potted plant indoors is as follows:
- Watering in spring and summer: Once a week or maximum twice if the support tends to dry out too much.
- Watering in autumn and winter: maintain minimum humidity, watering once every 10-15 days with a small volume of water.
A key point to maintain this plant in perfect condition is the volume of irrigation. Approximately, we will not incorporate more than 1/8 or 1/10 of the volume of the pot. That is, if the container in which it is grown has a volume of about 10 L, we water with an amount between 1 and 1.25 liters.
We must guarantee excellent drainage for this plant, and the pot must have enough holes to allow easy drainage of excess water. With the volume of water described in the previous paragraph, should drain about 5-10% water provided to guarantee perfect hydration of the plant while eliminating the salts accumulated in the substrate.
Nutrition and use of fertilizers
If one is constant with the supply of organic matter in liquid or solid form, such as through worm humus or decomposed compost, the supply of fertilizer will only be advisable for plants that visually have need a little support.
For the latter case, with a plant with thinner leaves, which has lost its original greenness or which lacks germination or vigor, we recommend applying fertilizers twice a year.
The easiest way to incorporate fertilizer for this succulent is to granulated solid fertilizer. A complete formula is NPK 12-8-16 solution with microelements, added in early spring (March) and repeated in August-September. The recommended dose should be low, about 20-40 grams per jar. With the humidity that we will provide through irrigation, the granulate will be released little by little and we will avoid adding excess salts to the substrate.
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graft of Pachypodium lamerei
If we grow it in a pot, the Madagascar palm will require a transplant every 2 years, although this depends on the volume and width of the chosen pot. To carry out the transplant without damaging the plant, we recommend that you follow the following process.
- An ideal pot to allow the substrate to breathe are clay pots, although you can choose the material that you like the most from a decorative point of view, especially if they are at home.
- We will fill 30 to 50% of the volume of the new pot with the proportion of substrate mentioned in the previous points.
- With great care, we will take off the soil from the old pot, without forcing it or noticing that the roots are breaking. This process can be slow and tedious for plants that have been in the same container for several years.
- We place the Madagascar palm upright and cover to the top of the substrate, pressing down firmly on the edges of the trunk to stabilize the plant.
- We will carry out a generous irrigation to facilitate its establishment, without adding fertilizers and leaving the earthworm humus to allow it to form new roots.