Growing your own palm tree is not easy. It requires
intimate care and attention for a healthy palm tree to majestically sit
in your backyard. A prospective palm grower should be familiar with
growing palms in containers, though potted plants ready to be
transferred to earth are available from nurseries. Seedlings are grown
in containers ranging in depth from 10 to 20 centimeters for the first
two years. When the roots start coming out of the bottom, the saplings
are repotted into a bigger container or into the ground. Palms must be
planted in a hole twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as it was
grown in a pot. This has to be cordoned off around the circumference
with soil so that the surrounding area of the root acts as a water body
for the palm. Care should be taken not to plant them close to buildings
as the roots might disrupt the foundation of the building as it grows.
Drip
or a bubble water supply is ideal, as the plants will have a constant
reserve of water. The most important concern for palm tree farming is
the quality of the soil. Like all other flora, the tree derives all its
nutrients from the soil, and planting it in the right type of soil
becomes crucial to its development. If your soil is not very nutrient,
it can be strengthened with organic or inorganic fertilizers.
Mycorrhizal fungi that exchange moisture and nutrients for its food are
the best growth booster to the palm. Fair and judicious application of
fertilizers will rectify manganese and potassium deficiency in the soil.
Before
choosing a palm variety for your home, the average height the species
obtains at maturity has to be considered. A 50-foot tall tree could
tower over most of your house and disrupt overhead and underground
cables. Choose a variety that will agree with the overall landscape of
your locality, and at the same time, add uniqueness to your garden.
Another
important factor is the weather and climate of your locality. Palms
need adequate sunshine. While some varieties grow well in bright
sunshine, others thrive in shady areas. It is best to check with
experts on the weather tolerance, sunshine and compatibility of a
particular variety before planting it.