This ultimate guide on Chinese fan palm care will help you to grow and care for Chinese fan palm. Get to know sunlight, watering, and fertilizers requirements.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Chinese fan Palm or fountain palm is a species of subtropical palm tree of East Asia. It is native to Southern Japan, Taiwan, South-Eastern china, and Hainan.
It is also naturalized in South Africa, Reunion, the Andaman Islands, Hawaii, Florida and the Dominican Republic. Chinese Fan Palm scientific name is Livistona chinensis.
Livistona chinensis is an evergreen fan leaved solitary stemmed palm tree growing up to 15 meters tall. The un-branched stem can be 20-30 cm in diameter.
It has been widely introduced into tropical and warm temperate regions of the world to be used as ornamental.
Chinese fan palms (Livistona chinensis) are very popular in Florida. These plants also make an excellent indoor plant for a sunny room. Let’s now discuss about growing and caring for Chinese Fan Palm.
How To Grow Chinese Fan Palm?
Growing Season
Sow seeds in spring by barely covering the seeds with soil, keep them warm and moist. Spring is the best season to propagate Chinese Fan Palm.
Propagation
Purchase seedlings from nearest nursery or online. You may propagate by seed germination. For commercial production, seed germination is best.
Through seed germination, it will take 2 month to germinate.
Seed Germination
You can purchase fan palm seeds at a nursery or garden centre or from any trusted supplier. To germinate soak the seeds in Luke warm water for 48-72 hours to loosen the pulp.
Discard any seeds that float on the top and keep the one that sink to the bottom. Change the water on a daily basis so the hard outer shell of the seed can soften.
Soaked seeds are more likely to germinate successfully. Plant the seeds at least 8 feet apart if you are planting outside. Or you may germinate it in a germination tray.
Prepare potting mix with 60% loam + 30% Coco peat + 5% compose + 5% sand.
Dig a small hole in the soil where you plant to grow, now bury your seeds beneath the soil mix. Now place your germination tray in warm partial shade and maintain consistent moisture till seed germination.
Seeds will take 2 month to germinate.
Selection Of Pot
If you want to grow in a container, choose a container as per size of seedling. You may also grow it in a growing bag.
Growing containers should have a good drainage system with 2-3 holes.
Now place your container where it can receive at least 3-4 hours direct bright sunlight or partial shade sunlight.
You may keep the plant indoors in south-east or east or west direction windows of living room or hall where at least 3-4 our bright sunlight available.
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Chinese Fan Palm Care Guide
Sunlight
Although Chinese Fan palm grow best under bright indirect sunlight but they can tolerate direct sunlight. Fan palm responds well to partial shade and green house.
The leaves turn yellowish-green in direct sunlight. They need bright indirect sunlight from a south or west facing window.
Without enough light, the growth of the plant will become slow considerably.
Watering
Chinese Fan palm requires a good amount of water to thrive. Keep the soil moist constantly. In peak summer seasons water the plants twice in a day.
You should let the soil dry before next watering done. Keep in mind that water logging in container may infect your roots.
Watering must be regular but limited in order to not suffocate the plant’s roots.
Fertilizers
To establish your young plants use nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Use bone dust one teaspoon every three months or use 5gm any nitrogen-rich fertilizer (NPK 8:2:12) every month.
After the establishment of plant fertilize twice a year in spring and summer with a good quality slow leaching fertilizer that contains micronutrients.
You should just spread fertilizer on the top of the potting mix. Regular watering slowly leaches down the fertilizer. During spring change 2-3 inches top soil and fill it with fresh potting mix.
Pruning
In order to keep your palms looking healthy and attractive, prune dead fronds. Leaves should be cut away when they are completely brown and dead.
Don’t trim unless they are clearly dead or damaged.
Re-potting
This is a slow growing plant. It is best to re-pot once in every or two years in a larger pot.
If you notice roots starting to emerge out from the bottom holes of the pot then you should transplant it into a new pot. Take out the plant carefully and transplant into the new pot of the larger size.
Any time you can re-pot your plants but it is considered best to change the pot in spring.
Pests & Diseases
Fan palm is not susceptible to diseases. To maintain it is advisable to remove old and dead leaves. Clean leaves with cotton cloth at regular intervals if possible.
It can suffer from discolouring leaves if there is too much water. Give less water during this time.
They are rarely susceptible to common houseplant pests like mealy bugs, spider mites and scale insects. Use Neem oil or insecticidal soap as foliar spray.
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Importance Of Chinese Fan Palm
The leaves are used for making fans. They are also used for manufacturing rain hats and coats.
Chinese fan palm is primarily cultivated for its ornamental value.