Pandanus sandera care at home. Pandanus: home care, description, photo

Pandanus is most succinctly characterized by its name screw palm. It was first discovered in the tropics, so this plant thrives if provided with sufficient light, water and moist air. You can grow pandanus in our latitudes, you just need to buy the seeds of the plant and strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology for growing and caring for it at home.

Types of pandanus plant

A photo of a plant gives only a superficial idea, so before you start growing it, it will be useful to get acquainted with its characteristics.

Pandanus immediately declares its extraordinary decorative properties, because in natural conditions it can grow up to 2-4 m in height. It is clear that even with the most careful care of a screw palm, it will be difficult to grow such a giant. However, more compact specimens will also provide a lot of pleasure. Experts recommend growing pandanus in rooms with high ceilings and plenty of free space.

At the age of 10–12 years, the plants reach such a size that the area of an ordinary room is not enough for them. IN It is necessary to grow a screw palm in a spacious pot or a tub. The Pandanus genus includes more than 600 species, all of which are found in the tropics. They feel quite good in our latitudes:

Pandanus Veitch. Under natural conditions, this plant is found in East Asia. It grows in the form of a tree-like plant, in which a shortened trunk and root shoots are formed. After some time, the lower part of the trunk completes its life cycle, and from this moment on, the plant is supported by its basic roots. Therefore, seeing a screw palm in such a state, it seems to many that the tree is hovering above the ground. The plant is given a decorative appearance by its dense green leaves, which form close weaves near the base. When grown indoors over a year, this variety provides the greatest increase in height. To grow a specimen 1.5 m tall, you need to wait about 10 years;
Pandanus called Sandera. This variety is most common in the rainforests of Timor. Adult specimens have a shortened trunk and long leaves measuring up to 90 cm. Although this type of screw palm is suitable for growing indoors, you first need to prepare a place so that after the appearance of long leaves the plant does not feel cramped.
Useful Pandanus. A characteristic feature of this variety is the helical arrangement of leaves. Therefore, they can often form three to four floors of the trunk. Most representatives of this species are found in Madagascar and the island of Mauritius. What makes useful pandanus unique is that only it can be grown from seeds, unlike all other varieties. As an adult it can reach a height of 2–3 m, although its size may be limited by the area of the growing site.

Unlike other plants, pandanus forms aerial roots, regardless of growing conditions. As the palm tree develops, they become stronger and sometimes wrap around the lower branches of the tree.. Subsequently, they become support for the plant, which helps the screw palm look even more impressive.

Benefits of pandanus: all about its fruits

Under natural conditions, pandanus blooms regularly, so such specimens are of interest not only for their leaves and flowers, but also for their fruits. Unfortunately, under indoor conditions it will not be possible to wait for pandanus to bloom, no matter how careful the care of the plant is. Only a palm tree that grows in natural conditions can bloom. At this time, pandanus becomes especially beautiful due to the variety of shades. They give a hint about his gender. Males, as a rule, form spikelets; females can be recognized by their bell-shaped flowers.

The pandanus fruit, which is very similar to a pineapple, looks quite original. However, it is more rounded. Fruits are considered ripe when they acquire a deep red color., and until this moment they are green or red. Although depending on the place of cultivation, pandanus fruits may differ: in some places berries that are yellow, blue or orange may ripen.

Pandandus

Among the varieties of pandanus there are those that grow fruits suitable for food. Therefore often many species of animals do not disdain them: crabs, elephants and bats. The local population does not refuse them either, using the fruits to prepare various dishes. Moreover, pandanus fruits are interesting not only because of their pleasant taste, but also because of their beneficial properties:

ascorbic acid;
cellulose;
folic acid, which pregnant women so need;
contains large quantities of potassium, phosphorus and enzymes that improve the functioning of the nervous system.

This fruit is not offered for sale; using pandanus fruits grown in greenhouses and at home for food is not a very good idea, since their taste and beneficial properties differ from fruits growing in natural conditions.

How to grow pandanus from seeds?

Suitable for growing indoors from seeds is pandanus useful. River or sea sand can be used as planting soil.. In some cases, it can be replaced with a special substrate, which is prepared from peat (80%) and regular sand (20%).

Many plant growers practice the method of planting pandanus seeds in open ground in spring or summer. Moreover, after sowing it is necessary to place need to be protected with a jar or other glass container to ensure the greenhouse effect. In indoor conditions, it is recommended to use a sand-peat mixture for sowing seeds, and the container where they are planted should be covered with thick polyethylene. After this, the mini-greenhouse should be moved to a warm place; if possible, it should be illuminated by the sun.

You can speed up the appearance of pandanus seedlings if you plant be provided with artificial or natural lighting up to 10–11 hours a day. The first shoots usually appear at the end of the fourth week. However, before the favorable moment comes for transplanting them to a permanent place, a lot of time must pass.

How to replant young seedlings and perennial plants

A sign that the seedlings are ready for transplanting is that they reach a height of at least 10 cm. However, you need to be very careful here, because Pandanus roots are very fragile, so they can be easily damaged. To avoid injury, it is recommended to use the transfer method, making sure to capture a significant part of the old soil into new planting containers. Experts recommend carrying out this procedure in the spring.

Specimens aged 2–3 years usually have time to form aerial roots, They need re-planting when the space in the pot becomes insufficient. During transplantation, aerial upper roots should not be immersed in the ground. There is no need to worry too much about this, since pandanus grows in the same state in its natural environment.

To minimize the risk of damage to the plant, it is recommended to transplant young seedlings into large pots.

Care at home: how to grow and preserve an ornamental plant?

Growing a false palm tree at home does not always go well. There are situations when plants experience changes that force the owner to seriously think about eliminating them:

When growing pandanus at home, follow the same rules as with a regular palm tree. First of all, you need to create enough space for the plants to grow.. For pandanus, this is especially important, since if it bumps into furniture or curtains, the leaves will immediately stop growing.

Usually, most novice plant growers at the stage of sowing a false palm tree at home do not think about how much space it will need in 5–6 years. Adult specimens have spiny leaves, which can create discomfort when touched. In addition to this, it will not be possible to place such a giant on the windowsill. Therefore, if the conditions at home do not allow it to be grown to its maximum size, then it is recommended to immediately choose more compact varieties of palm trees.

Growing pandanus palm: lighting in summer and winter

Pandanus does not tolerate low light conditions, so the expected reaction in this case would be withering and sometimes drying of the leaves. Over time they lose their flexibility, lose their attractiveness. If you are growing a variegated pandanus variety, it will definitely change its original color.

For normal development of pandanus, you need to provide bright, diffused lighting. Direct sunlight is harmful to plants. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the flower pot in a shaded corner of the room., the windows of which are located on the sunny side. You will also have to take measures to ensure the correct formation of the crown and trunk. To do this, you need to unwrap the pot every two to three days. If this is not done, then the leaves will stretch in only one direction, and this will lead to an imbalance in development.

With the onset of autumn, the flower can be placed in a lighted place so that the soft, cold rays of the sun fall on it. In some cases this is not enough, so the plant reacts by changing its leaves, which become faded and droop. In this case, additional illumination will have to be carried out using lighting devices. Before this, you will need regular fluorescent lamps, which need to be installed above the pandanus at a distance of 60–70 cm from the crown and turned on for 6–8 hours.

It is necessary to ventilate the room once a day, making sure that there is no strong draft.

Description of watering and air humidity

Pandanus can easily tolerate low air humidity, however, serious harm can be caused by moisture getting into the axils of the leaves. When caring for the plant, you must remember that settled water should be poured only strictly under the roots. Thus, hosting a shower for him is unacceptable. It is recommended to use settled water for irrigation., heated 2–3 degrees above room temperature. It is important to ensure that the soil always remains moist. If you use cold running water for watering, the plant will experience severe stress, which in the best case can lead to a slowdown in its development.

When growing pandanus in conditions of low air humidity, the tips and edges of the leaves are the first to react and begin to dry out. This problem can be prevented by wiping the leaves with a damp cloth two to three times a week. The decorative character of pandanus is given by its large leaves, so it is necessary to keep them clean. You need to wipe them very carefully, because due to the presence of sharp thorns on them, they can cause a lot of trouble.

Conclusion

Pandanus is a rather original tropical plant that immediately attracts attention due to its impressive size. It's no coincidence called the "screw palm". Even though it feels most comfortable in the tropics, it can also be grown in the harsh climatic conditions of our country.

However, first you will have to take into account some of the features of this palm tree, and the main thing you need to remember is that pandanus requires sufficient space, since as it grows it develops large leaves that require space. No less important when growing it at home, ensure optimal temperature and humidity conditions, since for the normal development of pandanus it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to natural ones.

Pandanus (English Pandanus) is also called Pandan, Screw Palm or Screw Tree. People sometimes call it “Corn”. This is a gorgeous ornamental plant that quickly reaches quite large sizes. Often this is precisely the obstacle to growing it at home. It is not suitable for small houses, apartments, or offices, since an adult plant spreads its long leaves, occupying a large area. That is why it is advisable to grow pandanus in a spacious room with high ceilings. And yet, young plants look very beautiful and get along well even in small spaces.

In total, science knows about 700 species of pandanus, but only 3 are grown at home:

Veitch's pandanus(eng. Pandanus Veitchii). This species has yellow stripes on the edges of its leaves;
Pandanus Useful(English Pandanus Utilis). The green leaves of this species reach up to 10 cm in width;
Pandanus Sandera(eng. Pandanus sanderi). The green leaves of this species have longitudinal light (sometimes white) stripes and reach a width of 5 cm.

When purchasing pandanus, be careful, as the edges and lower parts of its leaves are covered with small but sharp thorns. You should pay special attention to this when there are small children or animals in the room.

The screw tree belongs to the Pandanovaceae plant family. Its homeland is the tropical zones of the eastern hemisphere. In nature, the Screw Palm is often found in Madagascar and Vietnam. The narrow and long leaves of pandanus are green in color, sometimes with light and white stripes. The name screw palm or pine appeared because of the leaves growing in a spiral, although this plant is neither one nor the other.

Sometimes “aerial roots” appear on the pandanus trunk, which eventually reach the ground and take root. This helps it, having reached large sizes, to maintain a massive crown of leaves. It is also interesting that in the natural habitat of pandanus, the lower part of the trunk dies off, and the plant continues to support itself and develops only due to these aerial roots. At home, they also form, but do not become the main support. You should not break them off, as these small roots are very important for the plant. To help pandanus survive hot summer days well, some gardeners attach sphagnum (peat moss) to its aerial roots and periodically moisten it by spraying. Since the aerial roots of an adult screw palm at home do not strengthen the strength of the trunk, due to its large size it is difficult for it to support itself, therefore, to prevent the plant from breaking and falling, it is necessary to make artificial supports for it.

Indoors, unlike natural conditions, pandanuses do not bloom or bear fruit. By the way, in some species the fruits are edible and resemble pineapples.

Growing pandanus at home or caring for pandanus.

Conditions for keeping pandanus.
Pandan is not a fussy plant and can grow both in a bright room (without direct sunlight) and in partial shade. However, in low light, variegated species turn green. The temperature during cultivation should be at least 15 0 C. Like many indoor plants, pandanuses do not like drafts. If the air in the room is dry, the tips of the leaves may dry out. It is also not advisable for him to bathe in the shower, since when water gets into the axils of the leaves, they rot and the plant dies. Dust from the leaves must be removed carefully (the leaves can be injured by their needles) with a dry or damp cloth, and if you want to humidify the air, use a small spray bottle or place the pandanus pot on damp expanded clay.

Watering pandanus.
The screw palm loves water very much, so the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out. In spring and summer, pandanus needs to be watered well, and a little less in autumn and winter.

When watering, make sure that the water does not stagnate in the pot. Even when watering a plant through a tray, it needs to be drained after half an hour. Stagnant water is very harmful to plants.

Cold water should not be used for irrigation. It is best if it is at room temperature.

Pandanus transplant.
Young plants are replanted every spring, and adults - in the same period, but once every 2-3 years. This must be done very carefully, without breaking the aerial roots or digging them in.

If the pandanus is large and it is not possible to replant it, then simply replace the top layer of soil in its pot. It would be enough.

Reproduction of pandanus at home.
All types of these plants can be propagated by seeds.

Beneficial Pandanus seeds must be sown in river sand or peat. Then, to create greenhouse conditions, cover the sowing site with a flask, plastic bottle, jar or regular plastic bag. It is necessary to ventilate future seedlings daily for half an hour, removing the cover. Also make sure that the soil does not dry out. Planted seeds must be kept warm (at least 20 0 C). Under these conditions, they will begin to germinate by the end of the 4th week (sometimes earlier, sometimes later). You can start transplanting seedlings into separate pots after they reach 8-10 cm in height.

Pandanus Veitch and Sander can be propagated by shoots. In adult plants, babies appear around the trunk above the surface of the ground - side shoots. As soon as they have their aerial roots, they need to be carefully separated from the adult plant and planted in loose soil. Such young pandanuses take root very well in a new place.

Diseases and pests of pandanus.
These plants are very disease resistant and are rarely attacked by insects.

And yet, scale insects and false scale insects may appear on the leaves, trunk and roots. As a result, yellow spots appear, which increase in size when insects suck the juice from the plant. To combat these insects, it is necessary to repeatedly wash the plant with a solution of water, alcohol and soap.

The Pandanus plant (Pandan) belongs to a large (more than 750 species) genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the Pandanaceae family, widely growing in the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere. Representatives of the genus are found in the Philippines and Hawaii, India and Vietnam, North Africa and Australia, and more than 90 species of pandanus grow in Madagascar.

In temperate climates, the Tropican is known as an ornamental houseplant with large linear or sword-shaped leaves growing in a spiral. Due to the unusual arrangement of foliage on the trunk, gardeners often call pandanus a screw palm or a screw tree.

Conditions of detention

When placing an exotic pet in a room, you should take into account that pandanus grows well in light partial shade in spring and summer and requires bright lighting in the autumn-winter period, that is, the best place for it would be a windowsill on the western or eastern side. The plant does not like darkness: from a lack of light, its leaves bend, losing their elasticity, and hang limply like rags. In a gloomy room above the place where the screw palm is kept, it is necessary to hang a fluorescent lamp and turn it on daily for at least 8 hours.

Exotic does not have any special requirements for temperature conditions and feels great at normal room temperatures from +19 to +26 °C, without needing a cool rest period. The only limitation is that the room temperature should not fall below +12 °C.

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Basic care

The distinctive ability of pandanus is its adaptability to a wide variety of environmental conditions. In nature, screw palms settle along the shores of seas, lakes and rivers, in swampy lowlands, on coral reefs, along the slopes and edges of the craters of dormant volcanoes. In indoor conditions, exotic also feels quite comfortable and needs minimal care:

In spring and summer, the miracle palm tree is watered with soft water heated to 35 °C every 2–3 days, and half an hour after the procedure, excess water is drained from the pan. In the fall, watering is gradually reduced and the soil under the plant is moistened as the surface layer dries out. But! Under no circumstances should the earthen compandanus dry out completely.
From the end of April to September, the tree is fed twice a month with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer for decorative deciduous crops. In autumn and winter, pandanus rests and does not need additional nutrition.
The screw palm requires high ambient humidity, but it is recommended to spray not the plant itself, but the air around it, since water that gets into the leaf sinuses can provoke the development of fungal diseases. For hygiene purposes, the leaves of the plant are wiped monthly with a damp cloth.
The room where the exotic grows should be regularly ventilated, but the pet must be reliably protected from drafts.
Sometimes, although extremely rarely, potted pandanus forms aerial support roots. Under no circumstances should they be removed, otherwise the tree will simply lose stability and fall under its own weight. Cover the roots with damp moss and do not let it dry out, especially in the summer heat.

And further. To ensure that the crown of the tree is symmetrical, the pandanus pot is periodically rotated relative to the light source. The plant will survive the absence of this procedure painlessly, but will grow one-sided and unsightly.

Transfer

It is recommended to replant pandanus when its roots completely entwine the earthen ball: young specimens - annually, adults - every 2-3 years. The substrate is prepared from humus, sand, leaf and turf soil (1:1:1:1). The pot should be chosen high, but not too wide, since the root system of the exotic grows deep. Before transplanting, fill the pot one third with any drainage material (broken brick, pebbles, expanded clay) so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil.

The technology for carrying out the procedure is well known to any gardener: a plant removed from a cramped pot is transferred to a new place by transshipment and buried in fresh soil. For convenience, the luxurious pandanus leaves are lifted and carefully tied with soft braid.

Note! When replanting, the screw palm should not be immersed in the ground deeper than it grew in the previous container.

Reproduction methods

Generative cultivation of pandanus is carried out as follows:

The seeds are scattered over the surface of a peat-sand substrate and covered with a layer of soil.
The container with the crops is covered with glass and kept at a temperature of about +25 °C, opening the greenhouse daily for ventilation.
After 15–25 days, when seedlings appear, the glass is removed and the seedlings are provided with soft lighting, warmth and moderate regular watering.

In the phase of 2–4 leaves, young pandanuses dive into separate pots filled with a mixture of sand, turf and leaf soil (1:1:1).

There are also vegetative methods of propagating the miracle palm tree:

Cuttings. Cuttings 20–25 cm long are cut from the side shoots, the cuts are sprinkled with crushed coal and the material is planted for rooting in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1). The container with the cuttings is wrapped in a bag and an improvised greenhouse is placed on a light, warm windowsill. The plantings are ventilated daily and systematically watered through a sprayer. Rooting of cuttings takes 30–40 days.
Dividing the bush. The daughter rosettes at the base of the trunk of an adult plant are covered with sphagnum moss and regularly moistened with warm water from a spray bottle. When the children form their own roots and grow up to 20 cm in height, they are separated from the mother palm tree and dried on the windowsill for 24 hours. After time, the rosettes are planted in damp sand under glass and kept at +22 °C. After 50–60 days, the plant is transplanted to a permanent place in a substrate for adult plants.

When propagating pandanus, the use of phytohormones is allowed, accelerating the process of root formation and stimulating plant development.

Possible problems

Popular types

Of the numerous representatives of the genus Pandanus, the following are grown in pots:

Pandanus Veitch is an evergreen tree with a short stem and aerial “stilt” roots. The spiral-shaped green leaves with a white border along the edge reach a length of 1 m and a width of 5–8 cm. Among flower growers, Veitch's pandanus is most in demand due to its compact size - in 10 years, this pretty palm rarely grows above 1.5 m.
Pandanus useful is a tall tree, reaching a height of 2–3 m in indoor conditions. Dark green leaves, 5–10 cm wide and about 1–1.5 m long, growing in a spiral, are densely dotted with reddish thorns at the edges.
Pandanus covert is a branched evergreen shrub about 1.5–2 m high (in cultivation) with linear spiny leaves. In nature, this representative of the genus annually blooms white or pinkish flowers, in place of which fragrant fruits with sweet pulp are subsequently formed. However, in captivity, pandanus veil blooms very rarely and does not bear fruit at all.

An interesting fact is that, despite the attractiveness and unpretentiousness of pandanus, not all gardeners decide to grow screw palms. It is believed that this amazing plant has the ability to absorb positive emotions and bring discord into the house. Due to the powerful aggressive energy of pandanus, impressionable people feel discomfort around it and become angry and irritable. These rumors have not been scientifically confirmed, but vulnerable people probably shouldn’t have such an unpredictable pet. But non-superstitious fans of tropical exoticism will certainly be fascinated by the original appearance of the pandanus and its responsiveness to care.

Pandanus, or Pandan, is a plant from the tropics, brought to us from the islands of the Indian Ocean. Resembles a palm tree with thin, spiral-shaped leaves. In an apartment, pandanus does not bloom or bear fruit, but this is fully compensated by the high decorativeness of the plant itself. Even a beginner in floriculture can organize pandanus care at home.

The genus consists of 600 species. Most representatives are tall tree-like plants. There are specimens of 15 meters or more. Sometimes they form voluminous shrubs. Despite the external resemblance, this is not a palm tree - pandanus has nothing to do with it.

Long aerial roots are released as a support and a means of obtaining moisture. An interesting sight is presented by plants with dead root parts of the trunk. They are held above the ground by aerial roots.

The shape of the leaves is xiphoid, the edges are sharp-serrate. They are attached to the stem in a spiral. The lower leaves gradually fall off, leaving scars on the stem. The barrel takes the shape of a screw. The flowers are small, yellowish, and form dense inflorescences.

As a houseplant, pandanus is more suitable for spacious apartments. It grows very quickly, tolerates dry air, and easily tolerates short-term lack of watering and low light.

Important! Pandanus leaves have a serrated edge and a central vein covered with spines. Use caution during transplantation. Wipe the leaves from the trunk to the top - in the direction of growth of the spines. It is not advisable to keep the flower in an apartment where there are small children - it is easy to get hurt on the sharp thorns.

Varieties for growing in an apartment

Of the 600 species that grow in nature, only a few are suitable for home cultivation. They are more compact in size - they do not grow above 3 meters.

Pandanus Veitch. The trunk is shortened. Produces many aerial roots. The leaves grow spirally, close to each other. The length of the leaves is up to 80-90 cm. The color is intense, green. Light stripes run longitudinally. Characteristically, there are spines along the edge of the leaf. Compact variety - grows on average up to one and a half meters.
Pandanus is useful. Higher view. Grows up to 2-3 meters. The leaves are straight, branched, and grow in a spiral. Color - rich green. Long - up to 1.5 meters. There are red thorns along the edge of the leaf.
Pandanus Sandera. The trunk is shortened. Leaves up to 80 cm. Background - green, stripes - yellow. The edges of the leaves are covered with small spines.

Creating favorable conditions and care

Pandanus is unpretentious. Creating special conditions for its cultivation is not required. It responds to intensive care with rapid growth and high decorativeness.

Lighting. Will grow anywhere - in sun or partial shade. Variegated species are not placed in the shade - the characteristic color becomes faded. When young, it is grown on a windowsill. Adult plants are placed in tubs on the floor, if possible, closer to the window. To avoid curvature of the trunk, the flower is regularly rotated around its axis.
Temperature. Temperature range: 20-25°C. In winter, temperatures should not drop below 16°C. They try to avoid drafts.
Humidity. Doesn't play a special role. Grows in both low and high humidity. It is not recommended to spray. Water accumulates in the sinuses, leading to rotting of the stem. For hygienic purposes, wipe the foliage with a damp sponge.
Watering. A large mass of leaves requires increased watering. Water temperature - 30°C. In winter, the growth of pandanus stops - water less often. Frequency depends on temperature. The lower it is, the less often you water.
Feeding. Any fertilizer for deciduous crops is suitable. Follow the dosage and concentration indicated in the instructions. Frequency: 2 times per month. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers to dry soil. Optimally - on the day of watering.
Transfer. The root system is sensitive and vulnerable. Transplantation is resorted to in extreme cases; it is replaced by transshipment. Young specimens have to be transshipped annually due to rapid growth. Adults - if necessary, replace the potty. Aerial roots are left outside. The containers used are heavy, stable, and approximately the same width and height.
The soil. Nutritious soils with a high mineral content are used. Suitable soil mixtures for palm trees. The soil for adult plants should be dominated by turf soil.

Advice! Pandanus can be used not only for landscaping, but also for air purification. Its large leaves absorb harmful substances, release essential oils into the air and enrich it with oxygen. Essential oils have an antibacterial effect and destroy pathogenic microflora.

Reproduction methods

Seed and vegetative propagation of pandanus is practiced. It takes longer to grow from seeds, but over time it forms a full-fledged “palm tree”.

By cuttings. Cuttings of 20 cm each are cut from long side branches. It is not recommended to use short cuttings - the process of root formation will be very slow. The sections are immediately treated with activated carbon powder. The substrate is made up of peat and sand. Take them in equal proportions. The cuttings are planted in separate containers under cover. Temperature for rapid rooting is 25-28°C. The greenhouse is periodically ventilated and the cuttings are watered with a root growth stimulator. Rooting takes 1.5-2 months.
Sowing seeds. Seeds are sown without prior preparation. Keep under film at 25-27°C. Germination is quite fast - it takes about 10-15 days. The seedlings are watered regularly and the greenhouse is ventilated. The first pick is at the stage of three true leaves. Using bottom heating speeds up germination.
Dividing the bush. Use daughter rosettes with a developed root system (20 cm). The rosette is cut from the main plant. If the roots are short, their growth is stimulated. Sphagnum moss is attached to the base of the rosette and moistened periodically. Planted in the spring. The cut rosettes are dried for 24 hours before planting. Planted in a separate pot. It is filled with alternating layers - drainage, base soil, river sand. The rosettes are planted and covered with film. The shelter is removed from mature plants. Bottom heating and maintaining the temperature at 25°C accelerates the rooting and adaptation of the young plant.

Important! Aerial roots should never be cut off. With their help, pandanus receives additional moisture from the air. At low humidity in the apartment, aerial roots do not form. This leads to loss of stability and the need to use supports.

Common problems and illnesses

It can be affected by all common indoor pests - spider mites, aphids, scale insects, mealybugs. If insects are detected, insecticide treatment is carried out. Severe violations of content recommendations can lead to a decrease in decorativeness.

Pandanus is of interest to beginners and experienced gardeners. The main advantages are unpretentiousness, high decorativeness, rapid growth, and the ability to purify the air.

Pandanus is a tropical evergreen plant native to the Indian Islands. The second name is screw palm, with which this species has much in common. It is distinguished by elongated leaf plates growing in a spiral. When growing in its native conditions, the plant can bear fruit and bloom, but this is not possible at home. Young species are characterized by slow growth. The development of leaf blades of adult plants occurs more intensively. The screw palm is known for its longevity. Caring for pandanus is quite simple. The main problem when growing it at home is the difficulty of having free space. It is actively growing, and therefore it requires more and more space. Some varieties have thorns on the plates, which can lead to allergic reactions in children. Sometimes, at home, a plant can form aerial roots. They need to be strengthened and then moistened regularly.

Basic rules for home care

The main problem when purchasing Pandanus is finding enough space for a large palm tree. The plant should not rest against surrounding objects. Home care includes the following procedures:

Ensuring correct temperature conditions. The minimum temperature at home during cultivation is 18 degrees. If the temperature is lowered below this level, the plant may wilt and die;
Lighting. Pandanus should grow in a bright place. Do not expose it to direct sunlight. If you grow a screw palm in the shade, its leaf blades darken. If there is little light in the place chosen for the plant, you will need to provide artificial lighting. The lamps are placed a meter from the pot. When installing artificial light, it is necessary to periodically turn the Pandanus over so that the light falls on it evenly. You should not take the pot outside, as it will be damaged by weather factors and drafts;
Spraying. If dust has accumulated on the sheet plate, you can clean the surface with a damp material. The plant does not tolerate dry air, but it cannot be sprayed either. What to do? You can spray not on the plant itself, but near it. This promotes safe air humidification. You can put sphagnum moss on the tray of the pot, which needs to be moistened regularly. This will maintain the humidity level at the required level;
Watering. How to water Pandanus? Spring and summer are the periods of most intensive development, during which abundant watering is required. During the winter months you can reduce it. It is necessary to regularly inspect the soil. It should not be dry or waterlogged. If watering is carried out through a tray, after 30 minutes the water is drained. For irrigation, water at room temperature is used. Moisture should not be allowed to enter the axils of the leaf blades, as this can lead to the formation of putrefactive processes;
Priming. Clay soil is suitable for screw palm. A soil mixture for palm trees, which can be purchased at a specialty store, is suitable for it. To prepare the mixture yourself, you will need leaf and turf soil, sand and humus. All components are taken in equal shares;
Feeding. The procedure is carried out from March to July. To carry it out, you will need liquid fertilizers specifically for Pandanus. Feeding is carried out once every 2 weeks. In winter, it is permissible to carry out the procedure once a month.

Transplantation of a young screw palm is carried out once a year. If this is an adult plant, the procedure can be reduced to once every 2-3 years. During the procedure, you should not shake off old soil from the root system. It is necessary to prepare a large pot with a high-quality drainage system. When is the transplant performed? It's better to do it according to plan. It is carried out as the root system develops. If the roots have already entwined the entire soil, urgent replanting is required.

Pests of Pandanus

Pests can cause great harm to the plant. They lead to its withering and damage to the leaf plates. Let's look at the most common pests and methods of controlling them:

Scale insects. Symptoms of their appearance are the presence of stationary round or oblong specimens on the tree and drying of the leaves. False scale insects may also appear. These are other pests whose body is also covered with a shield. Signs of their occurrence are drying of the leaf plates, which leads to the bareness of the plant. An effective measure against them is to clean the wood with a soap solution. The working solution can be prepared using alcohol;
Spider mites. These pests leave behind a web through which they can be detected. The web looks like merging drops. Pests usually spread along the bottom of the leaves. A favorable environment for their occurrence is high air humidity. Symptoms of the appearance are yellow spots on the leaf blades, the presence of cobwebs. These pests are quite difficult to control. Long-term treatment will be required. The difficulty of the fight is due to the fact that eggs laid by spider mites can survive for five years. Acaricides help against them;
Mealybugs. These are quite large pests, the size of which can be up to 10 mm. They are distinguished by a whitish powder color. They can be detected by their characteristic white, waxy discharge. Pests attack leaves, shoots, and root systems. This contributes to the loss of decorative appearance and slower growth. They spread most actively in dry air. Prevention of their occurrence is to maintain the recommended air humidity. Mealybugs are fairly easy to control. To do this you will need a cotton swab, soap and water. You need to moisten the stick, soap it and remove pests and their secretions from the tree.

Diseases and pests rarely appear on the screw palm. This plant is resistant to various ailments. Such problems do not often bother gardeners when growing. The tree lives for a long time without causing much trouble.

Possible problems during cultivation

Pandanus diseases may not be associated with pests. However, they are no less dangerous, as they spoil the decorative appearance of the plant and cause damage to its root system. What to do to protect the plant from diseases? It is necessary to regularly inspect the tree for adverse changes. If you find dryness or spots, you need to immediately find out the reason for this and take action. Let's look at the most common problems when growing:

Drying of leaf plates against the background of the appearance of a brown tint on their tips. Indicates excessive dryness and lack of watering. A deficiency of nutrients can also cause this problem. How to fight? It is necessary to establish the correct watering schedule and provide timely fertilizing. It is recommended to cut off the damaged ends, leaving only a millimeter-long strip to healthy tissue. After this, intensive watering is carried out. This helps the plant recover and restore its former decorative appearance;
The leaves are turning yellow. It is a sign of increased humidity or the occurrence of putrefactive processes in the root system. To combat, it is necessary to establish the correct level of humidity. If the problem is in the root system, you need to carefully dig out the roots and trim off any rotten or dead ones. Then they dig back in. The occurrence of putrefactive processes is usually provoked by excess moisture;
The leaf blades lose the intensity of their color. It is a sign of excess light reaching the plant. Also, the reasons may be the use of hard water when watering, excess calcium in the soil. If the problem occurs against the background of the fact that the leaves do not develop to normal levels, the cause may be a lack of light and nutrients;
The leaves are drying. The formation of dry spots on the leaf plate indicates burns from direct rays of the sun. In this case, it is better to move the tree to a place where the destructive rays will not reach it.

Pandanus is not a capricious plant. It is enough to provide it with the correct content, and global problems will not arise.