The Madagascar palm is a succulent. If the right location and the right substrate have been found, it does not make any great demands on care.
Palm trees awaken holiday dreams and can be found in many living rooms. The Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) is in no way inferior, although botanically it is not a palm but a succulent. The easy-care houseplant has thorns reminiscent of a cactus and enchants with its decorative flowers.
Special features of the Madagascar palm tree
If you look for similarities between the Madagascar palm and conventional palms, this is limited to the term "palm". The dogbane plants come from the island of Madagascar and do not grow wild anywhere else on earth. The deposits are concentrated in the middle of the island and the southern part of Madagascar.
Due to its cone-shaped trunk, the Madagascar palm is also called thick foot. In Madagascar it is not uncommon to find plants up to five meters high. Cultivated plants reach a maximum height of two meters.
Plant Portrait
| Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | thorny and sparsely branched stem, deciduous, succulent |
| Growth: | about 2 meters in cultivation, 8 meters in nature |
| Leaves: | dark green leaf rosettes |
| Flowers: | white funnel-shaped petals |
| Location: | sunny, warm |
| Floor: | permeable, rich in nutrients |
Suitable location for the madagascar palm tree
It really can't get too hot for the Madagascar palm. The sun children feel extremely well at the full sun south window. Choose a bright and warm location all year round.
Dry heating air does not bother the Madagascar palms. Temperatures of 30 degrees and more are tolerated without any problems.
Tip: The Madagascar palm can also be outdoors in summer.
If an outdoor pitch is chosen, protection from rain and wind must be provided. Make sure theTemperatures do not fall below 15 degrees even at night. Young plants are even more sensitive to cold and should therefore not be left outside.
Ideal substrate for the Madagascar Palm
Madagascar palms need well drained soil. Preferably use cactus soil or mix standard soil with sand.
Tip: Coconut fibers also loosen up the soil.
A permeable soil stores less moisture and thus helps to avoid waterlogging. If cactus soil is used, frequent fertilization is necessary because it is a nutrient-poor substrate. Since the substrate is used up quickly, it should be transplanted more frequently.
Water Madagascar Palm
Succulents also survive longer periods of drought. The casting behavior should be adapted to this. The surface of the soil can dry out between the individual waterings.
Warning: Always water sparingly. The Madagascar palm does not tolerate waterlogging.
Excess irrigation water must be removed from the saucer or planter. Spraying the plants is not necessary. The Madagascar palm manages with low humidity.
Fertilize Madagascar Palm
The plants can either be supplied with conventional flower fertilizer or with special plant food for cacti:
Flower fertilizer is given at three-week intervals in spring and summer. The dose used for the other flowering plants should be halved. Cactus fertilizer is added to the irrigation water at two-week intervals.
Repot Madagascar Palm
The Madagascar palm is repotted about every two years. This serves to exchange the substrate and convert it to a larger planter. The ideal time for the measure is early spring.
Repotting - step by step
1. Wrap the trunk of the Madagascar palm with newspaper or foil
2. Lift the plant out of the old plant pot
3. Strip off the old substrate
4. Check the roots
5 New planter with soil fill
6. Pot the plant
7. Water the plant
8. Set up the plant pot as usual
Repotting is the ideal time to check the condition of the roots and remove soft or dried out root sections. After repotting, the Madagascar palm can be watered continuously. The next watering occurs only when the balls are dry.
Tip: Gloves are essential when transplanting. If a newspaper is folded and placed around the trunk,manage the repotting without major injuries.
Does the madagascar palm need pruning?
The plants do not require any pruning. If you shorten the crown, you have to expect that the plant will not survive.
Tip: If growth is to be curbed, it can help to give less irrigation water or to choose a darker location.
Withered or diseased leaves are removed with a sharp knife.
Short portrait of some varieties
| Type | Growth | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pachypodium saundersii | up to six meters | • Trunk silver-grey • Leaves slightly wavy |
| Pachypodium geayi | up to five meters | • Stem cylindrical • Leaves narrow |
| Pachypodium rutenbergianum | up to eight meters | • stem bottle shaped • delicate pink flowers |
Propagate madagascar palm…
The plants can be propagated by seeds and cuttings.
… by seeds
Once an older plant blooms, seeds can be obtained. This is preceded by successful pollination. You can encourage seed formation and pollinate the flowers with a brush.
The seeds are kept dry and dark over the winter. Sow thinly on cactus soil or another nutrient-poor substrate. The seeds are only lightly covered with soil. The substrate is well moistened and covered with foil.
Tip: To prevent mold from forming, the film cover must be aired briefly every day.
The planter is set up bright and warm. The chances of successful germination are best at temperatures around 28 degrees.
… by offshoot
Propagation through offshoots is not always possible. Only Madagascar palms that have side shoots are suitable. The cuttings are cut in spring.
The cutting is cut off with a sharp knife immediately below a knot. The cut surface must dry out well. Before planting, the lower leaves are removed to prevent rot from developing in the soil.
Propagation by offshoots - step by step
1. Cut offshoot
2. Prepare offshoot
3. Fill plant pot with substrate
4. Plant offshoot
5. Cover shoot with cling film
6. Planter set up bright and warm
During cultivation direct sunlight is to be avoidedavoid. At least one eye should remain above the substrate. If new shoots appear, the propagation has been successful and the young plant is cultivated as usual.
Detect pests and diseases on the Madagascar Palm
Spider mites or scale insects can occasionally cause problems for the Madagascar palm. An infestation can usually be recognized by the condition of the leaves. The leaves change color or are shed. Scale insects leave a sticky film on the underside of leaves. The pests can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or tea tree oil.
Tip: A leaf drop at the beginning of the dormant phase is a natural reaction. The new sprouting takes place reliably in the next spring.
Waterlogging is a threat to Madagascar palms. When root rot occurs, the leaves begin to wilt and the trunk rots. If you react quickly, you can often save the plant by repotting it.
Winter Madagascar Palm
The Madagascar palms enter a dormant phase during the cold season. During this time, the plants are only sporadically watered. The fertilization is completely stopped. The hibernation takes place frost-free at temperatures around 18 degrees.
Is the madagascar palm poisonous?
The dogbane plants are among the poisonous indoor plants. They are poisonous in all parts of the plant. Plant sap in particular contains substances that are harmful to humans and animals. When removing the leaves, the sap can escape. Plants must be placed out of the reach of children and pets. Dispose of cutting residue immediately.