The sight of palm trees is reminiscent of vacations in the sunny south. Nevertheless, palm trees can also be planted in Germany without any problems, but the right type of palm tree must be selected. Hemp palms are particularly well suited to the damp and cool Central European climate.
There is always something to do in the garden. In every season there is gardening work that needs to be done so that the outside area is green and blooming. The hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), a robust palm species that is native to China and the mountain regions of the Himalayas, provides a tropical flair in the garden. Hemp palms thrive at altitudes of up to 2,400 meters and can even tolerate double-digit minus temperatures. With appropriate protection, the plants can also stand outside in the snow in winter.
Hemp palm - versatile crop
While the Chinese hemp palm is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant in Europe, the seeds of the palm are used medicinally in Asia because they are said to have cancer-healing effects. Similar effects are also suspected in the case of hemp, one of the oldest cultivated plants, the plant extracts of which were used for healing purposes as early as ancient Egypt.
Among the best-known products of the hemp plant are marijuana and hashish, which are obtained in different ways and are commonly associated with intoxication. For example, the dried flowers and leaves of female plants are called marijuana, while cannabis is Latin for hemp. However, the intoxicating herb only develops a psychoactive effect if cannabis with a THC content of more than 0.2 percent is consumed.
➔ Medicinal effects of industrial hemp
However, there are around 67 varieties of industrial hemp in Europe that have no psychoactive effect due to their low content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and are therefore approved for general use. No intoxicants can be made from THC-free hemp strains, but it is possible to obtain seeds and fiber for the manufacture of everyday products.
The hemp plant is considered a versatile crop. The cannabinoids contained in hemp are said to have pain-relieving propertiesown, so that hemp products such as CBD are often used for inflammation, anxiety and cramps. The primary purpose of growing industrial hemp is for commercial use. In the past, the hemp palm was also an important crop, producing tough fibers that were made into brushes, rope, mats, and even rain cloaks.
Plant the hemp palm in the garden or grow it as a container plant
Hemp palms thrive well planted in the home garden and can also be used outdoors as potted plants. It is important to ensure that the hemp palm gets a sunny location, as it grows more slowly in partial shade. Hemp palms can also be raised in an allotment garden. The robust palm trees are not particularly demanding. Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider when caring for hemp palms.
- In regions with a relatively warm microclimate, such as along the Rhine and on Lake Constance, the hemp palm can be planted out without any problems. However, the plants are only sufficiently hardy after 4 to 5 years.
- In cooler areas, hemp palms are only suitable as container plants, as they need a protective winter quarters during the cold season. Regardless of the type of plant, the hemp palm always needs a wind-protected location.
In their Asian homeland, hemp palms grow up to ten meters tall, while in Central Europe they reach a maximum height of between two and five meters. Copious watering during the summer months can stimulate growth, with approximately 15 centimeters or more of stem growth per year being possible.
What should be considered when fertilizing and watering hemp palms?
Due to its robust resilience and frugal undemanding nature, the hemp palm is now one of the most popular garden plants. However, the exotic plant should only be planted in spring. If a hemp palm is planted by May at the latest, it can become established in the ground by the winter season.
➔ Caution - do not over-fertilize hemp palm
In order to thrive, the hemp palm needs sufficient nutrients. If it does not receive enough vital substances, the characteristic fronds cannot develop so well. However, if the palm is over-fertilized, it can die due to excess nutrients. It is therefore advisable to use the fertilizer sparingly and only fertilize the hemp palm during the growth period - between the end of March and September.
In the winter months, when the plant takes a break, it doesn't have tobe fertilized. With regard to the plant substrate, hemp palms are not particularly demanding. It is therefore hardly necessary to use special palm soil for potted plants. Normal garden soil is usually completely sufficient for the supply of hemp palms. Alternatively, you can put the soil together yourself. Garden soil, compost, sand, some gravel and lava granulate are suitable for this.
➔ Water regularly - but no waterlogging
Watering hemp palms requires a little finesse. On the one hand the fan palm must not dry out, on the other hand it does not tolerate waterlogging and no calcareous water. It is important to ensure that the root ball of the hemp palm does not dry out. To avoid waterlogging, excess water that collects in the saucer should be poured off immediately.
Depending on its size and location, the palm tree is watered about every three to five days in summer. In winter, these intervals can be extended. With hemp palms that are in the bed, watering is usually not necessary in winter.