Gold fruit palms inspire with filigree, lush green fronds. You can quickly bring tropical flair to your home, office or business premises. With low maintenance requirements, the species also known as the Areca palm is one of the most popular houseplants of all. The original botanical name Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is gradually being replaced by the name Dypsis lutescens. In addition to the attractive shape, the areca palm also has a beneficial effect on a healthy indoor climate for plants. The houseplant filters pollutants from the air and is therefore particularly useful in residential and business premises. The name golden fruit palm goes back to the shape of the fruits, which form on indoor plantsextremely rare.
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Worth knowing about the golden fruit palm
Botanical name: Dypsis lutescens, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Other names: Areca palm, areca, butterfly palm, golden sugar cane palm, areca, golden fruit palm
Use: indoor plant, indoor greening, container plant from May to September, air freshener, office plant, also suitable for hydroponics
Origin: Madagascar
Special features: The palm gradually forms young shoots and over time can fill an area of 1.5 to 2 square meters with the pinnate leaves.
In which location does the golden fruit palm feel most comfortable?
Golden fruit palms prefer a very bright and warm location in the house, but should not be exposed to the blazing sun. The palm tree can be indoors all year round, but staying outdoors from the end of May to September is very beneficial. Make sure that the green plant is gradually accustomed to outdoor conditions, otherwise unsightly burns will result. A partially shaded spot on the balcony or terrace that is protected from rain is ideal for golden fruit palms. Clear the areca palm into the house in good time in autumn, because temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius are not suitable for golden fruit palms.
Our gardening tip:A sunny location in the house or garden quickly leads to burns. In the wild, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens grow among other plants.
How do I properly care for my Areca Palm?
Areca are robust and easy to care for under optimal site conditions. In addition to need-based watering and regular fertilizing, there are hardly any maintenance measures. You can regularly rinse off small plants in the shower with lukewarm water. If the plants are too large and unwieldy for this, wiping the leaves with a damp cloth will help. This removes the dust and supports a good development of the plant. Regular spraying with a spray bottlewith low-lime water helps especially with dry heating air in winter. You can also easily increase the humidity with an indoor fountain nearby. In addition, plant lamps are a way to improve conditions in the months when there is little light.
How do I water my golden fruit palm correctly?
Areca require even soil moisture. There should never be standing water, but the substrate should never dry out completely. You can dip smaller plants once a week. Here you place the palm tree in a bucket filled with water and immerse the plant until no more air bubbles rise. The advantage of the immersion method is that the root ball is completely soaked and the areca is optimally cared for. After 15 minutes, pour off the excess water. Water larger specimens once or twice a week depending on the temperature, volume of soil and insolation. Again, there should never be water in the saucer or planter. It is important that the substrate dries a little between the individual watering processes.
How do I fertilize my areca?
Dypsis lutescens need regular fertilizer for good development and growth. A special fertilizer for green plants and palms is ideal for fertilizing golden fruit palms. It contains important growth and vital substances and thus helps the Dypsis lutescens to look healthy and fresh. Fertilize the palm weekly from March to October. Dose the liquid fertilizer according to the instructions on the package and give the golden fruit palm the necessary nutrients when watering. If golden fruit palms are not fertilized enough, the leaf is light and the dypsis lutescens is more susceptible to pests. Fertilizing once a month is sufficient in winter. A fertilization with fertilizer sticksis another way to supply the Chrysalidocarpus lutescens with nutrients. Especially for small plants, fertilizer sticks are a convenient long-term fertilization that works for 3 months.
How do I repot my golden fruit palm?
For healthy growth, you should transplant your areca into a larger pot with fresh substrate at regular intervals. Young plants can stay in the same pot for a year or two immediately after purchase. For larger specimens, transplanting in spring is conducive to growth and vitality. Choose a container that is 5 to 7 cm larger in diameter and only use green plant and palm soil. This special substrate has an optimal composition, is peat-reduced, has a pH value of 5.3 and is therefore ideal for palm trees. Make sure there is a drainage layer, for example made of clay granules, at the bottom of the pot.
Repotting plants — our tips
Find out in the blog post why and how you should repot your plants.
repot plants
What is the best way to cut Dypsis lutescens?
Despite the best care, brown tips or completely brown leaves can occur over time. Cut off the unsightly parts. Make sure that you never shorten the height of the Dypsis lutescens, but only remove the individual fronds directly on the trunk. Yellow leaves are usually a sign of a lack of fertilizer or drafts. Therefore, improve the conditions, if necessary, repotting will help. Burns from direct sunlight also cause leaf damage, so trim generously.
What pests and diseases can the golden fruit palm get?
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens are robust green plants that are long-lived and healthy in the right location. The following pests can occur:
Spider Mites (Red Spider)
The affected leaves have silvery dots on the upper side and webs are visible on the underside of the leaves. It is usually sufficient to spray the plants with water and treat them with plant strengtheners. These bio-active agents contain natural plant extracts that contribute to the vitalization of the plant.
scale insects
There are brown, slightly convex knobs in the leaf axils in particular. The scale insects are safely hidden under these protective shields and are therefore difficult to combat. As soon as you discover the infestation, you should wipe off the scale insects or prune the plant. The pests can be controlled biologically with oil-based agents. It is important that the application is carried out several times.
Mealybug
You can find the white structures in the leaf axils especially in phases with less light. Mealybugs are controlled in the same way as scale insects.
Indoor plant pests – our tips
In this blog post you will learn more about indoor plant pests. Which pests are there and how can you treat and prevent them.
Houseplant Pests
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FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Areca Palm
What can be the reason for brown leaf tips?
Brown leaf tips are often a sign of too much water. In addition, leaf damage can occur due to dry air in winter. Regular spraying with low-lime water can help to prevent brown leaf tips.
How are dypsis lutescens multiplied?
The golden fruit palm can be propagated by sowing. However, propagation from seeds requires a lot of patience. First, the seed must swell. After sowing, uniformly high temperatures and high humidity are required before the seedling can be seen. Pay attention to a bright location and optimal conditions. Propagating the beautiful palm tree with offshoots is a little easier. To do this, you can separate lower shoots from older plants. It is important that these have already formed their own roots. Plant the palm tree in small pots with special soil. Warmth and even soil moisture are important until new fronds are formed.
Can golden fruit palms be grown hydroponically?
Golden fruit palms are best kept as hydro plants. It is important that the water level indicator is always at the minimum. Too much water damages the plant.
Are golden fruit palms suitable for allergy sufferers?
Due to the enormous air-purifying effect and the natural air humidification, Areca is ideal for allergy sufferers.
Are areca palms poisonous?
Dypsis lutescens does not contain any toxic substances. Therefore, the palm trees are also ideal for households with children or pets.
Can areca be outside in summer?
As with many other indoor plants, staying in the summer is conducive to vitality. Areca are used to warmth and light from their original homeland. Therefore, an outdoor space from June to August is ideal. Make sure that there is never direct sunlight in the garden either. The sun does not damage older leaves so much, but the fresh shoots are quickly damaged.
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