Caring for the Madagascar Palm: plenty of light, little water, a warm winter
The Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) is not a true palm but a succulent in the dogbane family. In the trade it is also sold as thick-foot or palm cactus. What appeals to me most is its thickened, spiny trunk, which stores water. Indoors the trunk can reach about 30 cm in diameter, and the plant usually grows up to two meters tall. In its home in Madagascar it can reach eight meters.
As for location, the brighter and warmer the better; a south-facing window is ideal. In summer it can go outside, but it has to get used to direct sun gradually or it will get sunburnt. It feels best at 18 to 30 °C, and in winter it should not drop below 15 °C. It does not tolerate frost, so bring it indoors before the first frost.
The substrate must be permeable and loose, for example a mix of cactus soil, potting soil and sand, with a drainage layer of gravel or expanded clay. Water sparingly: let the surface dry out between waterings, because waterlogging quickly leads to root rot. During the growing season from spring to autumn it can have a little more, while in winter just enough to keep the substrate slightly moist. From April to September, feed every two to four weeks with diluted cactus fertilizer.
Repot every two to three years in spring, choosing a new pot only about two centimeters larger. Important: wear gloves and protect the trunk, because the milky sap irritates the skin, and the whole plant is poisonous due to its cardenolides, so be careful around children and pets. It can be propagated from seed at 25 to 30 °C or, more simply, from cuttings of side shoots.
According to the article, the leaves dropping in winter is normal: the plant rests and sprouts again in spring. The most common pests are scale insects and spider mites; higher humidity and wiping off the affected spots helps.
Source: Gartenjournal
As for location, the brighter and warmer the better; a south-facing window is ideal. In summer it can go outside, but it has to get used to direct sun gradually or it will get sunburnt. It feels best at 18 to 30 °C, and in winter it should not drop below 15 °C. It does not tolerate frost, so bring it indoors before the first frost.
The substrate must be permeable and loose, for example a mix of cactus soil, potting soil and sand, with a drainage layer of gravel or expanded clay. Water sparingly: let the surface dry out between waterings, because waterlogging quickly leads to root rot. During the growing season from spring to autumn it can have a little more, while in winter just enough to keep the substrate slightly moist. From April to September, feed every two to four weeks with diluted cactus fertilizer.
Repot every two to three years in spring, choosing a new pot only about two centimeters larger. Important: wear gloves and protect the trunk, because the milky sap irritates the skin, and the whole plant is poisonous due to its cardenolides, so be careful around children and pets. It can be propagated from seed at 25 to 30 °C or, more simply, from cuttings of side shoots.
According to the article, the leaves dropping in winter is normal: the plant rests and sprouts again in spring. The most common pests are scale insects and spider mites; higher humidity and wiping off the affected spots helps.
Source: Gartenjournal
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