Does not require special conditions: how to grow a date palm from a seed at home

Dates are considered to be a wonderful healthy treat, but have you ever thought about growing a date tree from the pit? Meanwhile, it is quite suitable for keeping as a houseplant.

Experts say that you are unlikely to get fruit from it because keeping it indoors does not provide the conditions necessary for fruiting. However, such a tree will definitely become a home decoration. OBOZ.UA tells you how to grow it from a seed, make sure it takes root, and take care of it.

How to germinate

First of all, keep in mind that not every date has a seed suitable for germination. Only a fruit that has been dried can sprout. Deeper processing kills the germination of date seeds.

Take a few seeds at a time to increase your chances of success and thoroughly clean them from the pulp. If you leave even a little bit of it, it can develop mold and kill the sprout.

First, soak the planting material in cold water for 2 days. Change the water periodically, do not allow it to stagnate. When you have completed the procedure, check the seed again for any remaining pulp. At this stage, the seed is ready for germination.

However, without preliminary treatment, the date can take up to several months to germinate. To accelerate the emergence of a sprout, soak it for 10 minutes in hot, not boiling, water. You can also gently pierce the hard shell of the stone or rub it with sandpaper. But these manipulations are optional.

How to plant

Date palms like a light and loose substrate and not too wet soil. Universal soil can be too nutritious for the plant. It is better to buy a special palm tree mix. Alternatively, mix humus, peat, sawdust or perlite, and sand in equal parts. Heat the homemade mixture in the oven to disinfect it.

Pour the resulting substrate into a pot, make a small depression in the ground, and insert the date pit in an upright position. Sprinkle the seed lightly with soil. Water it lightly.

Keep the pot with the date palm sown in it in a warm and well-lit place. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Also, make sure that it is not wet. It is better to water the seed more often but little.

If you sowed several date palm seeds in one pot, plant them when a leaf forms on each sprout. Then the plants need to be transferred to separate pots. Take them out together with a lump of soil and transfer them to a separate container with it: this will protect the delicate root system of the plant from damage. It is very sensitive and the slightest break can greatly affect the condition of the palm.

How to care

Since it is a tropical plant, it needs light, well-drained soil, moderate watering, and plenty of light and warmth. You can fertilize the date palm but only a few times a year. Water is applied under the plant before the substrate is completely dry. In summer, it can be sprayed periodically. Make sure that after the shower, the leaves are not exposed to direct sunlight as this will cause burns.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.