The Travellers Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) is the ideal solution for a tropical flavour to your gardens. Famous for its fan-like leaves and looks, this plant can add beauty to any corner of any house. In the following guide, you will learn about Travelers Palm – from planting to pruning and many other valuable things.
What is the Travellers Palm?
Despite the name, it is not a member of the palm family because it has no relation with the true Palm. It is a member of the Strelitziaceae family, the same family to which the Bird of Paradise plant belongs. Originally from Madagascar, the Travellers Palm is so-called because its lush leaves are reported to harvest rainwater, which is essential for the survival of those on a journey through the jungle. Due to its unique appearance and low levels of maintenance, it has been widespread in tropical climates for gardening purposes.
Why More People Should Choose the Travellers Palm?
Travelers palm is a good plant for tropical or subtropical gardens. Its distinct auto-orientation turns landscapes a notch, adding drama to contemporary architecture. Its primary uses would be to make accent pieces, provide screening, or be the background for other plants. Properly cared for, this exciting tree can last for years and significantly enrich your garden with bright leaves.
How to Grow a Traveller Palm
It is straightforward to plant a Travelers Palm, but it needs some ideal conditions to grow successfully.
Choosing the Right Location
Travellers’ Palms are primarily suited for full sun but will manage some partial shade. For maximum yield, plant them where they can grow in full sun, where the sun directly hits the plant for at least 6 hours a day. They like well-drained soil as a dominant growing factor. Mixing your soil with compost or sand is ideal for loamy or clayey soils.
Planting Process
- Half bury the plant by digging a hole with twice the root dimensionsballs.
- The root ball should be placed into the hole, aligning its top part with the ground around the hole.
- Make good soil and water to allow the soil to settle around the roots of the plants.
- Place another layer of mulch surrounding the base to help control how wet or dry the soil becomes.
Taking Care of Your Travellers Palm
After doing this, caring for the Travelers Palm becomes relatively easy because it is a low-maintenance plant. However, to promote healthy development, you should consider a few things.
Watering Needs
Although the mature Travellers Palm plant has a pretty good tolerance to drought, it is best watered regularly. Organic matter should be kept moist during growth, particularly in the warmer months. However, avoid overwatering it since it does not require moist soil and will develop root rot if soaked. Water it well often to provoke root growth so only the trunk and branches appear on the surface.
Fertilizing Your Travellers Palm
Water your Travelers Palm at least once a week when it is actively growing, from springl to fall. Feed your Travelers Palm once monthly with a slow-release balanced fertilizer. Potassium-rich fertilizer will assist in new foliage growth, Depending on what you mean by “productivity” in the context of plants. Do not fertilize the plant during the winter because it does not thrive.
Pruning and Maintenance
The Travellers Palm is not known for its pruning requirements, but it could be done with some tidying occasionally. This is particularly so since the leaves may be dead or damaged and should be removed to give the plant a neat look. You may trim roots if they become too many at the base of the plant, but never chop the trunk. If one prunes excessively, it will harm the plant.
Advantages of travelling to Palm
In addition to its pretty looks, having a Travellers Palm at home or in the office has certain advantages.
1. Tropical Appeal
They are massive and fanning, giving your garden that striking first impression. Their dense foliage makes them well-suited for use with other tropical plants to enhance the beauty of landscaping.
2. Low Maintenance
Once established, this plant demands little attention. It is also drought-enduring, pest-immune, and capable of growing on different types of soils.
3. Privacy Screening
The large leaves of the Travellers Palm afford a very satisfactory amount of privacy. They are excellent as a temporary fence or hedge, masking unsightly views and beautifying your landscape.
4. Wildlife Habitat
The Travellers Palm will attract all birds and insects to your garden, encouraging movement. The large leaves also provide an excellent opportunity for birds of prey to perch.
5. Rainwater Collection
Traditionally, the people of Madagascar utilized the leaves of this plant to catch rainwater while they were touring. Although this may only be useful in some areas, it’s exciting and valuable if you like harvesting rainwater.
Ideas of landscaping with Travellers’ Palm
The Travellers Palm is very flexible when it comes to landscaping. Here are a few ideas for incorporating it into your outdoor space:
Tropical Garden
To enhance the effect of bringing the tropics indoors, combine the Travellers Palm with other spectacular themes in the plant kingdom, such as Bird of Paradise, Banana Tree, and Heliconias. Employ these plants to design your space to make it look like a jungle.
Privacy Screen or Hedge
There you have it – install several Travellers Palms in a row next to a fence or the edge of a piece of land to create an ornamental yet natural barrier.
Focal Point in a Large Garden
Due to its size and eye-catching leaves, the Travellers Palm might be employed as a specimen plant in a large garden. Aquascaping should be done close to a water feature, such as a fountain or pond, to create the illusion of a tropical landscape.
Container Gardening
Growing it in a big pot is better if the plant might not withstand the cold in your area during winter. These conditions make it easier to relocate it inside or to a covered area during winter.
Travellers Palm versus Banana Plant
Although the Travellers Palm resembles a banana plant, they differ in some ways. The first difference is the shape of the leaves. Travellers Palm has compound leaves that can be up to 10 feet long and wide enough for each segment of the fan shape, while banana plants have large, tall leaves that grow directly from the ground.
Furthermore, the Travellers Palm is much taller and more erect than a banana plant, although banana plants are shorter and more spreading. Although both plants are suitable for creating a tropical atmosphere in a house, the Travellers Palm seems to mediate as an object of cultivating ornamental plants with an unusual appearance.
Conclusion
Traveller’s Palm is an elegant and universal plant that may become the highlight of your garden décor. If you want to improve your design, call attention to a particular area of your yard, or even use a type of barrier for the yard, Traveller’s Palm can answer your needs. With just a few basic rules of care, your plant will remain a source of beauty in your home for several years.
With its convenient growing, magnificent looks, and multipurpose uses, any owner will surely cherish the Travellers Palm.
QUESTIONS
How fast does a traveller’s Palm grow?
The Travellers Palm can grow 1 to 2 feet annually if conditions are right. It will take five to ten years to grow to its full size, between twenty and thirty feet tall.
Which location is ideal for a Travellers Palm?
The ideal place to plant a Travelers Palm is exposed to sunlight; however, a semi-shaded place is tolerable. It needs good drainage and more prominent space for its large, fanned-shaped leaves.
Is Travellers Palm a plant that needs plenty of water?
Though the Travellers Palm is somewhat drought-enduring, it grows better if watered regularly, especially in hot seasons. Grow it in well-drained, moist soil all year.
Can Travelers Palm thrive in a cold climate?
Travelers’ Palms are not cold-hardy and do poorly in cold environments. They are most appropriate for growth in tropical and subtropical areas with average temperatures exceeding 30°F (-1°C).
Where and how do you propagate a Travellers Palm?
Travellers’ Palms are generally propagated by division. Offsets or suckers can be pinched off from the main plant and directly transplanted in good drainage soil to propagate a new plant.
