Traveler’s Palm

Description

A PALM-LIKE IMPOSTER RELATED TO BANANAS & BIRDS OF PARADISE

Travelers tree is one of the unique plants out there. Not only does it have a unique shape, but the colors are also out of the ordinary. This plant is also known as Travelers Palm, but it is not a true palm. It is a member of the Strelitziaceae family, which includes Banana Trees and the Bird of Paradise. The plant’s name comes from its history, where travelers used it to gather water. They would collect rainwater from the bracts and the leaf bases.

The Travelers Palm is a tropical plant, native to the rainforests of Madagascar.

Caring for your Travelers Palm

The Travelers Tree is best suited for warmer climates as it is a tropical plant, and if you want to ensure that it grows to its full potential, you must take good care of it. This plant is typically tall and can grow up to 30-50 feet. This care guide will help you learn all the best ways to take care of it.

Light

The Ravenala Madagascariensis is a large tree, and it loves enjoying the bright and direct sunlight. You can keep it in the sunroom, or you can keep it in front of a south-facing window. It is important to give the plant maximum light, or it will have stunted growth.

Soil

When selecting the soil for your plant, you must ensure that it is rich and loamy. The acidity levels should be mild to give optimal conditions for your plant. Moreover, well-draining soil may not be the best option. Instead, you should go for soil that retains water but does not get clogged up. A standard potting mix will do wonders for your plant. You can also include things such as compost, which will help increase drainage.

Water

As the Travelers Palm is from the rainforest, it enjoys being moist most of the time. This is why you should keep watering it regularly, so it does not have to tolerate dry soil. During each watering cycle, you need to ensure that the top two inches of the soil are dry so you do not overwater them.

Fertilizer

The Travelers Palm enjoys fertilizers that are high in Nitrogen. It is a good idea to fertilize your plant once every season, except in winter. The best fertilizers include slow-release and liquid feeds that may be organic or synthetic. Avoid adding too much fertilizer, as that can damage plants.

Common Issues

The leaves of the plant are frail, making them more susceptible to damage. When taking care of plants, you must ensure that you cater to all the common issues you might face. Try to shield the plant from high winds, as that can harm the leaves. Let’s learn more about the pests and diseases you must be careful of when keeping a traveler’s palm.  

Pests

On the whole, the Travelers Tree is pest resistant, and there are no such pest issues that can cause significant damage to the plant. But it is still susceptible to all the pests that can harm indoor plants. To prevent that from happening, you can add pesticides. 

Disease

Some of the diseases include the leaves of the plant turning yellow. This usually happens due to a lack of nutrients, or if you end up over-watering the plant. Moreover, it is also possible for the leaves to turn brown. Brown leaves are a sign of over-fertilization and if the soil does not have good drainage. 

Other than these problems, there are not many diseases that can affect the Travelers Tree. It is considered to be disease resistant.

Pruning

There is no evident need to prune the Travelers Palm, but if you want to remove the root suckers from the base of the tree, you can prune it. Moreover, if you want to boost branching, you can cut off the tip of the stem, and the branch will break into two on its own.

Propagation

The best way to propagate the Travelers Palm is to propagate it using division. All you need to do is simply separate the rooted suckers. You can tug at them gently, and then replant them however you want. If the roots are tangled, you will have to gently untangle them and plant the Travelers Tree in well-aerated soil to ensure it is moist.

Potting/Repotting

You should only repot the plant if you see that the roots are poking through the drainage holes. Usually, you will need to repot your plants once every year. When you repot the plant, you must choose a few inches bigger pot than the previous one.