There is plenty of confusion regarding plants that should be planted in a Green Space of the house. So, to solve your dilemma, today we have come up with an extraordinary plant – The Majesty Palm Ravenea rivularis. It is a rare plant native to the forests of Madagascar. However, it is gaining popularity these days as an ornamental plant grown indoors to decorate houses and offices.
What is the Majesty Palm?
The Majesty Palm is a rare and threatened palm tree belonging to the Arecaceae family. It grows best in Tropical and Semi-Tropical environments. The plant can be produced from seeds as well as propagated.
The Majesty Palm may be challenging to grow indoors as it has specific requirements regarding sunlight, humidity, water, soil, etc. However, it requires minimal maintenance after it grows to a moderate height. It will not consume much time and effort of yours once it reaches a mature stage. You must be aware of a few facts before planting the Majesty Palm. Some of those facts and figures are mentioned below.
Basic Facts about Majesty Palm
| Name of the Species | Ravenea rivularis |
|
Taxonomic tree |
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Angiospermae Family: Arecaceae Species: rivularis |
| Plant type | It is a palm tree
Seed propagated It is an evergreen plant Perineal plant |
| Distribution | It is mainly found in Tropical and semi-tropical areas. The plant is native to Madagascar. It is a rare plant that comes under the threatened category. Nowadays, it is widely cultivated as an indoor ornamental plant. |
| Other names | Majesty Palm or Majesty Palm |
| Cultural/amenity | Impact- Positive |
| Human health | Impact- Positive |
| Uses | It is used for décor, medicinal research, and other commercial purposes. |
| Temperature range | It grows well in warmer areas and is intolerant to chilly winters. A temperature range between 66 – 84 F (20 – 30 C) is best for the plant. |
| Maintenance | Moderate maintenance is required |
The Genus
Ravenea
Native habitat
Majesty Palm is native to the tropical regions of Madagascar.
Sun tolerance
Majesty Palm loves the sun and can tolerate them 6 to 8 hours a day. If they are under too much sun, the leaves may burn and become brownish in colour.
Mature height
The Majesty Palm can grow as high as 100 feet when planted in soil and under the best conditions. However, if planted indoors in a pot, it grows only up to 10 feet.
Leaves
The Majesty Palm has symmetrical leaves and a swollen base at the trunk. The leaves of the Majesty Palm are pinnate leaves that are around 18 inches in length on straight stems that are attached to the swollen base.
Crown shaft
Majesty Palm is a single trunk palm with no crown shaft.
Leaf colour
The colour of the Majesty Palm leaves are green and the stem with which they are attached are light brown in colour.
Cold tolerance
Around 20 degree Celsius is what the plant can tolerate beyond which it is difficult for the plant to beat the cold.
Self pruning characteristic
The Majesty Palm doesn’t need pruning frequently. However, it improves the branching and leaf growth. It doesn’t hamper the growth of your plant in any way.
Growth rate
The Majesty palm has a growth rate of medium to fast as per the environment provided.
Fruit
The fruit of the Majesty Palm is red in color and the seed is brownish in colour.
How to grow Majesty Palm?
Source: Pinterest
It is quite challenging to grow the Majesty Palm. The plant has specific requirements regarding sunlight, humidity, water, soil, etc., that must be fulfilled for its proper growth. Some of these requirements are listed below.
-
Soil
Soil is one of the major requirements of the Majesty Palm. It serves as the reservoir of nutrients and organic matter essential for plant growth. The plant requires loamy (medium) soil added with a few sandy components. A well-drained and well-fertilized soil with adequate moisture is best for the proper growth of the Majesty Palm.
The Majesty Palm plant prefers to grow in soils of acidic nature. A pH level of around five must be maintained to witness the best growth of the plant. Moreover, a proper soil test before planting the seeds is advisable. It will help you determine the nutrients missing in your soil. You can add them before the plantation of the Majesty Palm.
-
Water
The Majesty Palm has moderate water requirements. Watering the plant once or twice a week is advisable. Avoid watering too much as it may lead to water-logging in the soil and eventually damaging the delicate roots. You must target to keep the soil moderately moist. You must let the soil dry a bit between two watering sessions. Water must be delivered at the base of the plant instead of spraying it over the leaves. It will minimize the water loss of the plant and thus prevent it from water stress.
-
Sunlight
The Majesty Palm requires moderate sunlight conditions. A low light condition may limit the plant’s growth, whereas a scorching sun can destroy the leaves and their components. To provide the plant with moderate sunlight, you can consider planting it in a partially shaded area. The place must be selected such that the plant receives direct sunlight during early morning and late evening. But it is subjected to a filtered light during the afternoon time
-
Temperature & humidity
The Majesty Palm plant is a summer-loving plant. It grows well in tropical and subtropical regions. Therefore, it requires a comparatively higher temperature to thrive well. A temperature range between 66 – 84 F (20 – 30 C) is best for the Majestic Palm. It cannot tolerate chilly winters and low temperatures.
The plant also requires high humidity in the air to deliver the best growth. Humidity levels of around 60% in the air are preferred for proper plant growth.
-
Fertiliser
The soil must be fertilised after regular intervals for proper growth of the Majesty Palm. Avoid applying fertilizers during winters as the plants are in an inactive stage during this part of the year. Fertilizers must be diluted to 50% of their initial strength before applying them to plants.
How the Majesty Palm will bloom?
The Majesty Palm can be seen blooming gracefully after maturity. The white flowers, followed by bright red fruits, feast on the eyes. However, the plant flowers only after reaching maturity, which is hard to achieve at home. The Majesty plant rarely reaches the flowering stage when grown at home because the nutrients available in the soil and the space in the pot are inadequate for its best growth. Moreover, the bloom is not so showy and therefore doesn’t deserve much effort.
However, if you want to see your favorite Majesty Plant bloom beautifully, it must be planted in the ground and provide adequate nutrients and desirable conditions.
Tips for maintaining Majesty Palm
Source: Pinterest
Once the Majesty Palm reaches maturity, maintaining it becomes comparatively easy. However, a few tips and tricks must be followed to keep your favorite Majesty Palm blooming all around the year. Some of those tips are here.
-
Repotting
Repotting is the practice of shifting the plant from a smaller pot to a larger one as the plant grows with time. Repotting must be done after every alternate year for proper plant growth. Avoid repotting the plant during the winter as the plant undergoes a stage of dormancy.
-
Weeding Practices
Weeds are unnecessary plants growing around the main plant, i.e., the Majesty Palm. They utilize the nutrients available in the soil and deprive your favorite Majesty Palm of all the essential nutrients required for its growth. Therefore, eliminating them is of utmost importance. Use weedicides instead of pulling them manually, as it can damage the delicate roots growing beneath the soil.
Common problems
The most common problems affecting the Majesty Palm are Pests and Diseases. Pests and diseases often attack the plant. They severely hamper the plant’s growth and may be fatal in the long run. Some of the common pests of the Majesty Palm are Red Spider mites, Mealy Bugs, Aphids, Whiteflies, etc. You need to take special care of the plant to prevent it from such deadly pests.
Some common diseases affecting the Majestic Palm Tree are Root Rot, Yellow Leaves, and Brown Leaves. Therefore, to prevent the plant from them, it must be provided with all essential nutrients and cared for prevention from these pathogens. Following are a few ways to identify the problem being faced by the plant and solve it.
-
Yellow Leaves
It happens primarily due to a lack of proper environmental conditions. You must take care of the following points to avoid the yellowing of leaves.
- Provide proper water and prevent overwatering.
- Check that the plant is provided with ample sunlight and humidity.
- Fertilizers must be applied after regular intervals.
-
Brown Leaves
If the leaves of your Majesty Plant turn brown, it may indicate any of the following three problems.
- The plant may be placed under scorching sunlight leading to the burning of leaves if it develops crispy brown color over its leaves.
- The plant may be a victim of water deficiency if the tips of its leaves turn brown.
- Lastly, if the plant displays brown spots over it, it may indicate some serious insect problem.
FAQs
Is the Majesty Palm easy to grow and maintain?
The Majesty Palm cannot be grown easily. It is challenging to grow the plant indoors as it has specific requirements regarding sunlight, humidity, water, soil, etc. However, after it grows up to a moderate height, it requires minimal maintenance. It will not consume much time and effort of yours once it reaches a mature stage.
When to sow the Majesty Palm seeds?
The Majesty Palm grows best in the summer season. Therefore, it is best to plant the seeds during the late spring or early summer. Germinating seeds at this part of the year will help the plant grow healthy and beautiful.
Is Majesty Palm poisonous?
No reports of any toxic chemicals being found in the Majesty Palm. It is safe to grow them at home. Moreover, its fruits are edible, but they bloom rarely.
How do you propagate the Majesty Palm?
The Majesty Palm can be grown via two methods. Firstly, the plant can be grown by germinating seeds. And the second method is vegetative propagation, where the plant can be grown by stem division.
How long does the Majesty Palm grow?
The Majesty Palm may grow as high as 100 feet tall in its original habitat. However, if it is grown indoors, it will grow just up to 10 feet. It is because the nutrients available in the soil and the space in the pot are inadequate for its best growth.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you.
Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
