Cobbler palm - planting, maintaining, multiplying and more

Care tips

The cobbler palm forgives one or the other beginner's mistake like hardly any other houseplant. The ornamental foliage plant proves to be grateful for the following care program:

Pour moderately with soft water
Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days from April to October
Cut off completely withered leaves down to 3 cm
Repot at most every 4-5 years in early spring

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Cobbler palm - one of the easiest green plants to care for
Are there indoor palm trees that need little light?

If the butcher's palm lingered in the partially shaded location on the airy balcony, clear the plant before the first frost. From November to March the houseplant rests at a cool 8-10 degrees Celsius and with a reduced water supply. There is no fertilization in this phase.

Which location is suitable?

The houseplant owes its names to the cobbler's palm and butcher's palm from the fact that in the past it thrived even in the shoemaker's dim workshop or on the light-poor counter of the butcher's shop. The Asian beauty is in the limelight under all conceivable light and temperature conditions. The decorative leaves could only get sunburned in direct sunlight. The plant likes to be in the half-shady, warm place on the summer balcony. She preferably spends her well-deserved hibernation on the cool windowsill by the north window of the house at 10-12 degrees Celsius.

What soil does the plant need?

The quality of the earth primarily contributes to healthy growth. As a substrate, choose good compost-based potting soil or special palm soil with a pH value of 5.5 to 6.5. This value can be found on the packaging. In order to offer a cobbler palm premium conditions, mix the potting soil yourself. The following recipe is based on many years of experience:

4 parts of standard soil (TKS1) or normal potting soil
2 parts clayey soil
1 part quartz sand
1-2 parts lava granules (€ 13.76 at Amazon *) or expanded clay

Check the mixture for pH with a test strip. If the result is above 6.5, add leaf soil or peat to lower the pH.

Cut the cobbler palm properly

Even though the cobbler palm does not develop a trunk, it still shows the typical palm growth. Thus the only point of vegetation is in the top of the plant. If you attack your green darling with the scissors, he will indignantly stop growing. How to properly cut a butcher's palm:

Never cut the apex of a cobbler palm
Do not remove brown leaves until they are completely withered
Use a knife or scissors to cut off the petiole to 3 cm

Before using the cutting tool, it should be disinfected with high percentage alcohol. Any cut opens the door to cunning viruses, fungal spores and pests to the inside of the plant.

Water the cobbler palm

Water the cobbler palm very sparingly all year round. Only when the top two thirds of the substrate have dried is watering done. Use only stale tap water or collected rainwater to prevent the pH in the substrate from rising. After 20-30 minutes, please check the coaster to pour out the excess water.

Fertilize cobbler palm properly

In the nutrient supply of butcher palms, the 14-day cycle during the growing season has proven to be excellent. Apply a commercial palm fertilizer in liquid form from April to October. Please note that liquid fertilizer should not be applied to dry substrate. First moisten the earth with clear water, then add the fertilizer to the irrigation water. Stop giving fertilizers from November to February.

Overwinter

The cobbler palm is not frost hardy. Clear the plant in good time in autumn so that it can spend its dormancy period in winter. A partially shaded window seat at a cool 8-10 degrees Celsius is ideal. An unheated staircase, a cool winter garden or the frost-free garage are also possible. Water moderately so that the root ball does not dry out. Stop fertilizing from November to March.

Propagate cobbler palm

You multiply the robust cobbler palm in early spring by dividing the rhizomes. Cut off root strands with at least 2 leaves. You plant these individually or in small groups in poor, well-drained and slightly acidic substrate. In the partially shaded window seat you can look after your pupils like adult plants. The only thing that is dispensed with is the use of fertilizers, which in this phase impair the roots. Once the young plants have completely rooted their growing container, repot them in palm soil and start the normal care program.

How do I transplant properly?

Only transplant a cobbler palm every 4-5 years in spring, as the houseplant likes to remain undisturbed. Use a spacious bucket for the mighty root ball. A few pottery shards above the water drain effectively prevent damaging waterlogging. Fill in palm soil or your own mixture up to a third of the height of the pot. Use your fist to make a hollow in the ground. Then pot the butcher's palm and shake off the drained soil. The planting depth should be maintained as precisely as possible. Finally, pour the ornamental leaf plant with soft water.

Is cobbler palm poisonous?

The cobbler palm is almost certainly not poisonous. In the absence of scientific evidence and well-founded advice in the literature, we nevertheless recommend wearing gloves if your health is prone to allergies.

Brown leaves

Brown leaves are an unmistakable symptom of waterlogging. Too frequent and intensive watering results in this classic damage to cobbler palms. Repot the affected plant in fresh, dry substrate. In future, do not put soft water on the root ball until the soil is two-thirds dry.

Yellow leaves

With yellow leaves, the cobbler palm signals a nutrient deficiency due to an excess of lime. A slightly acidic pH value is of fundamental importance so that the roots can get to the food in the substrate. If hard tap water is poured, the lime in it fixes the vital iron. The result is leaf chlorosis with yellowed leaves. You should therefore only water with soft, room-warm water.