February 8, 2025, 4:07 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Also known as the Madagascar jewel, this houseplant is ideal for houseplant beginners as it is easy to care for and undemanding. myHOMEBOOK introduces the Madagascar palm.
The Madagascar palm, known as the Spitting Palm, is an easy-care houseplant from northern Madagascar and is particularly popular among indoor gardeners with many north-facing windows. This is because it tolerates shade well and still rewards the low care with a special and attractive growth habit. Only in winter, during the dormant phase, might the Madagascar palm lose some of its attractiveness as it sheds many of its leathery leaves. However, this is no cause for concern. As a rule, the plant will sprout again in spring just as vigorously as before.
Overview
Planting Madagascar Palms
Madagascar palms are available in well-stocked garden centers and online as potted plants. They can be cultivated indoors all year round. The plant prefers a bright location but without direct sunlight. If you can get hold of a few cuttings from friends, place them in a suitable substrate or use the seeds that the spitting palm produces in masses under suitable conditions. However, both methods of planting the spitting palm take time to grow into a compact plant.
Location and Soil
The Madagascar palm thrives in bright, indirect light conditions. Direct midday sun should be avoided as this can burn the leaves. A mix of cactus soil and conventional potting soil, enriched with sand or perlite to increase permeability, is suitable as a substrate. Waterlogging does not suit the spit palm.
Appearance and Growth
The Madagascar palm can grow up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall indoors. Its trunk is usually thickened and stores water. This makes it resistant to short periods of drought. The leaves are narrow and green and form a dense crown at the top of the trunk, which gives the plant its palm-like appearance. The plant rarely flowers indoors, but when it does, it develops small, inconspicuous flowers from which the seeds later emerge.
Varieties
The Madagascar palm (Euphorbia leuconeura) is rarely offered in different varieties. However, individual plants often differ in the intensity of the leaf pattern and the size of the leaves. As the spitting palm only occurs in the wild in northern Madagascar, there is not a large variety of species.
Caring for the Spitting palm
The houseplant is extremely easy to care for and is, therefore, ideal for beginners.
How to Water the Spitting Palm
The spitting palm is undemanding and should only be watered when the top layer of soil has dried out. In winter, it needs even less water.
The Plant Needs This Fertilization
During the growth phase from spring to autumn, a liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents can be added to the water every four weeks.
Do You Need to Prune the Madagascar Palm?
It is not usually necessary to prune the spitting palm. However, dead leaves can be removed to make the plant more visually appealing.
Winter Hardiness
The Madagascar palm is not native to our climates and is not frost-hardy due to its subtropical origin, but it can be successfully cultivated in a pot on the windowsill. However, draughts and temperatures below 15 degrees can also harm the Madagascar jewel indoors.
Propagation
The Madagascar palm is propagated by seed. After the plant has flowered, it spits out the seeds in its surroundings, hence its special name. The seeds can be collected and sown again. Propagation via cuttings can also be successful if these are grown under a plastic bag with slightly increased humidity.
Diseases and Pests
The spitting palm is robust but can occasionally be attacked by spider mites or mealy bugs. Regularly wiping the leaves and spraying with neem oil can help to keep pests away. Waterlogging can lead to root rot, so the pot should always have a drainage hole, and the substrate should have good drainage properties.
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are poisonous and contain a milky sap that can cause irritation on contact with the skin. Pets and small children should, therefore, be kept away from the plant.
Alternatives
If you are looking for an alternative to the Madagascar palm, you might consider another species in the Euphorbia family: the candelabra spurge. It also tolerates sunny and dry locations and is therefore ideal for south-facing windows, but looks similar to the spit palm.
Use
The Madagascar palm is a decorative houseplant that adds an exotic touch to any room. Its characteristics make it ideal for beginners who want an interesting and undemanding plant. If you have a lot of north-facing windows in your home, you can offer the spitting palm an ideal location.
Planting and Care Tips How Black Cumin Thrives in the Garden
Delicate summer flowers with bright colors Planting and care tips for cosmos
Planting and care tips How to cultivate a goji berry bush in the garden
Bee Friendliness
As the spitting palm rarely flowers indoors, it plays no role in feeding pollinators in our latitudes. In its native habitat, however, it is visited by insects.