Calamus palustris

Cultivation Details

Most species in this genus are more or less vigorous climbing plants in rainforests. Leaves of young plants are normally damaged if exposed to too much light, though leaves of older plants will usually tolerate full sun. In general, plants are likely to grow best with their roots in the shade but with enough gap in the canopy to encourage their stems to grow up towards the light. They are also likely to grow best in a humus-rich soil^[PFAF]. Many of the species require fairly moist conditions for good growth, in fact several of them grow in wet soils or in areas with seasonal inundation - where we have the information it will be included under the plant’s habitat. Overhead shade should be manipulated at about 6-monthly intervals for the first 2 - 3 years of a young plant’s life to ensure they receive sufficient light to grow vigorously. About 40 - 50% light penetration is generally considered to be ideal for promoting stem growth. Little care is needed once the seedlings are established. It is important, however, to weed the area surrounding the seedlings occasionally until the plants are more than 2 metres tall. Thirtyone months after planting under stands of Pinus caribaea, the stem lengths ranged from 2 - 4 metres, with one stem (which was 3.5 metres long) having produced a female inflorescence^[1]. Growth is better in young secondary forest or in old rubber plantations where there is more light - in such sites 5 - 15 stems are produced per plant. In the darker conditions of regenerated forest only 1 - 5 stems are produced^[1]. Each fruit bunch contains 500 - 1,000 fruits^[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.