Newly Purchased Bottle Palm

[Jim in Los Altos]

At Lowes today I purchased a nice plump and healthy  Bottle palm (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis) in a seven gallon container that I plan on keeping potted. I know it would languish during our cool winters if left outside so it will be an outdoor palm except during the winter. What I would like to know is what it takes to keep it healthy and growing inside and outside.

Thanks!

[Kamipalms]

Hi Jim,

I love these guys and I've had a few potted for quite some time.

The only downside is they don't develope such a great "bottle" feature when kept as "pot plants" but they still develope enough to recognize them as a  bottle.

Normaly they love hot direct sun so if you have somewhere inside where they can receive this they will be just fine....just watch the water through winter or better yet, keep them in a very free draining medium.

J.

[TooShort]

What did that cost you, if you don`t mind me asking.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Kamipalms,

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm hoping to keep this Bottle palm as happy and healthy as is possible. I love 'em!

Joe,

My seven gallon palm is 26" tall and has a 4.5" diameter trunk base and three big, healthy fronds. It set me back $79.00 plus tax at my local Lowes store. They had them displayed as outdoor palms which I'm afraid won't work very well here with our mostly damp cool winters.

[DoomsDave]

Jim!

Nice to meet  you!

Welcome to the board of the insane, the people in the white suits chase us, till they get the disease themselves.

Ahem.

Welcome, also, to Marginal Palm City.  (Margenalopolis.)

H. langies are marginal here in the south, and even more so in the North, of Cali, that is.

That said, they are predictable enough that you can get them to grow, and they'll make a lot of normal (!!!!) people swoon with all the pretty colors.  

Keep them in the pot.  Keep them warm, and, in the winter, a bit on the dry side.  They tend to rot of it's cold and wet.  Warm and wet, they love.  Up there, you're going to have cold and wet for  a lot of the year.  If it threatens to freeze, trundle it into your garage, or heave a plastic sheet over it.  (Garage is MUCH better, yeah, yeah, I know, the ole' lady may disagree, but an SUV or Mercedes Testosterone Coupe will take a freeze MUCH better.

Post some pics, and keep us apprized.  

We loonies love those who push the envelope into the belly of the beast, or where-ever . . . .

dave

[Jim in Los Altos]

Hi Dave,

I've actually been on this board for a couple of years at least. I used to call myself Las Palmas Design referring to my landscape design co.

Even though I have lots of successfully growing in the ground maturing Foxtails, Triangles, Kings, 20 species of Chamaedoreas, etc., etc., etc., I'll be bringing the Bottle inside my cozy home for the winter but will give her an occasional outdoor sunbath on many of the warmer days. It's not as cold up here as you might think.