Hydroponic culture of Palms

[CYPALMS]

Fellow PTers,

I have been searching the forum for some time with various keywords, trying to find information on hydroponic culture of palms. My interest is both academic and proffesional. What i have concluded so far from all i read, is some members have tried it back in 2007-2008 with success but the species reported were very few and with few details accompanying it.

What i would like to ask is if someone has gone the extra mile to test various species and keep a log of the results, or any newer experience with newer materials and set ups. For example the subastrate that was mainly used back then was the expanded clay pebbles, while few years later this was substituted by other more ecological friendly materials, such as growstones or diatomite rock.

Subjects i am looking to shed some light on are amongst others are:

1. Genuses that have succesfully been grown hydroponically, such as Chamaedorea, Archontophoenix, Rhapis.

2. Genuses that have been tried and failed (root rot etc).

3. Commercial establishments of hydroponic culture of palms.

4. Is hydroponic culture actually giving an edge in seedling growth and speed?e

By the term hydroponic culture i am including all possible methods. Ebb and flow, NTF etc.

I would be grateful if you could share your knowledge here and i am commited to share any results back here, when i will start a few experiments.

George

[Palmə häl′ik]

.....maybe Nypa frutuicans?

Edited March 2, 2015 by Palmə häl′ik

[Zeeth]

Jeff Marcus once told me that growing on the big island is basically a giant hydroponic garden due to the high rainfall and porosity of the volcanic "soil". His palms obviously do pretty well.

[CYPALMS]

Thanx "palma halik"

Zeeth, that is exactly what i was thinking about when i read few posts about the 'volcanic rock' as "soil" and also the 'rheophytic nature' of some common palms such as archontophoenix who are said to grow roots directly into water. Main idea behind this would be to shorten the time from germination to plant (seedling stage) with obvious gains.