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Nearly 3pm in the afternoon here and it’s nudging 21C. Nearly unheard of in the second half of June around the shortest days of the year, as are 15C minimums which we’ve got again tonight. We did get down to 2.4C the other night but that’s the only cold one so far. Looking ahead it looks like on the weekend temps will drop to usual averages around 6-14C min/max.

Just curious what Red Velvet is.

Hi all, It’s been a pretty good season germinating and growing on seedlings, so I can offer my largest range ever with 63 species (including hybrids and variants) available. Unfortunately these are only available within Australia, and unless labelled ‘Germinated seed’, I also cannot send to quarantine states and territories WA, TAS or NT. Seedlings have been grown either completely unprotected outside in Melbourne or in some cases in an unheated greenhouse, so there may be imperfections in seedlings, but expect them to be relatively hardened. Express Postage available at buyers expense. For further details, growing requirement questions or pictures send me a PM.

Jim, if you can find one, Ceroxylon peruvianum is a rocket. About 12 years from seed to 5 feet of trunk for me.

Hello, and thank you. I’m pretty outgoing so I will check the boxes on the list you sent. Did you say you cover the crown? And do you put on and take off this stuff as the weather dips in and out during the winter? I heard they needed to breathe, but if they are dead then they probably won’t. Lol

That must be frustrating and sorry to hear that the ground-plunging didn't work. It's such a beautiful genus, and such a shame that Ceroxylon is so sensitive to heatwaves. At least it's something that folks on the chilly/foggy coast of central and northern California can grow to perfection. But per Richard's comments above, perhaps there's something about a rocky and superbly drained substrate that could give it the ability to survive. The roots may need lots of oxygen and planting in typical planting mix/mulch may suffocate the root-zone. And just to clarify, I didn't have my above-stated experiences with Ceroxylon...I think I wouldn't try that genus, even A. amazonicum, out here in the desert. It was with a number of other genera/species. What comes to mind is a couple of species of Ravenea that collapsed in the heat, also a few others but I will have to look back over my notes to remind myself of what exactly has failed on me in containers in the middle of summer here.

Yes that’s gardening at an extreme level, testing even the most cold hardy plants. As gardeners we choose to try plants that have that ornamental look we want. That works fine until Mother Nature says differently. My troubles begin in the cold wet conditions as iam out of the winds in a protected spot. But I certainly have list a lot of palms with zone pushing trials.

Fishtail

For three winters now bringing the cocoa plant in and out every night during winter. One day I will get it to fruit, not sure what day but persistence will payoff.

I think this is what they call a" doinker" From what I have read primarily on this forum it occurs when the main growth point is damaged whether it be from physical damage or cold,heat etc. so the plant pushes through a new growth point and starts a new path for growth. The old leaves should hang on until they naturally age but all new fronds will come from the new route. Never had this happen personally

Would love to see what a trunking lakatra looks like!

I would agree Tim! I remember even Jeff Marcus at Floribunda palms prior to selling species “giant” as seedlings, saying something to the effect that they appeared to be more closely aligned with rivularis, at least in habitat. But they’re definitely their own thing, and way slower.

This beast Is labelled Ravenea sp Giant at Flecker Botanic Gardens, Cairns AUS. To me doesn’t look like Mike’s above which look more closely aligned to R rivularis.

I bought both Panzhihuaensis x Deb and Revoluta x Deb from TCHP. The "Deb" half was probably actually Multifrondis. My guess is that yours is Panz x Deb, but I'd have to see the whole plant to be sure.

Here are a couple more: first up is one of two krocianas that came from Floribunda about 12 years ago, about the size of my pinkie at the time. So I’m very proud that they are all of waist high now. Might even look like a palm in a few years. The 2nd one is just unknown to me, but another very upright and pretty stiff leaves. Possibly robustior maybe?

Dypsis poiveana

I always wanted a rainforest garden, a lot of people call the rainforest the jungle. And others have said to me your jungle looks amazing. But for me it’s my garden. That happens to be the size of a mini rainforest.

The flush is almost complete on this smal Encephalartos caffer.

These two Sobralia sanderae flowers greeted me this morning. These are the first flowers on it this year. The colors of this species are so spectacular, I dare say it is my favorite of the genus. Well, at least for today it is.

Visit Joe's place and scream obscenities! Like I did…

I have half a dozen amazonicum grown from seed. I think I got 100% germination and never lost a plant. They seem hard to kill but will sit looking happy and healthy but do almost nothing if their requirements are not met. I think maybe deep soil is a must and might be the missing ingredient in some Hawaiian gardens that seem to grow out of rock! My largest is about 5 metres but the smallest under 1 metre. Nowhere near trunking yet after about 15 years from seed.

Nursery is still going strong . Karl has retired and things have changed but they still have some interesting palms and cycads . No more seedlings , that disappeared after the local growers moved on . Karl used to let them sell in the greenhouse . I recently bought a Syagrus Schizophylla there . The nursery , in general , has quality plants , flowers , shrubs , as well as hardware . Soil and fertilizer , mulch , etc. Harry

can't say I have ever moved one but mine seems to be a delicacy to gophers and seems to wear the root damage really well. so maybe that's a sign that they dont mind having their roots messed with.

I've got a small windmill palm that had some cold damage from the winter. It never grew much but by spring it started growing out the side of the roots. Pics below. Has anyone ever seen this? Any idea what's going on? This palm has been in the ground for about a year or so. Thanks! (Edit:addition) One more thing. When the side growth began there has been zero growth from what was the main plant.

Yesterday in the sun I saw bumblebees swarming mine. Glad yours are fertile.