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Hello :) , I finally got the V. Splendida seeds today! Their total is actually 6 but the seller gave one bonus! I've soaked the seeds in warm water and we'll just wait in 72 hours. I will always give updates of this palm whenever I can!

I have not had that issue , but then I only fertilize the palms that need it . I use an organic powdery fertilizer that mixes in easily with the damp soil . I haven’t had any overlapping consequences fertilizing palms that are close together . We don’t get a lot of rain and I water manually with a hose. Harry I fertilize these , in the second photo , before spreading fresh bark down . In the first photo only the Chambeyronia and Dioon get fertilizer . I spread the fertilizer about 12”-18” out from the trunk and mix it in the top soil . Then I move the bark back . I have seen others broadcast fertilizer throughout the yard , but I target the drip circle of individual palms. Harry

I'm not sure which species of Hura these are, most likely Hura polyandra. These are growing in my hometown, they went through 2011 and 2021 and they're still growing nicely. These have been becoming popular slowly, I still don't know where people get these from. I know they are native to Mexico but I have never seen them on sale. There are more trees in town but are not as impressive and old. I think these could grow well in South Texas if they do well here. They gain size pretty fast like if it were a tropical Ficus. Locations: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xBJXPKgQX6wmMWuo8 https://maps.app.goo.gl/99u4HkwB8g9s2mMR9

The thing is though, because the palms are so close in proximity, I’m not sure if me giving each palm fertilizer might be too much fertilizer in the overall area?

I think all you really need is a circle cleared around each palm , break the soil surface within the circle with a claw , soak the soil , then fertilize the next day and mix the fertilizer in . Harry

The other thing is that some of the smaller ones eventually become larger ones! Like that Dioon Spinalosa that some refer to as “Giant Dioon”. Ask me how I know 😂. Harry Night time here . It just opened a new set of fronds.

I’ve been doing stuff outside since spring, but I’m wanting to fertilize the palms so bad. My beds don’t have mulch yet, and the grass is growing in them sporadically but lots of it because it’s a big bed.I want to fertilize, but I’d hate for the fertilizer to fertilize the grass. The palms in the bed are 7ft between each palm, give or take. I do eventually want to put cardboard down and mulch, but as of now, that’s not an option. I want to remove the grass but not harm the surface roots of the palms using harsh tools like a hoe. I do of course hand pull what I can, but for the amount of grass I need to handle, I’m unsure what to do.

IS IT AN ATTALIA OR SCHEELEA PALM?

How much sun does yours get? Did you have to ammend your soil? Looks great! Just got 2 compact form from Floribunda. Small so will grow up a bit before planting out.

No worries. Good drainage all around for all seedlings.

OK, fed. Not near the size of a 5 gallon bucket, but with a one gallon pot for scale, it’s larger than it looked previously. I think it should probably be in more sun, but hey, maybe it will stay smaller longer. Tim

Always wanted to get into Indonesia, so close, but life seems to get in the way. Kalimantan or Sumatra would be great.

With all the talk about a super El Niño I was expecting an extra dry and cool dry season. If fact it's been the opposite. Most of the mornings have been mild and nearer the coast some light rain. Generally that's keeping the humidity up, as well as the minimum temperatures. On the other hand maximum temperatures are slightly down with cloud cover. Although this morning minimum was 21.9, definitely not usual for July. June Av Min 18.2 Av Max 32.7

Well. I’ll be darned, I’m growing a runt. Maybe I should feed it, which I will do right after I make this response. Something to look forward to anyway as this is one attractive palm. The base of the sheath is really something. Thanks Rick. Tim

Here is another member of that cohort of FB babies. It is about 15 ft tall with a swollen base. Petiole coloration is a dull orange-red. No obvious sign of distichous leaf arrangement so far. Filtered light in morning and late afternoon, otherwise full sun. Growing in black volcanic cinder and compost. At about 8 o'clock you can see a white fuzzy blob in the background. Check the 'Color Thread' to see the current Prestoea acuminata bloom. Standard 5 Gal (20 L) bucket for scale. I got seeds of the very similar Orania ravaka several years ago. They geminated quickly and looked ok in pots, but withered away after I put them in the ground. No idea what went wrong.

Yet another photo of Prestoea acuminata var montana in bloom. Opens pure white, then becomes pink, and finally dark red with green fruit. Never fails to draw in visitors to the garden. I'm not sure if the geckos are hunting the many bees attracted to the flowers, or something else. But you gotta love those blue eyelids. Geckos were introduced in Hawaii decades ago and now number in the billions. The Kalij pheasants love eating them, but don't put a dent in the population. Plenty of geckos make themselves at home inside my house. And my first Pinanga speciosa has gotten too tall to appreciate the colorful crownshaft, so I've planted some babies. Just starting to hint at the coming show.

I suppose you could use it . I use perlite . I just bought a pretty big bag at Ace for $10. The thing with styrofoam is that it is hard to contain. Little pieces go everywhere when you break it up. Harry

Axel, Filling in the pool/ koi pond, as seen in these pictures, opened up an area for several more palm species. Archontophoenix, Burretiokentia, Bassalinia, Chambeyronia, Pritchardia, Bentickia, Howea, Syagrus, Rhopalostylis, Geonoma, Dypsis, Chamaedorea, Cyphophoenix, and Pinanga are some of the genus growing in that former pool area. The new area for planting was created three years ago.

Neither Parajubaea nor Butia are self cleaning palms and, therefore, the hybrid is not as well. Occasional pruning of old dying/dead fronds is necessary.

The only problem is I keep saving all the good places for all the good stuff, and that’s a problem because I have so many good ones! 🤣 Richard

Coco coir perlite mix just slightly moist, bottom heating set at 30 degrees celcius, in a container of your choice at lest six inches deep. Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours if they are not freshly picked!

June ended up at .84 inches for me, and half that was the last day of the month, the rest very small amounts over three days mid month. July is already double that the first day lol, and im happy for it and hoping it continues🤞.

Thank you for your advice

I have a beautiful hybrid BxPJC from Patric. Does anyone know if these hybrids are self-cleaning? I’m in San Francisco so don’t see many large Butias. The B odorata i have is about nine years old and i have to cut off dead fronds. The Parajubaeas I see around the city seem to have fronds that fall against the trunk when fully brown but may need to be trimmed? The largest are in the botanical garden and Presidio so I think someone may be cutting off the old fronds?