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Welp no rain since the storm 9/10 days ago so I spent 2.5 hours hand-watering in Katy tonight. Brings the total hand-watering count for the year to: 2. Didn't really see any signs of water stress yet on the established stuff. 10-12 days seems to be the interval for me for needing to water if there's no significant rainfall in this high summer weather. I plant very densely, lots of mulch, and have varying levels of shade and canopy. But please, please rain lol No natives or anything remotely xeric looking for me. Just shiny verdant tropicals and subtropicals

A nice garden in Kaikoura, about 2 hours north of Christchurch, taken on holiday recently. Is the second pic a standard Butia odorata, looked a but different to me?

Besides even purchased seedlings frequently do not turn out the real McCoy. Like this one plant bought as plumosa but it has turned out a beautiful and seemingly quite pure glaucifolia.

do they ever lean like that ? the trunk is almost fully straight. never had this issue before

Tim I have a Pritchardia hillebrandii in my Carlsbad garden and there are differences with this palm. I am open to suggestions still.

Red Latania

The month finishes with measures between 7.3in. and 8.5in after a small trace of rain yesterday. Now we'll see what August brings.

I would want a place for the water to drain , not stay in the pot . Harry

Water! And lots of it if your soil drains pretty well...if not, let it dry out a bit before soaking again. I've dug and transplanted quite a few of these and they're generally pretty tough, so hopefully it pulls through.

That would make my three all males unfortunately. I thought for a brief moment this year that one of them was possibly female, but no such luck. Put me on the seed list please Richard if you have good luck, would like to getsome partners for my lads.

This is the product I am using.

Interesting concept. Not to dump cold water on it, but a few of us coconut freaks did not have the support needed for a separate coconut subforum some time back: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/61019-cocos-nucifera-subforum/ It seemed that most of the users at the time favored less subforums.

This species should be available at the next 2027 Pacsoa show and some online sellers for Australian collectors over the next few years. Much seed has been sent out to Aussie palmtalkers plus a few others. It is a great palm to have in your collection Regards Colin

Those of us here in Central Florida empathize - especially after this February cold blast. 🤦‍♂️ Better luck on the next go-round, Richard.

That’s good to know. Thank you HP! I’ve seen them side by side in 5 gallon pots at a nursery in Homestead, FL; years ago. They did look quite similar at that stage, growing in heavy shade though, they seemed quite uniform. I could see the blue-ish color on the underside of the magnificas with closer inspection. The perakensis looks interesting. I hear they take a long time to develop their trunks.

Oh yeah, for sure those needed some iron! I've had palm seedlings do that on me, usually with overwatering or soil that got too dense or mucky in the pot. I have some Ptychosperma Salomonense seedlings planted out front that desperately need iron. They were in a pot too long and do great in the soil. It's good that you reminded me, I completely forgot about spraying them with iron. I have used Palm Nutritional Spray before. What are you using?

The bit that disappointing is your killing rare palms, having seeds that are so hard to find in cultivation, you finally find them and then you kill them in the cold. That’s palm growing they are one of the most climate sensitive plants around, so tempermental!!! Richard

The pots I have on hand have a separate drainage grill that snaps into the bottom with a little space from it to the very bottom of the pot. Do I still need to drill holes in the pot and what about when I have to take them inside for the winter

Mulch, Mulch and add more mulch. Those roots will be happy.

Welcome to Palm Talk! You definitely need drainage holes in a pot that is to be used for your palm. Good drainage is crucial for plant health/ survival. I’ve seen pots with a grill at the bottom and the ones I’ve seen have a tray that is attached with scuppers for the water to drain. I use pots with clear holes in the bottom , sometimes I even drill more . I usually put medium sized pebbles in the bottom and add perlite to the potting soil. Some palms are root sensitive while others are tough as nails . It would help to know what type of palm it is ….even better , pictures. Harry

Planted this parajubaea torallyi last week from a 25g container. It was leaning in the container and looks almost worst in the ground. Any suggestions so that I do not have a long term issue ?

So sorry , always difficult to lose them . Learning curve. Harry

What's struggling and what is doing well? Are your Texas natives also on irrigation? I have everything on drip irrigation and turks caps (local native), Hamelia patens (Florida native), and porterweeds (Stachytarpheta, Mexico) all look great in the sun and heat.