Manambe Palms @ Manambe Lavaka Garden

[MattyB]

It's been about 10 years since I planted these Dypsis decipiens and their progress varies widely based on cultural conditions.  This one is my largest and benefited from drip irrigation and mulch from day 1.  I was doing some cleaning up in this area and a bunch of leaf bases came off revealing the first few rings of trunk.

[MattyB]

This little guy was planted a few years later but although it has irrigation and mulch, it's in a shady spot so it's grown very slow.

[MattyB]

Finally after 10 years I got drip irrigation installed on the far rocky ridge this summer.  Everything has struggled over here getting only hose water once a week.  These guys finally got some mulch for the first time in 10 years.  They're gonna love it.

[MattyB]

These guys are next on the mulch train.  You can see how rocky and dry it is.  Basically there's no soil here just rock.  I don't know how they survived stunted for 10 years over here with very little care.  To give you an idea how harsh it is here, I've had several Brahea armata die due to insufficient water.

[redant]

When I see your soil it's shocking any palm would survive.  Always great stuff though.

[MattyB]

4 minutes ago, redant said:

When I see your soil it's shocking any palm would survive.  Always great stuff though.

When I visited the guys on the Big Island and saw the rock that they were growing on I knew it was possible as long as the palms got enough water.  So, that's the trick.  Heavy heavy mulch layers not only provides nutrients but more importantly it creates insulation from the hot sun and dry air.

[GottmitAlex]

Wunderbar!!!!!

[Stevetoad]

Congratulations. I love the ones that are tucked up amongst the native brush. Looks like a habitat shot. 

[Albey]

Hi Matty - Your Dypsis decipiens look awesome.

[Josh-O]

looking real nice Matty B!!!