Last indoor palm

[Steve Mac]

All grown up and moving out. We have had this Chamaedorea metallica inside for over 10 years now, it has flowered most years but we cut the stalks off before they got too big and consequently don't know what sex it is. It surprisingly, lived very happily in plain cheap potting mix in that big pot right up until last year when it soil finally became too compacted and soggy and exhausted I suppose. You can see the second last few leaves came out smaller.

It had not been fertilized or any soil amendment right up until last year when the leaves reduced size. I then repotted it in a very loose mix. I am now just waiting to see what the flower stalk that is developing is, male or female, then I will plant it in the garden with a mate, we have a few scattered around out there, they are all flowering too.

Now it is holding 30 leaves and a spike, I expect that to reduce once out in the elements to half of that, or less, like all of the other metalicas in the garden.  

It is the best example of a metalica that I have ever seen, no brown tipping no spotting no mites scale or aphids or anything.  And no care,  just tap water when we remembered. The oldest leaves have only started to look a bit old and brown tipped since we have had it outside in winter to start acclimating it to outside.

(But I would not be putting that Areca triandra behind it into any competitions)

[HtownPalms]

Great looking little palm.