Phoenix dactylifera Recovery

[ahosey01]

Bought this thing with 3ft of trunk for $200.  Was in rough shape.  Then vs. now:

 

Still a ways to go, but looking good.

[kinzyjr]

Looks like it is well on its way.  Wish ours looked that healthy all of the time.

[sonoranfans]

Didnt look so bad when you got it, though much better now.  Those are the second best desert palm for arizona, to W Filifera .  They are a true desert palm.  Best ones Ive ever seen -biggest crowns and best blue/grey color- were in arizona.   They also produce excellent dates there, unlike florida.  The dates need that sun/heat to ripen properly.  Just water and fertilize once in a while, they love the 100F+ heat and sun.

[Billeb]

1 hour ago, sonoranfans said:

Best ones Ive ever seen -biggest crowns and best blue/grey color- were in arizona. 

Ive seen some killer specimens in SoCal too. Super nice. 
 

-dale

[sonoranfans]

1 hour ago, Billeb said:

Ive seen some killer specimens in SoCal too. Super nice. 
 

-dale

yep they look great there too, not like florida.  They do appear to prefer 100F plus desert heat so inland socal would be better.   Like Riverside etc. I lived 3 years in Laguna Beach, worked in Irvine.  The ones in Irvine didn't look as blue/full of crown as the Arizona ones that were irrigated, not as happy.   Im guessing riverside has plenty of heat. They get really orange/yellow dates in AZ, real bright color that goes with the blue/grey.

[ahosey01]

9 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

yep they look great there too, not like florida.  They do appear to prefer 100F plus desert heat so inland socal would be better.   Like Riverside etc. I lived 3 years in Laguna Beach, worked in Irvine.  The ones in Irvine didn't look as blue/full of crown as the Arizona ones that were irrigated, not as happy.   Im guessing riverside has plenty of heat. They get really orange/yellow dates in AZ, real bright color that goes with the blue/grey.

The other piece of the puzzle appears to just be an egregious amount of water.

Nicest one I ever saw was a naturalized one on the banks of the Colorado River north of Parker.  120+ during the day consistently over there in the summer... tons of water.