Indoor care for licuala mapu

[texaspalms]

I replied to another post with these questions and suppose that it should be different topic instead:

Since mapu is so humidity sensitive and tropical in total nature, what can be done to raise them inside when a greenhouse/conservatory is no option?

I have a mapu seedling, and while humidity is no issue on the upper Texas coast, winters can see frost fairly regularly in my 9b location. Outdoors in no optoin, therefore, either.

Is it possible or should I just pray?

[PalmatierMeg]

I replied to another post with these questions and suppose that it should be different topic instead:

Since mapu is so humidity sensitive and tropical in total nature, what can be done to raise them inside when a greenhouse/conservatory is no option?

I have a mapu seedling, and while humidity is no issue on the upper Texas coast, winters can see frost fairly regularly in my 9b location. Outdoors in no optoin, therefore, either.

Is it possible or should I just pray?

Why not create a mini-greenhouse by inverting a clear storage bag over the plant to maintain that humid atmosphere? I do that with my tropical palm seedlings and germinating seeds I am keeping indoors for the winter. You can also set the mapu pot on a tray filled with rocks & water. Be sure to monitor the plant carefully for signs of fungus, remove the bag for short periods to allow fresh air circulation.

Anyone else have ideas?

[texaspalms]

I am acutally doing that very thing (bags over plants) for seedlings I have indoors. This works well. Would the mapu demand such coverage for its entire life? That could pose a problem. Perhaps building a small PVC framed, clear plastic covered tent for it may give it what it needs.

[Palmarum]

Care for a Licuala mapu of any size indoors must include good air circulation and watering. A plug-in humidifier works good for increasing the amount of moisture in the air and any old box fan would be fine for moving the air around. You will also need a decent light source.

Ryan

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Ryan, did your mapu's seed make it thru the moving and cold weather?

[Mark_NoVA]

A frequent solution is a humidity tray--a tray with rocks in it, covered in water. I came up with a homemade large solution this winter--a pair of 3' long concrete-mixing tubs topped with a pair of 6' long closet shelves. Used in the garage with a grow light, can't really say how well it's working, though, as the temps in the garage seem to be an issue.

Lots of plants nearby might raise the humidity.

Little decoractive waterfalls can raise humidity.

I have a humidifier added on to the central heating system. The house doesn't feel humid with it, but I guess it would be drier without it. It seems to be enough for a pair of Cyrtostachys renda, which also want humid conditions. I spray them some, but go through periods where I forget. Both are by windows with lots of light.

-edit-

Here's a photo of the homemade big humidity tray:

[texaspalms]

I really appreciate the info, guys. This is giving me some ideas.

[Palmarum]

PiousPalms Posted Today, 03:44 PM

Ryan, did your mapu's seed make it thru the moving and cold weather?

Yes, the seed is still attached and the plant itself didn't suffer any damage that I can tell.

Ryan

[Neofolis]

If you have your heating on for long periods during colder weather, you will find that the humidity will continue to drop, even if you keep the temperature constant. If the heating is on for a long time with low temperatures outside, it could drop to 20% or less, but 30-40% is more common. A portable humidifier will probably only add 10-15% at 40% and a little more, if the normal humidity is lower and is also reliant on being refilled every 12-24 hours. A larger air conditioning unit would offer better results, but at much higher cost and many of those are limited to a maximum humidity of 60-65%, although there may be better options available in the US. A closed atmosphere, like the bag idea, is a much easier way to achieve higher humidity, but not ideal for plants that are sensitive to fungus. At some point you would have to remove the bag and the sudden change to dry air is unlikely to have good results. The best bet may be a semi-enclosed atmosphere, like the bag, but with lots of ventilation to allow sufficient air transfer. Ideally you would need a reasonable amount of air movement, so you would want to raise humidity in the room as well as inside the ventilated bag/container. If you use the tray with rocks and water idea, it would be better to have a heat source below, to encourage the moisture to evaporate and to increase the air temperature inside the ventilated container, so that the air an hold more moisture.

[Kai]

My mapu seem to thrive indoors! At least for now...

The humidity is above average in my living room because of my aquarium. Everyday about 3/4 of a gallon evaporates off into the living room air out of the aquarium.

Here's one of my seedlings...

[SubTropicRay]

It summer in the northern hemisphere. I'd get another palm for inside and keep the L. mapu outside while it's warm. Why take the chance of losing this beauty indoors? I'd take the suggestions already given but do that only when the weather forces you to do so. Texas should be warm enough for this palm 7-8 months of the year.