Acanthophoenix rubra - a touchy palm

[Z4Devil]

[Z4Devil]

[BS Man about Palms]

Lots of promise...

[Mike in Nelson]

Never mind Verena, it took me 10 years to find a Loxococcus rupicola and 6 months to kill it. Ich bin eine traurige Frau.

Peachy

Peachy, your experience sounds like mine, although I didn't hunt for mine quite as long. Still took it only 6 months to croak. I should have known better - I'd read it wouldn't take to my hot/humid climate. But the seller was in FL, so I figured, why not? And I'd still like to try again - more the fool me.

These palms are from Sri Lanka? Thought your climate would be ideal Meg.

[GTClover]

WOW Verena they are absolutely beautiful!!:drool:. I wish them a wonderful palmy life and hope to see regular updates. Heck I just might have to come and visit as any Auntie would:wub:! I'm sure they will get the best treatment possible.

Susan

[Z4Devil]

Well, dear all ... moment of truth ... and not a really good one ...

To be honest, I feel such ashamed that I was not able to post anything. I am afraid the cute Acanthos did not make it, just one is fighting and loos very good. The rest ... I have no idea if they will make it or not ... but at the moment they are a picture of misery ... Have cried so many tears ... but for the really very last time 10 further Acanthos from Thierry are in delivery. Not those of the sight of 20 - 25 cm, no, the success with my 3 Acanthophoenix rousselii of the same smaller size like the now ordered A. rubras (10 - 15 cm) give hope that it is easier to grow a smaller plants than larger - especially if they are not from a local but a tropical source.

I will replaced the name-plates back that have been placed at the formerly Acanathos. Not sure if they will survive, but I know my own mind: the survival of a very special palm.

Regards from a very sad Verena ...

[quaman58]

Sorry to hear that Verena,

I have several Acanthos outdoors & in my green house, doing reasonably well. There have been some great suggestions here about soil, water; etc. It might just be that for some reason, Acanthos hate being indoors. It certainly wouldn't be the only palm that doesn't like the indoors. Who knows why? But it's certainly not for a lack of trying on your part. If it makes you feel any better, Ive spent about $350 usd trying to get some A. rubras from Thierry, & they've been confiscated both times by U.S. customs. So I've never even gotten to touch one. Anyway, how's the rest of your indoor jungle?

Bret

[Z4Devil]

No! Bret ... you cannot imagine how surprised I am.

Would like to let you know that I know your story somehow. Without knowing a name, a person or any other circumstances ... Thierry told me of an expensive shipment ... anytime around the end of 2009. I would say he meant you.

One of the reasons I prefer Thierry as a seller for the Acanthos is that La Réunion is a member of the EU. No stress with customers, no controls or things like that.

Ordering Palms with Dan in the US, only the cleverness of Dan and really friendly guys of the customers in a special town in Northrhine-Westphalia makes it possible to receive a L. hoehnei without additional costs or further demands. The customers in Dusseldorf (location of my employer) are terrible ... that´s why all plants outside of Europe will be delivered to my home address.

But I do believe that all palms will make it indoor. I would give everything to have such conditions like you to put an Acantho into the ground ... in Germany no chance.

On the other hand, the 3 Acanthophoenix rousselii are growing perfect. The more smaller a tropical palm is the more successfully it seems for them to make it.

Thierry knows about my obsession for this very special palm and the island of Reunion.

The only thing I know is that it MUST be possible to grow them.

Love, Verena

[peachy]

Sag mir vo die Palmen sind.....my favourite funeral song for palms Verena. I will be singing it very often. Winter is here. 25 in the daytime.....1 at night. Many palms just will not adjust to living inside unless in a special greenhouse. They need the air movement (nicht furzen) and many other factors that we either dont know about or cant duplicate. If you read back to last week you will see my poor Willy (L.weddellianum), many years old, died indoors too.

Peachy

[BS Man about Palms]

Very sad Verena. But I will note that its something that is happening much earlier. If they are gone that early, either the plane is getting frozen or roots are broken or something like that. (are they bare-root?, perhaps he can ship a mini-root ball)

I hope your luck improves.

Best to you,

Bill

[Z4Devil]

Peachy ... so sad to hear of the death of Willy. I only can guess what a terrible feeling this is. After years of efforts and success this is not what we want.

You know the song of Marlene Dietrich? I am really surprised it is a very old song regarding the last world war ... beautiful song, and an distinctive voice.

It is a pity that Australia has such restrictions in importing plants - otherwise one of my Lyto-Seedling would be on it´s way to you.

Yes Bill, they are bare-rooted always ... a little bit soil in absorbent crepped paper. It is humid after nearly 12 days, the plants look phantastic when I unpack them. But just 24 h later there is something strange happening - no idea what it is.

The samller A. rousseliis are of perfect condition with new leafes, I cannot believe it. That´s why I decided to buy smaller specimen of the rubra. Hope that will bring the same success like the A. rousseliis.

Love, Verena

[John in Andalucia]

Hi Verena, you could send a few Acanthophoenix rubra to me in southern Spain, and I will try to acclimatize them in my greenhouse for you. Your plants are suffering from transplant shock and a very big climate difference. The first few weeks are crucial, and some plants need intensive care to get over the shock. Anything to help!

[peachy]

I am positive it is from climatic shock. Verena buy them to arrive during your HOTTEST month, I am sure they will survive better. I think I told you when I get things from Cairns, in the north of my state, I can only do so in the warm weather here or they go into shock, shrivel up and die, even if my place is only 8 degrees less than Cairns temperature. I spent much money and many tears buying palms from the tropical parts of my state at the wrong time of year. Maybe 1 in every 20 would survive, sometimes none at all. So now listen to Mama....get them in the hot month. Now stand up straight and be very brave. Vor der Kaserne, vor dem grossen Tur, stand eine Laterne.....

Tchuss

Peachy

[Z4Devil]

Yes, you are absolutely right. All the circumstances and effort I have undervalued, no doubt. Very special palms require very special conditions. I see connections with temperatures at delivery, intensity of light when they are unpacked etc.

Otherwise there is another peculiarity: why the smaller Acanthophoenix rousseliis are doing very well and show new leaves? They have got the same procedure like all the A. rubras ... and all 3 rousseliis look phantastic and healthy.

Look to this cute gang of little rascals:

John, I would come back to your offer if the next charge won´t make it. I hope I will have success this time but if not, I will contact you. Thank you in advance it is highly appriciated.

Love, Verena

[Z4Devil]

And here ... the one and only A. rubra that is left over ... *sniff*

[Wanderanwills]

Hi Verena,

Could it be humidity, most houses, especially with heating/air conditioning have extremely low humidity?

Just a thought??

Regards

Stephen

[peachy]

Why are A. rouseliis okay and rubras not ? Verena, Someone with dark hair will be okay at the beach, but someone with red hair will burn up in 10 minutes. Tourists from Europe come here and walk around in 40c degrees, other tourists get sick if the temperature is more than 10c !! Rouseliis must have some genetic character that is lacking in rubra. Maybe the pretty colour is the plants weakness ? Licuala peltata always die on me but Licuala peltata sp sumwongii grow like big strong weeds. This is just how nature planned it so we cannot fight nature all the time.

Peachy

[John in Andalucia]

One of the reasons I like to push the limits in my greenhouse, is for the good surprises that arise along with the bad. Verena, you are very dedicated to a small group of palms, which are a tough grow in Europe. I can't help but think you're punishing yourself to some degree! The saying goes, "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". Well, this is my philosophy with rare palms. It is very costly, but if you try as many species as possible, you get to find the rare ones that work for you.

I notice you haven't focused on the Acanthophoenix that didn't make it. Don't be afraid to do an autopsy and post photos! How do the roots look? Was it bud rot, or just shock? It's interesting to know, and the best way to learn. If it's shock, then there's not much you can do, sorry to say. I've tried about 180 species to date, and a few of these have caused me to laugh and shake my head at their near-instant demise. I'm talking about seedlings that almost overnight shrivelled up like dried weeds. Then there's the "long, slow demise" species which are most depressing.

When your next batch arrive, you need an area for them prepared like a hospital emergency room! You have to open your parcel and not disturb the plants for a few days. Most mail-order seedlings will survive as they were wrapped for much longer than you think. I had some returned to me once after 9 weeks in the post and they had grown inside the box!

That is the first alien encounter - opening a palm package in a house in northern Europe, with all it's airborne activity, dryness etc. You need to open the parcel to expose the leaves down to the stem base, then put them in a big, clear, plastic storage box - use another on top, as a lid. Keep the temperature at around 24C-26C during the day and don't let it fall below 18C or 20C at night. Do not water them, but get into the habit of removing the box lid for a few minutes each day. Misting the leaves lightly - not soaking - will be enough. Keep that up for about a week, closing the lid after each time you mist them lightly, and buy moisture probe from the garden centre to check the roots.

I've found that if you look at a seedling continually from the day it arrives in the post, it starts to smile back, as the leaves start to assume a more natural position. That's when I know it is time to unwrap, and pot up. That can take a week or two. You want to drop the roots and packing medium in a bucket of lukewarm water and seaweed solution. Use mineral water if you want to rule out any cause for concern. Soak for at least an hour. Make a soil mix using coir (coco-fibre) and perlite, or coir and sand. You can buy a block of coir and drop it in a bucket of seaweed solution, giving you an instant, nutritious substrate. The blocks I buy, you mix with 3 litres of water and it gives you 10 litres of fluffy coco fibre! Then mix 2:1 with sand or perlite.

The pots you have are fine, but I would suggest not planting them too deep down, so you can have better airflow around the stem. Put stones in the bottom to keep them well balanced, and to aide drainage. Once potted up, water through heavily, once, then put them back in the box and lid on for a couple of days and keep the temperature constantly high for this period - at least 25C. After a couple of days start leaving the lid off for half an hour, several times a day. Keep this up until you see new growth, and mist lightly as often as possible. This is the kind of procedure I would follow for my own seedlings. I hope it helps!

[Z4Devil]

John ... I am without words.

If I do not know it better I would say you know me personally. Yes, you are right in all points. It is an obsession meanwhile to own palms nobody else would have. The more difficult they are to handle and especially: the more rarer they are the better I feel. My love for those special feather palms is nearly boundless. As a mother of 3 children there are no hobbies left over but those you can handle at home. Palms have been my special love for 20 years ... in 1989 Germany was one country again, a chance for all people in the GDR to see things they have never seen before. Seeing a palm for the first time I knew: this plant I MUST HAVE.

In the meantime I have a lot of recommendations, advices ... I will follow yours exactly. And you will see ... this time it works.

Love, Verena

PS: Do you have been successfully in buying the C. renda in ther German onlone shop? If not, I would offer you a deal. Palm friends help each other.

[John in Andalucia]

John ... I am without words.

If I do not know it better I would say you know me personally. Yes, you are right in all points. It is an obsession meanwhile to own palms nobody else would have. The more difficult they are to handle and especially: the more rarer they are the better I feel. My love for those special feather palms is nearly boundless. As a mother of 3 children there are no hobbies left over but those you can handle at home. Palms have been my special love for 20 years ... in 1989 Germany was one country again, a chance for all people in the GDR to see things they have never seen before. Seeing a palm for the first time I knew: this plant I MUST HAVE.

In the meantime I have a lot of recommendations, advices ... I will follow yours exactly. And you will see ... this time it works.

Love, Verena

PS: Do you have been successfully in buying the C. renda in ther German onlone shop? If not, I would offer you a deal. Palm friends help each other.

OK Verena, sounds good. I have some of your favourite plants here - Lytocaryum weddellianum so maybe we can do a swap. Will PM you. If you don't have any seaweed fertilizer, I can send you a small amount of that too!