HELP!! Saltly water was put on my palm

[momof3]

Ok, so my aunt just gave me a palm from CA. My daughter wanted to water it for me and she put water from the water softener on it. That water is REALLY salty. Will my palm be ok? What should I do to make sure it doesn't die??

Please HELP

Thanks

[GTClover]

What kind of palm? I've been told Coconuts actually 'like' a salt water drench periodically, but thats sea water and I don't know what 'salts' or at what concentrations are in softened water. I'm sure someone here will but it would help to know the genus & species of the palm in question. If harmful though your best bet is to put it in the sink and water with unsoftened water until water runs out the bottom, wait til it stops and repeat 2 more times.

[dalmatiansoap]

wash it out

[virtualpalm]

Flushing the soil with bottled water should do the trick.

Jody

[momof3]

Great thanks!! It's a Roebelenii. If I put it in the sink and rinse it, will that be too much water? I was told 1 cup a day.

[kahili]

What you want to do is "leach" out the salt, which is a different matter than watering (I am assuming that that's what the one cup of water refers to?). To leach out the salts, you should put the palm in the sink and run water through it until the water is coming out the bottom holes-and do it for at least 5 mins. Then wait an hour and repeat. That should get rid of the salts. Its the second watering that will really get all the salt out.

[kahili]

I should clarify that depending on how root bound the palm is, you don't want to blast it with water. The more root bound, the less harm is done to the roots, so if its not that root bound, then a gentle flow from the faucet will do it. You want to make sure that the water is hitting all part of the dirt, so if its a large container, you may have to turn it a few times while you are leaching out the soil.

[DoomsDave]

momof3!

Welcome to our board!

Your palm is a tough one. Go ahead and give it a thorough leaching in the sink. I honestly don't know how well they take salt -- some palms do, a lot -- but that's one kind you won't drown. Phoenix robellinii is native to riverbanks, and they get flooded from time to time.

Anyway, give it a bath, and keep us apprized of your progress.

I'm originally from Ohio, and I've found the biggest problem with raising plants indoors in the northern U.S., is the long, dark days, and the high, dry heat of houses in the winter time. You have a palm that will take both well. Keep it near the sunniest window you can, and DON'T put it next to heater vents, registers, heaters, etc.

If you have further questions, just ask. We live to help fellow palm lovers. If you're new, no problem. All questions are important to us.

Also, we love palm pictures, show us yours. And, any other palms you get.

Best

dave

[momof3]

Thank you all so much for your help! It's great to know that I can come here for help with my palm.

[momof3]

Thank you all so much for your help! It's great to know that I can come here for help with my palm.

Edited January 8, 2012 by momof3

[momof3]

momof3!

Welcome to our board!

Your palm is a tough one. Go ahead and give it a thorough leaching in the sink. I honestly don't know how well they take salt -- some palms do, a lot -- but that's one kind you won't drown. Phoenix robellinii is native to riverbanks, and they get flooded from time to time.

Anyway, give it a bath, and keep us apprized of your progress.

I'm originally from Ohio, and I've found the biggest problem with raising plants indoors in the northern U.S., is the long, dark days, and the high, dry heat of houses in the winter time. You have a palm that will take both well. Keep it near the sunniest window you can, and DON'T put it next to heater vents, registers, heaters, etc.

If you have further questions, just ask. We live to help fellow palm lovers. If you're new, no problem. All questions are important to us.

Also, we love palm pictures, show us yours. And, any other palms you get.

Best

dave

Do I need to plant this palm in half sand/half dirt?

Thanks for you help.

[DoomsDave]

momof3!

Welcome to our board!

Your palm is a tough one. Go ahead and give it a thorough leaching in the sink. I honestly don't know how well they take salt -- some palms do, a lot -- but that's one kind you won't drown. Phoenix robellinii is native to riverbanks, and they get flooded from time to time.

Anyway, give it a bath, and keep us apprized of your progress.

I'm originally from Ohio, and I've found the biggest problem with raising plants indoors in the northern U.S., is the long, dark days, and the high, dry heat of houses in the winter time. You have a palm that will take both well. Keep it near the sunniest window you can, and DON'T put it next to heater vents, registers, heaters, etc.

If you have further questions, just ask. We live to help fellow palm lovers. If you're new, no problem. All questions are important to us.

Also, we love palm pictures, show us yours. And, any other palms you get.

Best

dave

Do I need to plant this palm in half sand/half dirt?

Thanks for you help.

Phoenix roebs will take many kinds of soil.

If you happen to have "cactus mix" taht will also work well, which, in my experience is about half humus and half sand.

but, any regular potting soil will do.

[momof3]

Great!! thanks