I think my oceana is trying to dig to china

[Jastin]

This has been in the ground for 3 years now and I'm tired of it. It's never looked good and now it is 9" below the soil line. Should I trash it? The heel is totally vertical, it's going straight down to China town.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

This has been in the ground for 3 years now and I'm tired of it. It's never looked good and now it is 9" below the soil line. Should I trash it? The heel is totally vertical, it's going straight down to China town.

Why you no like rhopie? Either it's not getting enough water or you got a lemon. If it's the latter, yank it and replace it with one of Joe's oceana, after three years it should be way bigger than that. But they all dig in like that. I've got some where the crownshaft is a foot below the soil. Maybe this one is just getting ready to make an even bigger crownshaft.

Edit: The digging is actually desirable, it makes for a more recurved trunk start.

[Stevetoad]

Wedge a few bricks under it and see if you can trick it into thinking it hit bedrock.

[QUINNPALMS]

i will remove it free of charge , its a beauty!

[nachocarl]

I'd say leave it. The crownshaft will eventually push up and hang at soil level for a few years, although it may challenge that retaining wall. I've got a R. sapida that is bigger and the fronds look like their coming right out of soil.

Gotta love Rhop's!

[MattyB]

It looks happy to me. What's the problem?

[O'o Bar Master]

Jastin,

I’ve looked at your pictures and I don’t think your palm has gotten that close to China yet. I’ve personally dug close enough to China while planting palms for my wife Lilikoilee that I’ve been approached by their border guards. Your palm isn’t that close yet. If you dig down and can smell sczechuan cooking you’re there.

Mike

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Just as an FYI, if you dig straight down you get to the Indian ocean, perhaps that will make you feel more at ease.

http://www.freemaptools.com/tunnel-to-other-side-of-the-earth.htm

[LJG]

Leave it up to Axel to post this . The good news is I almost tunnel to Madagascar!

[Jastin]

Matt, The leaves have never opened all the way (spread out) and it looks sickly. Its very slow and it bugs me.

I have another one that is 2 years in the ground and looks perfect, and is not burying itself. its working on its 4th leaf while the one above is barley on its second. Its the first thing you see when walking out to the side yard and I was hoping it would look better than it does. I think its bringing down the value of my house.

Axel,That actually makes me feel better thanks

[KennyRE317]

I was going to say just leave it since it'll eventually start growing up vertically but I see what you mean about the leaves only opening up half way. I just planted an Oceana a week or so ago and I have a frond about 1/2 way all the way opened and already has what looks like burned tips, but I do see another spear growing so. it's a 15gal plant and has seen a lot of sun for awhile and has a lot of burnt leaves even before planting

I say you dig it up and pot it and see if you can get it to open the fronds all the way

Edited October 9, 2013 by KennyRE317

[Jastin]

I was going to say just leave it since it'll eventually start growing up vertically but I see what you mean about the leaves only opening up half way. I just planted an Oceana a week or so ago and I have a frond about 1/2 way all the way opened and already has what looks like burned tips, but I do see another spear growing so. it's a 15gal plant and has seen a lot of sun for awhile and has a lot of burnt leaves even before planting

I say you dig it up and pot it and see if you can get it to open the fronds all the way

If I dig something up and set it back that much its a goner. If I find a replacement that would go good there I think im taking it out

[Mandrew968]

Leave it up to Axel to post this . The good news is I almost tunnel to Madagascar!

To all you diggers: Look out for the 'liquid hot mag-ma'!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Matt, The leaves have never opened all the way (spread out) and it looks sickly. Its very slow and it bugs me.

I have another one that is 2 years in the ground and looks perfect, and is not burying itself. its working on its 4th leaf while the one above is barley on its second. Its the first thing you see when walking out to the side yard and I was hoping it would look better than it does. I think its bringing down the value of my house.

Axel,That actually makes me feel better thanks

Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 10.38.41 PM.png

That's what I thought based on looking at the picture. That's why I thought it might not get enough water. I would try to dig around to see if there is a gopher or mole tunnel that is draining all the water. If it's plenty wet, then maybe it is just a bad specimen, just replace it. If there's enough shade, why don't you plant a hedycepe there instead?

Leave it up to Axel to post this . The good news is I almost tunnel to Madagascar!

Len, start digging, imagine all the rare Madagacar palms you will have access to. Just watch out for the magma, it's hot.

I played around with the map tool, the opposite side of Madagascar appears to be half way in between California and Hawaii.

[Jastin]

Matt, The leaves have never opened all the way (spread out) and it looks sickly. Its very slow and it bugs me.

I have another one that is 2 years in the ground and looks perfect, and is not burying itself. its working on its 4th leaf while the one above is barley on its second. Its the first thing you see when walking out to the side yard and I was hoping it would look better than it does. I think its bringing down the value of my house.

Axel,That actually makes me feel better thanks

Screen Shot 2013-10-08 at 10.38.41 PM.png

That's what I thought based on looking at the picture. That's why I thought it might not get enough water. I would try to dig around to see if there is a gopher or mole tunnel that is draining all the water. If it's plenty wet, then maybe it is just a bad specimen, just replace it. If there's enough shade, why don't you plant a hedycepe there instead?

Leave it up to Axel to post this . The good news is I almost tunnel to Madagascar!

Len, start digging, imagine all the rare Madagacar palms you will have access to. Just watch out for the magma, it's hot.

I played around with the map tool, the opposite side of Madagascar appears to be half way in between California and Hawaii.

It gets a bunch of water, its just the plant. I have a Hedycepe in the same planter.

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and when i tunnel from my house up there i end up in Madagascar

[MattyB]

It's a young Oceana that's in full sun. That's a normal look for those leaves. Be patient, it'll get accimated at some point.

[Funkthulhu]

Just as an FYI, if you dig straight down you get to the Indian ocean, perhaps that will make you feel more at ease.

http://www.freemaptools.com/tunnel-to-other-side-of-the-earth.htm

Axel beat me to it. . .

[Jastin]

It's a young Oceana that's in full sun. That's a normal look for those leaves. Be patient, it'll get accimated at some point.

It gets sun from 12:30 to 4:30pm

[KennyRE317]

It's a young Oceana that's in full sun. That's a normal look for those leaves. Be patient, it'll get accimated at some point.

It gets sun from 12:30 to 4:30pm

mine is about the same size and gets about the same amount of sun maybe an extra hour more and yours looks better in terms of a lot less burn. one other thing is your heel is MASSIVE compared to mine

Edited October 9, 2013 by KennyRE317

[Jastin]

No Kenny, that's not a massive heel, this is a massive heel! Dypsis d. The other 2 is my better looking oceana

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Hi Jastin

It's my opinion that the reason the Rhopie oceana /Chatham island is doing poorly compared to the 2nd one is because it doesn't like the small raised planted and i can bet that during summer the sun heats that raised area up significantly compared to the soil that the healthy oceana is planted in . Now for some palms like Pseudophoenix this would be a good thing but not for a palm that comes from an Island at 44 deg south that never has Summer temperatures above 74 F ever with average soil temperatures between 60 - 70 F at best . These palms eventually develop massive root systems that would not be suitable for a planter that size better off planted directly in the ground and put in a slow growing copernicia or something that likes full sun and warm soil .

One of the first R oceana/chathams i planted was in a similar area and it had a similar look to it planted in full sun facing north in a raised bed ! These two are doing great and have plenty of room to move .

I may be wrong but just a hunch that the soil is too warm ?

cheers Troy

My other two in the ground are thriving in cool mulched enriched soil .

[Stevetoad]

No Kenny, that's not a massive heel, this is a massive heel! Dypsis d. The other 2 is my better looking oceana

Jastins got the only trunkless form of DD. that thing will end up in the street in a few years.

[Stevetoad]

Hi Jastin

It's my opinion that the reason the Rhopie oceana /Chatham island is doing poorly compared to the 2nd one is because it doesn't like the small raised planted and i can bet that during summer the sun heats that raised area up significantly compared to the soil that the healthy oceana is planted in . Now for some palms like Pseudophoenix this would be a good thing but not for a palm that comes from an Island at 44 deg south that never has Summer temperatures above 74 F ever with average soil temperatures between 60 - 70 F at best . These palms eventually develop massive root systems that would not be suitable for a planter that size better off planted directly in the ground and put in a slow growing copernicia or something that likes full sun and warm soil .

One of the first R oceana/chathams i planted was in a similar area and it had a similar look to it planted in full sun facing north in a raised bed ! These two are doing great and have plenty of room to move .

I may be wrong but just a hunch that the soil is too warm ?

cheers Troy

My other two in the ground are thriving in cool mulched enriched soil .

Troy. Whatcha got growing behind that rhopi?

[MattyB]

Yep, hot summer on a cOol loving palm

[Jastin]

That explains it Troy, thanks!

I didnt even think about soil temps and the raised planter. Maybe its trying to bury itself cause its too hot at the top if the planter. It will come out

[pogobob]

Hi Jastin

It's my opinion that the reason the Rhopie oceana /Chatham island is doing poorly compared to the 2nd one is because it doesn't like the small raised planted and i can bet that during summer the sun heats that raised area up significantly compared to the soil that the healthy oceana is planted in . Now for some palms like Pseudophoenix this would be a good thing but not for a palm that comes from an Island at 44 deg south that never has Summer temperatures above 74 F ever with average soil temperatures between 60 - 70 F at best . These palms eventually develop massive root systems that would not be suitable for a planter that size better off planted directly in the ground and put in a slow growing copernicia or something that likes full sun and warm soil .

One of the first R oceana/chathams i planted was in a similar area and it had a similar look to it planted in full sun facing north in a raised bed ! These two are doing great and have plenty of room to move .

I may be wrong but just a hunch that the soil is too warm ?

cheers Troy

My other two in the ground are thriving in cool mulched enriched soil .

I don't think it's a soil temp problem. I planted 8 of these seedlings from my former tree in San Clemente and it is on average 15 degrees warmer here at my new place. Some are planted in full sun and some in partial shade. All are growing well even tho a couple look just like the one in Jastins garden. I have dug some volunteers out at the former house and was blown away at how deep these palms auger down into the earth before they show exposed trunk! I remember some Rhopies having fat crownshfts half buried and inflorecenses pushing out of the ground.

Also some of these Chathams have found their way to Queensland where they are doing well from what I hear.

It's my experience that Chathams are the most hardy and tolerant of all Rhopies

[Tassie_Troy1971]

thanks for the input Bob you have had more experience with these than all of us ! ,your group are certainly thriving in full vista sun but are directly in the ground rather than a narrow planter bed . Yes the ones up in Qld at Chakoro's and Mikes are doing great but are in shade area still in pots as far as i know . I know they definitely take more sun than the other varieties especially the upright one from Auckland are burned easily for me even down here half way to Antarctica !

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Hi Jastin

It's my opinion that the reason the Rhopie oceana /Chatham island is doing poorly compared to the 2nd one is because it doesn't like the small raised planted and i can bet that during summer the sun heats that raised area up significantly compared to the soil that the healthy oceana is planted in . Now for some palms like Pseudophoenix this would be a good thing but not for a palm that comes from an Island at 44 deg south that never has Summer temperatures above 74 F ever with average soil temperatures between 60 - 70 F at best . These palms eventually develop massive root systems that would not be suitable for a planter that size better off planted directly in the ground and put in a slow growing copernicia or something that likes full sun and warm soil .

One of the first R oceana/chathams i planted was in a similar area and it had a similar look to it planted in full sun facing north in a raised bed ! These two are doing great and have plenty of room to move .

I may be wrong but just a hunch that the soil is too warm ?

cheers Troy

My other two in the ground are thriving in cool mulched enriched soil .

Troy. Whatcha got growing behind that rhopi?

A mountain variety papaya that is soon to get the chop as the other palms grow up ~

[richnorm]

Yes the ones up in Qld at Chakoro's and Mikes are doing great but are in shade area still in pots as far as i know .

How old are they? They can spit the dummy even in Auckland.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Not very old say 3 yrs at best around 20 cm tall i guess ? in Qld

" They can spit the dummy even in Auckland."

I thought Auckland would be a perfect climate for these ???

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Yes the ones up in Qld at Chakoro's and Mikes are doing great but are in shade area still in pots as far as i know .

How old are they? They can spit the dummy even in Auckland.

now there's an idiom I've not heard before. Is that some sort of NZ speak?

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Axel

"Spit the Dummy

Australian Term: To indulge in a sudden display of anger or frustration; to lose one’s temper. The phrase is usually used of an adult, and the implication is that the outburst is childish, like a baby spitting out its dummy in a tantrum and refusing to be pacified. (Dummy is a pacifier)'

Just like baby Lucas when he can't go palm touring with you !