growing pritchardia in large pots

[Stevetoad]

anyone know how pritchardias will do long term in large pots? i want to keep one under my patio cover. i think its a monroi if that matters.

[DoomsDave]

I have a couple that have been in 15 gallon pots since at least 2006. They haven't grown much, but they're alive and healthy.

I think a much bigger pot is better, say a 36" box, especially for the larger species. Part of it is for size, and part is to act as a weight for stability in case it gets windy.

Munroi is super rare, from what I understand; did you get it from Dr. Phil? (I got one, too, it's in the ground and doing well so far.) I believe they're from a relatively dry habitat, so they'll likely take pot culture better than the ones from the Land of Eternal, Never-ending Rain and Moldy Underwear . . .

[Stevetoad]

you got it Dave. Picked it up from Phil last week. the pots i have weigh about 200lbs and are about 25 gallon. think thats big enough?

[sashaeffer]

Bought a band sized Munroi from Phil now going on two years ago and it's doing just fine in it's smaller pot. Steady, but slow growth compared to other Pritchardias that I got from Phil.

[DoomsDave]

you got it Dave. Picked it up from Phil last week. the pots i have weigh about 200lbs and are about 25 gallon. think thats big enough?

That should be good.

Keep in mind, you want to use a pot that's easier to remove the plant from and repot it with fresh soil from time to time. Decorative pots can be a real baywatch sometimes, particularly if they're pretty and you don't want to bang them up.

Pritchies make good pot plants. The smaller ones, especially, like minor, martii, etc.

[DoomsDave]

Bought a band sized Munroi from Phil now going on two years ago and it's doing just fine in it's smaller pot. Steady, but slow growth compared to other Pritchardias that I got from Phil.

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Where do you keep it in the winter? What kind of room? They like lots of light, and I thought you might have trouble indoors. Keep us apprized, and come visit and see some in the ground some day!

[Stevetoad]

thanks for the input Dave. these pots are easy to remove plants from so thats no worry. i bought the one i got because it was growing under a huge hole in his greenhouse so it was already sun ready. i might just plant that one and buy a shaded one with the shade leaves already for my pot.

[DoomsDave]

thanks for the input Dave. these pots are easy to remove plants from so thats no worry. i bought the one i got because it was growing under a huge hole in his greenhouse so it was already sun ready. i might just plant that one and buy a shaded one with the shade leaves already for my pot.

My specimen was out in the sun almost as soon as I got it home and endured the usual Death Camp treatment, none the worse for wear.

[MattyB]

I just took this pic yesterday at my Mom's in Alpine. They get frost so this is under the patio cover (75% shade cloth with full afternoon sun).

Pritchardia maideniana collected seed from Kona, HI in 2007.

[sashaeffer]

I keep all my Pritchardias in a spare bedroom that has a South facing window. I just back off the watering and they seem to do just fine.

Phil cautioned me about putting them in Midwest full sun, but they don't seem to mind that either although the Munroi resides on a covered West facing porch where it only gets Western setting sun.

[JasonD]

I just took this pic yesterday at my Mom's in Alpine. They get frost so this is under the patio cover (75% shade cloth with full afternoon sun).

Pritchardia maideniana collected seed from Kona, HI in 2007.

That is a beautiful pritchardia!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

What's the story on p. munroi? I picked up one of those last year from Phil as well, and it's really the slowest pritchardia I've ever grown. Seems like a slug to me. I almost regret planting it in the ground. It seems like it would make a fantastic potted plant given it's glacial speed.

[DoomsDave]

What's the story on p. munroi? I picked up one of those last year from Phil as well, and it's really the slowest pritchardia I've ever grown. Seems like a slug to me. I almost regret planting it in the ground. It seems like it would make a fantastic potted plant given it's glacial speed.

That, along with habitat destruction might explain its rarity. Mine is slow, too, but has that obvious vigor in spite of it. And, it survived the neglect of the Death Camp.