To buy or not to buy - Linospadix monostachyos in Adelaide

[hopper]

Hi all

Kmart has 3 Linospadix monostachyos (walking stick palms) for sale. Never expected Kmart to offer anything outside of the standard range of palms. But was surprised to see these. The tag describes one of the plants requirements as needing a warm and humid environment. This is not Adelaide's environment type.

So asking the question here if anybody is sucsecfully growing this palm in a similar environment to ours?

Or should I just buy it and treat it the same as my Rhapis excelsa?

Hopper

 

[Pip]

Wow, there must be a real push with this species turning up in all the big retail stores. I grabbed a couple this week because they where cheap. There is a nursery down my way that has large examples nearly as tall as me growing in a shade house. The owner has grown them from seed and said they only need some kind of canopy above them to be happy here in Adelaide. Oh and they don't mind our soggy soils in winter.

[el-blanco]

How much are they?  I would buy all three as fast as I could.!!  I have two that I bought form Louie Hooper quite a few years ago.  They were 1 gallon size and are now full grown.  Never an issue here where I live (Dana Point, CA 10A). Given that you are the same longitude as Sydney that should do fine.  They look great too.  I suspect they will lose the bifid leaves as they mature and go pinnate.  Go for it, and track the progress for us.

 

Thanks,  Jeff

[Neil C]

For 15 bucks that looks like a steal. So healthy too!

 

Regards Neil

[Pip]

About $9 each

[el-blanco]

 $9.00?  That is a great price!

 

Edited October 3, 2015 by el-blanco

[coops 3214]

Hi all

Kmart has 3 Linospadix monostachyos (walking stick palms) for sale. Never expected Kmart to offer anything outside of the standard range of palms. But was surprised to see these. The tag describes one of the plants requirements as needing a warm and humid environment. This is not Adelaide's environment type.

So asking the question here if anybody is sucsecfully growing this palm in a similar environment to ours?

Or should I just buy it and treat it the same as my Rhapis excelsa?

Hopper

 

there growing fine down here in Melbourne i say go for it,

[Rafael]

I would buy the three available for sure....

[hopper]

How much are they?  I would buy all three as fast as I could.!!  I have two that I bought form Louie Hooper quite a few years ago.  They were 1 gallon size and are now full grown.  Never an issue here where I live (Dana Point, CA 10A). Given that you are the same longitude as Sydney that should do fine.  They look great too.  I suspect they will lose the bifid leaves as they mature and go pinnate.  Go for it, and track the progress for us.

 

Thanks,  Jeff

Thanks Jeff.

$15 AUS.

We might have the same longitude as Sydney, but we don't get the same rainfall / humidity.

[hopper]

About $9 each

PIp is that what you paid, or are you converting $15 AU into $US?

[hopper]

Wow, there must be a real push with this species turning up in all the big retail stores. I grabbed a couple this week because they where cheap. There is a nursery down my way that has large examples nearly as tall as me growing in a shade house. The owner has grown them from seed and said they only need some kind of canopy above them to be happy here in Adelaide. Oh and they don't mind our soggy soils in winter.

Ok, thats good enough for me. Back to Kmart to see if they are still there.

[gyuseppe]

cultivation of Linospadix monostachya is really easy, I have some facts from seed,

[Josh-O]

great palm at a great price!!

[Pip]

No conversion  $9 and something cents.

[Tropicgardener]

Yep buy the lot, a great little palm.........may need a bit more shade and added humidity during your hot dry summers but other than that should do ok........... I grow L. minor as it is easier in the tropics.

[Mohsen]

I need to check KMART here ( SYDNEY ) tomorrow ... I hope they have it so I will buy some ...

[Pip]

I need to check KMART here ( SYDNEY ) tomorrow ... I hope they have it so I will buy some ...

Mohsen these palms have been grown in South Australia probably for the local market. Mostly the plant retailers have to make do with stock grown in NSW and Victoria or Qld for palms. I've noticed more palms here in the big retail nurseries with 'Grown in SA' stickers that are slightly cheaper Woohoo, unfortunately usually the same species seen everywhere that are able to be grown in large numbers due to easily sourced seed. You might be lucky to find them in Sydney. 

[PalmatierMeg]

At K-Mart? Oh my. All our local K-Marts went belly up. 'd take them all. I love this little palm. Unfortunately, they don't care for my hot, humid summers. I managed to keep one alive for about 3 years before it gave up on life. But I'd love to try again.

[hopper]

Well it is done.

I purchased one of the three that I had seen on Saturday. I was not sure if any of them would still be there today, Tuesday. (as it was a public holiday here on Monday)

Not overly cashed up to grab all three, plus I tend to kill plants with too much kindness.

Pip, still two left at Kmart Marion if you are interested.

[Pip]

Thanks Martin, but I already picked up a couple from my local Big W for $9each. I might have a look to see if there are any left but no big deal if they are gone.

[hopper]

Feeling ripped off now. $15 vs $9. I'm assuming these at Kmart are bigger thou.

[Pip]

Um doesn't look like it. Looks like they came from the same wholesale nursery. A new Bunnings has opened nearby so I suspect just for thd moment Big W are trying to keep their market share. Masters are beginning to build a giant store too. 

[Mohsen]

Today I went to few KMART in Sydney and they have not heard about walking stick palms !!!

[chayote]

We used to grow walking sticks in Gascoyne park within WA, but the kids break the palms for fun in the park, the members and president are very angry about that

[Tyrone]

Linospadix monostachys grow better down here in Albany (same latitude as Adelaide), than they do in Perth. I could grow them in Perth, but the long hot spells even with copious water and canopy would cause them distress. These should grow great in Adelaide.

[Pip]

Linospadix monostachys grow better down here in Albany (same latitude as Adelaide), than they do in Perth. I could grow them in Perth, but the long hot spells even with copious water and canopy would cause them distress. These should grow great in Adelaide.

Away from the beach Adelaide generally has much heavier soil than Perth's which is probably an advantage during long hot spells. 

[Pal Meir]

Here some remarks to the habitat of Linospadix monostachya. (The grammatically correct form is L. monostachya, because Greek σπαδιξ [spadix, in botany “spike inflorescence”] is a femininum.)

Palmpedia: “New South Wales, Queensland. From just north of Gympie (Qld)- Home Logging area – at 26˚05'S to John's Mt. just north of Taree (NSW) at 31˚30'S. In rain forest from sea level to 1200 m elevation, primarily on basalt soils, less common on metamorphics and alluvial soils. (J.L. Dowe. 1997)/Palmweb.”

Cronin 1989: “Naturally occurring in subtropical rainforests, and occasionally cool-temperate rainforests, often along stream banks, in shady sites, where they may grow in scattered colonies. The fresh seed germinates readily in 4-6 months, preferring complete shade, lots of water, good drainage and rich soil. They are slow growing and will tolerate cold climates and mild frosts.”

 

[Tyrone]

Linospadix monostachys grow better down here in Albany (same latitude as Adelaide), than they do in Perth. I could grow them in Perth, but the long hot spells even with copious water and canopy would cause them distress. These should grow great in Adelaide.

Away from the beach Adelaide generally has much heavier soil than Perth's which is probably an advantage during long hot spells. 

Yes, I would agree with that. They'd be perfect in the Perth hills too. No sand up there and a bit cooler too.

[DoomsDave]

Linospadix appears to be one of those palms that's native to a rainforest but grows well in California anyway. We have some fantastic specimens here. Jim Wright had a bunch, as did a couple of docs down in Huntington beach a while back.

I'd get me a grove of them in Adelaide; your climate is much like ours, except spring is nigh for thee.

[hopper]

Looking to re-pot this palm into a larger 3-400mm dia pot until the garden layout and irrigation is bedded down. Plus it may take away some of the stress our hot dry summers would have on it in the small pot that it's in now.

So looking to see if anybody can give me a guide as to the best ratio of potting mix to use on this little guy.

Also, hoping it's not to sensitive to re-potting.

Hopper

[DoomsDave]

Hopper, best to keep them out of the wind, sheltered by other plants. They seem to appreciate that "shared breath" humidity.

Let us know how they grow!

[Tropicgardener]

Looking to re-pot this palm into a larger 3-400mm dia pot until the garden layout and irrigation is bedded down. Plus it may take away some of the stress our hot dry summers would have on it in the small pot that it's in now.

So looking to see if anybody can give me a guide as to the best ratio of potting mix to use on this little guy.

Also, hoping it's not to sensitive to re-potting.

Hopper

No they are not root sensitive, quite easy to repot....... Dave is right though, they love high humidity. Without humidity their leaves can loose their lustre. Their subtropical rainforest home always has a degree of humidity.

[hopper]

There back again, almost a year to the day. Walking stick Palms back at Kmart.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

13 hours ago, hopper said:

There back again, almost a year to the day. Walking stick Palms back at Kmart.

 

Where's my wallet? Now to grab the next flight to Adelaide. Only in my dreams. All my local K-Marts folded.

[Mohsen]

42 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Where's my wallet? Now to grab the next flight to Adelaide. Only in my dreams. All my local K-Marts folded.

I wish out KMART has some here but it seems they source it locally ?

[User00]

is this palm suitable for humid tropics, someone sell on ebay

[SubTropicRay]

Looks more like Hydriastele pinangoides.  Just saying.

[tim_brissy_13]

Melbourne K Marts have also been stocking these since last year. I got a couple last Christmas that are going great. One of my favourite small palms and absolutely bulletproof to everything our climate throws at them.

[Mohsen]

53 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Melbourne K Marts have also been stocking these since last year. I got a couple last Christmas that are going great. One of my favourite small palms and absolutely bulletproof to everything our climate throws at them.

Never seen KMARt in Sydney selling any palms...obly Bunnings and a once a year Coles and ALDI...

[Tyrone]

10 hours ago, User00 said:

is this palm suitable for humid tropics, someone sell on ebay

Try Linospadix minor for that.