How do you grow your Zombie palm?

[Missi]

What more a fitting month than October for me to order Zombia antillarum?!  Mine (which will arrive in the mail today) is but a large seedling so I plan to keep it in a container for a while. I am interested in hearing how owners of this plant (especially in FL) care for theirs, whether in ground or in container!

[PalmatierMeg]

I have two small ones and a Coccothrinax x Zombia in the ground. They are hardy here so no reason to keep them in pots beyond their first winter. And they don't mind my alkaline sandy soil. But they are very slow growing.

[Palmaceae]

I also have a small I one in the ground, it is in a mostly sunny spot and is doing great. Like Meg said they are slow. I saw quite a few in the Keys so they do well in rocky soil also.

[Missi]

Excellent! That's great news. Approx. how many leaves does it push a year? Cover when frost threatens?

[PalmatierMeg]

Excellent! That's great news. Approx. how many leaves does it push a year? Cover when frost threatens?

I never counted. Both of mine sulked for a while after I planted them but eventually came back. Consider covering them if frost is forecast. A towel will do. Never use plastic, which actually can transfer cold and make damage worse.

[Really full garden]

Mine grows slowly ,but seems to be speeding up. It seems to have one principle trunk and many small suckers.I try to take photos this weekend

[Missi]

Here she is, fresh out of the box & in soil again, in all her lil seedling glory!  Finger for scale 

 

[Missi]

Mine grows slowly ,but seems to be speeding up. It seems to have one principle trunk and many small suckers.I try to take photos this weekend

photos would be excellent! 

[Beach palm]

Put them in the ground. NO fertilizer!!

[aztropic]

Here's 1 of several I grew from seed started 6 or 7 years ago.Very slow growing in pots but has speeded up considerably since it was planted in the ground.Still less than a foot tall but is starting to show some tiny little spines.Seems to be as hardy as most Coccothrinax and is being treated like one here in Arizona.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

 

 

[Josh-O]

Here's 1 of several I grew from seed started 6 or 7 years ago.Very slow growing in pots but has speeded up considerably since it was planted in the ground.Still less than a foot tall but is starting to show some tiny little spines.Seems to be as hardy as most Coccothrinax and is being treated like one here in Arizona.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

 

 

looking good Scott 

[Missi]

Put them in the ground. NO fertilizer!!

No fertilizer ever??

[Missi]

Here's 1 of several I grew from seed started 6 or 7 years ago.Very slow growing in pots but has speeded up considerably since it was planted in the ground.Still less than a foot tall but is starting to show some tiny little spines.Seems to be as hardy as most Coccothrinax and is being treated like one here in Arizona.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

 

 

Well hello beautiful  View of stem?

[Really full garden]

Missi, this is my Zombie. It is about 14 years from seed and has about four feet of trunk ( 6-7 ft overall). It has been in in the ground about 11 years. It gets partial shade until 10am then full sun until about 3pm then partial shade again.

My soil is almost pure volcanic sand so I do fertilize and water during our very long dry season.

They are incredibly slow at first,but once established ( 2-3yrs?) they do speed up a bit.Still slow ,but worth the wait.

[Beach palm]

I have found them to be very sensitive to fertilizer. I have burnt mine several times even using small amounts, I live in south Florida...palm beach. We have great soil here. I do not fertilize min AT all. Full sun, lots of water. Once they get going they pick up speed. 

[Missi]

She's dying on me, guys!! Leaves are looking dehydrated & wilty & crinkling up. Definitely a sick looking palm. Can't think of what could be wrong with her other than not handling bareroot shipping then being potted up well. This sucks!

[Beach palm]

Did you fertilize it?

[Missi]

I took pics this morning. Look how terrible it's gotten in just a week. What's the deal? Is there anything I can do to bring her back?

 

[Missi]

Did you fertilize it?

I use Miracle Grow cactus & palm potting soil. 

[PalmatierMeg]

Both of mine sulked with leaf die-off until I believed they would die. Then they rallied and put out new growth. Even now I half expect them to give up and croak. So don't give up on them too soon. Do not fertilize them so soon after potting. I never use cactus soil straight. I add extra perlite for increased drainage. Anyone who recommends pumice doesn't know it is impossible to find in FL. Don't overwater. I don't know if this species is prone to spider mites but check anyway.

My Coccothrinax/Zombia hybrid is much faster growing and less finicky.

[Really full garden]

I took pics this morning. Look how terrible it's gotten in just a week. What's the deal? Is there anything I can do to bring her back?

 

Missi, I have always found bare root seedlings to be a hit or miss proposition. Dont despair. You are fortunate to live on the doorstep of one the largest tropical horticultural regions on the planet.My advise is to buy the largest potted Zombie you can afford( or fit in your car) and plant it in your garden ASAP.

[Pal Meir]

Did you fertilize it?

I use Miracle Grow cactus & palm potting soil. 

Your soil mix was not the most adequate one: "Grow zombie palm in full to partial sun and well-drained, sandy soil." (Palmpedia) Your mix has too much humus and its drainage is not quick enough.

[Missi]

I buy a lot of bareroot seedlings & have never had an issue so this is freaking me out but Meg, your comment eased my mind a bit. I guess I should have read up more on what this species likes. It is so small so I didn't want to put in in the ground yet but perhaps I should have. Should I do that now or just leave it be until it bounces back, if it does? Did I read these guys are extra sensitive to root disturbance?

[PalmatierMeg]

I'm not sure about root sensitivity. Mine were small but already palmate. I planted both into the alkaline, calcareous dreck known as soil in Cape Coral. I'll have to read up on their cold sensitivity, but if I had to guess, that would be similar to most species of Coccothrinax. You live inland in east Naples, don't you? If so, your winter will be colder than on the coast: 10a with arctic dips to 9b? At this point I suggest you not plant it till spring. Let it overwinter in a pot where you can better protect it and give it a chance to estab lish itself. It has already gone through a lot. And, as I stressed before, do not overwater it. Keep it on the dry side during cool weather.

Edited November 1, 2015 by PalmatierMeg

[Missi]

I'm not sure about root sensitivity. Mine were small but already palmate. I planted both into the alkaline, calcareous dreck known as soil in Cape Coral. I'll have to read up on their cold sensitivity, but if I had to guess, that would be similar to most species of Coccothrinax. You live inland in east Naples, don't you? If so, your winter will be colder than on the coast: 10a with arctic dips to 9b? At this point I suggest you not plant it till spring. Let it overwinter in a pot where you can better protect it and give it a chance to estab lish itself. It has already gone through a lot. And, as I stressed before, do not overwater it. Keep it on the dry side during cool weather. 

As always, I thank you for your guidance Meg! How much sun should I be allowing it right now? 

[PalmatierMeg]

They are sun lovers but maybe you should start yours with morning sun until it decides what it wants to do. I planted my two in full blazing sun, then let them deal with it.

[PalmatierMeg]

These are my two Zombias. They flirted with death for a while but have come back from the brink.

#1

#2

[DCdesertpalm]

Here is mine.... 

Planted 8/29/13

 

4/13/15 starting to cluster!

[Missi]

Keep the pics coming, all you people who have zombia!

Meg, yours look great!! My guy isn't completely dead yet but definitely on the brink. Did you do anything to bring yours back or just left them?

[waykoolplantz]

If this new lousy version of PT worked I would post a 20ft Zombia with 4 trunks growing in S Florida

 

wish I could share 

[Jeff Searle]

I transplanted one of mine here at the house earlier this summer. It's approx. 9-10' and had 3 prominent trunks and some very small suckers at various sizes. It pretty much died on me ( so I thought ) within 3 months, due to not watering. YEP......even I get lazy and screw up sometimes. All three main trunks lost every bit of green! The suckers still remained green so I figured I went from a 10' palm down to a couple of feet. Well, as of now, all three trunks are pushing a spear and actually look like they just might make it. This specie is damn tough! So don' give up!

[Missi]

12 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

If this new lousy version of PT worked I would post a 20ft Zombia with 4 trunks growing in S Florida

 

wish I could share 

Wish I could see it!! Try this morning? Things seem to be working better this a.m.

[Missi]

8 hours ago, Jeff Searle said:

I transplanted one of mine here at the house earlier this summer. It's approx. 9-10' and had 3 prominent trunks and some very small suckers at various sizes. It pretty much died on me ( so I thought ) within 3 months, due to not watering. YEP......even I get lazy and screw up sometimes. All three main trunks lost every bit of green! The suckers still remained green so I figured I went from a 10' palm down to a couple of feet. Well, as of now, all three trunks are pushing a spear and actually look like they just might make it. This specie is damn tough! So don' give up!

Okay! Thanks for sharing your story! That gives me more hope!! I won't toss my little zombie yet though it does have a challenge with winter coming...Wish there was a way I could make the soil mixture in the pot more sandy without disturbing the roots.

Glad your 3 are on the rebound!  It would have been a shame to lose them!

[Missi]

I've been keeping the seller posted on the plant's poor status, including pictures. Today he said he is sending me a new one. Should I put it in the ground straight away this time of year or try it again in a pot? If I'm to put it in a pot, what mix should I use? Peat moss & a ton of perlite or something different?

[aztropic]

Here's a clump of them I found in the Bahamas.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[waykoolplantz]

been trying to get this to share

[Really full garden]

22 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

been trying to get this to share

Spectacular Zombie! What I really like about this palm is that it looks great in sun or shade.

[aztropic]

On 10/23/2015 at 5:11 AM, Missi said:

Well hello beautiful  View of stem?

A few years late,but here's a view of the stem.  

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona