Majesty Palm in central ca

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Here is a photo of a majesty Palm in Modesto Ca ( growing about 1/2 mile from my house.)

i have bought several from big box stores, they always die.

Is there some sort of secret to growing these guys?

btw, a short time after the house in photo was sold, the new owners cut this otherwise healthy Palm down,

 

jeff

 

[Ben in Norcal]

I would also like to know how to "unlock the secret" to these guys.  Maybe we need to start with plants grown outdoors in SoCal, vs. the greenhouse grown stuff at the big box?

[DoomsDave]

They seem to grow well here in La Habra.

I think you need; plenty of heat, but not desert heat; plenty of water, like a nice lawn; occasional magnesium (Epsom salt) supplementation, boggy soil, or at least close.   If not boggy, then LOTS of water. They seem to stay greener in shade, but will look good in the sun.

I'll tour the town and see if I can get some pictures.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

This one was growing in full sun.

it seems there was a leaky sprinkler nearby, creating a constantly wet soil.

Crazy as it seems, Even though large potted specimuns are available cheaply I was thinking about starting them from seed. 

[DoomsDave]

Jeff, if you want to start seed by all means.

I'd save that for species harder to find.

[foxtail]

hmm, full sun or partial shade????  

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

7 minutes ago, foxtail said:

hmm, full sun or partial shade????  

Believe it or not, full sun!

The driveway in the photo is to the south of the Palm .

Dave, just thinking that if big box Palm won't grow here, then maybe a seedling will not have to acclimate .

[John Case]

I have 5 right now will be ready in the spring, Jeff.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Sounds good John !

 

[John Case]

4 minutes ago, JEFF IN MODESTO said:21

Sounds good John !

 

My wife will be happy...they're in her bathtub!

[Danilopez89]

I've seen some healthy and robust looking ones die for no apparent reason. 

I recently found one with about 5 or 6 feet of trunk, only to witness the brutal beating it took before it died this past summer from all the heat waves we had. 

One of my neighbors has a nice clump in the front yard lawn and is in full sun. Looks like it doesn't get any special attention. The grass looks like it gets fertilized once a year so the palms always look a bit yellowish(but healthy). I've tried a few and I've lost them all due to to much heat/sun.

Don in Palm Desert has several in his yard. One is trunking way up above the roof 

(In the desert heat Dave)

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Our summer averages are only in the mid 90's and not nearly as dry as the SoCal desert.

i think the key is to find the right combination of conditions.

though I find it odd that many ppl here buy them and plant them outdoors only to fail.

this Palm proves it can be done ( much like my d. decipiens.)

i guess the real question ... Why so many failures?

[Mohsen]

I have planted one 2 days ago in a very poor drainage location in Full Sun...I bought it from a big department store as introduced it to sun gradually...will water it every day as it likes a wet feet...will keep posted its fate ,,,,

[Sandy Loam]

 

Is it possible that the problem in Modesto is its cold winter nights? 

I once stayed at a hotel in Orange County, California which must have had about a hundred large Ravenea Rivularis around its property, all with big trunks.  They all looked perfect. I am sure that they received plenty of irrigation and would never have seen much cold at night in winter.  They were all planted in full, blazing sun.

 

[Phoenikakias]

 

14 hours ago, Ben in Norcal said:

I would also like to know how to "unlock the secret" to these guys.  Maybe we need to start with plants grown outdoors in SoCal, vs. the greenhouse grown stuff at the big box?

I have tried two or three times with Rr and every time I was beginning with a soft, greenhouse grown specimen in pot with peaty medium, I was failing. The only time I succeeded was with a specimen grown in an unheated and unshaded cold frame (which becomes a hot house during summer) in a pot with well structured clay soil. Besides, depending on water quality, it may not be amenable to chemical fertilizers but the very slow releasing ones, as is quite often the case here. Mine hates chemical and loves organic fertilizers.

4 hours ago, Sandy Loam said:

 

Is it possible that the problem in Modesto is its cold winter nights? 

I once stayed at a hotel in Orange County, California which must have had about a hundred large Ravenea Rivularis around its property, all with big trunks.  They all looked perfect. I am sure that they received plenty of irrigation and would never have seen much cold at night in winter.  They were all planted in full, blazing sun.

 

No way that Modesto is colder during winter than my garden. Yet  I grow successfully an Rr for over a decade, which has survived the freak cold spell of 2004. 

[Brad Mondel]

The secret is that they like consistently moist soil. This is because in habitat they grow along river banks and even in standing water. Hence the species name rivularis. 

[Matt in OC]

Lots of nice, huge ones around here in clay soil, full sun. There are some ugly ones too that look neglected.

[Rafael]

With your permission, Jeff, i am uploading my bigger RR pics, growing in a clayish permanently moist soil, in full partial day sun.

It has already handled 29F, twice, in a couple of winters since 2012, when it was planted (1/4 actual size).

[enigma99]

That one looked pretty good. I don't understand why people cut palms down as soon as they buy the home. As others have said, I've had success with giving them heat, but not too much valley sun and LOTS of water. They wouldn't mind being in wet soil all of the time. I've had them take full sun but they don't like being on a south wall in full sun where it can get even hotter. 

I think the issue is that all of the big box palms are really green, which means they have been in shade so it takes a long time to acclimate 

[richnorm]

2 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

The secret is that they like consistently moist soil. This is because in habitat they grow along river banks and even in standing water. Hence the species name rivularis. 

Yep!

 

[Jubaea]

Here is a picture of mine from today.  I bought it as a neglected 3 gal plant and kept in pots for 2 years.  I planted it in ground from a 15 gal pot size just over 2 years ago.  It suffered some sun damage for quite some time while trying to acclimate it.  It does suffer some minor damage during winters where it has experienced high 20's but grows out of it quickly.  It receives lots water and some fertilizer when I think of it.  

I think getting a smaller specimen and keeping it in a pot until it starts acclimating would increase the chances of success.  I would recommend getting a tray for the pot so it is sitting in a couple of inches of water all the time at least during the hot and dry season.

[Mohsen]

On 11/30/2015, 4:38:06, Jubaea said:

Here is a picture of mine from today.  I bought it as a neglected 3 gal plant and kept in pots for 2 years.  I planted it in ground from a 15 gal pot size just over 2 years ago.  It suffered some sun damage for quite some time while trying to acclimate it.  It does suffer some minor damage during winters where it has experienced high 20's but grows out of it quickly.  It receives lots water and some fertilizer when I think of it.  

I think getting a smaller specimen and keeping it in a pot until it starts acclimating would increase the chances of success.  I would recommend getting a tray for the pot so it is sitting in a couple of inches of water all the time at least during the hot and dry season.

looks very healthy

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

On November 30, 2015 at 5:15:03 AM, Sandy Loam said:

 

Is it possible that the problem in Modesto is its cold winter nights? 

I once stayed at a hotel in Orange County, California which must have had about a hundred large Ravenea Rivularis around its property, all with big trunks.  They all looked perfect. I am sure that they received plenty of irrigation and would never have seen much cold at night in winter.  They were all planted in full, blazing sun.

 

Maybe cold could be a factor.

but the Palm in photo was growing only a couple blocks from me, so it would get same temps as my yard.

[Mohsen]

Just saw two happy couple today in front of eachother ...

[Mohsen]

some good ones in nursery ...$45.00 each I think :

My question is , did they get that thick in pot or they have been transplant from ground? and this is not only about this type but all established species in pots.

[Rafael]

Majesty palms transplant quite easily.

 

[Mohsen]

Thanks Rafael

Have they been in pot from the beginning or just dug up from ground .

Regards

mohsen 

[Rafael]

12 minutes ago, Mohsen said:

Thanks Rafael

Have they been in pot from the beginning or just dug up from ground .

Regards

mohsen 

They can also be pot grown easily reaching trunk stage.

[Mohsen]

Thanks Rafael

how long would it take that they form trunk ( from a small pot) if all condition is ideal?

[Bazza]

Here's a nice one I planted at a Day Spa project back in '03.........I used it here because it somewhat resembled a Coconut Palm in growth habit.

Interesting species......thanks for the thread, excellent pics, and input!

 

Fishtail Palms!