First time keeping a palm in a pot. I was thinking about bringing in the garage at night I'm in zone 8A in the winter time and then during the day keeping it in the sun any advice I want to keep it in the pot for at least 2 years how should I maintain it

For zone 8a I think bringing it inside a cool but frostfree area would be best. Also when temperatures get low in winter you should keep it relatively dry and no fertilizer. Start fertilizing in spring when temperatures are 15C and above. Just watch for growth, that should be the trigger.

I think I'm in the same climatezone and have a Butia planted out in my garden. But climatezones don't say it all as these are based on winters lowest temps I believe. Many other factors are just as important, like how wet and how long the winter is. Taken those last two factors into account I think I am in a very bad 8a zone.

4 hours ago, Kai said:

For zone 8a I think bringing it inside a cool but frostfree area would be best. Also when temperatures get low in winter you should keep it relatively dry and no fertilizer. Start fertilizing in spring when temperatures are 15C and above. Just watch for growth, that should be the trigger.

I think I'm in the same climatezone and have a Butia planted out in my garden. But climatezones don't say it all as these are based on winters lowest temps I believe. Many other factors are just as important, like how wet and how long the winter is. Taken those last two factors into account I think I am in a very bad 8a zone.

Thanks for the reply ! So being in a pot should I water it and wait for it to dry on the top 2 inches then water again?  It's been in the 90s here. And will probably be warm until November.  What are your thoughts? 

As long as the soil drains well and it doesn't sit and soak in the excess, i think it would be hard to over water.  That being said, I have a pseudopheonix in a big pot on my balcony that I water about once a week if it doesn't rain, and once every week to 10 days when I bring it in over the winter. (Zone 5B, Baby! Woo!)

I have a number of Butia species all in pots or tubs and simply keep them in garage in the winter with almost no water.

13 minutes ago, sashaeffer said:

I have a number of Butia species all in pots or tubs and simply keep them in garage in the winter with almost no water.

That's good to know. Do the fronds stay green for you over the winter?  To promote growth I was thinking about watering my palm with  warm water? Any experience by anyone doing this? 

Yes they do. It's one of the few cold hardy palms I have that I can throw right back into full sun in the spring with no issues along with my Queens.

 

as far as water, I try not to do anything that will "shock" my palms so I wouldn't warm water, Room temp water should suffice.

 

Edited August 29, 20169 yr by sashaeffer
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Pics of a few of mine....One in second picture has been growing like crazy this year for some reason.

 

32 minutes ago, sashaeffer said:

Pics of a few of mine....One in second picture has been growing like crazy this year for some reason.

 

Your palms look great! Are you planning on planting them once they get too big for the pots? I looked on Google images and saw some massive Butias in small pots that are literally the same diameter of the trunk!!  Do you use slow release fertilizer in your pots?

Easy to grow in pots. Water when hot. Very little water when cold....maybe once per 3 weeks. Give it sun when you can over winter. Soil should drain well. 

We've had so much perfectly spaced rain events this summer my rain barrel which typically gets used up by Aug, is always full the past two summers.

I use Carl Pools granular fertilizer late spring and early fall.

I do have one Butia eriospatha that is planted in the ground but just planted this year so hasn't seen a winter yet. Not sure what I will do when others outgrow the ability to keep in my garage with all the other palms I have to put in there.

 

I wanna post pics of mine to keep up with the Jones's, but Scott's look so much better than most of mine!

 

On 8/29/2016, 6:25:07, sashaeffer said:

2 hours ago, Funkthulhu said:

I wanna post pics of mine to keep up with the Jones's, but Scott's look so much better than most of mine!

 

Post them! All palms are different I would love to see how they look.

Nice palm!

Edited August 31, 20169 yr by PalmTreeDude