This is the story of the weakest of ten Lytocaryum weddellianum seedlings.

In 2013 all other seeds germinated between April 01 and 26, only one small seed germinated much later on May 8 after 49 days (cf. pic #1).  And this seedling N°1308 would not grow like its siblings and stayed small though it was the only single seedling which was planted since the beginning in a large Ø12xH12 cm clay pot (cf. pic #2).  (The other five singles N°1301 to N°1305 had only tiny Ø8xH9cm clay pots.) So I checked the roots and was very worried (pic #3).  The soil mix could not be the the reason because the other Lyto weddells were planted in the same mix.  So I guessed it might be that the draining hole of the pot was closed by something too tight. I placed another piece of a clay pot over the hole and repotted the palm with the same soil into the same pot.  And it became looking happier (pic #4)  and is a happy little bonsai palm until now, pushing its 18th leaf (pic #5), with very strong and healthy roots (pic #6). 

So we can see that even an ideal soil mix may cause problems when the pot is too large or the drainage not optimal.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Oops, I forgot to post the last pic from today:

Nice story, do you plan to keep it as bonsai (pruning roots in the future)?

28 minutes ago, Pal Meir said:

Oops, I forgot to post the last pic from today:

So you're saying that too big pot was holding it's growth so significantly ? Are Lytos more vulnerable to this factor than other palms ? I was always thinking -bigger pot - bigger growth overally. That's something really surprising.

Edited July 23, 20178 yr by Reynevan
typo

28 minutes ago, Reynevan said:

So you're saying that too big pot was holding it's growth so significantly ? Are Lytos more vulnerable to this factor than other palms ? I was always thinking -bigger pot - bigger growth overally. That's something really surprising.

I wrote: So we can see that even an ideal soil mix may cause problems when

(1) the pot is too large or

(2) the drainage not optimal. 

If the drainage had been optimal I guess the roots had been looking better. But if the pot had been a small 8x9cm pot even a not so good drainage would not have caused such problem.

As my other Lyto weddells — except those twins I am trimming as bonsai for my desktop — are all growing too fast for placing them on the window sills I try to keep that palm N°1308 as small as possible, but my success does not last longer as it seems ….

here is my attempt at making a lytocaryum bonsai, it  grows bigger leaves in the winter because of less sunlight......

14 minutes ago, Jamesasb said:

here is my attempt at making a lytocaryum bonsai, it  grows bigger leaves in the winter because of less sunlight......

My N°1306c (the palm in the middle) is a real bonsai (by root pruning):

That palm N°1308 is the youngest one of the N°1300 series. It is since 2018-05-19 (when it got its new Ø18xH18 cm pot) exposed to direct afternoon sunlight on the balcony. I hope that it will grow more compact and not become too tall so soon (like N°1301) …  (it is just pushing its 24th leaf. The diameter of the stem is almost 4 cm.)

Interesting post, and a lovely palm!

Now the Lyto that wouldn’t grow is even (really) trunking: 

This Lyto is my most compact one (except the bonsai N°1306c). Since August 21 it is outdoors exposed to full sun (from noon to sunset):

Today 6 years old, not so small as the bonsai N°1306c, but much more compact than the huge N°1301:

 

 

10 hours ago, Pal Meir said:

Today 6 years old, not so small as the bonsai N°1306c, but much more compact than the huge N°1301:

 

 

I did not know you could grow palm bonsais at all.

Nicely bending compact fronds, grown under full sun:

Prophyll of 1st inflorescence:

The prophyll is still growing, and I am waiting for the inflorescence ……

Keeping watch over the palm:

Beauty Contest, 1871 vs 2019:

A close call, you really have to admire the beauty and photographic skills of nearly 150 yrs ago.  You will beat her next time. 

 

Update of the inflorescences (indoors without flash): 

Happy New Year! — After having lost eight (!)  of its elegant fronds on my frosty and stormy balcony during last December the palm is now showing its first flowers erupting from the 1st prophyll:

Update 5 to 6 hours later:

Well done, Pal!

49 minutes ago, wimmie said:

Well done, Pal!

Thank you, Wimmie. But the whole palm is looking quite sad with its remaining 6½ fronds …

As N°1308 was in a position on the balcony where it was directly exposed to rain during temps near 0°C it has lost so many fronds last December. The rule for Lyto wedd is: When hot keep it wet, when cold keep it dry. Hot & dry or cold & wet will kill these palms. — On this photo you can see its exposed (to sun and rain) position on the balcony:

 

A number of the male blossoms has already bloomed and fallen down …

The inflorescence which would not produce female flowers:

The prophyll of the 2nd inflorescence has opened today:

But I guess this inflorescence too will only produce male flowers because the prophyll and the stalk of the inflorescence are too short.

3½ hours later:

One day later:

No space left for female flowers this time too; will this palm only produce male inflorescences?

I have the opposite problem, mine have grown like weeds. Probably going to sell these as I have a bunch in the ground & am out of room.

 

This time more luck?

Again only male flowers …

Possible to get some pollen? To cross it with my eriospartha x microspadix ☺️

BREAKING NEWS … er … only prophyll #4:

On 2/21/2021 at 12:52 PM, Bananengeknl said:

Possible to get some pollen? To cross it with my eriospartha x microspadix ☺️

Hello Gilian, ok, when #3 has finished blooming. But I hope that I can collect enough pollen, not only dried flowers & dust. Could you PM me your address again, I can’t find it at the moment.

Onve more only staminate flowers:

First signs of inflorescences #5 and #6 appearing: The stem sections become fatter.