Johannesteijmannia altifrons

[Tyrone]

Some references say that J altifrons is surprisingly cool tolerant, but that can mean different things to different people I spose. RPS website say this has grown in S Spain, S Cal etc. I'm just wondering what the boards experience is with this beautiful and exciting species.

I've heard of one guy in my area, getting one as a seedling many years ago and now it's in the ground and about 1.5m tall doing well under canopy, although he's never let me see it. I've managed to keep 3 alive so far thru winter here inside my cold frame with one opening a small but healthy leaf in winter.

So the question is, Where is everyone growing these? I'm especially interested if you're growing it away from the tropics somewhere, and if you have any cultural do's and don'ts that you've found helpful. I know these are growing in SE QLD, so any info would be very much appreciated.

Thanks guys

Tyrone

[Dypsisdean]

About 7-8 years ago, I was surprised to see one of these at Rick Luna's in San Clemente, Cal. If I remember correctly, it was about 3 feet tall, had been there for several years, and looked really good. I would sure like to know if it still belongs to the land of the living.

[Davidl]

I had several here in south central fl but they didnt seem to like our humidity. I have one left and I'm hoping it will make it. Maybe others here in florida have had better luck than me.

[mlovecan]

(Davidl @ Jul. 30 2006,00:43)

QUOTE

they didnt seem to like our humidity

That's interesting. I have one and the tip on my largest leaf is showing some burn - I had the feeling they didn't like my lack of humidity.

[bgl]

These palms thrive in humidity. If they're not doing well in high humidity, there's a different problem.

[Tyrone]

mlovecan, What is your climate like there exactly ie avg max min winter, winter rain etc You'd have a maritime climate there, so no real lows there right? What about summer, hot dry? Just wondering.

Dypsisdean, as I'm not familiar with So Cal, what is San Clemente like weather wise. Is it coastal down near San Diego, or more inland. Just trying to grasp it fully.

Thanks for the info so far guys.

regards

Tyrone

[Dypsisdean]

Tyrone,

It is coastal SoCal between LA and San Diego. He is about half a mile from the water.

[Davidl]

Yes I believe it's when it's warm then rains and turns cold the next day as our winters are accustomed.Warm wet and cold ,warm wet and cold ,warm wet and cold. That's what I meant not summer humidity. That kills many a palm in florida. So please excuse my bad wording when I said  "humidity"when I should of said winter humidity and cold.I'm talking about humidity in Florida in the winter not California or Hawaii. Also being in to wet a location with the soil not well enough drained because it rains everyday has killed them too even in the summer.

So if we say humidity by itself is what they like this is true but, there are many other factors as well to consider which is the reason so many people have palms that are supposed to like the climate they are in but die repeatedly.

[canelgat]

I have one in my greenhouse, it is a small two leaf seedling, 1,5 years.

have past last winter inside, always over 0ºC but in several nights it was near that.  It got burned a little because it is plenty of sun, so I have now in shade part of the greenhouse.

I plan to plant in two or three years under canopy. lets see!

[Jeff Searle]

Tyrone,

       I have grown literally hundreds of these over the years and have sold them in either a 1,3,or 7gallon pot. And over the years, I have seen very,very few of these get up to about 4-5' tall here in South Fla. in customers,collectors yards. First, I think they are very specific on their requirements when planted out. They are extreamly slow, and resent being disturbed when they are removed from their pot to be planted, due to a small root system. As a potted plant, many people have good success with them.

     I do know that occassional cold weather down to the middle 30's will not hurt them.

[Walter John]

(Jeff Searle @ Jul. 30 2006,22:06)

QUOTE

Tyrone,

       I have grown literally hundreds of these over the years and have sold them in either a 1,3,or 7gallon pot. And over the years, I have seen very,very few of these get up to about 4-5' tall here in South Fla. in customers,collectors yards. First, I think they are very specific on their requirements when planted out. They are extreamly slow, and resent being disturbed when they are removed from their pot to be planted, due to a small root system. As a potted plant, many people have good success with them.

     I do know that occassional cold weather down to the middle 30's will not hurt them.

Hi Jeff

Might the joey palms be a better chance by pot planting do you think ? Less disturbance, small root system etc.

[Jeff Searle]

For sure.

[Tyrone]

Jeff, I've also heard that they need excellent drainage, ie not a swamp palm, so if pot planting is a good way to grow them, would a clay pot be ideal, being that they breathe really well?

What do you think?

regards

Tyrone

[Howeadypsis]

The thing i love about this place is all these strange named palms that Ive never heard of. I'll have to google for Johannesteijmannia to get a pic!

[Walter John]

(Howeadypsis @ Jul. 31 2006,09:19)

QUOTE

The thing i love about this place is all these strange named palms that Ive never heard of. I'll have to google for Johannesteijmannia to get a pic!

That's wrongly spelt actually it's Johannesteijsmannia altifrons for the green joey, there's an 'S' after the 'J'. and Johannesteijsmannia magnifica for the silver joey.

YO HAN NIS TEASE MAN EE YA

Easy peasy.

[Howeadypsis]

Yea, google didnt find it at first but then it spell corrected it!

Loks a beauty of a palm, and no trunk!

[Jeff Searle]

(Tyrone @ Jul. 31 2006,08:53)

QUOTE

Jeff, I've also heard that they need excellent drainage, ie not a swamp palm, so if pot planting is a good way to grow them, would a clay pot be ideal, being that they breathe really well?

What do you think?

regards

Tyrone

Tyrone,

    I think that would be a great idea. Clay pots do breath. Just make sure you use a well drain mix. And more importantly, a slow release fertilizer. Nutricote is extreamly popular here in S. Fla. I don't know if 's available where you are. When I saw these in habitat in Borneo, they all were growing on hilly terrain. And never down in the bottom. So they do need that well drain soil. Hope this helps some.

[mlovecan]

(Tyrone @ Jul. 30 2006,02:35)

QUOTE

mlovecan, What is your climate like there exactly ie avg max min winter, winter rain etc You'd have a maritime climate there, so no real lows there right? What about summer, hot dry? Just wondering.

Tyrone,

- avg max / min winter: 21 / 11

- winter rain - fair amount, 75-80% humidity

- lows 2 nights in February 2-4 degrees

- summer is quite arid and hot. So far this year we have had little 40+ ( so far ) this year but very low humidity as usual

This palm doesn't really take to Arid conditions from what I have seen.

I believe the statement on RPS that this palm would work in Southern Spain. However, I don't see it thriving without sufficient summertime humidity - and in Southern Spain ( as in much of the Mediterranean ) they are just as dry as us.

[Tyrone]

Jeff, Thanks for the info etc especially regarding clay pots/ potting mixes and habitat notes.

Mlovecan, Thanks for climate info. I'm actually a little cooler than you in winter, but the summers sound identical. I have unlimited irrigation though and humidity can be created to a certain extent. (It's a bit harder making a humid climate dry.)

Wal, Once again you are right. I spelt it wrong. stoopid me. I spelt it from memory trying to remember the guy the genus is named after, Johannes Teijsmann. I've probably spelt that one wrong too. It's the closest palm name to the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocous.

Spelling it don't help you grow it though. I wish it did.

regards

Tyrone