Christmas Palms in pots (pics please)

[CincyTropics07]

Hey everybody! Made an account for here but it’s still waiting approval. I absolutely love palms and have been trying to give my back patio the best tropical beach kind of vibe I can. I bought a Pygmy Date Palm that is about 3 feet tall a month ago that I have in a pot. So far it is doing great. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio so when the temps fall below 40 at night I have been bringing it inside. Luckily after today it looks like low temps from here on out won’t be getting below the mid 50s. 
 

But I just ordered (2) Christmas Palms that will be arriving Thursday afternoon. Supposedly they are to be around 5 feet tall. I feel like you see these more so planted in the ground. I’m just curious if any of you with Christmas palms have some in pots/containers/boxes that you could share some photos of if you could. Just trying to get some container ideas and trying to figure out the size. And whether or not I should attempt building a planter box for them or just buying a large enough container to plant them in. 
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m new to palms, used to work in a greenhouse for 5 years about 10-12 years ago(electrician now). Maybe some tips on the proper kind of soil to use for planting the trees as well if you have any. Or if they are similar to the Pygmy date Palm as far as soil and fertilizer goes?

[Rickybobby]

I’ll chime. Do you plan on keeping these palms as annuals or long term? I have a YouTube channel. Southern Ontario palms and tropicals I specialize on indoors and potted palms. A lot of good info and setup tips to house pots indoors. Now roebellini great choice. Bulletproof can’t harm them. Just me I never expose my palms to weather cooler than 50f. I usually don’t put them outside until 70s daily and 55 nightly. The Xmas palm can be tough to keep. Need excellent. Drainage and warm soil they tend to rot in pots when there not warm or hot. Also need lighting for all these pots. A window may not be enough 

if I can suggest washys and other Phoenix species do well In pots 

[PalmatierMeg]

I concur you should check out Rob's info carefully. He has gone to a lot of work to give his potted palms the best chance at the good life in Canada. Adonidia/Christmas palms are highly coveted by people just getting into palms. Here in SFL they are common to the point of weediness and it's easy to forget that, like coconuts, their requirements are exacting and difficult to maintain outside the tropics. They want sun, constant heat and high humidity and if you short shrift them on any of those they will go into a swivet and croak. Your Adonidias will be in palm heaven as long as your typically hot, humid, rainy summer lasts. But when they have to go inside in the fall you must be able to provide high light levels, temps of 80F + and humidity over 70-80%. Dark, dry, chilly houses are their downfall.

There are palms better suited to indoor life: Howea forsteriana, Rhapis elegans and numerous species of Chamaedorea.

[Estlander]

Here’s my potted triple Adonidia. 

[RaychHasDatePalms]

On 5/12/2020 at 12:53 PM, CincyTropics07 said:

Hey everybody! Made an account for here but it’s still waiting approval. I absolutely love palms and have been trying to give my back patio the best tropical beach kind of vibe I can. I bought a Pygmy Date Palm that is about 3 feet tall a month ago that I have in a pot. So far it is doing great. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio so when the temps fall below 40 at night I have been bringing it inside. Luckily after today it looks like low temps from here on out won’t be getting below the mid 50s. 
 

But I just ordered (2) Christmas Palms that will be arriving Thursday afternoon. Supposedly they are to be around 5 feet tall. I feel like you see these more so planted in the ground. I’m just curious if any of you with Christmas palms have some in pots/containers/boxes that you could share some photos of if you could. Just trying to get some container ideas and trying to figure out the size. And whether or not I should attempt building a planter box for them or just buying a large enough container to plant them in. 
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m new to palms, used to work in a greenhouse for 5 years about 10-12 years ago(electrician now). Maybe some tips on the proper kind of soil to use for planting the trees as well if you have any. Or if they are similar to the Pygmy date Palm as far as soil and fertilizer goes?

Hey there! Michigan here. I’m newer too, but there are a lot of people here who will be able to help you as they have helped me. One thing to keep in mind is that date palms typically are found more in a desert or Mediterranean environment, whereas the Christmas palm is as tropical as a coco (which PalmatierMeg actually reminded me of only last week). As such, you will want to treat them accordingly. That being said, I currently have all my palms in a mix that was labeled for cacti, palms, and succulents. Many people here will be able to give you excellent advice on custom mixes for each tree, if you want to go that route (which I actually suggest if you have the time and money). The search engine here also is a treasure trove of info if you feel like just browsing. 

Welcome to Palm Talk! 
 

[Funkthulhu]

Eastern Nebraska here 

This one was grown from seed I collected in Ft. Lauderdale sometime in 2011(?).  Looking at the base, I can see several leaf scars on the "trunk", so I guess it's more mature than I thought.

Honestly, just "potting soil" with some coir and vermiculite.  Clay balls on the top just for looks.  Seems happy though, I just have to water is sparingly, as it holds anything I give it and I'm worried about root-rot.  Next time it gets repotted it'll be all "cactus mix" and some hunka-chunka bits to promote good drainage.

Forced perspective here, but it really does spread as wide as the piano; 20 lb cat for scale of the pot.  I have a few other palms that go outside over the summer, but this is one of the ones I have trained to enjoy and indoor life.  I don't want it to go all moody twice a year when it goes out in Spring and comes back inside in the Fall like my P. roebelenii or R. rivularis do, so it stays indoors 365.  The big East windows have been a wonder for it this year, very happy now.

[PalmX]

2 hours ago, Funkthulhu said:

Eastern Nebraska here 

This one was grown from seed I collected in Ft. Lauderdale sometime in 2011(?).  Looking at the base, I can see several leaf scars on the "trunk", so I guess it's more mature than I thought.

Honestly, just "potting soil" with some coir and vermiculite.  Clay balls on the top just for looks.  Seems happy though, I just have to water is sparingly, as it holds anything I give it and I'm worried about root-rot.  Next time it gets repotted it'll be all "cactus mix" and some hunka-chunka bits to promote good drainage.

Forced perspective here, but it really does spread as wide as the piano; 20 lb cat for scale of the pot.  I have a few other palms that go outside over the summer, but this is one of the ones I have trained to enjoy and indoor life.  I don't want it to go all moody twice a year when it goes out in Spring and comes back inside in the Fall like my P. roebelenii or R. rivularis do, so it stays indoors 365.  The big East windows have been a wonder for it this year, very happy now.

Any idea what causes the dead spots on the leaves?

[sashaeffer]

I have tried a few indoors and while they may last a while they typically go downhill slowly until they die or get infested with spider mites. Two years ago I bought three online which arrived  bare root. This time though I planted them in 100% perlite and it sits in the east facing window and is indoors you’re around.   The trio that you see in the picture has thrived in these conditions.

 

Sorry for the sideways pics I don’t know why they automatically turn sideways when taking normally on the site.

Edited May 19, 2020 by sashaeffer
Correct spelling

[Funkthulhu]

1 hour ago, PalmX said:

Any idea what causes the dead spots on the leaves?

Well, I moved to a new house last September with big East windows.  First time some of these palms have had any direct sun of any intensity.  So, I think the older leaves are not prepared for that UV onslaught.  Hence, browning in spots and whatnot.  All of the newer leaves of all my palms seem to be deeper green and more robust in the new house. 

That said, nearly every palm I have also has brown tips, which I'm sure is from the craptastic (lack of) humidity of the Great Plains.  There may also be some mild trauma from either freezing to windows, or cat snacking.

Edited May 19, 2020 by Funkthulhu

[Funkthulhu]

5 minutes ago, sashaeffer said:

I have tried a few indoors and while they may last a while they typically go downhill slowly until they die or get infested with spider mites. Two years ago I bought three online which arrived to bare root. This time though I planted them in 100% perlite and sits in the east facing window and is indoors you’re around in the trio that you see in the plant has thrived in these conditions.This time though I planted them in 100% perlite and sits in the east facing window and is indoors you’re around in the trio that you see in the plant has thrived in these conditions.

 

Sorry for the sideways pics I don’t know why they automatically turn sideways when taking normally on the site.

 

Shaeff, I fought off a spider mite situation this year by just putting some dawn dish soap and clean water in a spritz bottle.  Barely enough to make suds if shaken, it's still enough to break up surface tension and they suffocate.  I just hit the tops and bottoms of leaves every couple of days, did wonders.  I then keep an eye out for those little webby whisps, and hit 'em again if they come back.  They never really go away completely, but it gives the plant the time to heal and grow.

[sashaeffer]

I alternate between Avid and Forbid

 

Have LOTS of indoor palms I have to keep pest free.