Hi all, 

I have this very cute R. Baueri seedling that I repotted a few months ago. Besides 1 new spear opening up all summer, it hasn’t grown at all. I heard these are relatively fast growers and I’m trying to figure out what gives. I live in Melbourne and we had quite a good summer, it gets some morning sun but pretty much surrounded by other plants. Always kept moist and regularly fertilised. 
Also we’re coming into our cooler months now should I bring it indoors for better results?

Any advice would be really appreciated! 
Dimitri
 

It’s probably growing roots. You won’t need to bring it indoors in Melbourne. They grow well thru winter. Keep it moist and in a shady spot at that age and it will do well. Maybe give it some fish and seaweed emulsion. Compared to the mainland version of the nikau palm they are faster but fast they ain’t. 

9 hours ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Hi all, 

I have this very cute R. Baueri seedling that I repotted a few months ago. Besides 1 new spear opening up all summer, it hasn’t grown at all. I heard these are relatively fast growers and I’m trying to figure out what gives. I live in Melbourne and we had quite a good summer, it gets some morning sun but pretty much surrounded by other plants. Always kept moist and regularly fertilised. 
Also we’re coming into our cooler months now should I bring it indoors for better results?

Any advice would be really appreciated! 
Dimitri
 

Like Tyrone says, I’m hoping it’s putting all of its energy into growth below the surface. 
 

If it never takes off let me know and I’ll give you another. I still have quite a few and they are starting to grow really well for me. Fastest growth seems to be in Spring and Autumn for me, they did slow down a bit in the peak of summer. 

Hey ya Tim! I can’t really complain as you actually gave me this guy for free. I just don’t know what I could be doing wrong. 
I up potted it into a thin tall pot as I’ve heard palms do well in pots like this. Are yours still in their small pots?

Maybe I can try more fertiliser 

 

Tyrone, I sure hope so. 

Edited March 31, 20215 yr by Dimimelbourne

Maybe a bit of slow release osmocote will help if you didn’t put that in the mix but definitely give it a light amount of fish and seaweed every couple of weeks and it will pick up. Mine grow fine all year but pickup in the spring to autumn period. My summers aren’t hot enough to slow them down. Right now they are at full gallop but even then they are not as fast as a Bangalow. Winters don’t bother them. They like our heavy winter rainfall. They even take frost. 

38 minutes ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Hey ya Tim! I can’t really complain as you actually gave me this guy for free. I just don’t know what I could be doing wrong. 
I up potted it into a thin tall pot as I’ve heard palms do well in pots like this. Are yours still in their small pots?

Maybe I can try more fertiliser 

 

Tyrone, I sure hope so. 

I’d go east on the fertiliser; a bit of slow release and occasional seasol or other fish emulsion should be fine at the moment. 
 

I’ve actually experimented a bit with these in terms of pot size. I’ve left some in small pots (75mm, 100mm) and potted some up to 150mm and 200mm pots. In general the ones I have potted up are growing faster now, although initially they seemed to stall, probably as they increase root ball size. My theory is that the larger pots dry out slower and stay moist between waterings, which R baueri seems to like. Your tall thin pot shouldn’t be a problem and yes, in general, palms enjoy that set up as it allows deep root growth. 

Tim and Tyrone, Thanks for all the tips, maybe I’ve been skimping a little on fertz or something. Not sure but we shall see. Are you guys able to upload some pics of some of yours? Especially Tim some of the ones that were part of the same batch as this one. I’m curious 

 

Edited April 1, 20215 yr by Dimimelbourne

1 hour ago, Dimimelbourne said:

Tim and Tyrone, Thanks for all the tips, maybe I’ve been skimping a little on fertz or something. Not sure but we shall see. Are you guys able to upload some pics of some of yours? Especially Tim some of the ones that were part of the same batch as this one. I’m curious 

 

This probably illustrates what I mean about pot sizes - here are a few from the same batch:

 

 

Heres a pic of my biggest one taken this morning. The old leaf fell off overnight. It was a rainy humid warm night and these palms love this sort of weather. I didn't take a pic of the whole plant as I was distracted by the flower spathe.

HAd a problem uploading. Will try another device.

 

Try again

Mate, it is my experience that any palm that is cold tolerant is always slow. Mine is.

I think that it is probably growing normally.  

4 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

So when I look at these I see the secret is probably a bigger pot.

 

 

Edited April 1, 20215 yr by Dimimelbourne

Tyrone yours look great! Do you know how old it is?

Steve I hope you’re right, it’s perfectly plausible and wouldn’t be the first time I over babied a plant haha

I give mine a bit of blood and bone every few months. They respond well to it in pots.  I agree with Tim_brizzy  they do like being in bigger pots.

You might just have to be patient and let it do it's thing, It should pick up speed eventually.

Heres some of mine at about 3 and a half years old. Growing in part sun.

And my biggest.

9 hours ago, PalmCode said:

I give mine a bit of blood and bone every few months. They respond well to it in pots.  I agree with Tim_brizzy  they do like being in bigger pots.

You might just have to be patient and let it do it's thing, It should pick up speed eventually.

Heres some of mine at about 3 and a half years old. Growing in part sun.

And my biggest.

Nice looking palms you have there palmcode! I would be inclined to repot it but seeing as I only did this a few months ago I might wait until spring. Guess I will just let it do it’s thing until then and hope the added fertiliser helps it along. 

On 4/1/2021 at 5:19 PM, Dimimelbourne said:

Tyrone yours look great! Do you know how old it is?

Steve I hope you’re right, it’s perfectly plausible and wouldn’t be the first time I over babied a plant haha

I bought it as a large palm and planted it just over 4 years ago. I reckon it was about 20 years from seed at that point. If it had been planted out at the 5L stage years before I reckon it would have about 2m of trunk by now. It had sat in the nursery for ages.

Like everyone has said give it some fertilizer ive found mine do much better in bigger pots ive got 3 in pots that are always full of water from the dripper i keep meaning to move them but they are going great im only down the road in geelong and mine start to kick off now ive got a few different types that are very noticeable in appearance and so far i think the great barrier island form is my fastest, i have the chatham island form aka pogo bobs from troy donovan and there getting really big and just take what ever you throw at them i have a seedling i planted into a full sand garden bed 3 years ago thats throwing 6ft leaves now they are awsome down here by far my fastest growers

3 hours ago, coops 3214 said:

Like everyone has said give it some fertilizer ive found mine do much better in bigger pots ive got 3 in pots that are always full of water from the dripper i keep meaning to move them but they are going great im only down the road in geelong and mine start to kick off now ive got a few different types that are very noticeable in appearance and so far i think the great barrier island form is my fastest, i have the chatham island form aka pogo bobs from troy donovan and there getting really big and just take what ever you throw at them i have a seedling i planted into a full sand garden bed 3 years ago thats throwing 6ft leaves now they are awsome down here by far my fastest growers

Interesting! I guess they enjoy the moisture and cool oceanic climate. They really are a beautiful palm. I look forward to seeing how this one grows.