Variances in growth rate specimen to specimen for kentiopsis oliviformis?

[chad2468emr]

Hi everyone! 

I have a 15 gal KO that I purchased several months ago to replace a 5 gal that was sick when I bought it and I’d finally given up on. I’ve read these guys are slow growers, but mine has finished putting out the second half of the largest frond you can see that was half developed when I bought it, and opened it up. It’s also grown 100% of the massive spear you can see in the pic as well after that, and there’s another starting to poke out the crown. I’ve only had it since March. It’s definitely growing MUCH faster than the one I finally threw away, but as I’d mentioned, it came to me in rough shape so I know that’s not a fair comparison. It’s also much larger, so I assume like most palms, they grow faster once they’ve reached a certain size. I haven’t repotted since I got it even though I can see some roots in the drainage holes since I’m moving in a few weeks and really looking to have at least ONE less 25g palm that needs hauling, haha. 

Ultimately, I guess my question is this: What does “slow” mean when people say these guys are slow? Is mine particularly happy, or is it just past the “slow” phase? If it’s happy, I’ll hold off on repotting longer, but wanted to know everyone’s thoughts. I was really expecting this guy to be one of my “1 or 2 fronds a year” type of dudes. 

[sonoranfans]

These are quite slow till they put on some trunk in my experience then they are medium slow.  They are sensitive when small to insect attack and a setback could easily stunt growth of one pretty dramatically.  My 10 year old (from a 3 gallon) has a little under 3' of trunk.  It is in part shade, so it could possibly be faster in sun.  My (3) specimen palms from Ken Johnson were planted in 2011 with 2-5' of trunk.  In ten years, they are 22-27' (?) tall with 10-14' trunk and put out 7-8 new leaves a year at most.   Bt contrast, my royal that was planted with 5' trunk at the same time is ~ 45' tall.

[Silas_Sancona]

I'd also consider these more of a moderate / steady grower vs. a slow grower.. Having observed the specimens at Kopsick on and off between 2011 and 2016, these grew noticeably in that time frame, but weren't on Washy robustra, bottle rocket pace caliber either, -so to say.. I myself would place their growth rate somewhere between Archontophoenix ( steady, but faster grower ) and Dictyospermum ( steady but slow, ..at least the Kopsick specimens, compared to the K.O's there ).. Steady for sure after starting to trunk, as Tom mentions, but definitely not snail's pace.  **This is by Florida growth rate standards of course. Will vary in other areas**

In my experience growing a batch, ( while i had them ) seedlings seemed steady and never had any insect related / other issues.  Great palm regardless.

[Billeb]

8 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

These are quite slow till they put on some trunk in my experience then they are medium slow.  They are sensitive when small to insect attack and a setback could easily stunt growth of one pretty dramatically.  My 10 year old (from a 3 gallon) has a little under 3' of trunk.  It is in part shade, so it could possibly be faster in sun.  My (3) specimen palms from Ken Johnson were planted in 2011 with 2-5' of trunk.  In ten years, they are 22-27' (?) tall with 10-14' trunk and put out 7-8 new leaves a year at most.   Bt contrast, my royal that was planted with 5' trunk at the same time is ~ 45' tall.

I feel like if after 10yrs, it has approx 3’ of trunk from a 3g…that’s pretty good. Comparing it to a Royal growth rate is crazy tho. Those things get big, and quick. 
Could you post a couple pictures to better show us? That’d be awesome! 

[sonoranfans]

13 hours ago, Billeb said:

I feel like if after 10yrs, it has approx 3’ of trunk from a 3g…that’s pretty good. Comparing it to a Royal growth rate is crazy tho. Those things get big, and quick. 
Could you post a couple pictures to better show us? That’d be awesome! 

Yeah they arent as slow as some palms, but they are the slowest of all my crownshafted palms.  My Teddy bear has 9' trunk in the same time while archies and dypsis penbana are 12-15'+ trunk.  The most recent pic I have is a year ago but has dropped a 4-5 more leaves since then.  Your results may vary in california.  There ar palmtalkers with lots of experience with these palmsin your area, their results might be better than mine.

 

[James B]

If it’s in a pot and not in the ground it’s going to grow very slow. In ground mine is slightly faster than my Chambeyronias. Which still makes it a slow to medium growth palm.

Mine is not trunking yet, I’d say I’m about a year away from trunking.

[Billeb]

4 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

 

That definitely looks happy as it’s holding 10 fronds or so. Here’s my 5G I just put in the ground last week or so between a plumeria cutting and Dypsis Pembana. It seems like a good location for our SoCal climate and I’m told they like water so that can definitely be arranged. I’m hoping mine looks anywhere close to that good in 10yrs. Here’s to optimism. 

[sonoranfans]

Huntington beach could be a good spot for these.  Not too dry with the marine layer so you can keep them moist.  They like generous amounts of water, I have seen them respond very well since I moved back to my place for good 3 years ago and started to hand water them.  The leaves are coming faster each year, no doubt.  This K.O is in sandy soil where I built ~4" of rich soil by adding mulch over the years.  Past 4" or so in depth its mostly grey/white sand.

[chad2468emr]

23 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

Tom, that photo is… gorgeous! Very encouraging. Haha I would be totally happy waiting ten years for that. This palm is such a stunner when it gets some trunk on it, wow!

[Billeb]

11 hours ago, chad2468emr said:

Tom, that photo is… gorgeous! Very encouraging. Haha I would be totally happy waiting ten years for that. This palm is such a stunner when it gets some trunk on it, wow!

Agreed. Chambeyronias and Kentiopsis Oliviformis’ are my personal favorites and I think two of the prettiest palms out there. Show stoppers. 

[James B]

Mine is about 2 years in the ground. It’s about 7 feet tall at the top of the leaf.

[Billeb]

1 hour ago, James B said:

Mine is about 2 years in the ground. It’s about 7 feet tall at the top of the leaf.

Sweet!  I see you disregarded any spacing requirements between trees!!

I like that look but get so worried what the future will look like when they are both much larger. I don’t have the guts to plant things too close. 

[James B]

Prefer the jungle look. But it’s also pragmatic as well. If I’m  going to throw a bunch of tropical palms in a desert it makes sense to set them up for success. I have other sections of my yard where palms are more spaced out. Especially where my two Royal palms are. My front yard is more spaced overall and my back yard continues to turn more and more jungle like. 

[Tracy]

I think where these get the "slow" moniker from is before they form trunk.  Ring spacing after they form trunk gives them a significant amount of height gain, but probably still fewer leaves per year than Archontophoenix cunninghamiana here in Southern California.  My largest to the tip of the fronds is just a couple of feet shy of Dypsis pembanas also planted from 7 gallons in late 2010 to the first couple of months in 2011.  Before trunking, I seem to recall maybe 3 leaves per year and if you had any sort of setback, that could drop to 2 per year pre-trunking.  I have 3 others in the ground, one in Carlsbad planted contemporaneously with the one in Leucadia and 2 in Leucadia planted post remodeling (2014 or 2015 planting).  The biggest trunking one seems to grow year round in my climate.  The block wall is a few inches over 6' in this section behind the K oliviformis for perspective.  The telephone pole and it's associated lines (fortunately not any electric) are a nice height comparison tool for palms along that side of the yard... you have to find the bright side of an otherwise undesirable unwanted element.

[Tracy]

7 minutes ago, Tracy said:

one in Carlsbad planted contemporaneously with the one in Leucadia

I brought this one up because it is smaller than here in Leucadia.  I attribute that to the one in Leucadia being planted in a sunnier spot than the one in Carlsbad.  They handle full Southern California coastal sun well, but do appreciate some iron in both my gardens.

[James B]

Awesome Tracy! I look forward to mine 5 or 6 years from now.