Palm Anxiety!

[The Converted]

Hi everyone

I've only just discovered this forum, hence the first post! 

I'm based in the south East of England, and have recently began my obsession with palms, much to my wife's bemusement...

Anyway, over the last few months I have purchased 5 hardy palms that are able to cope with the UK's weather (I'm happy to hear any suggestions for any other palms that might be suitable!).  I have a decent sized trachycarpus fortunei,  a butia capitata, 2 phoenix canariensis and a small jubaea chilensis (not easy to track down in the UK!).  All are in pots (with plenty of drainage holes) with John Innes 3 compost, in a sunny position, well watered every few days and fed every week or 2. 

All good so far...

Now the palm anxiety...

The trachycarpus fortunei has a fully open frond, however it has only emerged 50mm / 2 inches or so from the crown,  it's been like this for a few months, in which time a new spear has pushed past, with the tip of another spear emerging on the other side.  I just wondered if this is normal? 

The second issue is with the butia capitata. A few weeks ago I noticed that one of the petiole has split in half length ways, right down to the base, a few days later the same thing happed to another frond on the opposite side.  It's seems healthy enough with a new frond starting to open up and another spear pushing through.  Nonetheless, it seems odd, and so far I have found nothing online that explains why it might have happened.  To prevent ay further damage I cut off the thinner part of the petiole, so far it doesn't seem to have affected either frond.  The only change, leading up to this happening, was that I repotted the palm.  Again, I just wondered if this is normal, or something I should be worried about?

I have attached some photo's of both palms, rather than just relying on my ramblings. 

Lastly, I've been pleasantly surprised by my (approximately 5 year old) jubaea chilensis, it has a new frond opening up, another spear pushing through, with another spear just starting to emerge from the crown. My expectations were probably on the low side following my initial research, but so far, it's making good progress!

If anyone has any thoughts on the above issues it would be great to hear them! 

Thank you everyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tim_brissy_13]

I don’t think either the Butia (probably actually B odorata) or Trachycarpus have a problem.
 

The Butia split petiole is something I’ve seen before. Never seen it have any negative lasting effects on the palm. My assumption is that it happens because the trunk/stem is expending at a good rate and the existing leaf bases aren’t dropping quick enough to clear the expansion. Overall I’d say it actually represents a happy palm. 

The Trachycarpus new frond opening with shortened petiole is again quite common. I’ve usually seen this with palms that have just been put it the ground from a lot and/or moved from shade into the sun. Everything else looks healthy so I wouldn’t be too concerned, just looks like the palm is hardening off to new conditions. 

[Tyrone]

I agree. They look fine. Welcome to Palmtalk. No need to be anxious. 

[The Converted]

Thanks tim_brissy_13 & Tyrone, that's reassuring and good to hear! Hopefully I'll see some decent growth over the coming months! 

[Foxpalms]

Washingtonia robusta and filifera and filibusta (hyrbird between the two) are all fast growing easy palms in the south east and even if you are in a colder area than near the coast or in London you can always just throw a frost cloth over them when they are small or just plant them in a slightly warmer microclimate in the garden such as closer to the house or a brick wall ect. They grow so fast even if it gets cold where you live they will grow out of the damage by summer I've heard though I can't speak from experience since mine have never seen cold enough temperature to damage them in central London. Though I know of one at 53n that's unprotected and gone through -7c and was fine just a bit of leaf damage but had grown so fast all the damage was replaced by new leaves by summer. What hardiness zone are you in that will help determine what types of palms you can grow?

[Frond-friend42]

Those look like fine specimens. Welcome!

[Patrick]

Looks good/ fine with what you have. Welcome. 

 

Try a needle palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix. Certain Sabals could probably work too. What's your zone, like an 8a? If you can do a Butia and a Jubea, why not look into the hybrids? They are tough. Also, try Chamaedorea radicalis, I have heard they can do some cold, they are tough; but I forget the low lows it can handle...

[The Converted]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check have a look at them over the weekend! We're just outside London, in an urban location, so cold weather isn't too much of an issue (the lowest temps being around -3 / -4 ), I cant actually remember the last time we had more than a dusting of snow. 

Other than my initial concerns I'm really happy with the collection so far, luckily there is room for a few more yet. I'm looking forward to some noticeable growth over the coming months...