Chamaedorea deckeriana questions

[miamicuse]

I have two Chamaedorea deckeriana that's been in pots for a while.  I leave them outside under a tree that is partly shade and they have been doing quite well.

I have been debating whether to put them into the ground.

If I do put them into the ground, I don't know that they will thrive on the sandy soil.

I will also lose the ability to move them inside when it's windy or cold.

Plus with their skinny trunk I have to think of a way to better protect and support them...it will be very easy for kids and dogs running around, or a bump by a wheel barrow to destroy them.  Even in a pot the plant is a bit top heavy and need a stick to keep from being wobbly.

Edited February 15, 2023 by miamicuse

[LJG]

These are nicely grown. Mine here in SoCal are in the ground and always brown tip. They dislike my high TDS water source and are not a fan of low humidity. Not sure if your soils are   alkaline - which if they are, doubt they will like that. Pots are working for you. 

[PalmatierMeg]

I have my deckerianas in pots and intend never to plant them. My dreck soil is calcareous alkaline shell rock - very alkaline. I do know the very similar C ernestii-augustii survived only a few weeks in my soil. There is no treatment for our soil that will lower pH any length of time. Also, I have read some species of Chamaedoreas are nematode bait.  Is that true? I don’t know. I gave my Cham e-a 3 chances to make it. So, now they live in pots too. If you are comfortable experimenting with your deckerianas, plant one. Be sure it is in shade, out of the wind and not subject to drought in dry season.

The nice thing about pots is that they are moveable so you can shift them as the sun moves, hurricanes and winter cold fronts come and go. This palm doesn’t get large enough to be unwieldy.

[realarch]

Sami, those are beautiful. Not familiar with this palm, in fact I’ve never remember seein one.

Tim