can wodyetia bifurcata grow in clay rocky soil with bad drainage?

[Brandon39.5]

Just wondering if wodyetia can grow in clay, rocky low drainage soil. I suppose that in the tropics it wouldn't have a problem, but what about in Mediterranean climate zone 10a in palma de Mallorca? With relatively wet winter?

[happypalms]

23 minutes ago, Brandon39.5 said:

Just wondering if wodyetia can grow in clay, rocky low drainage soil. I suppose that in the tropics it wouldn't have a problem, but what about in Mediterranean climate zone 10a in palma de Mallorca? With relatively wet winter?

I can’t see why not if you’re that worried about the clay make a raised garden bed but amend your soil also that will help with drainage in your wet winter you can add gypsum to break the clay up which will release a lot of the nutrients that are locked up in the clay but most of all remember when is the best time to plant a palm 20 years ago 

[happypalms]

Don’t worry about the rocks they’re natural habitat is granite boulder country these ones in the photos are growing in between sandstone rock in my garden happy gardening 🌱

[Phoenikakias]

No you can't in a Mediterranean climate, without some serious soil amendment. Sandstone is very porous and not alkaline. 

[Brandon39.5]

10 hours ago, happypalms said:

Don’t worry about the rocks they’re natural habitat is granite boulder country these ones in the photos are growing in between sandstone rock in my garden happy gardening 🌱

Impressive how that wodyetia is basically growing on a rock, never heard about the gyspum thing I will have to look it up, 

[Brandon39.5]

38 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

No you can't in a Mediterranean climate, without some serious soil amendment. Sandstone is very porous and not alkaline. 

This is what I made for my royal that sadly died, a really big hole and added sand to the bottom and good quality soil.  Would that be okay for the wodyetia? What did you do for your royal? 

[quaman58]

About 10 years ago, we were prepping a house for rent and I purchased two or three palms from one of the big box stores. One was a 4’ foxtail. The sandstone that we had to dig holes in was almost impenetrable, and I was barely able to chisel out a hole big enough for the 5 gallon pot. However it has grown spectacularly well and is flowering and fruiting today. No idea how it found its way through that tough “soil”.

[Phoenikakias]

7 hours ago, Brandon39.5 said:

This is what I made for my royal that sadly died, a really big hole and added sand to the bottom and good quality soil.  Would that be okay for the wodyetia? What did you do for your royal? 

Gee, your native soil is shitty like mine!

[Phoenikakias]

The best Arecastrum specimens I have ever seen grow on a sandstone hill. And the worst (given the care it enjoys) on my limestone hill. Not to speak about Butia...

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Brandon39.5 said:

Impressive how that wodyetia is basically growing on a rock, never heard about the gyspum thing I will have to look it up, 

Yes you get really deep gaps between the sandstone just like one large container in the ground 

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, Brandon39.5 said:

This is what I made for my royal that sadly died, a really big hole and added sand to the bottom and good quality soil.  Would that be okay for the wodyetia? What did you do for your royal? 

I may be missing valuable details. What was the good quality soil you used as fill in? Also unlike you I planted my royal in a raised bed. Palms adore raised beeds even when filled with clay soil.  Instead when native soil is of poor quality, leveling  hole (filled in with good soil) with surrounding ground leads mostly to a well prison for the roots.  Anyway I used as fill in  a mix of native soil, market soil consisting of peat and compost and granulated zeolite in equal percentage.

[Brandon39.5]

5 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

I may be missing valuable details. What was the good quality soil you used as fill in? Also unlike you I planted my royal in a raised bed. Palms adore raised beeds even when filled with clay soil.  Instead when native soil is of poor quality, leveling  hole (filled in with good soil) with surrounding ground leads mostly to a well prison for the roots.  Anyway I used as fill in  a mix of native soil, market soil consisting of peat and compost and granulated zeolite in equal percentage.

Soil I added was made for grass, what I was thinking when I planted the royal is that it would grow on the soft soil until is big enough to penetrate to the sandstone, looks like a wodyetia wouldn't do well here, what about bismarckia?