Better than a bottle palm

[ZPalms]

I saw a while back their was a palm that looked similar to a bottle palm but it does better indoors and overall less finicky but I can't think of what it is and I'm wondering if anyone knows of the palm Im talking about 😭

Edited September 25, 2023 by ZPalms

[Billeb]

Maybe Gaussia Gomez-Pompae? Not sure those are less finicky or indoor palms tho? Guess it depend on your zone. 

 

-dale 

[ZPalms]

2 minutes ago, Billeb said:

Maybe Gaussia Gomez-Pompae? Not sure those are less finicky or indoor palms tho? Guess it depend on your zone. 

 

-dale 

I've actually never heard of this palm but I googled it to look at it, It looks very nice and doesn't look too hard to get and maybe I'll eventually give this a try 👍

[Palmfarmer]

If its not the Mexican bottle it could be the Spindle palm 

[ZPalms]

1 hour ago, Palmfarmer said:

If its not the Mexican bottle it could be the Spindle palm 

Yes! thats the one, I couldn't think of it! thanks!

[Merlyn]

Spindle and Bottle are pretty similar, the Spindle is very very very slightly hardier than the Bottle.  Realistically neither are suitable for <30F temps and are not frost hardy.  But Spindles tend to regrow from defoliation a little bit better, in my experience.  If you want a hardier lookalike, try Gaussia Princeps.  It's also extremely slow, but more resistant to crown rot after defoliation...and a couple of degrees hardier.  As a point of reference my survival rate on Bottles is 2 out of 12, Spindles 7 out of 11, and Gaussia Princeps about 28 out of 36.

[ZPalms]

7 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Spindle and Bottle are pretty similar, the Spindle is very very very slightly hardier than the Bottle.  Realistically neither are suitable for <30F temps and are not frost hardy.  But Spindles tend to regrow from defoliation a little bit better, in my experience.  If you want a hardier lookalike, try Gaussia Princeps.  It's also extremely slow, but more resistant to crown rot after defoliation...and a couple of degrees hardier.  As a point of reference my survival rate on Bottles is 2 out of 12, Spindles 7 out of 11, and Gaussia Princeps about 28 out of 36.

I don't think I'd let it get to the point of defoliating, unless they react strangely when indoors. If you were me, would you choose Gaussia Princeps or Spindle? I like the look of the spindle, and it seems to hold more leaves. However, I like that Gaussia is a bit hardier, but its slow growth really sucks, especially if something happens to it and it takes two seasons to look decent again. 😭

I'm trying to figure out what kind of palm I want to grow once my coconut gets too big and It's time to try something different

[Darold Petty]

Supposedly Hedyscepe is suitable as a house plant, although I have never tried one indoors.

[Merlyn]

1 hour ago, ZPalms said:

I don't think I'd let it get to the point of defoliating, unless they react strangely when indoors. If you were me, would you choose Gaussia Princeps or Spindle? I like the look of the spindle, and it seems to hold more leaves. However, I like that Gaussia is a bit hardier, but its slow growth really sucks, especially if something happens to it and it takes two seasons to look decent again. 😭

I'm trying to figure out what kind of palm I want to grow once my coconut gets too big and It's time to try something different

If you were doing an indoor/outdoor palm any of them might work.  I have no idea how they'd respond to inside lighting or humidity.  Getting a decent 3 to 5 gallons size Bottle or Spindle is relatively easy...getting a big Gaussia Princeps might be really tough.  I don't think there would be a difference between them in your application.  Cosmetically I like the Bottle a little bit better.  They have the slightly broader and more recurved fronds.  And I like the general appearance of either Hyophorbe over any of the Gaussia.  Personally I'd do Bottle or Spindle if you plan on bringing them inside below ~35F or with a chance of frost...pick one based on availability, health, price, and size.

[Tom in Tucson]

5 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Supposedly Hedyscepe is suitable as a house plant, although I have never tried one indoors.

That sounds very plausible since I grew Howea indoors (from nearly the same climate). I grew parlor palms for many years indoors, and didn't even have any mite problems.

Hi 102°, Lo 64°

[PalmatierMeg]

17 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Supposedly Hedyscepe is suitable as a house plant, although I have never tried one indoors.

Wow, really? Well, probably not in SWFL. Too hot for them outdoors, probably indoors unless you keep the a/c below 65F

[ZPalms]

What’s the temperature range of Hedyscepe for the daytime highs and nighttime lows? And the winter difference

[Darold Petty]

I live in an extremely unusual microclimate, my summer temperatures are mostly from 55 to 65 F in the daytime and mid 40s overnight.  In the winter the overnight lows hover around 34 to 38F.  My last real frost was in the 1990s.  You should research the annual temps on LHI.   

[BeyondTheGarden]

https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Hedyscepe_canterburyana 

A lot of people have had difficulty emulating the Hedyscepe's native environment.  @TheMadScientist graciously sent me some seeds, and I had a good few that germinated, but unfortunately mine all got eaten when a very unpleasant family of beady-eyed rats decided to quench their appetite for palms at my place several months ago before I moved from the PNW. 

Also I know several people have reported Howea's to be good indoor palms... maybe I lack the skill or patience.  They grow terribly slow, sunburn terribly when moved into any light, and stay infested with mites or mealy bugs, I can't remember which.  

They may not look quite as Dr Seuss-like as a bottle palm, but if you want a lush green crownshafted palm that grows like a freight train and is not finicky, I really liked my Archontophoenix for the year or two I had them.  They grow quickly, love wet feet, and don't sunburn easily.  I don't recall them having pest issues. 

[byuind]

Get a P Sargentii and enjoy!

[Darold Petty]

Jesse, thanks for the Palmpedia link, but who wrote the comments ?   They state that Hedyscepe is "threatened by habitat loss".   From my 'somewhat reliable' memory there are only two deluxe resorts and one golf course south of the airport.  Hedyscepe occurs only at some elevation on Mt Gower.   Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower are off limits for development so I don't understand this comment. 

Also, my guide on the Mt. Gower hike told me that Hedyscepe won't grow at sea level on the northern, tourist area of the island.  I saw only Howea forsteriana in the developed areas.

I will send ZPalms a sprouted seed as an experimental houseplant palm !     

[BeyondTheGarden]

Darold I have no idea who wrote the palmpedia article but I posted it so zpalms could see some reference to Lord Howe Island, it's quite mysterious. I didn't realize you'd been there, I would love to go someday.

[Darold Petty]

My one error was to stay for only 3 nights.   I have visited 5 continents and about 40 countries.  LHI is one of the most pleasurable and sensual environments that I have experienced.
NEXT time I will stay for 6 or 7 days !   

[ZPalms]

35 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Hedyscepe_canterburyana 

A lot of people have had difficulty emulating the Hedyscepe's native environment.  @TheMadScientist graciously sent me some seeds, and I had a good few that germinated, but unfortunately mine all got eaten when a very unpleasant family of beady-eyed rats decided to quench their appetite for palms at my place several months ago before I moved from the PNW. 

Also I know several people have reported Howea's to be good indoor palms... maybe I lack the skill or patience.  They grow terribly slow, sunburn terribly when moved into any light, and stay infested with mites or mealy bugs, I can't remember which.  

They may not look quite as Dr Seuss-like as a bottle palm, but if you want a lush green crownshafted palm that grows like a freight train and is not finicky, I really liked my Archontophoenix for the year or two I had them.  They grow quickly, love wet feet, and don't sunburn easily.  I don't recall them having pest issues. 

I feel confident I could possible be successful with it because my room only gets slightly warm during the day and at night it’s cool so I feel like it will do good

Do you have Archontophoenix cunninghamiana? That’s another I’ve been really wanting to try ever since I saw @PalmTreeDude Virginia King palm which was so impressive to me 😍

Honestly whatever palm I can get my hands on that has that bottle look to it I’ll be happy but definitely eyeing for probably a spindle and if Im lucky enough then possibly Gaussia

I know I couldn’t trust myself with a Howea and they honestly aren’t very interesting as a house plant and look so much better in the ground

 

13 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Jesse, thanks for the Palmpedia link, but who wrote the comments ?   They state that Hedyscepe is "threatened by habitat loss".   From my 'somewhat reliable' memory there are only two deluxe resorts and one golf course south of the airport.  Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower are off limits for development so I don't understand this comment. 

Also, my guide on the Mt. Gower hike told me that Hedyscepe won't grow at sea level on the northern, tourist area of the island.  I saw only H. forsteriana in the developed areas.

I will send ZPalms a sprouted seed as an experimental houseplant palm !     

I'm really excited to try it out; I really appreciate it! Do they need a fast-draining mix? I’m not entirely sure what I should get, but I’m guessing pine bark chunks, soil, and perlite would be the most available to me. If I need to get anything else before then, let me know! 🤠