Royestona regia growth rate

[kinzyjr]

30 minutes ago, Than said:

yeah, no matter what we do, we cannot have Florida's perfect climate.

Don't feel too bad.  There are times we plant something that should grow well here, and in spite of our best efforts, a plant that should be a layup has nutrient deficiencies or never establishes and wilts.  Roystonea regia is a good example.  For as well as the one in my photos has done, it does get some deficiencies and there was one from the same seed batch that was planted behind it that never grew well and eventually perished.  It has since been replaced by a Green Malayan Dwarf Coconut Palm from @Plantking165.

Then there are those 100-year freezes...

Palm gardening is not for the faint of heart.

[NC_Palms]

12 hours ago, Than said:

Yes you are doing smth wrong, you don't live in Florida! I am also feeling sh*t right now too cos obviousy I am doing things wrong (wrong medium, pot too small, yard not bright enough...) but yeah, no matter what we do, we cannot have Florida's perfect climate.

I'm not fully convinced that the environment is the issue for me. Like I am able to grow coconuts perfectly fine in my heated greenhouse, so I would think if latitude was the issue, i would see problems with a ton of other tropical species i grow. And tbh i've noticed that tropical plants prefer lower levels of winter light in a consistently heated greenhouse than the brutally hot, sunny weather of summer here. Stuff just grows better in my greenhouse in the winter months tbh

[PalmatierMeg]

Given abundant sun, high temps, rain and humidity, i.e. southern half of FL, Roystonea regia are rockets. You don't want rockets as they will quickly outgrow even the tallest greenhouse you can erect. They get huge. I don't really want to contemplate the fuel cost of trying to heat/humidify a monster greenhouse for one of those monsters much less a grove of them. The leaves they shed can weigh 50-70 lbs.

[NickJames]

This had no trunk a year ago…

It has been hit by two hard freezes. 

it gets supplemental irrigation. 

Its 2 sisters aren’t as robust…but again…considering being completely defoliated twice, pretty impressive. 
 

[Than]

that hibiscus flower looks like your Roystonea has an earring 😅

[ZPalms]

 

I have three of these, and they aren't growing as I thought they would outside in the summer. It could be my fault because of where I had them growing in partial shade, or they just don't like their current location. I'm going to set them out immediately when I can, in full sun. They've always performed slowly compared to washies; maybe I'll experience better results this year.

During high heat of the summer, I leave them sitting in water and they do love that!

Edited January 11, 2024 by ZPalms

[Harry’s Palms]

Well, it was the coldest yet , this year ,  here at my house in Santa Paula California . 44f. in my driveway and 41f at the bottom of my hill. I have seen colder here but this just feels very cold to me. We have not had the rain that we usually get in January and none forecasted so I will water in the early afternoon when it is at its warmest , mid 60's. My Venezuelan Royal just opened a frond and it looks like it is OK  It is carrying the older fronds well and I had mulched a few months ago so I think it will make it through another winter. Every year I feel fortunate that it is still there. This is not the ideal Royal Palm climate and it DID survive these winters as a pup . I don't know of any others here , but I have seen them in Ventura and other cities . There are some beauties that the Sulivans planted at their properties many years ago so I am hopeful.

[Than]

40 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Well, it was the coldest yet , this year ,  here at my house in Santa Paula California . 44f. in my driveway and 41f at the bottom of my hill. I have seen colder here but this just feels very cold to me. We have not had the rain that we usually get in January and none forecasted so I will water in the early afternoon when it is at its warmest , mid 60's. My Venezuelan Royal just opened a frond and it looks like it is OK  It is carrying the older fronds well and I had mulched a few months ago so I think it will make it through another winter. Every year I feel fortunate that it is still there. This is not the ideal Royal Palm climate and it DID survive these winters as a pup . I don't know of any others here , but I have seen them in Ventura and other cities . There are some beauties that the Sulivans planted at their properties many years ago so I am hopeful.

I'm pretty sure Roystonea can survive 44 F easily