Seeking advice regarding potted Bismarckia, Butia, Jubaea and Nikau palms.

[Palmy Portlander]

I have recently acquired or germinated four reputedly slower growing palms, which I will initially keep in pots.  

I intend to plant the Jubaea Chilensis and Butia Capitata in my yard in Portland once they are old and big enough.  With the increasing incidences of polar vortexes, I won't be able to plant the Bismarckia Nobilis and Rhapostylis sapida outside, but intend to give them away to someone on the southern Oregon coast when they get too big (if I am still alive at that point.)

My first questions are about the growth rate of the Bismarckia, Butia and Jubaea: How fast do they actually grow? How often should I repot them and how long will it be possible to keep them in pots no wider than 60 cm?

My second question is : What do I need to know about keeping these four species of palms healthy in containers?

My third question is: At what size or age is will it be safe to plant the Jubaea and Butia outside here?

Thanks for your help.

[PalmatierMeg]

Photos?

[JLM]

One things for sure, Bismarckia are not by any means slow, even at seedling stage. Im not sure how fast they would grow up in the PNW however. Bismarckia will need to start off in deep pots. Could probably start off in a 5 gallon pot straight away.

Butia and Jubaea on the other hand are quite slow.

[Palmy Portlander]

Thanks for the advice on speed of growth and pot size for the Bismarckia.

I will keep track of the growth rate of the Bismarckia when it arrives.   I know it likes hot sun and we have plenty of heat in our summers now.  I think we had more than 20 days over 90 in 2022.. 

On most days there is an inverse relationship between summer  heat and humidity in Western Oregon - the higher the temperature the lower the humidity.   When it is in the 90s the humidity is often in the 15% to 25% range.  Not Arizona of course, but dry enough to keep people more comfortable and many plants less comfortable.   One other weather phenomenon which seems common in the Western US is that the hottest part of the days in the summer is around 5 PM rather than mid-day.

I know that people who plant Trachy's here thinking they make attractive shrubs are often taken aback when they start to shoot up. 

Our 15 year old Trachy is now about 28 feet tall, higher than our chimney.  (You can see it in my banner photo.)  However, the first Trachy I planted, about 17 years ago is now smaller and spindlier than the trees I planted six years ago.  

At first I thought it might be that exposure of the roots to greater temperature variations because it is planted next to a terrace might be the explanation.  But having planted two Trachys of identical size on the same day in the same soil in the same way and seen one grow faster and taller than the other, I am more inclined to attribute these differences to differences between individual trees.

Edited March 7, 2024 by Palmy Portlander

[Paradise Found]

1 hour ago, Palmy Portlander said:

My experience with trachy’s is the female ones are always slower growing than males.  Female trachy do catch up once the male starts blooming.  
 

No matter type of soil you have mix in a whole bag of compost with  your native soil that will really get them going.   
 

That would be cool to see those other palms in Brookings! Very gracious of you.  

Edited March 7, 2024 by Paradise Found

[Palmy Portlander]

Thanks for that insight and suggestion.  

[Banana Belt]

On 3/6/2024 at 1:53 PM, Palmy Portlander said:

Jubaea: How fast do they actually grow?

Earlier link in Palm Talk shows chart, pictures and explanation of Jubaea life cycle.

As per hardiness of Jubaea, there are countless examples and explanations which are posted all over this site, sorry I can not give references but it has been discussed by many.  Recent photo of same Jubaea, Jan. 2024.

Edited March 17, 2024 by Banana Belt

[Palmy Portlander]

Thanks.

Boy, that is a massive trunk.

[happypalms]

Grow them on bench’s of the ground they will air prune there roots themselves Bismarck don’t like broken roots 

[Palmy Portlander]

6 hours ago, happypalms said:

Grow them on bench’s of the ground they will air prune there roots themselves Bismarck don’t like broken roots 

OK, that's good to know.  I appreciate it.

[Banana Belt]

On 4/1/2024 at 8:51 PM, Palmy Portlander said:

Thanks.

Boy, that is a massive trunk.

The mass of a Jubaea trunk is probably the first impression everyone has, even Darwin commented although he thought it ugly.  Like all plants, the location, soil, water and climate are important to the palms health.  In general Jubaea prefer moderate Mediterranean climates, not too cold or hot, not too humid or dry, wet winters and dry summers with plenty of sunshine.  The mass or circumference of the trunk is relative to the size and health of the leaves.  The healthier the palm the bigger the leaves and hence the bigger the trunk will be.  In Chile Jubaea grow on hills, valleys and flat areas but the largest palms are generally located in valleys or flat areas with plenty of water and better soil.   The two Jubaea that I grew from seed were placed in slightly different soils at the same time where the large one is in deep organic rich clay loam and the smaller in very rocky clay loam.  The smaller Jubaea is trying to catch up but its roots have to push through rocks in the soil.

[Bkue]

I will speak on the bismarck  as I have experience. They will grow fairly fast. They get real big. They do not like to be transplanted. Get the biggest pot you can and plan to replace the palm when it outgrows. 

[Palmy Portlander]

Belated thanks.  If my current one succumbs to root rot I will buy another and put it in an even bigger pot and use a lighter soil mix.

 

[hbernstein]

Use the deepest pot that is practical for Bismarckia. Large citrus pots are the way to go.