Royal palm question

[Sandy Loam]

Are roystonia regia drug tolerant? If they receive no irrigation in Florida, will they survive in sandy soil?

[redbeard917]

They are somewhat drug tolerant, but don't give them bath salts. All bets are off. They might eat your face.

[peachy]

Royals are a very common palm here and seem to thrive in all of our different soils and microclimates.  They can live without good water but don't grow very well and never look their best. About drugs, that I don't know.

Peachy

[kinzyjr]

15 hours ago, Sandy Loam said:

Are roystonia regia drug tolerant? If they receive no irrigation in Florida, will they survive in sandy soil?

<kidding>

The neighborhood kids were outside having a puff, puff, pass party with one of my Roystonea regia, so at least small doses of recreational drugs seem not to impair them too much.

</kidding>

On a more serious note, they tolerate dry periods pretty well after they are established.  Having grown most of mine from seed, I can say that the seedlings seem inordinately susceptible to damping-off for a swamp palm.  If I want to plant 10 of them, I'll grow 100.  If you're near a lake, there is probably a high water table and they will be fine with any soil type.  Lake Wire is mostly sandy soil and the one there is getting ready to flower.

[Harry’s Palms]

Here in Southern California , I have a Venezualan Royal and it likes lots of water and warm sun. Once it made it past the cold sensitive years,  prior to getting a trunk , I was uncertain what to do . I talked to others around here and I was told it would eventually die where I live. That was about all I knew , it was not going to make it. Once the swollen trunk appeared I started giving it more attention but it always looked sort of weak. The last two years we have had above average rainfall and it looks better than ever! I will now treat it like my Howea F. I really don’t think they like drought . The new spear that is coming out now is larger than I have ever seen on this palm. It may actually start looking like the magnificent palm it is. Harry

[Sandy Loam]

On 3/31/2024 at 2:09 AM, Sandy Loam said:

Are roystonia regia drug tolerant? If they receive no irrigation in Florida, will they survive in sandy soil?

Whoops!! Sorry, I meant to ask whether royal palms are "drought tolerant", not "drug tolerant." ... Apologies for the confusion!

[Bkue]

Mine are not. They are not well established but over a year now. Constantly throwing new spears. I can notice when I don’t water. 2 are in a spot that sees regular irrigation the 3rd not so much. I have to manual water. It is noticeably slower and looses fronds faster.