Need help with Socratea exorrhiza

[Brian Manassas]

Hello, 

   I have a juvenile Socratea exorrhiza and it was doing well at first. It's pretty fast growing, but the color in the leaves are turning pale. This happened to my other 9ne and it died shortly after. I don't want to lose this palm, but I also don't know how to save it. The leaves are drying out too. I am growing it indoors which is probably the problem. Can it be saved? Please help. Thank you,

Brian

[meridannight]

Can you post a picture of your palm? So that we can see the whole plant and leaf detail, and the type of soil it's growing in.

[STLOUISPALMGUY]

You check for any webbing on the leaves?

[PalmatierMeg]

My own experience with this species: I tried growing it from seeds. All seedlings reached a maximum growth of 1g - then all of them died. I grew them outdoors under canopy and/or shade cloth (I don’t keep houseplants).

My research indicates this is a tropical rainforest palm. I don’t have a tropical rainforest climate nor do you. I have the suspicion that this is a palm that hates pots, demands to be planted (it can grow 75’ tall BTW) and will be miserable when forced to live inside your cold, dark, dry house all of a VA winter. I grew up in Fairfax and know the climate well.

This species needs high light levels, humidity (70% +) and regular warmth (not 65 degrees, I’m talking 80F +, emphasis on the +). Are you willing/able to meet its non-negotiable needs? Last year’s Socratea is sending a message from beyond the veil.

[Brian Manassas]

Sorry, here's a picture. I don't know why it's upside down, but you can see it. 

[Brian Manassas]

There's no webbing, it's not bugs. That's the first thing I checked for. @PalatierMeg I agree with you that it's likely the pot and in door conditions. I was hoping that I could make it happy anyways, but for some reason these palms are super finicky. It make me sad tho, it's one of my favorites. 

[PalmatierMeg]

I was fascinated by it years ago, had to try it. All my seedlings were dead by the time they reached the size of the one in your photo.

Once I believed if I cared enough and tried hard enough I could grow palms all the experts said couldn't survive my harsh climate - and I mean harsh, FL is no year round tropical paradise. I wasted time and money on the impossible, which is why I have a personal 3 strikes and out rule to knock sense into me when I fall into the "I care so much" delusion.

[Brian Manassas]

 

Iriartea deltoidea is my favorite palm, Socratea is a close second. Unfortunately Iriartea is even worse than Socratea. I had 25 seedlings and all but 2 have died before they even pushed their first full leaf. I have one right now opening its first leaf, but for how long will it stay alive I doubt for long. I'm growing both indoors in a south facing window. What I can't produce which is what I think is key is humidity. I think these palms need constant moisture and without a greenhouse I can't produce it. I hope maybe one day I can get one and try again. 

For now, Foxtail palms are much easier to grow and look similar, I might be stuck working with those for now. 

[meridannight]

11 hours ago, Brian Manassas said:

Sorry, here's a picture. I don't know why it's upside down, but you can see it. 

That soil looks like it needs more drainage/aeration. It's never a good idea to plant any palm into a non-amended soil. I would take it out and transplant it into a new medium, one that has e.g. perlite, gravel, sand, et al mixed in. I'm not sure whether Socratea is root-sensitive, but if it can handle transplanting at all, it needs a better potting mix.

[Frond-friend42]

I have some in pots. I have lost several. They are very sensitive to over-potting or watering before the soil dries.

[KrisKupsch]

I’ve grown a heap. Potting media looks terrible. Too wet. 

[Brian Manassas]

So I need to let it dry out between watering? Ok

[Frond-friend42]

Seems to me like a peat-heavy mix is good for this one, maybe a bit of perlite, some coco coir maybe. Organic-rich soil will hold too much moisture.