On the potting bench with verschaffeltia splendida, Areca Montana

[happypalms]

A palm that’s not meant to live in my climate (none in the ground yet) but so far 3 winters in a protected hothouse and surviving well. The only 4 alive out of a batch of 20 seedlings I germinated. Hopefully being germinated in the subtropical climate it has given them the cool tolerance they need to live. Iam not sure if they will ever get planted in the ground but iam sure one will go in the ground sooner or later when it’s in a 200mm container if they live that long but so far it’s looking good time will tell. 

[happypalms]

1 minute ago, happypalms said:

A palm that’s not meant to live in my climate (none in the ground yet) but so far 3 winters in a protected hothouse and surviving well. The only 4 alive out of a batch of 20 seedlings I germinated. Hopefully being germinated in the subtropical climate it has given them the cool tolerance they need to live. Iam not sure if they will ever get planted in the ground but iam sure one will go in the ground sooner or later when it’s in a 200mm container if they live that long but so far it’s looking good time will tell. 

Forgot the Montana only 3 from a batch of 100 rps seeds so not a good strike rate on that one but they got potted up as well. I might get a few more to germinate but being an Areca they should have come up by now. Iam happy with 3 so far. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I saw some Verschaffelta growing in Maui . Beautiful palm , but need a tropical climate according to the guy that had them . Slender , stilted trunks with large fronds , growing in a valley near a stream. The only other ones I have seen were in a huge greenhouse down near San Diego at Rancho Soledad Nursery. I hope they survive for you , worth the effort if they do. Harry

[iDesign]

47 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

The only other ones I have seen were in a huge greenhouse down near San Diego at Rancho Soledad Nursery.

You saw them too? I remember standing near them and being completely stunned at their beauty (esp the largest one). It felt like they were somehow out of place though... like nothing that tropical could possibly live here in San Diego. Sadly my gut feeling was right, as the large one was almost dead when I went back to Rancho Soledad later on. 🥲

There was ("is?") a glorious one indoors in a protected building at the San Diego zoo. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere, and really hope it's still there (as it's proof that one of these can live indoors in San Diego, under ideal conditions).

I've tried three times to raise one of these for indoor display, and currently have a couple that I've raised from seed which are still with us. But I'm not optimistic about their long-term survival chances here in San Diego (even indoors with a humidifier nearby).  Which is too bad, since that palm at Rancho Soledad (RIP) was so incredibly moving for me.

[realarch]

Good luck, hope your Verschaffeltia make a go of it. I remember a post a few years back where somebody in Florida had a large potted specimen in a covered pool enclosure that got so large it had to be sold. It must have been 10 feet tall. (3m) 

Those of us that can grow this palm outside sometimes take them for granted. When I read a thread like this one, it makes me go into the garden, take a good look at one and appreciate how beautiful it is all over again.  

Tim

[Harry’s Palms]

@iDesign yes I saw them, breathtaking! The ones I saw were in huge boxes in the Palmetum many years ago , maybe 2000 or they’re about. I could not believe how large they were, much larger than the one in your pic. Even my wife, not a collector but passing interest in palms , said “do we have one of these?” Looking up at the light passing through the fronds like a stained glass took my breath away. They are in the top 5 of all the palms I have come across in my palm adventures. I haven’t been to that nursery in a long time but they always had cool stuff at reasonable prices. 
 

I sure hope Richard has success with his but my guess is that they will be slow growers in his climate. They really love the tropics , by the time I left the Palmetum at RSN I was ready to cool off! For those in that area who haven’t ventured out there , it is worth the drive. Harry

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I saw some Verschaffelta growing in Maui . Beautiful palm , but need a tropical climate according to the guy that had them . Slender , stilted trunks with large fronds , growing in a valley near a stream. The only other ones I have seen were in a huge greenhouse down near San Diego at Rancho Soledad Nursery. I hope they survive for you , worth the effort if they do. Harry

Such a beautiful palm. If I can get my ones to live I think a hothouse in winter for sure  is the only hope they have long term. 
Richard

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, realarch said:

Good luck, hope your Verschaffeltia make a go of it. I remember a post a few years back where somebody in Florida had a large potted specimen in a covered pool enclosure that got so large it had to be sold. It must have been 10 feet tall. (3m) 

Those of us that can grow this palm outside sometimes take them for granted. When I read a thread like this one, it makes me go into the garden, take a good look at one and appreciate how beautiful it is all over again.  

Tim

One lucky bloke to have them growing in your garden. Some palms I just simply don’t entertain the idea of growing them just to cold for mapu at my place. Lucky Hawaii growers. 

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, iDesign said:

You saw them too? I remember standing near them and being completely stunned at their beauty (esp the largest one). It felt like they were somehow out of place though... like nothing that tropical could possibly live here in San Diego. Sadly my gut feeling was right, as the large one was almost dead when I went back to Rancho Soledad later on. 🥲

There was ("is?") a glorious one indoors in a protected building at the San Diego zoo. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere, and really hope it's still there (as it's proof that one of these can live indoors in San Diego, under ideal conditions).

I've tried three times to raise one of these for indoor display, and currently have a couple that I've raised from seed which are still with us. But I'm not optimistic about their long-term survival chances here in San Diego (even indoors with a humidifier nearby).  Which is too bad, since that palm at Rancho Soledad (RIP) was so incredibly moving for me.

One thing I did learn recently about tropical plants in cool climates in winter, is the substrate medium coco coir perlite with a little organic matter (25 percent organic matter) is it is warmer in winter than potting soil especially the mix’s with river sand or clinker ash or whatever rock mineral base is used. Warm feet in winter is the go like us humans we like warm feet in winter.

[NatureGirl]

Hard to see in pic, but recently sprouted a bunch of Verschaffeltia seeds. 

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, NatureGirl said:

Hard to see in pic, but recently sprouted a bunch of Verschaffeltia seeds. 

Nice looking setup you got it down pat growing there. You always have so many seeds on offer I wish I could import seeds from you. It’s nice to see some good seedlings from you.