washingtonia robusta Outside for the first time

[jazz8751]

Hi all ! My first post in the group. 

I’ve been growing palms from seeds for the fun of it and I’m to the point of taking out my first baby outside for the summer. 

I’m in Canada and it is 17-25C during the day and never below 10C at night. It will get warmer in June-August. 
 

I took him out yesterday to get it acclimatized and I noticed the fan part was getting rocked in the wind and it was kinda bending too. So I took it back inside scared it will break.

 

Is it ok ? Should I just let it go with nature and it will get stronger ? 

thanks all !

[JohnAndSancho]

I think it'll be ok as long as the wind isn't too crazy. Maybe find a more sheltered spot to put it at first? 

[PalmatierMeg]

Agree with John.

[jazz8751]

Thanks all ! It’s been more then 1 week now and he’s all fine and enjoying the sun.

[Slifer00]

On 5/31/2025 at 12:34 PM, jazz8751 said:

Hi all ! My first post in the group. 

I’ve been growing palms from seeds for the fun of it and I’m to the point of taking out my first baby outside for the summer. 

I’m in Canada and it is 17-25C during the day and never below 10C at night. It will get warmer in June-August. 
 

I took him out yesterday to get it acclimatized and I noticed the fan part was getting rocked in the wind and it was kinda bending too. So I took it back inside scared it will break.

 

Is it ok ? Should I just let it go with nature and it will get stronger ? 

thanks all !

As long as your seedling gets full sun, it'll do great! (I believe that is a washingtonia filiffera...?)

[Atlanta Area Palm Guy]

On 5/31/2025 at 7:34 AM, jazz8751 said:

Hi all ! My first post in the group. 

I’ve been growing palms from seeds for the fun of it and I’m to the point of taking out my first baby outside for the summer. 

I’m in Canada and it is 17-25C during the day and never below 10C at night. It will get warmer in June-August. 
 

I took him out yesterday to get it acclimatized and I noticed the fan part was getting rocked in the wind and it was kinda bending too. So I took it back inside scared it will break.

 

Is it ok ? Should I just let it go with nature and it will get stronger ? 

thanks all !

Make sure it gets back in before the colder weather gets there.  Potted palms are at least one zone less hardy in pots.  The smaller the pot, the less hardy they will be (on top of that general rule of thumb).

[Tropical Toni]

On 6/15/2025 at 5:03 PM, Atlanta Area Palm Guy said:

Make sure it gets back in before the colder weather gets there.  Potted palms are at least one zone less hardy in pots.  The smaller the pot, the less hardy they will be (on top of that general rule of thumb).

Wouldn't the pot protect the palm more so ? I never heard of a palm being one less zone hardy in pots vs the ground

[SeanK]

5 hours ago, xtazia said:

Wouldn't the pot protect the palm more so ? I never heard of a palm being one less zone hardy in pots vs the ground

Absolutely LESS cold hardy. The entire root zone will see ambient air temps in the pot. The ground is warmer. Check the USDA maps for your soil temps at -6", in January.

[Hu Palmeras]

El 31/5/2025 a las 7:34, jazz8751 dijo:

¡Hola a todos! Mi primera publicación en el grupo. 

He estado cultivando palmeras a partir de semillas por diversión y estoy a punto de sacar mi primera planta al exterior para el verano. 

Estoy en Canadá y la temperatura ronda los 17-25 °C durante el día y nunca baja de los 10 °C por la noche. Subirá de temperatura en junio a agosto. 
 

Lo saqué ayer para que se aclimatara y noté que el ventilador se mecía con el viento y se doblaba un poco. Así que lo volvió un metro adentro por miedo a que se rompiera.

 

¿Está bien? ¿Debería dejar que la naturaleza lo haga y se fortalecerá? 

¡Gracias a todos!

Very Cool my friend.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Your palm will do fine even with the wind. It’s a matter of getting them adapted to outdoor conditions while it’s suitable. When I first took my date palms outside after keeping them in my garage all winter the new leaves would get really badly folded and bent from the wind. I got worried and even built a crazy looking leaf brace out of sticks and twine, but once they spend a few months out the leaves that follow will be significantly stronger.