What's your most finicky palm?

[JohnAndSancho]

For me, it's this one. It's generally looked like crap the 2 years I've had it. I thought it was dead, it pushed a brown spear and then finally opened up a new leaf, which is now brown. I just can't get it right - first it was by the window then it was too cold, then it was happy, then I water it when it's dry, I mist it, I don't let it get wet feet, it's definitely been warm in here, I thought it was getting too much light and now it's shaded out a little, this damn thing isn't dying but it's never happy. Hydrosomething Obi Island. This plant hates me. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Hang in there . I have made mistakes and had to learn from them . Rhopalostylus Sapida , doesn’t like hot sun . Wodyetia wants more hot sun. Ravenea Rivularis wants constant water as does Archontophoenix and Roystonia. Harry

[Hu Palmeras]

2 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Para mí, es esta. En general, se ha visto fatal los dos años que la tengo. Pensé que estaba muerta, sacó un tallo marrón y finalmente abrió una hoja nueva, que ahora es marrón. Simplemente no consigo que crezca bien: primero estaba junto a la ventana, luego hizo demasiado frío, luego estaba contenta, luego la riego cuando está seca, la rocío, no dejo que se moje los pies, definitivamente ha hecho calor aquí, pensé que recibía demasiada luz y ahora está un poco a la sombra, esta maldita cosa no se está muriendo, pero nunca está contenta. Hidroalgo, Isla Obi. Esta planta me odia. 

 

[JohnAndSancho]

1 hour ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Hang in there . I have made mistakes and had to learn from them . Rhopalostylus Sapida , doesn’t like hot sun . Wodyetia wants more hot sun. Ravenea Rivularis wants constant water as does Archontophoenix and Roystonia. Harry

We're all learning as we go and there's no one way to do anything. I'm learning that too. What works for one plant in one climate won't necessarily work in another. And every environment has it's own set of challenges.... Like growing primarily indoors, it's a pain in the butt trying to balance temperature and airflow and humidity and light to keep everything happy but I don't ever have to deal with grass or weeds, and as long as I don't overwater or use Miracle Gro, I don't get many pests. But going outdoors you have to deal with soil amendments, pests, grass, weeds, fertilizing more often, etc etc and I guess I need to make another post asking a million dumb questions. 

[sonoranfans]

My most finicky palms are no more!  After 15 years they didn't make it.  Some palms like lets see, brahea armata, brahea dulcis, brahea clara, dypsis ambositrae, dypsis prestoniana, and others were fussy then kicked it either by themselves or by an assist.   None of these died due to cold, they just hated the wet climate.  The cold death victims are on another list.   When you lose a bunch, you learn.  I have learned to grow what I can, only recent deaths the past 7 years are hurricane victims(2).

[Las Palmas Norte]

This unknown to me palm, is definitely finicky. It was seed grown from a member here who'd sent seeds to me. It was sent as Trithrinax (sp. unknown) and I have not been able to correctly ID it.

Sensitivity to watering seems to be a huge issue at nearly anytime except during the warmest parts of the year. The fronds start browning off from the tips inward. Even during the hottest weather, it's watered sparingly. I lost half of an emerging spear earlier this summer. A very slow grower and almost never looked great.

2 gal. pot.

[tim_brissy_13]

I’ve had some finicky ones. Some so much so I couldn’t keep them alive and they just gradually declined. Cyphophoenix fulcita and Chamaedorea stenocarpa just never seemed happy, I’m guessing they need consistent temperatures without extremes and are particular about soil especially as seedlings. Nearly all Geonoma so far I’ve found difficult. Cyphosperma balansae is tricky too as a small seedling.  I’ve got one hanging onto life but not happy. 
 

Chamaedorea anemophila were finicky as small seedlings, but my sole survivor is trouble free as an adult. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

By far my Geonoma undata. I just think it wants a cooler climate. It slowly sends out a new spear and suddenly it’s only two fronds dry up. Then another frond emerges and the palm looks somewhat okay. Then the same thing happens all over again. This happens regardless of time of year. I’m not going to fuss over it anymore. Six years is long enough and the palm is barely a foot tall.  

[Cindy Adair]

Interesting timing as I made a short list of what might be my most rare palms for another topic.
 

However some look so bad despite my efforts that I am ashamed to post them.
 

Now I can at least immortalize them before I lose them. 

I’ll grab photos later today or tomorrow and reveal their names then. 

[Cindy Adair]

This Chamaedorea amabilis is a rare one I think and I have only been able to find one meaning, no chance of seeds. 

It looked terrible in the ground for about 10 years. 
 

I was hoping it would grow roots along its stem so I could air layer it.
 

That has worked great for three other species of Chams. 

However I finally dug it up and put it in my shadehouse nearly a year ago expecting it to die. 

Now you see the long skinny trunk below if you look closely. 

And here are the pitiful leaves. 

There are more finicky palms for me to post later.

I can’t blame rhino beetles for all my palm growing challenges I guess. 

[JD in the OC]

Chrysalidocarpus baronii Black Stem...have attempted at least 3x here in South FL and they all die off. 

Also Chambeyronia lepidota...just can't keep them alive past seedling stage here..

Prob too humid and our high temps in summer are too high for both of them here.  Fortunately, the list of palms that DON'T grow here is very short 😁

JD

[NC_Palms]

I have a royal palm seedling that refuses to grow no matter what I do to it.

Sucks because they’re one of my favorite species. 

 

[Hu Palmeras]

3 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Creo que esta Chamaedorea amabilis es rara y solo he podido encontrarle un significado: no hay posibilidad de que dé semillas. 

Se veía fatal en el suelo durante unos diez años. 
 

Esperaba que crecieran raíces a lo largo de su tallo para poder sembrarlo en acodos aéreos.
 

Esto ha funcionado muy bien para otras tres especies de Chams. 

Sin embargo, finalmente lo desenterré y lo puse en mi invernadero hace casi un año, esperando que muriera. 

Ahora puedes ver el tronco largo y delgado que aparece debajo si miras con atención. 

Y aquí están las lamentables hojas. 

Hay más palmeras delicadas que publicaré más adelante.

Supongo que no puedo culpar a los escarabajos rinoceronte por todos mis problemas con el cultivo de palmeras. 

That palm tree is so exotic and tropical. Very pretty, very beautiful. Congratulations!

[Darold Petty]

@JohnAndSancho  Please don't post an image without identifying the species, preferably by Latin binomial.   

[Cindy Adair]

Next in my barely hanging on replies is what was sold to me as Chamaedorea sullivaniorum. I have heard C. pumila might be the correct name now. 

Poor thing! 

However if you look closely it seems there are some roots just above the ground so maybe if I pack them with moist sphagnum covered with foil it will fully air layer and then I could try digging the whole thing up and eventually revive it?

What do you think? On this one I remember pruning back something that may have overgrown blocking sufficient rain for awhile maybe 6 months ago but it has never flourished in this particular spot. 
 

Any other thoughts appreciated as again by either name not easy to replace. 
 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Now in my posts of shame I will show Pinanga veitchii which I had heard might not like tap water.

 

Most of the time even potted plants here get enough rain, but last winter I forgot that advice and watered everything in my shadehouse a few times with city water. 
 

Whatever the reason the palm has fewer leaves than when I bought it. It does seem to be in recovery mode now with most every afternoon rains and a new tiny spear plus one healthy leaf showing. 

Hoping I will remember to just keep a bottle of rainwater near it for next time it needs help. 

[JohnAndSancho]

7 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

@JohnAndSancho  Please don't post an image without identifying the species, preferably by Latin binomial.   

 

I usually just say Obi Island, but here's the full Latin on it. I had to find it from eBay. Lol Darold, if I sound like I know what I'm talking about on here, it's going to harm my reputation as the resident idiot.