Are any of these king palms worth purchasing?

[dimitriskedikogloy]

Both of these king palms are very cheap right now and they look like they were not taken care of properly is it worth trying to “revive them” in a 9b zone ? (Bringing them indoors below 5°c

[aztropic]

I would only worry about the larger palm. The smaller is a write-off. One good frond plus a spear is marginal going into winter,but it probably is still a survivor. A small gamble, but if the price is something you can afford to lose, by all means,adopt it. If it is a rare palm in your area, this may be your only chance to obtain it. Better to buy now and have tried,than to pass and miss out on a rarely obtainable palm for your area.🌴

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[Harry’s Palms]

King palms can take time to revive but usually respond to regular watering and protection until they start showing signs of growth. They would have to be very cheap before I would consider it. Harry

[PalmsandLiszt]

They won't do any growing at 5C, but will probably survive in cool suspended animation until you can give them more warmth provided you're careful keeping the roots only minimally moist. These palms need good light to grow; they are not kentias. They look stunted and starved of light. They want a bright conservatory or similar with daytime temperatures 20C+ to start recovering. They are pretty resilient for a palm but there is a reason why they are not universal house plants.

[Hu Palmeras]

These royal palm trees are recovering without a hitch. They survived the apocalyptic Chilean winter. Their leaves turned brown and dried out. But they kept their healthy green leaves. The new growth was damaged. But now, with the renewed warmth of spring, they are recovering very well. It's the harsh Chilean winter that severely damaged them. But they are managing to recover and heal that horrible wound.

[Than]

I bought mine in a similar state and as if this wasn't enough, I left them in the car at 60 C for few hours (I thought the car would be in shade but then the sun found it). I thought they would be goners but both are growing fast right now and hopefully they will survive my 9b winter outdoors..

[Hu Palmeras]

The apocalypse has begun, and even the plant kingdom will suffer damage. Where there has never been damage, there will now be. It will suffer devastating events, even in its natural habitat (the tropics). Soon everything will be damaged before your eyes or on television.

Hugo Aravena

Chile

[dimitriskedikogloy]

6 hours ago, Than said:

I bought mine in a similar state and as if this wasn't enough, I left them in the car at 60 C for few hours (I thought the car would be in shade but then the sun found it). I thought they would be goners but both are growing fast right now and hopefully they will survive my 9b winter outdoors..

nice would you mind sharing some pictures?

[Than]

4 hours ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

nice would you mind sharing some pictures?

I started this thread back then. 

Are these Cunninghamiana though? I cannot see any spots on the green part of the trunk. Perhaps they are Alexandrae? For some reason 99% of Archontophoenices in Greek nurseries are Alexandrae. From what I have read they are a tad more sensitive to the cold (but more resistant to winds).

[Phoenikakias]

10 hours ago, Hu Palmeras said:

The apocalypse has begun, and even the plant kingdom will suffer damage. Where there has never been damage, there will now be. It will suffer devastating events, even in its natural habitat (the tropics). Soon everything will be damaged before your eyes or on television.

Hugo Aravena

Chile

Hey Hugo, are you trying to scare us all? You want to play scary? Look how trees are dying everywhere near me...

Soon this hill will be left without trees and guess what happens next... landslide! 

Even newly planted substitutes die quickly despite that they are on drip line.

 

[gyuseppe]

13 hours ago, Hu Palmeras said:

The apocalypse has begun, and even the plant kingdom will suffer damage. Where there has never been damage, there will now be. It will suffer devastating events, even in its natural habitat (the tropics). Soon everything will be damaged before your eyes or on television.

Hugo Aravena

Chile

Mass extinction: Experts believe the Earth is in the midst of a sixth mass extinction, which poses a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide.

[Fusca]

6 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Soon this hill will be left without trees and guess what happens next... landslide! 

Yikes! 😬  Let's hope it doesn't happen.

[Phoenikakias]

On 10/26/2025 at 7:33 PM, dimitriskedikogloy said:

Both of these king palms are very cheap right now and they look like they were not taken care of properly is it worth trying to “revive them” in a 9b zone ? (Bringing them indoors below 5°c

Back to main topic, both plants are not worth, they seem massively infested with rsm or otherwise they suffer from root rot.  And time of the year is not suitable at all for recuperation.

[dimitriskedikogloy]

1 hour ago, Phoenikakias said:

Back to main topic, both plants are not worth, they seem massively infested with rsm or otherwise they suffer from root rot.  And time of the year is not suitable at all for recuperation.

good thing i didnt buy any i just bought one in exellent condition for even cheaper 

[Than]

Mine today. The other one is in a pot.

 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

looks very healthy do you use anything to fertilise it?

[Than]

1 hour ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

looks very healthy do you use anything to fertilise it?

Standard liquid fertilizer but next spring I'll switch to slow release.  I also use algae mix sometimes aaaaand... every now and then the magic yellow liquid 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

5 minutes ago, Than said:

Standard liquid fertilizer but next spring I'll switch to slow release.  I also use algae mix sometimes aaaaand... every now and then the magic yellow liquid 

Will this work for the time being ?

[Than]

3 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

Will this work for the time being ?

I've never used it but overall my advice is: always use half the recommended strength, only fertilize when you see active growth and switch to slow release as soon as possible. Right now you shouldn't fertilize anyway. Perhaps April you can start.

[peachy]

On 10/28/2025 at 3:06 AM, Phoenikakias said:

Hey Hugo, are you trying to scare us all? You want to play scary? Look how trees are dying everywhere near me...

Soon this hill will be left without trees and guess what happens next... landslide! 

Even newly planted substitutes die quickly despite that they are on drip line.

 

Plants can be replaced but that gorgeous big black dog is one in a million ! Is he a Neapolitan mastiff ?

Peachy

[Phoenikakias]

4 hours ago, peachy said:

Plants can be replaced but that gorgeous big black dog is one in a million ! Is he a Neapolitan mastiff ?

Peachy

A close relative, Cane Corso. 

[Mazat]

On 10/27/2025 at 6:51 AM, Than said:

I bought mine in a similar state and as if this wasn't enough, I left them in the car at 60 C for few hours (I thought the car would be in shade but then the sun found it). I thought they would be goners but both are growing fast right now and hopefully they will survive my 9b winter outdoors..

That's very good news, Than.

I missed that. But I'm all the more happy for you.

[Mazat]

On 10/26/2025 at 6:33 PM, dimitriskedikogloy said:

Both of these king palms are very cheap right now and they look like they were not taken care of properly is it worth trying to “revive them” in a 9b zone ? (Bringing them indoors below 5°c

We would try both, although we are sometimes stubborn in such cases or believe that those who are declared dead live longer, in which case they recover. 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

2 minutes ago, Mazat said:

We would try both, although we are sometimes stubborn in such cases or believe that those who are declared dead live longer, in which case they recover. 

I ended up not buying these I found a healthier one for cheaper surprisingly 

[Mazat]

28 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

A close relative, Cane Corso. 

Konstantinos, I like your dog. The only ones I'm really afraid of are Rottweilers.

[Mazat]

4 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

I ended up not buying these I found a healthier one for cheaper surprisingly 

A good choice. Well done. 

[dimitriskedikogloy]

Just now, Mazat said:

A good choice. Well done. 

Only thing left now is to top it up with some soil and I’m probably going to repot in spring since it’s almost winter even though I know it begs for a repot

[Than]

2 hours ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

Only thing left now is to top it up with some soil and I’m probably going to repot in spring since it’s almost winter even though I know it begs for a repot

Yeah it defo needs some more soil and later still, mulching for the winter. They love water. Yours is def an Alexandrae. I hope it makes it through winter fine! I wouldn't worry as long as temperatures remain above 2 C.

[dimitriskedikogloy]

1 minute ago, Than said:

Yeah it defo needs some more soil and later still, mulching for the winter. They love water. Yours is def an Alexandrae. I hope it makes it through winter fine! I wouldn't worry as long as temperatures remain above 2 C.

What kind of mulch would you recommend also I will be bringing it indoors when temperatures drop below 10c I really want to keep it as green as I can I get very stressed when my palms show yellowness even when it’s due to age I still get anxious 

[Than]

28 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

What kind of mulch would you recommend also I will be bringing it indoors when temperatures drop below 10c I really want to keep it as green as I can I get very stressed when my palms show yellowness even when it’s due to age I still get anxious 

If you bring it indoors every time it gets under 10 C that means basically every night in the winter. Depending on your day maximum temperatures, 10 C should not be a big deal for it, but as you wish. It needs lots of light, even if not direct sunlight. 

My plants always look shaken, depressed and sometimes half-dead by March and until April. I have learned to accept it. What matters is that they stay alive; let's face it, they were not made for our climate so we can only hope they survive our winters, with minor or major damages. Then they have May to recover before our bl00dy summer starts, which sometimes is more cruel than winter. Summer sun has damaged many of my tropical-esque plants, especially my heliconias, colocasias and my Howea (I never seem to be able to cover it properly). Basically, they only look great between end of September and mid November 😁

For mulching I believe dry leaves and pine bark should do. I have read that mulch should not touch the trunk, although not sure why. I am not really that experienced, still learning. If you do bring it indoors below 10 C mulching won't be necessary.

[dimitriskedikogloy]

10 minutes ago, Than said:

If you bring it indoors every time it gets under 10 C that means basically every night in the winter. Depending on your day maximum temperatures, 10 C should not be a big deal for it, but as you wish. It needs lots of light, even if not direct sunlight. 

My plants always look shaken, depressed and sometimes half-dead by March and until April. I have learned to accept it. What matters is that they stay alive; let's face it, they were not made for our climate so we can only hope they survive our winters, with minor or major damages. Then they have May to recover before our bl00dy summer starts, which sometimes is more cruel than winter. Summer sun has damaged many of my tropical-esque plants, especially my heliconias and my Howea (I never seem to be able to cover it properly). Basically, they only look great between end of September and mid November 😁

For mulching I believe dry leaves and pine bark should do. I have read that mulch should not touch the trunk, although not sure why. I am not really that experienced, still learning. If you do bring it indoors below 10 C mulching won't be necessary.

yeah thats the reason i avoid direct sun for some plants even in the summer i let my kentia only get indirect light and i have had only minor burns in one or two spots thats what i want to try to do with the alexandrae too only filtered bright light even indoors

[Than]

Seriously, just 20m from the sea, does it ever get below zero there?

[dimitriskedikogloy]

1 minute ago, Than said:

Seriously, just 20m from the sea, does it ever get below zero there?

That’s the place in my summer house right now I have my plants in panorama Thessaloniki it’s 4km from the sea and 200m elevation the lowest in the last 20 years was a -6 so it’s about 9a here 

[Than]

Just now, dimitriskedikogloy said:

That’s the place in my summer house right now I have my plants in panorama Thessaloniki it’s 4km from the sea and 200m elevation the lowest in the last 20 years was a -6 so it’s about 9a here 

but are you planning to put them in the ground at your summerhouse? If yes, how cold does it get there?

[dimitriskedikogloy]

No I don’t think so I’m only there for a few months a year so taking care of them would be an issue 

[Than]

2 minutes ago, dimitriskedikogloy said:

No I don’t think so I’m only there for a few months a year so taking care of them would be an issue 

So are you planning to put the archontophoenix in the ground in Panorama? Minus 6 would def kill it.. Anything below 1 C may seriously damage/kill an Alexandrae

[dimitriskedikogloy]

Just now, Than said:

So are you planning to put the archontophoenix in the ground in Panorama? Minus 6 would def kill it.. Anything below 1 C may seriously damage/kill an Alexandrae

No im going to keep it in a pot and keep on repoting it into a bigger one whenever it looks like it needs to be repotted and I’m going to keep it indoors in a warm sunny spot in winter and bring it outdoors in late spring till late autumn .I’ve seen a guy on YouTube called tropical plant party he is able to take care of even more tropical palms like the solitaire and the adonidia with the same strategy