Dypsis Lutescens number of seeds in pot?

[David_Sweden]

This is a suckering species and can be found in many stores at low prices, one of the most common palms, but very beautiful (if healthy). Typical look when 1.2m in a chain store:

I wonder two things: Do they plant one seed, and all that is suckers? Or are the many stems because of suckers and multiple seeds? And if the latter: Won't it be awfully crowded after a few years (and look like crap and do poorly)? 

These are 1.3 to 1.5m i e almost the same size, but much fewer (and sturdier) stems, looks more professional IMHO and more developed (less "weedy"):

Has many names: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, golden cane palm, areca palm, butterfly palm, bamboo palm. Also I think it is one of those palms that shouldn't be sold to regular persons (especially not far north like Sweden) and that can be expected to degrade and be dead in a couple of years typically since it needs high humidity (etc)., still they keep selling them.. Lucky for us who actually can take care of them and get them for a low price.

[zero]

54 minutes ago, David_Sweden said:

This is a suckering species and can be found in many stores at low prices, one of the most common palms, but very beautiful (if healthy). Typical look when 1.2m in a chain store:

I wonder two things: Do they plant one seed, and all that is suckers? Or are the many stems because of suckers and multiple seeds? And if the latter: Won't it be awfully crowded after a few years (and look like crap and do poorly)? 

Nice to see you posting again!  I don't think that they start suckering until they get some height to them - I have one single that is probably 50 cm and hasn't started suckering yet.  And yes, to get the multiple effect in the first photo they have planted multiple seeds in the pot.  In the second photo there's probably 4 palms that have already suckered to account for the varying heights.  I believe that the multiple seedlings would eventually thin out due to competition for nutrients and water.

"Areca Palm" is a confusing common name since there's an entire genus of 36 Areca species.

[mnorell]

Growers typically use a good number of seeds to get that effect with young plants. They don't sucker at that small size generally. There are lots of problems with that quick-to-market technique, one of the main ones being that all those plants are spending their time competing with each other. Eventually most will die. Nothing can beat a Chrysalidocarpus lutescens planted at one seed per pot. Maybe two or three due to germination rate issues, but only one should be allowed to grow if a healthy adult is desired. In Sweden, where these aren't expected to live very long, a few per pot would make a nice effect but allow for healthier individuals...until they meet their maker.

[David_Sweden]

Thanks. That's what I thought. And it is silly easy to find these crowded pots but I don't think I came across any singles. They look very nice when for sale in the chain stores and even IKEA at heights maybe 0.5 to 1.5m but I guess they have a horrible starting point for the future >1.5m palm. If some palms die then they will leave dead roots that take a long time to break down and doesn't break down to great soil. They do the same trick with with the parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) but they are solitary and I think that works out fine. 

BTW I don't think it's impossible to grow in Northern Europe but a lot of things are needed of which No. 1 is high humidity and "normal" people don't have that. Thank god I'm not normal 😜

Nice to see you Fusca!

[happypalms]

Up to a dozen seedlings to a pot . An old nursery trick people see a clump of palms and bingo instant sale! The problem is when they get planted in the ground up to dozen mother plants one by g ugly clump of canes. Planted in singles and a bit of time much better looking clump.

[David_Sweden]

Thanks. Yes I suspected that. Looks really nice in the store though. And a short expected life span.. But I will abandon my notion to get butterfly palm and I just started a thread to help identify better places to buy palms in Europe

[Harry’s Palms]

I was able to keep one alive indoors at my old house but it was constant fussing with it . It was a single plant that started sending pups after about 2-3 years. I would put it outside every few days and mist it , then clean the fronds or it would get mealy bugs. Mild soap solution helped with the bugs and putting it outside in a shady spot with a bit of breeze seemed to help with humidity. About 7 years later we bought our new home and decided to put it in the ground as they grow very well outdoors here. It is huge now . Harry 

‘It hasn’t gotten any new stems since planting but it has branched out above ground shoots. 
‘Above ground branching , both of my C. Lutescens have done this. The other one is still clumping and larger than this one. Harry

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I was able to keep one alive indoors at my old house but it was constant fussing with it . It was a single plant that started sending pups after about 2-3 years. I would put it outside every few days and mist it , then clean the fronds or it would get mealy bugs. Mild soap solution helped with the bugs and putting it outside in a shady spot with a bit of breeze seemed to help with humidity. About 7 years later we bought our new home and decided to put it in the ground as they grow very well outdoors here. It is huge now . Harry 

‘It hasn’t gotten any new stems since planting but it has branched out above ground shoots. 
‘Above ground branching , both of my C. Lutescens have done this. The other one is still clumping and larger than this one. Harry

I love that lutescens of yours the trunk is such a bamboo looking thing. A very distinct variety! 
Richard