New Chambeyronia - acclimate or not?

[Foggy Paul]

Here is our latest acquisition, a C. macrocarpa brought from SoCal through the efforts of @Darold Petty and Keith Jaeger (thanks to you both!), in roughly its eventual planting location, full sun much of the day. It's our biggest $75 palm ever and I'm super happy with it. Of course I'm eager to plant it, but normally I would acclimate it in part shade for a month or so. But I'm considering planting it out sooner, for these reasons:

• It's generally healthy, but it looks like a plant that just endured a 400 mile trip in the back of a U-Haul during our hottest March heat wave in history.
• It's way overgrown for its 5 gallon pot.
• During transport, a lot of soil spilled out and the top 3" or so of bare root was exposed. I topped it off and have been watering heavily, but as you can see, there is still a lot of exposed root.
• Absent a heat wave, the sun isn't that scorching here. It's sunny and 65° today, and it's supposed to stay that way for a while.
  

What does the group think? Plant out now or not? Or, perhaps, transfer it to a bigger container? TIA for all advice.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Paul, I’d get it in the ground right away. These palms grow continuously here during the coolest part of winter so should do well for you there. Of my twelve flamethrower palms, six of them produced new red fronds between December and February. If your new one has been in sun or partial sun since before your purchase, it should be fine in  the spot you’ve chosen. If you want to play it safe, you can drape some shade cloth over the palm while it’s settling in. 

[Foggy Paul]

Thanks @Jim in Los Altos . I should have mentioned, my understanding is that it was grown in an unheated greenhouse, but of course I haven’t seen it. Would that change your recommendation any?

[PlantMorePalms]

I have two that I planted in pretty much full day sun as 1 gallons. It is going to burn, especially coming out of a greenhouse. Despite generally cool temperatures and decent humidity, the UV index gets pretty high here. Mine have been in the ground for close to three years and grow at a decent pace, but the leaves still eventually burn, though each new leaf is holding staying green longer than the last so it's getting closer to being fully sun-hardened I think.

As Jim said, mine open new leaves at any time of year and in winter the red stays around for a few weeks which is nice.

 

 

[Harry’s Palms]

This should be a good time to plant one . I don’t have the experience with them like Jim does but mine grows year round down here. They do burn a bit in full sun but lots of water helps . Mine is in full sun and it can get very warm here , about 20 miles inland . Since being on this forum and learning from the folks who grow them , mine doesn’t burn near as bad as it used to. Harry

[Foggy Paul]

Thanks to all! The deed is done. It was still rocking around on those roots a little more than I'd like so I staked it at the base. It gets pretty windy around here in spring. Let the burn begin!

[96720]

I can’t see from your pictures but hope you planted it deep enough to cover all the roots!!!

[Jim in Los Altos]

20 minutes ago, 96720 said:

I can’t see from your pictures but hope you planted it deep enough to cover all the roots!!!

Indeed he did. 
 

[Foggy Paul]

I did. I mounded up a little, because we have about two inches of mulch and I didn’t want to bury the base with it. The wobble is between the roots and the trunk. 

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, Foggy Paul said:

Thanks to all! The deed is done. It was still rocking around on those roots a little more than I'd like so I staked it at the base. It gets pretty windy around here in spring. Let the burn begin!

Paul I see what appears to be a giant bird of paradise in the background.   They provide shade but can get messy.  Instead, I used banana plants for quick growing shade west of my juvenile palms when planting my garden.  They can be removed easier than the bird of paradise when the time comes but still provides some shade and wind break.  I don't know how they will perform up there but thought it worthwhile for you to evaluate.   Good luck with the Chambeyronia. 

[happypalms]

Whack it in the ground, they take all sorts of conditions just add water. I just planted a group of three in very harsh conditions, I didn’t even water them no soil amendment just heeled them in. Give them 3 years and they’ll be looking good. But I assume you will tending your newly acquired Chambeyronia, so give it all the love it will take, amend the soil, water it in and locate it in 50/50 sun shade. There easy to grow up there with Bangalow palms but most of all dont fuss over it treat it like any other palm you have. 

[Foggy Paul]

8 hours ago, Tracy said:

Paul I see what appears to be a giant bird of paradise in the background.   They provide shade but can get messy. 

Yeah, if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have planted them. One by one the biggest ones get cut down and the offsets replace them. Eventually I think they will go away but we'd have to hire people for that. The side yard is shaded by the neighbor's southern magnolia, and the constant drip from summer fog means the giant birds grow extremely fast, much faster than I imagined.