Help Guide Our Update

Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing a major update to PalmTalk. While PalmTalk has always been an incredible source of palm knowledge, inspiration, and friendship, the technology and design behind online communities has changed dramatically over the years. This update will help PalmTalk remain the best place online to discuss palms for many years to come, and we can’t do it without you.

Why are we updating PalmTalk?

We want to make PalmTalk easier, more enjoyable, and more engaging for everyone, whether you are a long-time member or discovering the forum for the first time.

The new version will bring many improvements, including:

• A modern mobile-friendly experience
  PalmTalk will work much better on phones and tablets, making it easier to browse, post, upload photos, and participate from anywhere.
• Improved navigation and organization
  We are redesigning the layout to help members find discussions, growing advice, travel posts, and species information more quickly.
• Better topic discovery
  New tools will help surface discussions and content that match your interests, including trending topics, recommended discussions, curated collections, and featured content.
• New live and real-time features
  We are exploring live topics and live discussion features that will let us offer our IPS webinar series live and convert each program when it ends into a Palm Talk topic to continue the conversation.
• Improved image handling
  Photos are at the heart of PalmTalk. The updated platform offers modern image handling with better display, resizing, galleries, and mobile viewing.
• Cleaner and more engaging design
  The updated theme and layout will create a more welcoming and visually appealing experience while preserving the PalmTalk community spirit everyone values.

Your content is safe

Most importantly:

Your posts, photos, discussions, and account history will be preserved.  PalmTalk’s enormous archive of knowledge is one of the International Palm Society’s greatest resources, and protecting that history is a top priority during this transition.

We want your feedback

PalmTalk has always been built by its members. As we work on this next chapter, we would love your input.

What do you enjoy most about PalmTalk today?

• What features do you use most often?
• What keeps you coming back?
• What helps you learn or connect with other members?

What would you improve?

• Are there things that feel outdated or difficult to use?
• What would make PalmTalk easier to navigate?
• What new features would you like to see?

Please share your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas. Your feedback will help shape the future of PalmTalk.

Thank you for being part of this remarkable community. 

It would be good to have a list of topics started by me somewhere in my profile info...currently it's not easy to find them unless I've been recently active in them. Unless I'm missing something obvious, which is always pretty likely!

Dark mode!

I assume this will be included with the “mobile friendly” improvements, but I find the process of quoting a previous post often fails, possibly due to limited screen real estate.

22 hours ago, PALM MOD said:

Help Guide Our Update

Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing a major update to PalmTalk. While PalmTalk has always been an incredible source of palm knowledge, inspiration, and friendship, the technology and design behind online communities has changed dramatically over the years. This update will help PalmTalk remain the best place online to discuss palms for many years to come, and we can’t do it without you.

Why are we updating PalmTalk?

We want to make PalmTalk easier, more enjoyable, and more engaging for everyone, whether you are a long-time member or discovering the forum for the first time.

The new version will bring many improvements, including:

• A modern mobile-friendly experience
  PalmTalk will work much better on phones and tablets, making it easier to browse, post, upload photos, and participate from anywhere.
• Improved navigation and organization
  We are redesigning the layout to help members find discussions, growing advice, travel posts, and species information more quickly.
• Better topic discovery
  New tools will help surface discussions and content that match your interests, including trending topics, recommended discussions, curated collections, and featured content.
• New live and real-time features
  We are exploring live topics and live discussion features that will let us offer our IPS webinar series live and convert each program when it ends into a Palm Talk topic to continue the conversation.
• Improved image handling
  Photos are at the heart of PalmTalk. The updated platform offers modern image handling with better display, resizing, galleries, and mobile viewing.
• Cleaner and more engaging design
  The updated theme and layout will create a more welcoming and visually appealing experience while preserving the PalmTalk community spirit everyone values.

Your content is safe

Most importantly:

Your posts, photos, discussions, and account history will be preserved.  PalmTalk’s enormous archive of knowledge is one of the International Palm Society’s greatest resources, and protecting that history is a top priority during this transition.

We want your feedback

PalmTalk has always been built by its members. As we work on this next chapter, we would love your input.

What do you enjoy most about PalmTalk today?

• What features do you use most often?
• What keeps you coming back?
• What helps you learn or connect with other members?

What would you improve?

• Are there things that feel outdated or difficult to use?
• What would make PalmTalk easier to navigate?
• What new features would you like to see?

Please share your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas. Your feedback will help shape the future of PalmTalk.

Thank you for being part of this remarkable community. 

I come back searching for palm cold hardiness and temperature predictions or damage. That's my main concern and what I'm always filtering.

Long time wish:  Dedicated spot, separate from the main palm section,  for pest /disease ID and help /advise.. 

Could add it in below the " Palms in pots " section,  or make it it's own stand alone spot.. 

Keep simple and all together,  or divide into 2 simple sections: 1 for Palms and Cycads,  2nd.. For everything else non- Palm and Cycad.. 


....Aand dark mode  ..the option to go darker at least..

 

When you're updating passwords, make it so you can read the password you have. Rolodexes get crowded . . . . 

7 hours ago, Foggy Paul said:

I assume this will be included with the “mobile friendly” improvements, but I find the process of quoting a previous post often fails, possibly due to limited screen real estate.

yeah i agree as of now on mobile you can’t directly quote images you either have to quote the whole entire comment or quote whatever nearby text there is and hope others know what you’re referring to.

High resolution image support will be a game changer for the forum. Looking forward to the update! 

I have enjoyed this friendly forum for information and community for many years. 
 

I am excited to see its update which promises to add new options while keeping what I enjoy. 
 

Thanks so much to the IPS for the monetary support to PT and especially to the many individuals who are working on our behalf. 

Another thing I remember wanting when I first joined the forum, is an easy way to access images of palms, right away. For me at the time, being new to palms, I wanted a quick way to identify what I like and what I may have seen before, but had no names to identify those palms. Some sort of hashtag image gallery system to bring all the images to the front for beginners to quickly get their feet wet. 

Thanks for all the input. 

Hopefully some of the suggestions so far may be included in this new Version. It is promised to have many new “features.” Some things I will be learning along with you. 

So, as we learn, keep posting here for everyone’s benefit. After the new Version is up and running, feel free to post any answers or tips you may find that address any of the suggestions given.

20 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

When you're updating passwords, make it so you can read the password you have. Rolodexes get crowded . . . . 

I've been trying to update/confirm my username and password at PT's insistence so I can be ready for changes to come. The Forum refuses my efforts to do so. It will not accept the Username I've used since I joined in 2008. It does not accept my (only) email address as valid and acceptable even though I've used it for years. It rejects all my attempts to change my password. (and yes, I've had my password for many years). It essentially blocks me from updating - period. Do I have to wait for these improvements/updates to take effect only to find I've been blocked from PalmTalk altogether? All these improvements to come but will I have access to them?

Hope not. I’m not up on this tech stuff it appears I’m okay. Maybe message palm mod?

On mobile (iPhone), sometimes the "Submit reply" button doesn't do what it's supposed to do,so you have to do it again.  So you might think you have replied to someone, but you haven't.  Quite annoying.

When they build that update, I hope they can create an encyclopedia about palm trees. It should be built with images and descriptions from each PalmTalk member, all compiled by a PalmTalk team of palm tree experts. The goal is to create a comprehensive encyclopedia where everyone can interact and view it through PalmTalk, ultimately leading to the publication of the "Book of Palm Trees"—the world's largest book on palm trees. This book should also include photos of germinated seeds of each variety, indicating whether germination is adjacent or remote. It would offer far greater knowledge than any other encyclopedia.

 

Licuala Mapu: Female flowers are the longest. Male flowers are shorter and produce pollen. Female flowers receive the male flowers.

 

Thanks for all your hard work on this, mods! Maybe it's just me, but the "Go to first unread post" link of a topic takes me to posts I've already seen of the topic. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it would be amazing if that worked well.

On 5/12/2026 at 11:39 AM, PalmatierMeg said:

I've been trying to update/confirm my username and password at PT's insistence so I can be ready for changes to come. The Forum refuses my efforts to do so. It will not accept the Username I've used since I joined in 2008. It does not accept my (only) email address as valid and acceptable even though I've used it for years. It rejects all my attempts to change my password. (and yes, I've had my password for many years). It essentially blocks me from updating - period. Do I have to wait for these improvements/updates to take effect only to find I've been blocked from PalmTalk altogether? All these improvements to come but will I have access to them?

Sorry Meg - can’t answer you. I would need more info. What happens when you try? Any error message? After you click “Save” what exactly happens? You are clicking “Save” - right???

At any rate, there have been the occasional User with a glitch like this - usually with old time Users. Don’t know why - corrupt database error or something. 

If you have trouble logging in to new site, submit a Support Ticket, or get hold or me somehow and I will help you out.

Or - if you read this in time, send me your email and password via PM and I can edit them into your account manually when the new system is up.

2 hours ago, Matt in OC said:

Thanks for all your hard work on this, mods! Maybe it's just me, but the "Go to first unread post" link of a topic takes me to posts I've already seen of the topic. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it would be amazing if that worked well.

Not sure Matt, but I think I remember a setting in your profile for that. Or maybe it’s the Global setting I’m thinking of. 

But check your profile, and keep in mind that it may be different after this upgrade. So, remind me if you can’t figure it out.

20 hours ago, Bigfish said:

On mobile (iPhone), sometimes the "Submit reply" button doesn't do what it's supposed to do,so you have to do it again.  So you might think you have replied to someone, but you haven't.  Quite annoying.

Sometimes I’ve found the “Reply” doesn’t indicate that it sent. This is usually because the phone (or computer) had an issue with your connection to the internet. It will send most times, but may not indicate it has. I get requests to delete duplicate sendings often. But bottom line, this is not something I have any control over.

6 hours ago, Hu Palmeras said:

When they build that update, I hope they can create an encyclopedia about palm trees. It should be built with images and descriptions from each PalmTalk member, all compiled by a PalmTalk team of palm tree experts. The goal is to create a comprehensive encyclopedia where everyone can interact and view it through PalmTalk, ultimately leading to the publication of the "Book of Palm Trees"—the world's largest book on palm trees. This book should also include photos of germinated seeds of each variety, indicating whether germination is adjacent or remote. It would offer far greater knowledge than any other encyclopedia.

 

Licuala Mapu: Female flowers are the longest. Male flowers are shorter and produce pollen. Female flowers receive the male flowers.

 

Would you like to know where to send your check?

I would like to see the poster's location on my phone and tablet without going into the profile.  Location is visible on a desktop with the post.

19 hours ago, MikeB said:

I would like to see the poster's location on my phone and tablet without going into the profile.  Location is visible on a desktop with the post.

What info is displayed is totally responsive - meaning it’s automatically allocates space for what it has been programmed to display first. So, it depends on the size of your screen, the size of your text, etc. In other words, it is not easily changed - but could react on some devices and settings to allow the showing of location. Try the smallest text on your largest tablet first and see what happens.

On 5/10/2026 at 9:28 PM, Jonathan said:

It would be good to have a list of topics started by me somewhere in my profile info...currently it's not easy to find them unless I've been recently active in them. Unless I'm missing something obvious, which is always pretty likely!

Perhaps this could be rolled into the existing follow thread functionality, so you always follow a thread you create. You could decide the notification level on create.

Then you could just have a filter or indicator for the ones you create on your profile.

I second, third, fourth or whatever number my vote is for dark mode

Edit: I see that "my activity" is now a thing in the profile. Disregard my comment

22 hours ago, PALM MOD said:

Would you like to know where to send your check?

I would like a 😂 along side the existing upvote and like reactions. 

Maybe a 😱 too 

56 minutes ago, PALM MOD said:

What info is displayed is totally responsive - meaning it’s automatically allocates space for what it has been programmed to display first. So, it depends on the size of your screen, the size of your text, etc. In other words, it is not easily changed - but could react on some devices and settings to allow the showing of location. Try the smallest text on your largest tablet first and see what happens.

I would expect to see it when I turn my phone sideways, maybe the break point could be adjusted?

1 hour ago, alzo said:

I would expect to see it when I turn my phone sideways, maybe the break point could be adjusted?

On my iPhone 17 Pro the location shows when I turn it sideways.

On 5/13/2026 at 5:51 PM, PALM MOD said:

Sorry Meg - can’t answer you. I would need more info. What happens when you try? Any error message? After you click “Save” what exactly happens? You are clicking “Save” - right???

At any rate, there have been the occasional User with a glitch like this - usually with old time Users. Don’t know why - corrupt database error or something. 

If you have trouble logging in to new site, submit a Support Ticket, or get hold or me somehow and I will help you out.

Or - if you read this in time, send me your email and password via PM and I can edit them into your account manually when the new system is up.

 

On 5/13/2026 at 5:51 PM, PALM MOD said:

Sorry Meg - can’t answer you. I would need more info. What happens when you try? Any error message? After you click “Save” what exactly happens? You are clicking “Save” - right???

At any rate, there have been the occasional User with a glitch like this - usually with old time Users. Don’t know why - corrupt database error or something. 

If you have trouble logging in to new site, submit a Support Ticket, or get hold or me somehow and I will help you out.

Or - if you read this in time, send me your email and password via PM and I can edit them into your account manually when the new system is up.

Dean, I sent you a message that attempts to answer your requests.

19 hours ago, PALM MOD said:

On my iPhone 17 Pro the location shows when I turn it sideways.

I use a Samsung with the Android ops and this has worked on a few generations of phones for me.  The flip the phone sideways always does the trick but it took me a while to discover it.  Seeing where the poster is located, is really valuable when someone new is posting about a probem, so you can see where they are and respond with climate appropriate advice.  I'm looking forward to seeing the rollout of the updated platform.

On 5/13/2026 at 10:49 AM, Hu Palmeras said:

When they build that update, I hope they can create an encyclopedia about palm trees. It should be built with images and descriptions from each PalmTalk member, all compiled by a PalmTalk team of palm tree experts. The goal is to create a comprehensive encyclopedia where everyone can interact and view it through PalmTalk, ultimately leading to the publication of the "Book of Palm Trees"—the world's largest book on palm trees. This book should also include photos of germinated seeds of each variety, indicating whether germination is adjacent or remote. It would offer far greater knowledge than any other encyclopedia.

 

Licuala Mapu: Female flowers are the longest. Male flowers are shorter and produce pollen. Female flowers receive the male flowers.

 

Palmpedia already exists, man. 

@PALM MOD Dean, being.able to add multiple pics at one time would be amazing. 

Well folks, whether you're doing a lot or a little in the update, your effort will be greatly appreciated.

🌴🌴🦜🗿

Being able to delete posts would be nice too for those of us whose wifi likes to fart out, double posts, etc. Jesus we're asking a lot. 

Dark mode would be my biggest suggestion. 

I do like the idea of a dedicated "species descriptions" forum.  I use Palmpedia a lot, but it has recently changed hands and I get popups asking for $ often.  That makes me wonder if it might spontaneously vanish one day.  The Freeze Data forum is a great resource, just IMHO a Species Descriptions forum (or Wiki-like editable pages) could be useful.

On 5/19/2026 at 2:29 PM, Merlyn said:

Dark mode would be my biggest suggestion. 

I do like the idea of a dedicated "species descriptions" forum.  I use Palmpedia a lot, but it has recently changed hands and I get popups asking for $ often.  That makes me wonder if it might spontaneously vanish one day.  The Freeze Data forum is a great resource, just IMHO a Species Descriptions forum (or Wiki-like editable pages) could be useful.

I do see there is now a Dark Mode in this new version. I haven’t checked, but it should be an option in your profile settings. Somebody give it a try and let us know.

On 5/15/2026 at 10:39 PM, JohnAndSancho said:

@PALM MOD Dean, being.able to add multiple pics at one time would be amazing. 

I thought that was already possible. I’m pretty sure I have done it. Anybody know?

4 minutes ago, PALM MOD said:

I do see there is now a Dark Mode in this new version. I haven’t checked, but it should be an option in your profile settings. Somebody give it a try and let us know.

When I logged in on my PCs (default view is Dark Mode) the site appeared in Dark Mode.

1 minute ago, PALM MOD said:

I thought that was already possible. I’m pretty sure I have done it. Anybody know?

I frequently upload multiple photos at one time from a PC, but haven't done so from a phone.

On 5/16/2026 at 10:43 AM, JohnAndSancho said:

Being able to delete posts would be nice too for those of us whose wifi likes to fart out, double posts, etc. Jesus we're asking a lot. 

I know you can edit posts for a short period after you post. I’ll have to check - are you unable to delete a post right after you post it. It reacts differently to me (because I’m an Admin) so sometimes I don’t know what options are (or are not) available to you. I will look for an option to allow deleting if posted in error.

5 minutes ago, PALM MOD said:

I do see there is now a Dark Mode in this new version. I haven’t checked, but it should be an option in your profile settings. Somebody give it a try and let us know.

Yes, it is up and running..

That said, i do notice that if using Firefox, you have to select Dark Mode ( regular screen when you go straight to the site is white ) while on Duck Duck Go, the site is automatically in dark mode when you start from there..

PT in Dark Mode Looks good, regardless.