Our Brahea armata, Blue Hesper Palm

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:57 am

At some point I may plant this outdoors, if I can count on some good protection measures.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc6iYS_K ... ature=plcp

Happy growing!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:31 am

That is a beautiful palm.
Compared to mine, it's grown a lot in 5 years!

I have two (really small leaves) and have been doing a cold vs. warm winter test to see which conditions will get faster growth:
http://www.palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtop ... mata+twins

What palm fertilizer do you use?
What are you using for potting mix?

Thanks for posting that video.

Love blue palms, and my dream is to one day have a Copernicia hospita (none of my seeds germinated).

Barb

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:25 am

Thanks Barb! Truly mine has doubled in girth in the past year. My mistake, seed was planted in Sept 2004 germinated in I think, February of 2005.
This means mine is almost seven years old.

I use miracle grow quick start liquid fertilizer once at the start of the growing season, and three times within 2 months at the end of the growing season.
During the heat of summer, once a month I water everything with diluted 20-20-20. This one usually last to get the bottom of the bucket.
I put this one outside usually in march/april. I will bring it in if it will go colder than -2c. I bring it in for the winter once we get a week predicting more than 2 or three nights below -2c.
Soil, i use BM6 with more perlite (+10% by volume, not weight!) and about 5% sand in the mix. When I up-pot at around this stage, I add to THAT mix, 1/3 volume cheap garden soil and compost.

I found this palm will do best when it is hot, to let it get quite dry. Like two weeks, no water (unless it rained). When watering though, water thoroughly, two or three times through. Then another two weeks without.

Cheers!

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:28 am

Note Barb, you are currently sitting at 25 farenheit and we are at 40 f.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:25 pm

Seven years old, it's gorgeous.
My "warm winter" Brahea twin is starting to get longer "stretched up" leaves, while the "cold winter" one (just had a look in the cold building) still has very small leaves but it's more blue.

I read somewhere that these prefer alkaline soils, what do you think?
Think I have too much of my garden soil pH 7.2 in there, and not enough coarse stuff like perlite (and no sand).
Thanks for your recipe.

Yes these guys like it hot, and in summer are out on our hottest spot south facing patio all summer long, infrequent (but deep) watering.
Will take a pic of my two next week.

Can't wait until they look as good as yours.

re blue palms...my biggest dream would be a Copernicia hospita (like those ones at Nong Nooch, Thailand)

Re temp...we've had only 2 inches of snow this year, but temps could be warmer. oh well.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:27 pm

Nice looking palm.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:32 am

Here is a baby which was labeled as Brachea edulis I bought recently. It looks pretty cool!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:36 am

Biggest "baby" I've ever seen, Igor.
Lovely colour.

Is that really B.edulis?
Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:02 am

No it's not! Edulis is a green color palm as I new from the Google. Other guys from the Ukraine forum confirmed it is Armata. Lucky me but another hole in my pocket!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:22 am

B. armata is the best choice of the two for blue palm fanatics (me too).

The waxy blue leaves are stunning.

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:32 am

I have bluish Chamerops Volcano as well. It's a nice and robust plant.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:00 am

igor.glukhovtsev wrote:I have bluish Chamerops Volcano as well. It's a nice and robust plant.

I have a few small C.Volcano as well...also a few C.Volcano X C.Cerifera.
Will be interesting to see what they look like after they get some "divided" leaves.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:54 am

hardyjim wrote: I have a few C.Volcano X C.Cerifera. Will be interesting to see what they look like after they get some "divided" leaves.

You are right it would be something very interesting.
Here is a picture of my Volcano. Next spring will try finding a right spot for it in my garden

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:05 am

Igor, I wish I could shop at YOUR city's nursery!!!!!

That is unbelievably beautiful

Our nurseries have NOTHING like that for sale...NOTHING!

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:15 am

Even for 250 bucks?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:20 am

Yes, THAT volcano is definitely worth $250.

Wonder if your nursery does mailorder

Shipping $1,000

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:24 am

OK, fine! I give out.

Next time I will be seeing the nursery owner I will refer on you and perhaps I would get my 15% discount

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:34 am

Gorgeous c. volcano, Igor!