I rearrange plants like most people do furniture...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:36 pm

Not as nice as Spike's front porch

...but gettin' there.

By the way, is that all there is to bloom for this? ???
Picture's fuzzy, still learning the new (bloody-hard) camera!
I'll be dead by the time I understand this Cyber-shot.

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:46 pm

Is that a pindo I see?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:00 pm

Oh gosh, what's a pindo?
(I'm not up on things like the rest of folks here).
Barb

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:25 am

If your talking about the second picture, I think thats a Phoenix Sylvy or Reclinta. Some sort of Phoenix but not a Pindo.
But yes, those are beautiful. GREAT job.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:11 am

Not sure what it is myself, but that's the one that the wind blew crooked in the pot after I repotted it.
Still haven't gotten around to redoing that monster!

Remember when I butchered the 30-year old ficus benjamina?
Well that's it in middle of the first pic, still no leaves (but it's green under the bark).
I'm not watering it at all...I figure no leaves, no water, right?

I've tied the Cinnamon tree (Canela) to it just so it doesn't look so naked, ha ha.
Thanks folks.
Barb

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:39 am

You know I am kicking myself in the butt. Last year around this time, before I was tropical savvy wal-mart had a big shipment of different types of palms. I saw Chinese fan palms, a few different Phoenix types, pineapple, what I believe was jelly palms and others but not knowing I just figured they were more common house plants. DAMN DAMN DAMN!!
Of course now that I can recognize them wal-mart won't have any!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:07 pm

Hey, I'd go back and look!
Since it was this time last year, all it takes is POOF one huge truck arriving overnight,
and it's tropicana in the garden area!

Wow what a selection they must've had...and Wal-Mart's prices would've been pretty good, too.
Heard comments lately that local nurseries are getting too expensive for annuals. The big box stores will no doubt take over.

The other side of the coin, though, is that manufacturers say they don't make any money SELLING to Wal-Mart because Wal Mart still needs mark-up, so they whittle away at the manufacturers' wholesale prices.

A few months ago, Home depot had majesty palms. About 5 feet tall for I think it was $17 or $19...
I passed on those as everyone says they need too much care.
Barb

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:30 pm

I called Wal-Mart here. They said they have a large order coming in this weekend. It was supposed to be there today. They didn't know what was on it, just that it was tropical. They tags only ever say "tropical plant" so you need to know what you are looking for. (last year I did not.) And yes the prices are good. I have never seen anything like a T. Fortunei or Washingtonia or anything like that, if I did I would buy them all at 10 bucks a pop.
The majesty is hard to care for. I have tried many and had failure every time. A lot of the people on Palms North have not have much good to say about them (mainly cause the people here actually know what they are doing unlike me).
I got a new one maybe a month ago at wal-mart. It is about 7 or 8 feet. It is still looking good and new shoots are coming up. I think one of the secrets is to find the largest single trunk majesty you can find (mine is about 6" thick). Also, examine the middle spears, make sure they are healthy and growing taller than the previous spear. We'll see how this one does. I have my 2 older ones that I almost killed out side and they have been for a couple weeks now. Lows have hit 4C. They still look ok (considering they were almost dead).

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:54 pm

Wonderful!
Yup, we've all had a few laughs over EVERYTHING nowadays being labelled "tropical foliage".

But that's OK 'coz this site has THE most knowledgeable folks who can ID everything.

From one year to the next, you've learned tons. That tip about the spear sounds like a good one to know.
Your majesty trunk was 6" thick when you bought it?

The Home Depot palms were tallish but skinny.

In my mind I can already see you coming home, truck box laden with various palms and all manner of "tropical foliage".

Have fun and take some pics when you get 'em home pls.
Barb

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:06 pm

Here is the trunk. I put a battery there for comparison...ok maybe not 6" but thick!!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:13 pm

That's a very good size...how about a pic of the rest of it?

Barb

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:19 pm

SOrry,its not a great pic. It looks better outside but its only 15 here and damp

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:26 pm

That's a fine pic. I like the regal look of majesty palms...probably how they got their name (duh....)
Just look at that spear ready to poke a hole in your ceiling

The musa will want to go out in the sun soon too.

Only 15 and rainy? I could only hope for that temp.
It's all of 12 here (normal is 22 to 24), gray overcast, cold wind (AGAIN)

My stuff is outside (except for Citrus).
But it's under a large overhang (nites are anywhere from 2 to 10 degrees...still chilly).

Barb

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:42 pm

I put my Musa's outside last week when it was sunny and in the low 20's. They stopped growing. I asked corollatropicals (thats who i got them from) about it and Ryan said to only put them out during the day and take them in at night cause they will stop growing if it gets too chilly. So I brought them in and they are growing again. It's funny!!!!!!!
As far as temps go, we have been getting a lot of sunny days and low 20's like I said but the last 3 days have been raining like crazy and cold, around 15. It is supposed to warm up again tomorrow. Its up and down, its nice and warm for a week then cool for a few days and then warm again. Spring in Ontario. Wait till August here!!! It will be 35 with 100% humidity. It's downright nasty in July and August in Southern Ontario. Very very hot.
COME ON HOT!!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:54 pm

Yup, ryan and others here say musa love heat, and recommend putting them on a south side of a house.

They've obviously never stood at the south side of my Okanagan house in, say, July or August...NO humidity at all (zero, zilch) 38C in the shade. My back yard (shade) temp one year was 42 C.

But it's been so bloody cold here since "spring" began that I'd trade for July heat in a heartbeat.
We managed to sneak up to 13 today...wow.
No sun. No joy.

Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:49 pm

By the way, that one is either Phoenix canariensis or Phoenix sylvestris (as Steve says). (if that was the one you thought was a Pindo). But to me it doesn't resemble a Reclinata.
Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:55 pm

Duh...forgot to post close-up pics!!!
I almost skewered my eyeball (thank god for glasses) when I placed small palms behind:

Arctic Palm · Post by **Arctic Palm** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:14 pm

Actually,
It's funny you should mention the cold spring there, I was watching something on T.V around dinner time. It was american but the map showed Canada as well. You and the north are supposed to have very above normal temps and below nomal rainfall (except the pacific side of the mountians). Also it said that your summer was going to be longer lasting into November. SO you should be good for heat!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:30 pm

We had a lot of snow this winter (unusual), but hardly a drop of rain since then.

Instead of global warming, we should call it "weather shifting".

Like you said...summer will go into October/November (?wow),
but spring is so cold we might as well call it winter.

And we're supposed to be hotter 'n blazes once this cold is over.

I'm afraid my new Musa banjoo (once it's outside at the south of building) will be a banana pizza...cooked!

Here's the 14day forecast for my area...below normal!

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weathe ... eyewx14day

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:41 am

Looks like a nice place to relaxe and have a cold brew.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:32 pm

It is indeed.
But so's Idaho, I hear!

Barb