PalmsNorth.com

very nicely done for both the pigafetta and bananas. I agree with Don, there comes a point when the bananas will get so big not sure what to do with them. I may have to take up weight lifting for sport so that I can handle the bananas over the next few years. I have not had much luck keeping the pseudostem on my musa basjoos over the last 2 winters , I dig them up and briong them in. I may just cut the darn thing down to 1 foot tall and dig them up next year.

Nice progress w/ bananas and Pigafetta.

Dean

In what way did they die,roots go soft and mushy,too much water,dry up and waste away?
Did you plant it in the ground?

Did not plant in the ground. They browned up one leaf at a time until the last one.

Well sounds like it got burnt form too much sun heat or fertilizer,or spidermites,but it hard to tell for sure.

I bet it was spider mites. I have them bad in that area of the greenhouse.. What can I use on them? Dish washing soap?

Spray with neem oil,or get some Bayer Tree and shrub concentrate from Lowes or Walmart,water in the soil and gets all the bugs,and for about 3 months or more protection,thats what I use on everything now.

Yours are looking great,spiderwebs have done some damage on mine but I think the floor was been to cold,and the soil isn't drying out fast enough,and I think rot root might have started,altho I see new green spear coming up!

50*F lows seems to be about the minimum for these to keep growing, ( just put a bigger heater in the GH and mine is taking off again

As long as yours is showing new growth it should recover! Do you still have that coconut with the two sprouts?


Steve

Yes ,I still have the coconuts,all 3 are doing fine.
There was a couple nights it got to 42* in the greenhouse,and I'll bet it was colder down on the floor,but there right next to some of the Xmas palms and there are just fine!
We had some hefty winds I'm wondering if maybe a draft got to them a little,there are right next to the door!
Will keep an eye on them.
Are you guys fore casted to get any snow Saturday?

I think just 1" - 2", Then highs around 40* next week.
I've had enough of Winter already.......at least the days will start getting longer after tomorrow


Steve

Yeah me too!
Ready for spring!!!

Don, Hope yours are doing well!


This one has been going non stop since December


New spear opening.









Steve

5-2-08
Starting to grow a bit faster now.







Steve

Be prepared to give these guys some room. This is probably the fastest growing palm species in the world, and it can grow to 60+ feet tall! There are a few growing in the ground here in the Miami area, but they usually only last for a few years until a cold snap takes them. Good luck!

Jody

WOW Steve, those are really taking off. Incredable!

This is probably not the best choice for a containerized Palm, but they are fun to grow

I'm hoping to get it to some size, and then see if I can slow its growth down.....



Steve

Steve,

You could always root prune them I guess. Try to make them Bonsais.

Dean

Something to that effect

Not sure if these would be agreeable to root pruning? Once it is a little bigger, ( and hopefully able to handle the stress), I'll try keeping it under potted and on a nutrient diet.


Steve

New frond opening,







Steve

Look at those spines!
Good that they're not a pond palm...it'd be impaled fish 'n chips for the BBQ.

Six to 10 feet of growth annually is almost unimaginable.
Now if we could impart those growth genes into some of our other palms...
Barb

Barb,

Now that you mention it, I seem to have collected a few spiny Palms
A couple more,


Astrocaryum,




Salacca,





Steve

Ouch! Becareful where you put your hands!

Dean

Wow, look at the length of spines on that Astrocaryum!
Wonder if anyone's allergic to punctures from palm spines?
Barb