PalmsNorth.com

This is not an important thread by any means, but might be fun.
I was visiting a friend on Wednesday. She recently bought five acres in the country and is planting it with fruit trees and native plants. An attractive, single 50-something, she has suitors. One bought her a palm. She didn't like him, or palms. It has languished on her patio getting afternoon sun and no water. She gave it to me to get rid of.
As W is always bringing home stray animals in need of love (so far this year: three horses, four cats), I figure I can bring home stray palms!
Here it is, on the front porch in front of W's Harley (did I mention she has expensive hobbies?):

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G6 ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/TGat9 ... AG0134.jpg" /></a>


So my question is, what do you think? Can I save it?

--Erik

Nice ride
Heat, water, & sun, and I would bet the Washy bounces back.

Steve

Agree with Steve's diagnosis.
It'll make it, but it does need water, especially in that heat in a black pot.

Washies as you know love heat, so you're halfway there.

Does potting soil look pretty good? Otherwise repot it, and then baby it in the sun.

Good collecting job, Erik and W !!

I had one that looked like that before the summer. I re-potted it and
now it's growing fine.

Good to hear.
It is of course in its original potting soil, which seems OK but I can re-pot it once it recovers from acute stress.
Being on the front porch, it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, which I thought would be less stressful. I am watering it twice daily, a good drenching.
The old potted Washy loves the "beach" where it bakes. When I think this one is ready, it will go to the patio (under the sun shade) and then to full sun. Just don't know when in the process I should (if at all) re-pot it. I know that is sometimes stressful.
Anyway, time to go move the sprinkler. Despite the little rain this morning, it is so hot I am watering again....
--Erik

Wow 104 F, surprised the rain landed on the ground

Be repotting, I mean: try to keep the rootball intact, with no disturbance if possible.
Turning the original pot on its side, and then tipping/sliding the rootball out gently may work if soil isn't too wet.
If you bareroot the Washy to replant it, it'll likely croak.

Water + blistering heat is what Washies love.

Barb

Nice freebie Erik I should pull out with ease there really tough palms. Does this mean you have a washy to plant out next year now?

Bill

Nice score Erik! It's in good hands now, I'm sure it will do great with lots of water!

Heidi

Erik

Is the spear rotted on the one on the left?

No, there is green at the base and it is firm when I tug on it. --Erik

They're washy's, a very tough palm to kill... Which is great for trying to save them!

I bet by September you'll be posting pics of those palms with 2-3 newly emerged leaves!

I've managed to kill Wasingtonia; Trachycarpus, too.
I'll do my best to save this one.
So far it gets lots of water, a little palm fertilizer, morning sun and of course heat.
The soil it is in looks OK so I figured I'd put off the re-potting stress until I know it is growing.
Next step is west side patio for more sun and heat.
--Erik

Erik I would definetly repot it now. You still have at least a couple more month`s or more for you in Oklahoma of growing weather to get their roots established. Mine always do well after transplanting. Give them some root stimulator during transplant and watch them take off !

John

John,
always good advice Washy from you!
Can you tell me about this root stimulator? I have powdered rooting hormone, for cuttings. Is that it? --Erik

Erik I would go to the garden center and ask or look around for a liquid form of root stimulator. I use a product called Laters"Root Booster". I`m sure you will find something similar there. The product really helps with any transplant shock. Washy`s don`t really need it as much as other finicky palms. They just grow so much better with it.Another suggestion would be soil high in perlite for fast drainage,but you already knew that. Hope this helps.


John