Phoenix dactylifera obvious solution

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:43 am

Every time I've bought one of these palms in the past I would loose it to rot. It would do fine with potting soil in summer but as soon as I brought it indoors it would rot and then death. I recently bought a large adult and soil it was in was making it decline also. I recently repotted it in 30% soil and 70% coarse builders sand and put it next to the cactus bed and now its one of happiest palm I have and growing very fast. It loves as much heat as cactus. The awsome blue leaves is there reason I had to have this palm. Its so happy it bloomed and pushed out 5 very fragrant flowers. I now know its a female.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:55 am

Lots of people assume that Dactys like water. Although they grow near water, they are really desert palms. Ive seent them in the middle of nowhere, tapped into some deep water ( on tv). They are from egypt, the middle east and into india. They dont like saturated soil apperantly. But they LOVE heat. They need tons of sun, and in the winter, especialy indoors they need to be kept drier ( especialy with lower light). Ive noticed the same thing with my Phoenix Canariensis, although no to the extreme that ive heard dactys need ( Ill know soon. I grew one from a date pit.)

Grats you found a plant that works!

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:08 am

Canadianplant How long did it take for seed to germinate and what type of soil do you have it in ? How fast is the seedling growing for you ? My Dacty seems to start growing on very sunny days and it really grows fast with soil temps 80f to 90F+. My dacty is located near rock and concrete and can near get 100F on sunny days because it gets sun from 8am until 6pm right now.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:50 am

Honestly, it was jsut potting soil, not to wet in a aggie with no sun. It was in my kitchen, so it did get some heat but nothign special. It was wraping around the inside of the baggie for 2 months before i potted it up a few weeks ago. ITs goign to go outside on wednesday. Its moving, but slow ATM.