Young Mex fan palm frond density?

11 years ago

I bought a W. robusta as a small 10in size pot two frond mess in the clearance house plant section of a wal-mart about 5 years ago. It had been growing it in a big 24 inch deep pot on my patio, where I would push it up against the brick of the house for some winter protection. Being in zone 8a, it did get defoliated the first two years when we had temps in the mid teens. The last couple of years it has managed to keep most of its fronds through the winter. Over this time it has grown from about a foot tall, to around five feet tall with a small Ã¢ÂÂtrunkÃ¢ÂÂ but never manages to have more than 4 or 5 green leaves at a time. Each time the plant manages to push a new leaf, and old one turns crispy and brown. Is this a normal amount of green leaves for a small Mex fan? I give it a handful of palm fertilizer each spring, and have also tried some epsom salts as well. Inspired by the handful of Mex fans growing in the ground locally, I felt brave and planted it out at the end of this summer. The root ball in the large pot looked full and healthy, and wasn't rotted or crowded. Opinions?

Comments (9)

islandbreeze
11 years ago
Sounds about right to me. When I had my robusta, it got to about 5 feet tall, but only held about 5 fronds at a time, just as you described, yellowing the oldest one just as a new frond opened.

I now have 2 smaller filibusta crosses, both about 2 feet tall, both can hold about 8 fronds or more at a time. I think the small number of fronds they hold is due to being rootbound. Even in very large pots, they root like weeds and quickly fill out their root space. Seems inevitable to me unless you plant it in the ground.
Bob_in_AZ__Z9
11 years ago
Hi. I have some robustas growing in my neighborhood that only have a few fronds. Conversely, there are trees that have many fronds. I believe the trees with few fronds may be recovering from Winter damage and perhaps grow only 3 fronds over the Summer. However, perhaps they may have been trimmed by the town. I haven't lived here a year yet but I have seen other town's street palms have been trimmed. Here are some pics of trees in my neighborhood.
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Bob_in_AZ__Z9
11 years ago
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Bob_in_AZ__Z9
11 years ago
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Bob_in_AZ__Z9
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ericthehurdler
11 years ago
Your problem sounds normal for a potted washy of that size, Get that palm in the ground and it will green up.

Hey Bob, looks like those washys were all trimmed like that.
Many arborists cut too many of the leaves off. Doesnt look good and isnt good for the palm. Just a way for them to make money by claiming its good for the tree. :P
jfacendola
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks,

I put it in the ground in November. There are a handful of robuastas around here that survive wthout any winter protection, but usually look pretty ratty or completley de-foliated depending on how low the temps go. I placed it in the most protected spot I could that still has full sun. Sadly, this spot is also the most hellaciously clayey place in my whole yard. I got sick of lugging it around the patio and figured I would give it a shot it the ground. I'm hoping it won't be too angry about the lack of drainage, since I have seen pics of them growing in (or very close to) standing water. Maybe this year I will see some of the "fast" growth they are known for.
jfacendola
Original Author
10 years ago
Update:

It is much happier now that it is in the ground, It has kept all 4 of it's old leaves from last summer year, and is about to already put out it's 5th leaf of this spring. I am looking forward to seeing how big it will be by November this year....