majesty palms-winterizing

15 years ago

Hi, I have been perusing this site for the past two days, I even posted a palm question in the wrong section, oops.... Anyway, I bought two majesty palms in June. They did very well and look great around my pool. The fronds swaying in the gentle breese was so calming. I would like to keep them but do not want to store them in my house. They got really big and I heard inside, they attract spider mites. Can I cover them with heavy plastic and keep them on the side of my house for the winter? If I could, when should I do it. Around mid Oct?

Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank yo- Margaret

Featured Answer

glen3a

15 years ago

Hi Margaret,

For the past two years I have been buying a Majesty palm for the summer and potting it up as a patio plant. I read a few articles on the internet in my research as to whether I should overwinter indoors.

They cannot take any temperatures below 30F nor be stored "dormant", so you must bring them inside if you want to save them. However, unless you have ideal conditions with bright light and warmth and humidity, they gradually deteriorate indoors and yes, are likely susceptible to spider mites.

In short, I read that despite being sold in huge quantities and basically at every retailer as houseplants, they make terrible houseplants unless you have great conditions. So, I made the decision in the past just to buy new plants every year. Chances are, if you were successful in overwintering them indoors, the plant going back outside next spring wouldn't look as good as it does now anyways, by the time it gets used to the poor light of indoors and back to the bright light of outdoors next spring.

FYI, are you zone 7? There are some palms that are hardier than this one and can be protected and possibly survive winter in your zone. Just mentioning in case you might want to experiment with hardier palms.

Regards,
Glen

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Comments (9)

Boca_Joe(zone 7b) southern Delaware
15 years ago
Hi,

I would throw them away-not worth the effort. They are dirt cheap at HOME DEPOT and COSTCO in spring.

They would die outside in NJ anyhow.
Boca Joe
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orchidguyftl
15 years ago
yes, its surprising the number of these being sold
here in Florida they sell LOTS of them and most people dont know proper care for them and they end up dying anyway. Most people arent aware that they grow naturally in boggy/swamp-like conditions and they die a very slow death due to lack of proper amounts of water,
for most, they are better as a house plant as they can tolerate lower light conditions, if you can keep spider mite away; though if your house has proper humidity and moisture that can be avoided
enigma99
15 years ago
Actually for the record, Majestys will pretty much die at 27F. And if there is a frost they don't even need that much. I'm in an area where the average low is 27-29F in the winter, and even with protection it barely makes the winter.

But at the average price of 10-20.. why bother :) Just buy another one
VAgrown
13 years ago
Hey,

I bought 2 majesty palms last summer, and I planted them in the ground. I also kept them in the ground through the winter with the coldest temperature being 13 degrees F. I wrapped each one with burlap, and then i wrapped christmas lights around the burlap. I also placed a frost tarp around the lights. I just unwrapped them and they are still alive and green. There are even new spears growing from their crowns. I would give it a try to keep them in the ground through out the year to see how they do. So far, mine are doing just fine. I think it is possible for you to keep them alive in the ground.

Good Luck with your palms
jmdupuyoo
10 years ago
Hello VAgrown,
Could you give us some news of your majesty palms?
Sincerely.
Jean-Michel
Jonathan zone 5-6
7 years ago
Hi I live in Toronto Canada, (zone5/6) I have planted

my majesty palm in ground, of course it's thriving through out the summer, however I'm probably going to do something never done with a majesty. I'm going to winterize it using the box method . It will have a heat cable on the trunk and fitted with heat/uv lights In the box.

Of course proper wrapping procedures will be followed. Our lowest temps here can reach - 20-30c. Thermocube will be used to keep temp Inside box between 2-7c at all times. Here is a pic of someone else's boxes so you have an idea of how we grow palms in the great white North lol. This pic is from a zone 4 area
Josue (Zone 9b, Central, inland California)
7 years ago
I commend you for your efforts to keep a majesty palm alive in winter, but if you're going to go through all that trouble to keep it alive through a winter in Toronto, maybe you'd have better luck with a palm that is more tolerant of cold. Howea forsteriana, Beccariophoenix alfredii and parajubaea toralyii or cocoides are all more tolerant of cold than majesty palms. If you want to go with a hardier palm, Syagrus romanzoffiana and Butia capitata can take down to at least the low 20s before they start showing damage.
Jonathan zone 5-6
7 years ago
Awesome info thanks. May have to look into one of these next spring. Fingers crossed. Keeping all the receipts for the uv lamps and other materials lol