Dypsis heteromorpha

[mppalms]

I picked up a Dypsis heteromorpha this spring.  Single-trunked now, about 2.5 ft. high and already beautiful with a hint of red at the base and thin leaflets.  But, it is just now starting to send up a new spear.  It has kind of sulked for a while.

Is this palm slower than Dypsis baronii (which I would almost call fast) and onilahensis (which is picking up speed for me now)?  Or, have I just failed in meeting its cultural requirements.

At the moment, it's in a fairly deep pot.  It will go into the ground once I sense that it might have some life in it.

Jason

[mnorell]

I've noticed the same thing. I've had one (1 foot tall, 1 gal size) in the ground since spring and it's still very attractive and healthy-looking, but I think it hasn't budged! Perhaps a little, though I'm not monitoring it with great detail. It's in bright shade with a little bit of direct sun in the late afternoon, under canopy of cherry-laurels. With our heat and humidity not seeming to make it move, and your constantly cool/mild climate not having any effect, it makes me wonder if this needs to be planted in full sun, or if it just spends a lot of time developing the root area before showing much above-ground growth after transplanting. Perhaps this really is a very hardy palm considering its slow growth, supposedly an indicator of this trait...anyone with experience with this species?

[JD in the OC]

Dan at JD Andersen Nursery says he estimates their cold hardiness down to about 25 degrees.  They have tons of them...

[mppalms]

One bit of clarification.  I'm in a relatively warm area of the SF bay area (and apparently, being on a hill, Sunset zone 16, since I only got down to 28 deg. this winter).  We've consistently had temps in the 80s up to a bit over 100 this summer.  I'm out of the fog belt.  It's sunny essentially every day from the start of April to the end of October.

What I wonder is whether Dypsis heteromorpha needs COOLER temps.  I guess I'll get a test of that theory around the start of Nov, when we usually have a big drop in daytime temps from the 70s/80s to the 60s.

I picked mine up in March or thereabouts (from Dan Andersen) and in perfect condition.  It still looks great -- but it doesn't seem to throw spears.

Let's compare notes around the end of the year.  I think this species holds great promise for those who live in areas with occasional frosts.

Jason

[mppalms]

Also, mine is in morning sun (to about noon) and afternoon shade.  So, I think sun/shade is not the issue.  I'm thinking this is a root development issue (root vs. top growth).

Jason

[Neofolis]

Here was my little baby heteromorpha on July 24th 2006.

Here it is a year later July 30th 2007.

It slowed down for a few months during that period when my humidification system caused excessive calcium deposits on the leaves, but generally I would say it grows at a reasonable speed, although not as fast as my onilahensis seem to be.

[Kelern]

Hi Corey,

You don't give us much details about the conditions yours is growing. I have one for two years, tried every position, temperature, water and it didn't grow at all no one milimeter and is dying right now!

[Neofolis]

Mine is in just about the shadiest area of my polytunnel.  Temperatures are 20°C/68°F minimum night time, 36°C/97°F maximum daytime with humidity ranging from 40-70%.  It's one of the few plants that I still have in a sandy peat mixture.  The soil is very old, in poor condition and tends to dry out too quickly.  I have tried to modify the mixture, rather than re-potting, by adding some coir, which has helped a little.  It gets a weak, soluble, chemical feed every 14 days or so.

Mine has handled quite a bit of abuse and occasional short term neglect, which combined with the old soil suggests it is quite a tough plant, so I assume the temperature is the important factor, allowing year round growth.

[Neofolis]

Maybe I should add that mine was bare rooted when I got it, not that long before the first photo and started to grow pretty much as soon as it was potted up.  It has two stems, which I assume are actually two individual plants.  I don't know at what point they start suckering, but as there were already two stems when I got and it has not formed any more since, it suggests it was two plants together.

[DoomsDave]

Here's mine, I picked it up at JD Anderson's today.

[mppalms]

My D. heteromorpha is starting to grow.  Whether it was the warmer day or night temperatures we had over a week ago or the cooler temps we're having now..  I may never know.

Thanks for the info., everyone.

Did these get tested during the freeze in January?  25 deg. sounds great but I wonder whether it is wishful thinking.

Jason

[deezpalms]

Jason, mine made it thru last winter but I only saw 34 degrees for one night.

[mppalms]

Ah, to be one mile from an ocean that isn't at a constant 55 deg.  

Jason

[MattyB]

Here's a shot of Jerry's D. heteromorpha growing in Hawaii.  It's got that tell tail buldge at the base.  A very pretty Dypsis.

[MattyB]

Just as a side:  I may be shootin' from the hip here but I suspect that the Dypsis sp 'cuesta linda' is one in the same w/ Dypsis heteromorpha.  Anyone ever thought that?

[LJG]

(MattyB @ Sep. 14 2007,10:30)

QUOTE

Just as a side:  I may be shootin' from the hip here but I suspect that the Dypsis sp 'cuesta linda' is one in the same w/ Dypsis heteromorpha.  Anyone ever thought that?

Hey Matt, why don't you leave hypotheses like this for the experts.  

[Dypsisdean]

Matt,

You forgot one small detail. Jeff Bruseau told me all of his "Cuesta Lindas" have remained solitary.

For those of you who would like to see the "Cuesta Linda" Garden and the Dypsis "Cuesta Linda," you can view it here.

Don't forget that repeated clicks on a picture will yield higher definition pics.

http://palmpedia.net/wiki....IFORNIA

[paulgila]

..until it explodes.

[MattyB]

Well I don't see any suckers (except the people above tryin' to put me down man!)  Ok, maybe I was shootin' from the ankle.  But they look so much alike to me.  2 Dypsis that look very similar....come on....is that not conclusive evidence enough?  Tough crowd (tip your waiters)

[paulgila]

give it up,"rodney dypsisfield"!

[MattyB]

[DoomsDave]

Matty . . .

Looks like Alpine before the fire . . .