Ravenea xerophila

[freakypalmguy]

I just saw this picture of Ravenea xerophila on Jeff Searles sale thread. I thought I remember someone saying these send down a deep root? Has anyone ever seen one bare root? These seam to be thriving in fairly shallow containers.

Jeff has some real beauties there. I wonder how old they are? Jeff, you out there?

Matt

[MattyB]

I noticed the same thing about those containers being so shallow. Just another example of what you can get away with in warm climates.

[BS Man about Palms]

Sadly that may be the secret to life in Florida. When I was there last year, Jeff thought he had lost all his big ones, I don't think that has changed.

I think the pots don't allow heavy water retention? Killer looking examples though!

[cfkingfish]

I have planted out a 30 gallon specimen and a 7 gallon (the 7 was from Jeff), and the secret, as with any heeled plant, is to not bury the root boss. This goes especially for more xeric plants. Plants such as Heterospathe seem not to care so much!

[gcyao]

I just saw this picture of Ravenea xerophila on Jeff Searles sale thread. I thought I remember someone saying these send down a deep root? Has anyone ever seen one bare root? These seam to be thriving in fairly shallow containers.

Jeff has some real beauties there. I wonder how old they are? Jeff, you out there?

Matt

When my seedling croaked, I dug it out and the root looked like a carrot.

[BS Man about Palms]

Thus I have called these the "Blue Carrot Palm" for some time now...

[Jeff Searle]

Sadly that may be the secret to life in Florida. When I was there last year, Jeff thought he had lost all his big ones, I don't think that has changed.

I think the pots don't allow heavy water retention? Killer looking examples though!

Bill and others,

I have found over the years that this palm grows just fine in this pot. They happen to be where they get watered almost every day of the week, even if they don't need it, but still grows.

All three of mine that are planted on raised beds, and are NOT too deep have all lost their center spear leaf. The first one to go lost it's spear leaf nearly two years ago and the palm is still green. But it has not pushed any new leaf up. I think the soil is well drain for the most part, just maybe the pH is not right(??). I'm still not sure if this palm will grow here or not. I think the Montgomery Foundation had some planted a few years ago, but I have not seen them in awhile.

Jeff

[Alberto]

Jeff,what kind of soil you have there? Acid? Alkaline? Thanks!

[Jeff Searle]

Jeff,what kind of soil you have there? Acid? Alkaline? Thanks!

Hi Alberto,

My soil in the pots are mostly florida peat, sand, pine bark, cypress and a couple of other ingredients. These palms in the picture show that they have been in those pots for a long time and are root bound. This helps with a palm like this, that requires very little water, but can get watered almost daily and have no problems. As long as the drainage is good.

[Alberto]

......................I think the soil is well drain for the most part, just maybe the pH is not right(??). I'm still not sure if this palm will grow here or not....................

Jeff

Okay,thats the soil in your pots,that sounds on the acid side.

But,what is the ´´native´´ soil in your region where R. xerophila doesn´t grow well?

I need to know if I can add some ash ,dolomite to the soil where I´m planning to plant my xerophila......Or do they need acid soils....

[Al in Kona]

Alberto, I have 3 Ravenea xerophila planted in the ground in fast draining mostly neutral ph soil. Two of them are in quite shallow soil and the third one (center picture) is planted where the rocky soil is very deep and it is the one that carries the most leaves (currently 14). They mostly rely only on rainfall - (rarely given supplemental watering). They are now all about 2.10m (7 ft.) tall. Here are pics of all three . . .

[Alberto]

Al,muito obrigado por sua ajuda!!

Very nice xerophilas you have there!!!

[Gileno Machado]

Alberto, I have 3 Ravenea xerophila planted in the ground in fast draining mostly neutral ph soil. Two of them are in quite shallow soil and the third one (center picture) is planted where the rocky soil is very deep and it is the one that carries the most leaves (currently 14). They mostly rely only on rainfall - (rarely given supplemental watering). They are now all about 2.10m (7 ft.) tall. Here are pics of all three . . .

Lovely palms Al and Jeff,

I've only recently paid closer attention to this species, which I first thought were not suited for my beach conditions and alternate rainy/dry seasons, with breezes present. The seeds have just germinated in closed plastic conteiners with long and incredibly thick main roots but no signs of the first leaves yet. Guess I'll need to be extra careful when transplant time comes, moist cocopeat doesn't seem to be the fav medium for the species in the long run...

[Al in Kona]

......................I think the soil is well drain for the most part, just maybe the pH is not right(??). I'm still not sure if this palm will grow here or not....................

Jeff

Okay,thats the soil in your pots,that sounds on the acid side.

But,what is the ´´native´´ soil in your region where R. xerophila doesn´t grow well?

I need to know if I can add some ash ,dolomite to the soil where I´m planning to plant my xerophila......Or do they need acid soils....

Alberto and others: A good person to ask about the above pH, soil type, etc. would be Palmtalk member Gtlevine (Gary) in Escondido, California area, as he has some nice good size Ravenea xerophilas growing on his property. Hope he might read this and make a comment here. Gary, are you out there?