Update on Chatham Islands Rhopalostylis seedlings

[MattyB]

Well, you guys inspired me to finally plant my first Rhopalostylis: R. sapida 'chatham island'. I wanted to wait until I had some canopy before I started planting Rhopies, and I think it's time because I'm running out of room for large palms in the rainforest area. I was going to plant it out in full all day sun, but I ended up deciding to remove a struggling Dypsis decipiens and put it in this half day sun spot. It's actually pretty much full all day sun right now, but as the canopy grows more it'll end up being only a half a day in this spot. Here's the pics!

[Jastin]

Looks good Matt. I've always been told that palm roots are really sensitive so I've always babied the heck out of them when i plant. Have you seen any negative things happen due to that? I saw your Rhopie just laying there so I thought ide ask.

[MattyB]

I'm careful with marginal palms or known root sensitive ones, but a rhopalostylis with a solid rootball...no worries.

[Jason Baker Portugal]

I have R. sapida "normal" and oceana and also baueri and cheesemani. I agree that the Oceana is by far the fastest and much more beautiful than the regular sapida. Would anyone out there know where I could get some or send me some of the purple crown seeds?

All in all this palm is very well-suited to my climate and soil and I could imagine how stunningly south-pacific looking a grove of the would look like. I have seen many mature ones in a park in Sintra near Lisbon.

Cheers Jason

[Gary]

Looks good Matt. I've always been told that palm roots are really sensitive so I've always babied the heck out of them when i plant. Have you seen any negative things happen due to that? I saw your Rhopie just laying there so I thought ide ask.

its not so much the roots it is the heel and if you damage that your palm is history

[Jastin]

Looks good Matt. I've always been told that palm roots are really sensitive so I've always babied the heck out of them when i plant. Have you seen any negative things happen due to that? I saw your Rhopie just laying there so I thought ide ask.

its not so much the roots it is the heel and if you damage that your palm is history

So then how would you know when to break the heel off? I've heard of a few people doing this.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Thats a beauty Matty Very robust Oceana it will explode in the ground !

[Axel Amsterdam]

Hi guys,

Thought i would attach a picture of the sole R. Sapida in Amsterdam. It's growing inside the Hortus in a rather dark spot. It's nice though and around 7ft high.

Axel

[Gary]

Looks good Matt. I've always been told that palm roots are really sensitive so I've always babied the heck out of them when i plant. Have you seen any negative things happen due to that? I saw your Rhopie just laying there so I thought ide ask.

its not so much the roots it is the heel and if you damage that your palm is history

So then how would you know when to break the heel off? I've heard of a few people doing this.

You would feel it if broken but even if you damage it with spade etc it willbe fatal so dig down deep

[JasonD]

Looking good Troy, not bad for a 5 year old palm. bad joke, they are not that slow. What kind of relative humidity do you get there?

Hi Ben

except on the warmest summer days usually 60-85 % accordinbg to my weather station . In an ideal climate like dowm here for this palm in perfect soil with lots of decomposed organic matter and well watered ,regular seasol + power feed how long before it starts trunking ??

HI Troy,

These palms in picture were taken from Waipatiki Beach as seedlings and planted in this site at Waimarama Beach (50kms South) about 15 years ago. Waimarama is slightly cooler and significantly drier than Waipatiki, and these palms have had limited care, full coastal exposure, and beachsand soil. With the care you mention, you will have trunks within 10 years. And by then the total height should be 3-4m of leaf easily.

Nice puka in that shot on the right.

[JasonD]

Another update taken today ! growing twice as fast as the other Rhopalostylis . - goingto be a real monster for sure !

This palm really loves my climate . It has a cage over it normally and 30 % shade mesh .

Perfection!

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Taken this Saturday afternoon

This has to be the fastest growing Rhopalostylis for me as it has pushed out 2 full fronds over winter (average temps 50 -60 f 10 -16 c )

Cheers Troy

[NApalm]

Looking good troy. So glossy and green

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Just been sprayed with Seasol seaweed -the palms seem to like it .