Borassus not growing???

[Bullwinkle]

Hello all,I picked up and planted this borassus aethiopum around 4 years ago and since then it has occasionally put out new leaves and looks ok but it just refuses to grow.Is this normal??

[sonoranfans]

mine took 3-4 years to start putting out 4-5 leaves a year.  Its now 10' overall and growing at medium speed(not fast).  It had a slow start for sure.  They grow a very deep root system before putting out growth.  If you are regularly watering it it may stunt the root/palm growth.    This palms doesn't want to be in rich or wet soil..  If you are watering those crotons, your borassus wont be happy there.  This is a desert palm and putting companion plants around it may stunt its growth.

[Bullwinkle]

1 hour ago, sonoranfans said:

mine took 3-4 years to start putting out 4-5 leaves a year.  Its now 10' overall and growing at medium speed(not fast).  It had a slow start for sure.  They grow a very deep root system before putting out growth.  If you are regularly watering it it may stunt the root/palm growth.    This palms doesn't want to be in rich or wet soil..  If you are watering those crotons, your borassus wont be happy there.  This is a desert palm and putting companion plants around it may stunt its growth.

Thanks for info.It is not in a particularly wet area of the yard but we do live in South Fl so we get copious rains.Hopefully it will get moving soon.

[sonoranfans]

I have not mulched mine at all till recently.  It was planted in sand+20% organics to 2' deep, then clay/sand.  It wants great drainage so make sure that deep roots(3-4' deep) get a chance to dry.  If those roots do not dry cycle they will rot to the level where they do dry cycle and this will of course stunt the palm. 

[sonoranfans]

here is mine after taking a beating from IRMA(lost 4 leaves).  I planted it in june 2011 as a strap leaf seedling in a 4" x 14"(?)deep pot.   I planted it in the pot with the bottom cut out and one side slit.

[sonoranfans]

Irma actually deeply split the petioles of the 4 oldest leaves...

[Bullwinkle]

Wow that looks great.I cannot wait for mine to start moving.I gave it a shot of Harrell's slow release around 2 months ago so maybe that will help to get her growing.

[sonoranfans]

• Not sure it has anything to do with fertilizer, I didn't fertilize mine for years, it started growing with any direct fertilizer application.  After the hurricane I did give it a good shot fo florikan palm fertilizer 8-2-12 with micros.  I think it has a deep root structure and may have been getting fertilizer runoff from my beccariophoenix alfredii 15' feet away.  Does yours get at least 4 hrs/day of direct sun?  Mine gets about 6 hrs direct sun in summer and when it goes above the roof of the house kit will get at least 8-10 hrs.  these palms love sun, kind of like bismarckia.