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Watermelon palm

metalfan

By metalfan
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
Posted

I have a watermelon palm that I thought would be a lot slower growing than it has been. I chose it because I read that it usually only gets about 20 feet tall. Can I ask a dumb question? Does that refer to the height of the fronds, or the height of the trunk where the fronds emerge? Because my fronds are emerging from the trunk at a height of about 9 feet currently, and the fronds are hitting the greenhouse roof. I have a new one emerging now

IMG_2672.JPG

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

quaman58 Grand Master

quaman58

Posted
Posted

Looks like you have Chambeyronia, "watermelon" form. They can be pretty quick when they're happy & will definitely surpass 20 feet with time. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.. Beautiful palms though!

Bret

 

Coastal canyon area of San Diego

 

"In the shadow of the Cross"

PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
Posted

They get fairly large. Eventually, no greenhouse can contain them. My largest are pushing 20-25' feet tall, even taller when sending out a new spear. Not dainty by any means.

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So what should I do? I don't want to cut it down. Can it be coerced to kind of lean over?

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
Posted

How root sensitive are they? If you trench around it over the course of several months maybe you can transplant it.

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I don't think it will make it here in Gainesville. Maybe if I put one of those rubber straps on it and weight it over the pond....kind of make it lean....

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Data online says they can make it in 9A from 20-25F. That sounds like me especially with global warming. But I would not know how to transplant it. I have TWO. The other is smaller, but I fear headed for the same fate. SO If I take this one and try to transplant it, I will have a back up in case it does't make it...which would be a HORRIBLE shame....maybe I can start pulling the smaller one over now with tension before it gets too big....

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

quaman58 Grand Master

quaman58

Posted
Posted

In the meantime, plant an Actinokentia. Similar look, but will take forever to outgrow your space..

  • Upvote 3

Bret

 

Coastal canyon area of San Diego

 

"In the shadow of the Cross"

bubba Grand Master

bubba

Posted
Posted

These are great palms and your red spear is a beauty. I have two down here north of the old monkey jungle. They are side by side juxtaposed by our pool jacuzzi. 20 feet of trunk not including crown shaft or leaves.

In the 10 years since acquisition, we have never seen a freeze or anything near 32F. When we get a cool breeze, invariably we get the red shoot.Accordingly, I am not much help on temperature range.

I would urge you to replant in an area where it can be protected. Kyle showed how micro-climates around G’Ville exist (McCarthy Hall!), where a great variety of unusual suspects have flourished in the area. It would be great to add that beautiful palm. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

  • Upvote 1

What you look for is what is looking

Zeeth Grand Master

Zeeth

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, metalfan said:

Data online says they can make it in 9A from 20-25F. That sounds like me especially with global warming. But I would not know how to transplant it. I have TWO. The other is smaller, but I fear headed for the same fate. SO If I take this one and try to transplant it, I will have a back up in case it does't make it...which would be a HORRIBLE shame....maybe I can start pulling the smaller one over now with tension before it gets too big....

I doubt those numbers for cold tolerance. Mine were heavily damaged by last winter when we briefly hit 27˚. They're so slow growing that they do not recover quickly either. 

  • Upvote 2

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

Kailua_Krish Veteran

Kailua_Krish

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, metalfan said:

I don't think it will make it here in Gainesville. Maybe if I put one of those rubber straps on it and weight it over the pond....kind of make it lean....

I have a couple in Ocala in a heavily protected microclimate. On bad years they lose their fronds and they take a long time to grow out of it. Still alive though after roughly 6 years in ground but they're stunted by the defoliations

-Krishna

Kailua, Oahu HI. Near the beach but dry!

Still have a garden in Zone 9a Inland North Central Florida (Ocala)

metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OK. I'm gonna try to get it to lean. Steady tension with a big maybe burlap and rubber band around the trunk, heavily padded, tension with big bungees. I am NOT giving it up. NOT.

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
Posted

Go for it. Better than hacking them off at ground level and gives them some chance for long term survival. I know Chambeyronias are more tolerant than most crownshafted palms but I didn't realize you lived so far north or I wouldn't have recommended digging them up unless you were transplanting them to pots. Transplant takes time and a bit of work but can be a last ditch effort to save a palm that would otherwise surely end up dead. Measure off as big a rootball diameter as you can safely manage with the trunk in the center, say, a 24" radius (or smaller if palm is still quite small). On week 1, trench around 1/4 of the rootball's circumference. Wait. On weeks 2, 3, 4 do the same with the rest of the circumference. When ready to transplant, undercut the bottom of the rootball and move palm to a hole (or pot) you have already prepared for it. Replant and water in well. Protect palm from direct sun while it settles it, which may take months. Do not let it totally dry out but also do not overwater it. Do not fertilize for at least 6 months.

I suggest you don't start the transplant until spring.

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

bubba Grand Master

bubba

Posted
Posted

Great and good luck!

What you look for is what is looking

enigma99 Mentor

enigma99

Posted
Posted
On 11/22/2018, 6:27:04, Zeeth said:

I doubt those numbers for cold tolerance. Mine were heavily damaged by last winter when we briefly hit 27˚. They're so slow growing that they do not recover quickly either. 

Yeah I think if these ever got to 25 or below they would be toast

metalfan Grand Master

metalfan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well, it has gotten below 25 less and less in the years since climate change really kicked in, but we almost always have at least ONE night at 20-22. Last year it WAS one night....and LATE...everything that had gone unscathed through the winter (and several winters before) took a hit because usually here it rains BEFORE in freezes and everything is dry but last year we narrowly escaped actual sleet. I had things get damaged that had NEVER been damaged before, all in one night. The worst I think I can do trying to get it to lean over somehow is having it grow looking wonky...its still flexible enough to try and direct it. I didn't actually NOTICE that the fronds had started hitting the roof, because the entire front ceiling of the greenhouse had been taken over by the false Mucuna bennettii (the Brazilian flame vine) and it has covered and started twining around the fronds, I decided to cut back the entire one and found that almost all of my palm fronds were getting strangled. I had to cut most of them in half and removed the damaged ends, that is when I realized exactly how tall it has gotten. Frond is really opening up nicely.

IMG_2697.jpg

"You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes"---SliPknot

 

bubba Grand Master

bubba

Posted
Posted

Do it! Go for it! That is a very well grown and mature Chamby. Be the first with a Chamby in G’Ville. Times they are a changing.

What you look for is what is looking

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