Curious about growing a Pygmy Date Palm indoors.

[yezishu]

Hi there. I've lived in Chicago my whole life, but i've loved palm trees for as long as I can remember. Obviously they don't just grow outside anywhere near Chicago, so pretty much the only time I'm able to see them is either in a greenhouse, or when I go on vacation.  For the past few months I've been considering getting a palm tree of my own, but I have a few questions/concerns since this would be pretty much my first time seriously caring for a plant. As of right now, I'm pretty sure I wan't to go with a Pygmy Date Palm tree, but I'm curious if that's a good choice. I love the way they look but if it's going to be a considerably difficult plant to care for it's probably not a great Idea. I'm also curious about it generally being "far from home" so to speak. I could easily keep it outside in the summer, but in the winter it would surely die, so i'd have to keep it indoors during colder months. the natural place in my opinion would be my bedroom (with a west facing window although I'm not sure if that really matters), but would that give it sufficient light? Finally, the size of the tree. Since i would have to move the entire plant at least 2 times a year, I would be keeping it in a pot, and it couldn't be a very tall plat. I was thinking i would get one roughly 2-3 feet tall, but I'm curious as to how fast the tree will grow. After all if it eventually grows to be 7 feet tall it wont matter what size I purchase. Anyways, I apologize if I missed some kind of etiquette as I'm pretty new to this forum, and thanks you in advanced for your replies.

 

Also if you have any images of pygmy date palms indoors, or in plants, or etc. , Please feel free to share them!

[kinzyjr]

Pygmy date palms make great houseplants in most cases.  They do have a decent growth rate, so after a few years you'll have a palm that is at or over 7 feet with a spread roughly the same size.  I'd recommend keeping it on a wagon so you can move it in and out easier.  I have seen a few of them hit 12-15 feet.  They should overwinter and handle moderate shade well.  Welcome to PalmTalk!

[ActualTrachycarpus]

Hey! Another Chicago Palm grower! Welcome to PalmTalk. I am no expert but a pygmy indoors should be fine. Most of the palms that are imported to stores up here should be pretty easy going. As for a pygmy date, I personally have never purchased one however I know that Home Depot in their houseplant section sells them that are about 1 foot tall for $20.00, or in the summer months they also important bigger ones. I went to a home depot near where I live yesterday and they had a single trunk 3 foot pygmy date palm for $50.00. As for your size concern, last month I purchased a 7 foot adonidia merrillii and have taken it inside and out twice already with no problems. Good luck and happy palm growing!

[Howeadypsis]

Hmm, I fancy trying one of these, perhaps 'bonsaiing' it to make it smaller if possible. 

Don't come across many palms in England tho

[Jeff985]

Last fall a local garden center marked them 70% off, making them $20 for 1 to 2 feet of trunk plus the canopy makes the overall height more than 3 feet. Because of the big discount I went a little overboard and bought six of them. I planted three in my yard then realized I was out of room so the other three were potted and put in my house. They’ve been doing just fine indoors. I water them about once a week. They don’t get much sunlight but they still look good. They are easy to move around too since I have them in plastic pots. 

[Rickybobby]

I live in southern Ontario the Phoenix roebellini has been. Bulletproof for me here they don’t mind wetter soils and mine have done just fine with artificial light. Now I have an indoor green house with led grow lights and I keep an oil radiator on year round to keep the room around 77f. But then for spring summer and fall it goes outside.  Funny side note it’s gotten some sun burn this past week but what can you do direct sun and artificial lights are not the same 

[GottmitAlex]

Last year I picked dozens of roebellini seeds from a sibling.  They germinated in my southfacing outdoor bathroom/greenhaus.

Just too many of them. All together they are like grass. I have given pots of these away to friends. I am left with two. I concocted a triple and a single in 3 gallons. However in the leftover pots, they're still battling it out. Survival of the fittest I suppose.

[Fusca]

I grew a Phoenix roebelenii in a container from 1989 until 2004 when I moved to Houston where I finally was able to put it in the ground.  It was from a double that a friend had separated and it slowly grew to about 2 feet of trunk in the same container for 15 years!  Most of that time was in Georgia and Tennessee (with very little care or fertilizer) and it stayed outside for 9 months and indoors for 3.  They are tough.

[Rickybobby]

Local big box store had these 3 gallon for 27 bux! That’s dirt cheap for Canada palm prices.  Like t say no. Like we have all said there bulletproof 

[Dypsisdean]

I'm surprised no one had mentioned that when indoors, the nasty spines these have, can be at eye level for small children and dogs. I know someone who put his hand into a potted specimen of these trying to prevent a fall, only to have one of those spines go all the way through his hand - in one side, out the other. He had too much to drink, but you get the idea.

And I ended up in the emergency room with several spines in my arm after trying to transplant a large one by myself. So, I would never have one indoors, without constant trimming of the spines.

[Fusca]

58 minutes ago, Dypsisdean said:

I'm surprised no one had mentioned that when indoors, the nasty spines these have, can be at eye level for small children and dogs. I know someone who put his hand into a potted specimen of these trying to prevent a fall, only to have one of those spines go all the way through his hand - in one side, out the other. He had too much to drink, but you get the idea.

And I ended up in the emergency room with several spines in my arm after trying to transplant a large one by myself. So, I would never have one indoors, without constant trimming of the spines.

Good point Dean!  (Pun intended)  It's been awhile but I do recall how painful it was trimming off multiple dead fronds.  Not a good palm to hug despite its delicate appearance. But if it is kept small it isn't too bad.

[Pip]

Pygmy Dates are another form of botanical barbed wire, excellent planted where you don't want people or animals to go.

[Rickybobby]

I’ve had success with cutting the spikes off with scissors. They come off easy and it doesn’t take that long 

[E_Rose]

On 5/27/2019 at 5:37 AM, Pip said:

Pygmy Dates are another form of botanical barbed wire, excellent planted where you don't want people or animals to go.

Haha!