Non-climbing Calamoids Thriving in West Central Florida

[sarasota alex]

I'm going to start with my Metroxylon vitiense. It's just under 7' (2m+) overall and is a couple of months short of 4 years in the ground from 1 gallon. In January 2018 it went through a 2 hour freeze (down to 30F/-1C) with minimal leaf damage. But all the leaves were well aged at the time. During the coldest night this past winter (34F/+1C) it had just put out a fresh pink leaf in the morning prior, and this new leaf was moderately damaged at that temp.

[sarasota alex]

My 12' (3.65m) tall Mauritiella armata. I already talked about it in this topic - https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/57563-northernmost-trunking-mauritiella-in-the-world-a-self-proclaimed-record-but-can-it-really-be-challenged/

 

 

 

 

[sarasota alex]

My little Salacca zalacca farm. All planted almost 4 years ago as seedlings, but their growth rate as you can see has varied greatly (the largest is about 6'/1.8m, the middle one is about 3.5'/1m, and the smallest is only about 1.5'/45cm). Originally germinated from a Singapore supermarket fruit. Hoping for a fruiting pair one day.

[sarasota alex]

I am growing two Eugeissona tristis. This one in the ground has been thriving all the way until the late winter when our community's irrigation was turned off due to a break, and it received no water for almost a week. What you see here is the only leaf left after it dried out, but in the last couple of weeks it has been pushing a healthy spear. Metroxylon and Mauritiella were also slightly affected but this brief drought, but they are very established, so it wasn't a big deal for them. BTW, no damage or even skipping a beat this winter, and we had a 34F/+1C night.

[sarasota alex]

This Eugeissona has stayed in the 3 gallon pot. (The other one in the previous post was planted out last summer). Also was outside all winter, including the 34F/+1C night. This one, however, because of the proximity of the pot was hose-watered by my wife during the irrigation break. As I was taking a picture of it just now, I realized that something (likely a squirrel) has dug out the large seed. Hopefully the plant will be ok, but I am now worried. Could be deadly

[hbernstein]

Your a brave soul to grow Eugeissona. I suppose it will be water-limited in your garden. That might tame (if not kill) the beast!

[sarasota alex]

15 minutes ago, hbernstein said:

Your a brave soul to grow Eugeissona. I suppose it will be water-limited in your garden. That might tame (if not kill) the beast!

Normally it gets plenty of water, this irrigation break (that coincided with me being out of town) was an unusual event. Having said that - I've lost Calamoids before during our dry season. Some couldn't handle it, no matter how much I watered them. I lost a Pigafetta elata like that. It was growing in full sun and the watering couldn't keep up with the desiccation speed.