Indoor Sealing Wax Palm

[Monocot49]

Been growing my favorite palm (C. Renda) indoors. I love seeing them put on new growth and how the new roots start to take on a red color as well. 

[PalmatierMeg]

Welcome to PalmTalk. Kudos to you for your setup to grow this notoriously difficult palm indoors. Yours look great. You've done proper research in advance. They grow like weeds when they are happy.

[Monocot49]

I am using a small indoor greenhouse, hydroponic set-up in a 20 gal basin, with pure lava rock as the growing medium (I am paranoid about root rot even in this semi-aquatic palm because of my being a classic case of overwatering houseplants), 3 grow lights on for 12 hrs per day, a small computer fan for circulation throughout, a 3 gallon per minute aquarium pump that circulates the water through the pots for 15 min at a time 4 times per day, hydroponic-compatible fertilizer and Superthrive whenever I change the water (once per month) and a small aquarium air pump for oxygenation. I brought the palms back from Hawaii during a vacation this spring. The palms went through a bit of transplant shock but are finally starting to put on new growth... I have them in my hot garage for the summer. Fingers crossed! 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Monocot49

[Monocot49]

11 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Welcome to PalmTalk. Kudos to you for your setup to grow this notoriously difficult palm indoors. Yours look great. You've done proper research in advance. They grow like weeds when they are happy.

Thanks PalmatierMeg, ya I have had the dream of growing them for years; failed miserably with a few seedlings when I was in high school. This time I decided I wasn't going to mess around this time. 

[Monocot49]

Does anyone know what causes them to turn red - like what environmental conditions help them become more red? 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Monocot49

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

18 hours ago, Monocot49 said:

Does anyone know what causes them to turn red - like what environmental conditions help them become more red? 

I believe that comes with maturity / age.  Yours are probably a bit too young still.  You'll notice that the oldest / fattest trunks will begin to turn red in time.  

[Monocot49]

1 hour ago, DCA_Palm_Fan said:

I believe that comes with maturity / age.  Yours are probably a bit too young still.  You'll notice that the oldest / fattest trunks will begin to turn red in time.  

Gotcha, DCA_Palm_Fan, that makes sense. Do you guys think it is OK I am using regular strength fertilizer (I.e. not 1/2 strength)? Could that be something that causes brown leaf tips? 

[Monocot49]

I was also worried something had happened because the temperature inside my Penske moving truck from CA to KY this summer got down to low 50s overnight while driving through Wyoming. Luckily they were fine. 

 

[PsyPalm]

Beautiful rendas @Monocot49! Those shots of the roots are awesome, had no idea they also turn red like that, super cool  

 

 

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

19 hours ago, Monocot49 said:

Gotcha, DCA_Palm_Fan, that makes sense. Do you guys think it is OK I am using regular strength fertilizer (I.e. not 1/2 strength)? Could that be something that causes brown leaf tips? 

Really not sure. I have no experience with these palms.  I'd love to have one, but from the few ppl in my area here in zone 10A that have them i hear mixed results.  For some they do fine, and for others they don't.  They are NOT "easy" palms at all from what I understand and require LOADS of water.  I'm imagining they are even bigger water hogs than Cat Palms.  I have to water those things daily if not more to keep them happy.   When I say water, i mean DRENCH / FLOOD them.