Chamaedorea Microspadix

[DAVEinMB]

Not mine but thought I'd share. This is a clump I got from @Laaz last year that I gave to my buddy. It wasn't protected this past winter so it at one point was covered in ice and saw 19F a couple times.

It really is a shame that these aren't more readily available given how tough and tropical looking they are. Maybe one day big box will start offering these

[Silas_Sancona]

13 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

Not mine but thought I'd share. This is a clump I got from @Laaz last year that I gave to my buddy. It wasn't protected this past winter so it at one point was covered in ice and saw 19F a couple times.

It really is a shame that these aren't more readily available given how tough and tropical looking they are. Maybe one day big box will start offering these

  Couldn't agree more  ..Such an under rated / under utilized smaller clumping palm that looks quite tropical..  Takes cold on the nose, and can also survive here ..if tucked where shaded from our killer summer sun, > east facing exposure ideally..  and provided water about as often as you would the lawn.

Forget the box stores though, lol..  Think anyone who has specimens that seed should just pass 'em around more..  Know i would.  Grow fast enough that you won't have to wait long for them to gain some size.

[amh]

44 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

It really is a shame that these aren't more readily available given how tough and tropical looking they are. Maybe one day big box will start offering these

Hook me up with bulk seeds and I'll change that.

[Manalto]

32 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

  Couldn't agree more  ..Such an under rated / under utilized smaller clumping palm that looks quite tropical...

I agree, too. I like these a lot, along with C. radicalis. For those of us with city-sized lots (or other forms of limited space), this is a great option. What would you say is the major difference between this and radicalis? Are culture and hardiness comprable?

Not sure what you mean by "underrated." Is there an organization that rates palms for their landscape suitability? Does this plant have an undeserved reputation for being finicky?

[DAVEinMB]

33 minutes ago, amh said:

Hook me up with bulk seeds and I'll change that.

If I had access to bulk seeds of either c. Radicalis or C. Microspadix I'd change my name to "The Carolina Chamaedorea King" 

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, Manalto said:

I agree, too. I like these a lot, along with C. radicalis. For those of us with city-sized lots (or other forms of limited space), this is a great option. What would you say is the major difference between this and radicalis? Are culture and hardiness comprable?

Not sure what you mean by "underrated." Is there an organization that rates palms for their landscape suitability? Does this plant have an undeserved reputation for being finicky?

Underrated because it isn't as widely grown as it should be, like many other interesting - and adaptable- palms  you don't see available as much as they should be.  C. micropspadix should be on every shelf in the house plant or palm selection section at the BBx stores / other nurseries,  Instead of  " meh "  C. sefrizii..  which can't hold a candle to how adaptable  either C. microspadix or radicalis  can be.

C. radicalis is decent,  ..Having wider leaflets and clumping, C. microspadix  just says " tropical " a tad more though.  From what i have seen in both CA and FL, both are about equal hardiness -wise..  to both cold and heat ( if properly situated ) 


C. oblongata,  and klotzichiana  are my personal # 1 and 2  " Bamboo -  palm " - type  Chamaedorea species,  but neither are quite as adaptable - for as many people who might grow them-  as C. microspadix.

Never heard of the species being a challenge to grow / cultivate, and  not slow either from seed ( for the overly impatient ).  Certainly were super easy / moved at a decent clip when i raised a bunch.   Planted a few in a yard in California ( hopefully they're still there )  Pretty sure i planted the remaining at the house we were at in Bradenton.


C. metallica  is another Cham. that is very underrated when it comes to adaptability in and outdoors ...that should be on every house plant section shelf.  Not slow at all from seed either..

[Manalto]

These underappreciated chamaedoreas need more exposure. I'm willing to do my part!

[RJ]

Agree… I’ve seen some growing around here 

[DAVEinMB]

12 minutes ago, RJ said:

Agree… I’ve seen some growing around here 

My first microspadix purchase was from Penny's Palms up your way. Got 3 small plants, they're quite big now 

[Collectorpalms]

I got large ones from California, but they always went downhill with leaves that ended up with necrotic edges. I think they are rather slow, and have a picky city water quality issue so you will never find them for sale except from a palm specialist. I have none left. If I knew what I know now, I would be bursting with plants. Those in Austin are coming back from the base after 10F. Their sodium level in their water is also 1/10th of what mine is. 

Indoor palms and plants need to be able to handle salt build up in indoor pots. This isn't one of those. Its a shame because it looks the part and would do well outdoors in Texas and other zone 9s with proper care.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[amh]

15 hours ago, DAVEinMB said:

My first microspadix purchase was from Penny's Palms up your way. Got 3 small plants, they're quite big now 

That nursery being in official zone 8a makes me optimistic on this species survivability in my region.

[DAVEinMB]

48 minutes ago, amh said:

That nursery being in official zone 8a makes me optimistic on this species survivability in my region.

When I exchanged emails with Penny she said she had success with them at her house in a courtyard with western exposure. This was years ago so I can't remember how many seasons they were in the ground for tho. 

She did seem confident in their ability to handle zone 8 temps 

[redbeard917]

I'm in a cold part of north Florida and have never had issues with cold. In fact in 2013 or so we had a day that didn't rise above freezing and my microspadix were encased in frozen sleet and they only had minimal leaf browning. They do look better in shade though.

[RJ]

6 hours ago, DAVEinMB said:

When I exchanged emails with Penny she said she had success with them at her house in a courtyard with western exposure. This was years ago so I can't remember how many seasons they were in the ground for tho. 

She did seem confident in their ability to handle zone 8 temps 

Btw she’s a he. Not in some new fanged funkey-monkey kinda of way either . Penny is his last name . 
 

btw I’ve seen that palm and I thought it was a C. Rad , but it was post 2018/2019 when I saw them. So regardless, hardy . 

[DAVEinMB]

39 minutes ago, RJ said:

Btw she’s a he. Not in some new fanged funkey-monkey kinda of way either . Penny is his last name . 
 

btw I’ve seen that palm and I thought it was a C. Rad , but it was post 2018/2019 when I saw them. So regardless, hardy . 

Fantastic, I love giving credit to the wrong gender haha. Welp, when you assume...

And yea I dunno, I've never seen it in person but either way, hardy haha 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, RJ said:

Btw she’s a he. Not in some new fanged funkey-monkey kinda of way either .
 

 

..And if they were?   ..That wouldn't be an issue, Correct?.  Moving along..

[BeyondTheGarden]

I've got 4 clumps of C microspadix.  This winter was pretty bad, a week below freezing, ultimate low 16f, plus several nights in the upper teens aside from that event.  

The ones I protected are perfect.  The ones that were totally exposed, coated in ice, look like they woke up with the world's worst hangover.  But none have spear pull.  And since they sucker from the rootbase, even if they were to ever die to the ground, I think they'd still come back to life.  

I REALLY want to get ahold of the microspadix x radicalis hybrid I've heard secret whispers about.....

[amh]

13 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

I've got 4 clumps of C microspadix.  This winter was pretty bad, a week below freezing, ultimate low 16f, plus several nights in the upper teens aside from that event.  

The ones I protected are perfect.  The ones that were totally exposed, coated in ice, look like they woke up with the world's worst hangover.  But none have spear pull.  And since they sucker from the rootbase, even if they were to ever die to the ground, I think they'd still come back to life.  

I REALLY want to get ahold of the microspadix x radicalis hybrid I've heard secret whispers about.....

My future project, but my plants are still only pint sized.

[BeyondTheGarden]

@amh mine as well.  I've got both, but I only got them last year.  Our summers are very mild here in the PNW so I'm anxious to see whether they flower and produce seed or not.  

The microspadix are 3-4 feet tall but the radicalis are still bifid and onl 6" or so....  still have a ways to go.  And hopefully someday I can play with cross-pollinating them. 

[amh]

4 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

@amh mine as well.  I've got both, but I only got them last year.  Our summers are very mild here in the PNW so I'm anxious to see whether they flower and produce seed or not.  

The microspadix are 3-4 feet tall but the radicalis are still bifid and onl 6" or so....  still have a ways to go.  And hopefully someday I can play with cross-pollinating them. 

My microspadix are a lot smaller, but they don't get enough light.

[BeyondTheGarden]

6 minutes ago, amh said:

My microspadix are a lot smaller, but they don't get enough light.

3 out of 4 of mine are in virtually full shade and the fourth only gets 2 hours of mid-day sun....   I know Chamaedoreas are generally shade lovers, but I know that light requirements also change with temperature.  We'll see.  I also have a couple baggies full of seed so hopefully here in a few years I'll have a bunch to tinker with. 

[RJ]

8 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

..And if they were?   ..That wouldn't be an issue, Correct?.  Moving along..

I’m still wrapping my head around the use of “they” as a singular pronoun.  Moving along 

[Swolte]

How do they handle low water and drought?

[Laaz]

These sucker like hell. You can dig up one of the suckers & start a new clump. Mine seeds like hell every year.

[knikfar]

I ordered some seeds of this so I could try them here in my Raleigh NC yard, zone 7b. I planted them about a month ago and nothing has sprouted yet. Starting to feel like none of them will. I used the same process I used to sprout filibusta and sabal seeds that all sprouted within two weeks. Shallow soil in a clear plastic container to hold moisture, sitting on a warming pad. 

[amh]

8 hours ago, knikfar said:

I ordered some seeds of this so I could try them here in my Raleigh NC yard, zone 7b. I planted them about a month ago and nothing has sprouted yet. Starting to feel like none of them will. I used the same process I used to sprout filibusta and sabal seeds that all sprouted within two weeks. Shallow soil in a clear plastic container to hold moisture, sitting on a warming pad. 

The seeds can take over a month, with sporadic germination, but warm weather seems better than heating pads from my experience.

[knikfar]

15 hours ago, amh said:

The seeds can take over a month, with sporadic germination, but warm weather seems better than heating pads from my experience.

I suspected that might be the case. So I relocated them from the warming mat to my greenhouse. I hope that helps. 

[Manalto]

I promised to do my part spreading the microspadix love, and so I have. Well, at least I have begun.

These poor Chamaedorea microspadix seeds were crying out for a chance at a good life so I have given them a home.

I'm not 100% sure that these are microspadix and not radicalis but the leaflets looked broad enough to qualify. Like a dummy, I forgot to shoot a picture of the plant to post here to verify. Perhaps there is a difference in the fruiting structures?

Edited May 4, 2022 by Manalto

[DAVEinMB]

1 hour ago, Manalto said:

I promised to do my part spreading the microspadix love, and so I have. Well, at least I have begun.

These poor Chamaedorea microspadix seeds were crying out for a chance at a good life so I have given them a home.

I'm not 100% sure that these are microspadix and not radicalis but the leaflets looked broad enough to qualify. Like a dummy, I forgot to shoot a picture of the plant to post here to verify. Perhaps there is a difference in the fruiting structures?

I believe microspadix produces red fruit

[Manalto]

1 hour ago, DAVEinMB said:

I believe microspadix produces red fruit

I'm afraid they both do. The plant's habit appeared to be clustering, but it was rather a quick encounter. I'll go back and get a photo.

[DAVEinMB]

17 hours ago, Manalto said:

I'm afraid they both do. The plant's habit appeared to be clustering, but it was rather a quick encounter. I'll go back and get a photo.

Potted plant or something growing in the ground down there?

[Manalto]

1 hour ago, DAVEinMB said:

Potted plant or something growing in the ground down there?

In the ground. There are three clusters (which soothes my landscape-designing soul) and I was able to collect a few more seeds. 

It's microspadix, right?

[Silas_Sancona]

9 minutes ago, Manalto said:

In the ground. There are three clusters (which soothes my landscape-designing soul) and I was able to collect a few more seeds. 

It's microspadix, right?

Looks legit.     ..Wider leaflets, and can detect the velvet-y sheen on them in the closer up picture as well.. 

Touch yellow ( might appreciate some Iron / SulPoMag ) but nice specimen regardless.

[Manalto]

Yeah, they look a little undernourished. That won't happen to mine.

[DAVEinMB]

@Manalto yea that looks like microspadix and it's a beaut. Did you happen to notice any volunteers around it? None of my microspadix have produced seed as of yet however they have traveled via roots. I've found volunteers 6+ feet away from the parent plant. They aren't root sensitive either; i plucked them right out and started new plants. 

[Manalto]

2 hours ago, DAVEinMB said:

@Manalto yea that looks like microspadix and it's a beaut. Did you happen to notice any volunteers around it?

Do you mean I've got to go back yet again? Are you aware of the price of gas these days? But seriously, you've got me curious too; I wonder if seedlings volunteer in this climate. It's a city churchyard and next to a walkway, so space is tight, but it's possible, and worth another look. If they do, it's a good omen for the species' survival. Three visits to church in one week - I'm going to get a reputation.

Edited May 6, 2022 by Manalto
Added church

[DAVEinMB]

12 hours ago, Manalto said:

Do you mean I've got to go back yet again? Are you aware of the price of gas these days? But seriously, you've got me curious too; I wonder if seedlings volunteer in this climate. It's a city churchyard and next to a walkway, so space is tight, but it's possible, and worth another look. If they do, it's a good omen for the species' survival. Three visits to church in one week - I'm going to get a reputation.

Haha, I mean you don't have to, but you may get yourself a plant or two out of the trip. You seem warmer than me down there so I'd say there's a good possibility. I bet somewhere amidst those liriopes you'll find volunteers popping up

[Manalto]

Step Two:

28 six-packs (168 seeds) have been set up in my makeshift propagation area, in the shade of some old camellias.

Plus several in community pots and 20 or so directly-sown in the ground. If germination is high, plants will get donated to Mobile Botanical Garden. They have no specimens on site and can also sell them at their biannual plant sale.

[Manalto]

Update from May 9th. Starting to see some germination (This spot check has a result of 62.5%). Yay!

 

[BeyondTheGarden]

Random question, what kind of leaf litter is on top of the seed tray?  They look a lot like a Camellia.  I've got a few C microspadix seeds that germinated, my germination rate was lower than yours so you're obviously doing something better than I am!

Edit - I just read the above post about being underneath a Camellia!  haha. 

Edited July 19, 2022 by Jesse PNW