first big palm order and it's progress

[flplantguy]

My Floribunda order is on the way! Three boxes😳, coming tomorrow night. They will get a couple weeks worth of summer heat before it starts to cool to more typical temps they knew before.  I have read plants remember heat stress for the future when it occurs again, so I'm hoping they get a taste and are ready in spring.  I will be documenting their arrival and performance over time here while I prepare them for planting.  Most are in pots already, but a few will be potted into a basic cactus and citrus mix while they adjust and I learn their quirks.  I will show the successes and failures as well as what I think happened. Chime in if you have thoughts or questions and all advice is welcome!

[DoomsDave]

33 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

My Floribunda order is on the way! Three boxes😳, coming tomorrow night. They will get a couple weeks worth of summer heat before it starts to cool to more typical temps they knew before.  I have read plants remember heat stress for the future when it occurs again, so I'm hoping they get a taste and are ready in spring.  I will be documenting their arrival and performance over time here while I prepare them for planting.  Most are in pots already, but a few will be potted into a basic cactus and citrus mix while they adjust and I learn their quirks.  I will show the successes and failures as well as what I think happened. Chime in if you have thoughts or questions and all advice is welcome!

You go!

Maybe tell us what they are, and those of us with a bit of experience might be able to offer pointers.

 

[flplantguy]

I'll post the full list when it's in, there were a few changes he recommended. In a nutshell, it was every chrysalidocarpus available and new Caledonian types with some others in the mix.  I tried to pick what is successful in the San Diego area and Central/South Florida both since I get the heat and the chill between the two.  I also added some hard to deny plants I just had to have lol.

[SeanK]

@flplantguy - Heat may be OK, but not the sun.

[Looking Glass]

Yeah.  Watch out for that summer sun.  Some of their selection need to be eased into Florida sun over months or even years.  

[flplantguy]

No sun at all for them, just the warmer temps after a few days in the house for observation.  I have a nice shade patch for them outside too.  Most will be planted in the shade too unless they are sun lovers.

[Brad52]

I think Jeff uses 60% shade cloth and the plants have likely not seen above 85-87 degrees so your plan sounds solid!

 

[DoomsDave]

9 hours ago, flplantguy said:

I'll post the full list when it's in, there were a few changes he recommended. In a nutshell, it was every chrysalidocarpus available and new Caledonian types with some others in the mix.  I tried to pick what is successful in the San Diego area and Central/South Florida both since I get the heat and the chill between the two.  I also added some hard to deny plants I just had to have lol.

You go!

[iDesign]

Excited to see your haul!!!

It's especially going to be fun seeing how the Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) varieties do in your area of Florida compared to my area in California. Tomorrow is going to feel like Christmas (better in my opinion).  🎄 🎁

[flplantguy]

It's in Tampa! It does feel like Santa is coming lol

[Cindy Adair]

We are all excited for you!

[flplantguy]

They are here!  The boxes are a bit heavy and packed FULL.  Here is how they look inside for those curious, and the list.  Now the fun part!

[D. Morrowii]

Like Christmas in August! Enjoy!

[kinzyjr]

23 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

They are here!  The boxes are a bit heavy and packed FULL.  Here is how they look inside for those curious, and the list.  Now the fun part!

Congratulations!  That's a lot of unwrapping to do!  Good luck with all of them!

[flplantguy]

They all made it looking ok to perfect. The biggest had to cram in but they will be fine. The biggest is the Archie and it will grow out fine I'm sure. Just some bent fronds is all.

[Merlyn]

Gadzooks!  That's a lot of palms!  I just planted Cyphophoenix Nucele in about 50% PM shade and Elegans in full sun.  Both are doing great so far straight out of the big 1 gallon size.

[Billeb]

Looking at these lists make me realize how many of these palms I have.  You don’t notice until you see it on paper.  Jeez….

@flplantguy , good luck with all your new plants. It’s always exciting opening the box from Jeff.

 

-dale 

[flplantguy]

They will be staying in the guest bathroom for a bit with a possible storm on the way.  Unwrapping today but I will wait until late weekend to set them outside if it looks like a false alarm.  As a precaution I will also be spraying them with peroxide to destroy any odd microbes that may like it here more than Hawaii.  Very excited to get to know them all on a more personal level!

[ruskinPalms]

Awesome!  Can’t wait to see what long term successes you get from that selection because our growing conditions are pretty much alike. 

[Cindy Adair]

Such a wonderful collection!

Just curious as to why you are leaving on the green netting?

Maybe easier to move when you take them outside? 

[flplantguy]

37 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

Such a wonderful collection!

Just curious as to why you are leaving on the green netting?

Maybe easier to move when you take them outside? 

I was in a bit of a hurry to get them away from the living room and in a safe space for the night.  It's all getting removed today for photos and to set them free for staking and such.  I tied the tall ones up for that photo and so they behave lol.  I will keep the netting though, it's very useful.

[Cindy Adair]

This makes perfect sense and yes, keep the netting.

[flplantguy]

So if you order, budget at least an hour per box unwrapping and getting plants set. The largest needed the fronds staked as they all bent over, but it's the archontophoenix and the euterpe 'orange crownshaft' which are both fast growers.  I did what I could to keep the fronds straight with stakes and ties and they get set into a window this weekend.  Looks like most plants in the yard will be making a guest stop in the house with the weather forecasting a named system nearby next week.  I can pot up and fuss over them while it rains outside.

[Looking Glass]

These can stay in the potting mix for a while if needed, though I like to pot up personally, as much of their stuff is large and over grown and I want to get them growing.  They take a lot of hits in shipping, and the lava/peat mix is pretty loose so I have had to stake taller 1 gallons.  I just use 3 of the cheap bamboo spikes and some string.  If I do that and pot up, they root in solid in 6 months, just as the stakes rot off.  

 

I try to get these outside ASAP on arrival.  The heat, humidity and natural light is what they need.  If you get a couple shallow, clear plastic totes (drill a couple of holes in the bottom if exposed to rain), you can just pack them in those, and they won’t tip in the wind.  Even a shady protected porch is better than indoors.  I have tons of these in the garage, so I usually just stick them in what I’ve got.  

Floribunda orders are fun.  I didn’t get anything this year, as I’ve got more than I can handle for 2023.  Not everybody is happy or makes it, and little palms vary in vigor, so sometimes it worth getting a few of your best bets to account for that.   

[Kim]

Whoa! Botanical garden in a box! Good luck with all those babies, I hope they will thrive for you. 

[flplantguy]

I need some totes, I have one I used and it was nice to have. I'll get some more this weekend I have a spot chosen and that would keep them safe too.  Potting up is happening too there are a few 4 inch that desperately need it and others that can wait a while.

[Merlyn]

You can also use the regular storage crates for moving around batches of smaller pots.  I like them because the bottom is open and raised, so no chance of pots sitting in a tray of water.  The plastic in most crates and totes is not UV stable for long-term outdoor use, it'll get brittle and fall apart after a couple of years.  But by then you'll be stepping them up to 1g-3g or planting them.

Keep in mind that the lava rock that Floribunda uses drains fast and has no nutrients.  If you don't "fertigate" them in the pots they'll have nothing to grow with.  For this reason I step up almost all my Floribunda orders immediately on receipt.  That way in my nursery area all the pots can get the same treatment, and I don't have to think "oh yeah those 8 pots over there need xyz, and these 5 need abc."

[flplantguy]

I just typed them all into a list with care notes and even that was a chore lol.  def don't want to have to cater too much outside of sun level.  I could put in a fertilizer injector but I prefer the slow release fertilizer too.  they have a lot already in them and that explains why.

[PalmatierMeg]

On 8/23/2023 at 5:54 PM, flplantguy said:

They are here!  The boxes are a bit heavy and packed FULL.  Here is how they look inside for those curious, and the list.  Now the fun part!

What a bounty! Kudos to you. I can't wait for the photo ops

[flplantguy]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

What a bounty! Kudos to you. I can't wait for the photo ops

I'll have a bunch!  They help me a lot on here so maybe they will help people too.  The good and the bad but hopefully few of the bad!

[Merlyn]

1 hour ago, flplantguy said:

I just typed them all into a list with care notes and even that was a chore lol.  def don't want to have to cater too much outside of sun level.  I could put in a fertilizer injector but I prefer the slow release fertilizer too.  they have a lot already in them and that explains why.

Yeah, it's sometimes a pain maintaining a spreadsheet of purchase date/size/cost/culture.  But later I forget how big a Syagrus Schizophylla grows, or whether they want a wet/dry or shade/sun area.  With the number of different species you've just bought, it would be a good idea to have all that in a handy spreadsheet!

[flplantguy]

I had an orchid list like that before and will here again. I love lists lol

[flplantguy]

I got them all set outside against the north side of the house with larger potted plants to brace them all until this storm passes. They got a warm to hot afternoon with sea breeze and now a thunderstorm with over and inch in a large downpour.  They all look good still no shock that I can see yet and some even have some color already at their age. 

[flplantguy]

I'll do a set of photos later on of each group together once I can set them out in a better position.  Some are obvious and others are hard to tell what they are yet.

[Barry]

Congratulations on your order! I have done two orders and loved them. Have to get motivated to make another order. Quality plants and huge sizes for a lot of things.

[flplantguy]

First setback, other than the hurricane.  The Euterpe 'orange crownshaft' had all the fronds bent in transit.  they are brown now, but I missed the second issue though.  It's high in the pot and needs repoted but was also looking infected, so I sprayed with peroxide and got the fizz of confirmation.  New pot tomorrow too late now after moving them all in.

[kinzyjr]

Just now, flplantguy said:

The Euterpe 'orange crownshaft' had all the fronds bent in transit.  they are brown now, but I missed the second issue though.  It's high in the pot and needs repoted but was also looking infected, so I sprayed with peroxide and got the fizz of confirmation. 

For whatever reason, these tend to do OK here until the slightest thing goes awry and then die seemingly by suicide.

[flplantguy]

This one was ready out the gate lol.  Maybe some TLC from me can get it to return, and if not I will try again with a small batch.  The rest look good even the bent fronds on the Archie are ok still and the new spear is about 3 inches longer.

[flplantguy]

Put these in the wrong thread earlier but here they are again lol.  Peroxide for them since I was not able to get them in a good spot outside yet and the fuzzy mold was trying to grow at the base. Other than that they are adjusting well and will get potted up and placed this long weekend, almost a week late unfortunately. They have held up well but I do not recommend having them inside too long, as suggested earlier outdoors is better.  I'm fussing over them a lot in here and it's not ideal but after the storm passes it's go time!

[flplantguy]

The next set of one gallon size. Old fronds on the psammophilus are brown but the rest are happy.  Unpictured is the Euterpe 'orange crownshaft'