Caryota mitis

[redant]

I have one about 4ft tall. While I'm a palmaholic, this one just does not do it for me. It's to messy, seeds like crazy and the seeds pop on their own as weeds that are difficult to pull.

Anyone have a picture of a Caryota mitis that they think is attractive (not as a wall of them as is what they are frequently used as).

If I can't find a use in my landscaping for this one it's getting donated to the high school AG department.

What you you do with one?

[paulgila]

you could use it as an indoor plant,they are being used for that more & more around here.outdoors i have been using them as a screen so i don't have to look at the derelict cars & piles of rubbish in my neighbors backyard.

[Kim]

Mine is potted indoors, one of the few palms I can keep alive inside (so far).   Kind of livens up the living room corner.  Wish I had a few more, I like the indoor jungle look.

[redant]

indoor plant = death at my house, which in this case might be OK.

It's in a pot on the porch for now.

[gsn]

(redant @ Oct. 16 2007,12:49)

QUOTE

I have one about 4ft tall. While I'm a palmaholic, this one just does not do it for me. It's to messy, seeds like crazy and the seeds pop on their own as weeds that are difficult to pull.

redant,

If death is what you wish sounds like it is on track for that exact scenario.

As I understand it  caryota's are monocarpic,which would mean that if it is flowering at 4 feet high ,it doesn't have too long for this world, as  when flowering  gets to the top stem it will be history!

My question would be why is it flowering at 4 feet high?

[redant]

This one is not flowering, but I have had experience. Also I don't believe the Mitis to be monocarpic, and if it was the "others" don't follow along. This is a clumper so it's very difficult to keep clean looking. I have cut a 18 ft one to the ground (all of the pieces) only to see in amazement new shoots coming out of all the old trunks. I had to have the stump grinder chew it up in order to kill the thing off. That was 4 years ago and I still have seedlings showing up all over the place.

[gsn]

redant,

You are correct that it  does suckers,but it is still moncarpic as when the stem,(trunk) completes flowering that stem or trunk dies! New suckers will take the place of dead stems even if no seeds germinate under it!

Sounds like you already have had the experience of one in the ground. So I guess you just wanted confirmation that it needed to be sent to the ag department! :laugh:

[metalfan]

I'd love to have some of those awful seeds, I have looked all over for this palm and can;t find it.

It used to be very common in every box store around, not its been seemingly "discontinued" and replaced by Cat Palms, CHristmas Palms and Queen Palms (and the ubiquitous Majesty Palm)

[heliconias]

I agree- they usually look bad, but they CAN look really good.

First, you want to plant it in the ground, and make sure it has plenty of minors to stay nice and green. (mang, mag)

A yellowy mitis just looks awful.

second, they do require some occasional pruning the look neat, and not like a massive mess of stalks and fronds.

I manage mine like you would a clump of Dypsis Lutescens- I select certain trunks to grow on, while nipping back others, allowing for space in between each big trunk.

I let a few "replacement" trunks grow on as the bigger ones get to flowering.. then when I feel its time, I chop down large flowering trunks and let the others take their place.

Basically, it helps to keep them thinned out a bit.

[Kris]

Dear Friends  

here is a still of that lovely palm and i must tell that other than the zebra variety of Caryota the other favouriate will be this C.Mitis.though iam a fan of the stouter varities but this C.Mitis is a exception to the rule..i simply love it.

Lots of love,

Kris  

[Kris]

One more palm from the same crocodile bank in chennai...

[Kris]

For more info on Caryota Mitis visit this link _

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/shop/CarMit.shtml

[redant]

Kris, the ones in your pictures look nicer then the big clumps such as the one on the rps site.

heliconias, any pictures of yours? The problem I had encountered when trying to thin out the one I had was that any trunk I removed, regardless of how low I cut it a new shoot would emerge from that same trunk. I have not had this problem with Dypsis Lutescens which I keep thinned out as well.

[palmmermaid]

(metalfan @ Oct. 16 2007,15:12)

QUOTE

I'd love to have some of those awful seeds, I have looked all over for this palm and can;t find it.

It used to be very common in every box store around, not its been seemingly "discontinued" and replaced by Cat Palms, CHristmas Palms and Queen Palms (and the ubiquitous Majesty Palm)

Gina,

We took a couple to Tropiflora and sold them.  We didn't expect to sell either!  We also had them at the palm sale last weekend and sold them.  I didn't realize they are now scarce at the big box stores!  If you still want one in the spring, let me know and we can bring one to Tropiflora.

[Kathryn]

If I lived in Zone 10 and had limited space, this is probably not a palm I would put in the ground. Unless the plants are used as screen, they look best when given room and thinned out.

I have a Caryota mitis that has been in a pot outside for several years. It is over crowded and looks awful. I considered putting in the ground a while back, but I don’t really have the space for it and I was worried about it spreading too much. Can I transplant it and split the clumps or should I just thin it out?

[Eric in Orlando]

When they are grown right; well irrigated and fertilized, good soi, they are a nice looking palm. They are horrible for inside, big time spider mite magnets. In the shade they have a more open look, in full sun they are dense clumpers. I have seen them in SoFL become kind of weedy as old clumps that are flowering produce lots of fertile seed that germinate readily. Here they used to never get big as periodic freezes killed them back to the roots. Now there are huge clumps all over town that are flowering.

Here is one at Leu Gardens in the sun, 20ft tall

and one in shade

[sur4z]

here are a couple more shots.

[osideterry]

The problem is when they aren't thinned down to 3 or 5 trunks, they look nothing like a palm. More like a big messy bush.

I have one against my fence I'm flat ignoring. Maybe the sprinkler hit's it.. I don't know. No fertilizer, no attention at all. It survived the freeze with minor leaf damage.

Anyone else have a palm they are neglecting, just for the heck of it?

[Kris]

Dear Friends  

iam no palm expert but many memebrs have asked what to do when they get dense or bushy ! its very simple...first select the tall ones on 1..2...3 on the height basis.and cut of all the extras & clumps.just keep 3 or 4 that is enough.then shave of all the leaves except the centeral spear & just a new leaf.do this in spring time or early summer.

And now to redant's question as to the new sprouts or fresh clumps,just put a cement slab,rocks,bolders..slabs on the region where you suspect fresh clump grouth.and do not fertilize this palm for one whole year better still stop fert treatment..then see the difference.

And folks avoide growing all the clumps of same height.for me i must start from seed germination for this palm.but you folks have a good mature palm so some tweaks in trunks & leaves will make it appear very beautiful.and do not waste time in transporting or transplanting to different location of your garden.its not worth the confusion...

And iam shure most of you will have a chainsaw or go rent one and finish the job !

And by the way some members have complained that its too dense can we all see the stills_long shot of your palms since it will be easier for me to say which trunks should go...

thanks & love ,

Kris