Outgrown.

[Las Palmas Norte]

What do you do when your potted palm outgrows it's available space?

I planted mine outdoors with provisions for an insulated winter enclosure. What happens when it outgrows the size of enclosure I can provide? Chainsaw.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Well, yeah. But might as well let it cling to life until winter does it in. It might live longer than you think. Then again, majesties are cheap.

[Silas_Sancona]

All that work,  and time  ...just to chop it down    ...Ooof! 

Agree w/ Meg,  i'd leave it ( Telling it that it is do or die time now )  and see what happens.  It might surprise  -everyone-.

[Las Palmas Norte]

10 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Well, yeah. But might as well let it cling to life until winter does it in. It might live longer than you think. Then again, majesties are cheap.

So is it your conclusion this isn't likely to survive? The enclosure will be insulated and heated via a thermo-cube to off-set any freezing temperatures. It's spent the past 3 winters in a 15 gallon pot in my unheated garage.

[PalmatierMeg]

6 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

So is it your conclusion this isn't likely to survive? The enclosure will be insulated and heated via a thermo-cube to off-set any freezing temperatures. It's spent the past 3 winters in a 15 gallon pot in my unheated garage.

If you protect it, it may still survive. I was speaking of the time you say it will “outgrow” protection. At that point it is on its own. I don’t know how cold your winters get but surmise that at some point an Arctic front may spell the palm’s doom. Until then every winter is a trial by ice. You could proactively cut it down but that seems a shame to me. Plant it, protect it, finally let Nature take its course. It may even surprise you. Besides, majesties hate pots. I’m not a palm grower who tries to make his/her yard an exquisitely designed homage to an English country estate but with palms. Just not my way.

I have a Hydriastele beguinii ‘Obi Island’ that I got from Floribunda and grew in a pot on the lanai until about 4 years ago when it reached the top of the birdcage. I reluctantly planted it deep under canopy in our jungle. I figured it would be a goner come winter but it has made it to spring without any protection every year so far. It even survived Hurricane Ian last year even though the storm took out most of its canopy. It has survived this wretchedly sweltering, rain free summer. Will some meteorological event finally doom this z10a palm? Very likely. But I’m rooting it on. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

3 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

If you protect it, it may still survive. I was speaking of the time you say it will “outgrow” protection. At that point it is on its own. I don’t know how cold your winters get but surmise that at some point an Arctic front may spell the palm’s doom. Until then every winter is a trial by ice. You could proactively cut it down but that seems a shame to me. Plant it, protect it, finally let Nature take its course. It may even surprise you. Besides, majesties hate pots. I’m not a palm grower who tries to make his/her yard an exquisitely designed homage to an English country estate but with palms. Just not my way.

I have a Hydriastele beguinii ‘Obi Island’ that I got from Floribunda and grew in a pot on the lanai until about 4 years ago when it reached the top of the birdcage. I reluctantly planted it deep under canopy in our jungle. I figured it would be a goner come winter but it has made it to spring without any protection every year so far. It even survived Hurricane Ian last year even though the storm took out most of its canopy. It has survived this wretchedly sweltering, rain free summer. Will some meteorological event finally doom this z10a palm? Very likely. But I’m rooting it on. 

Thanks for taking the time to respond. At this point I'm willing to protect this palm up to 16' in height. So I'll enjoy it while I can in my zone 8 climate. After 40 plus years growing exotically, this is the first experiment for me of this type. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I was unfamiliar with your palm (Hydriastele beguinii ‘Obi Island’) so looked it up. What a beautiful palm. I wish you the best with it's continued success. Regards.

[ZPalms]

Cutting all the leaves off could be extreme but it could be an option, I don’t know how it would affect majesty but you know how @Will Simpson cuts all his robusta fronds off to protect it so maybe?

[Las Palmas Norte]

7 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

Cutting all the leaves off could be extreme but it could be an option, I don’t know how it would affect majesty but you know how @Will Simpson cuts all his robusta fronds off to protect it so maybe?

Washingtonia is a much different palm than Ravenea & would likely react negatively to such an extreme measure. The enclosure will be able accommodate all the fronds (palm leaves). Any removal will be the next growing season after they've turned nearly all brown.