Advice on Leucothrinax morrisii

[Phoenikakias]

Here are my three prized (because I have been raising them from tiny seeds)  Leucothrinax morrisii specimens. I would like to know whether they would stand a chance as outplanted in my climate and in such case what would be an ideal spot. I had left them unfortunately for many years in their original liners and had them potted up just last summer.  What kind of soil do they like most? (and pH). I had tried in the past a bought specimen, which sailed through the winter in a pot outdoors (no signs of leaf scorch ) and in following May was put in to the ground, where it collapsed. Not sure about the reasons if its demise (root damage by cold either while in pot or right after pluged in to the ground, or fertilizer burn - back then I was still a sophomore in the hobby )

Those plants are by no means root bound 5 gal. Should I raise them first in even bigger pots before outplanting?

[Johnny Palmseed]

I can say that mine has done well in a high pH soil comprised of coarse sand, crushed shells, and coquina. I planted it from a 5-7 gallon pot and I remember that it was probably in the container too long. I did not prep the area at all with soil amendments. It didn’t seem to care and is now mature and producing seeds with a solid 2-3’ of trunk. I would estimate that it is 20 years old now. It receives morning sun and filtered sun after that. It doesn’t get much water other than rain. Although I do water it in the summer if we get a dry spell. I would recommend planting in a partial sun location with free draining soil that will not hold water. You could easily leave yours in the containers for a while in the area that you choose to test their sun tolerance.

[Phoenikakias]

2 hours ago, Johnny Palmseed said:

I can say that mine has done well in a high pH soil comprised of coarse sand, crushed shells, and coquina. I planted it from a 5-7 gallon pot and I remember that it was probably in the container too long. I did not prep the area at all with soil amendments. It didn’t seem to care and is now mature and producing seeds with a solid 2-3’ of trunk. I would estimate that it is 20 years old now. It receives morning sun and filtered sun after that. It doesn’t get much water other than rain. Although I do water it in the summer if we get a dry spell. I would recommend planting in a partial sun location with free draining soil that will not hold water. You could easily leave yours in the containers for a while in the area that you choose to test their sun tolerance.

Do you think it is more cold tender or hardier than say Coccothrinax crinita? Also in comparison with latter sp what are its drainage, watering and feeding needs? I mention the C crinita because I already grow one outdoors.

[Johnny Palmseed]

My guess would be similar hardiness but I do not have any Coccothrinax.

[pietropuccio]

HI,
I believe that my climate is quite similar to yours, the palm has proven to be perfectly hardy, even in a north-facing position, and to show no problems in poor, heavy, slightly alkaline soil.
However, to be prudent, you could plant just one plant this spring and next year, if all goes well, the others. My plant (October 2020):

[Phoenikakias]

57 minutes ago, pietropuccio said:

HI,
I believe that my climate is quite similar to yours, the palm has proven to be perfectly hardy, even in a north-facing position, and to show no problems in poor, heavy, slightly alkaline soil.
However, to be prudent, you could plant just one plant this spring and next year, if all goes well, the others. My plant (October 2020):

 

Ciao Pietro! Fyi I used as medium for potting-up big granules of zeolite but I added in to each pot also a handful of dolomite. Plants apparently did not like the dolomite, so I suppose they are not very fond of ultra alkaline soil. Do you think a pH of 7.8 is ok for them?

[pietropuccio]

My plant comes from a seed collected in the Florida Keys, where the soil has a pH from 7.2 to 8.2.
Incidentally, a sister of my plant has withstood temperatures of -3 °C on the coast of central Italy (Aprilia).