Chamaedorea tuerckheimii

[Cindy Adair]

My poor Cham turcks (1 male and 3 females) loved my first farm.
 

However sometime in the move to my forever farm in 2017 they got spider mites. 
 

I have many excuses, but basically I have not treated them at all hoping that nature would deal with the mites in my wet climate. 
 

They are in an awkward location and really I want to move them all and when more reachable try to get rid of the mites and get them beautiful again. 
 

 

I see roots forming on many of my leggy cham species so today I am trying air layering, but without removing any tissue. 
 

 

 

I had read somewhere here on PT that moist sphagnum moss and covering with foil might be enough if root nubs are already there. 
 

 

This one was already leaning but with the added weight of the foil and moss I will return to stake it upright.

I have decent success with taking cuttings (of non palms) and many kinds of seeds, but my only try at an air layer (of a friend’s Amherstia) never took. 
 

I am hoping that since I did not cut anything that the idea of “first do no harm” might work with my Chams?

If PT readers object I can obviously remove  what I have done. 
 

I am trying the same with Chamaedorea metallica and geonomiformis and a few others. 

Advice appreciated. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I have heard the same . I can’t remember which palm book I was reading when I came across this idea that the roots can grow into the “pocket” created by the foil and the original stem severed below the pocket. Of course it’s a one way ticket and the original stem below the cut dies. In theory , it should work. Maybe one of our more experienced members can offer more information. The only concern I would have is any rot to the stem if it doesn’t root. Harry

[peachy]

I have air layered a few ficus species with mixed results but  Hoyas and Philodendrons all give a 95% success rate. Temu now sells little plastic 'cups' specifically for this purpose , which would have saved me time and tears in the past. I tried to air layer one of my C metallica when I moved house but it didn't take. The potato chip chamaedoreas are horrendously pricey here and I managed to kill both of mine. Not sure what went wrong either as Chamaedoreas grow like weeds in my climate.  I am jealous enough to spit after seeing the size of your 'potato chips'.

Peachy

[tim_brissy_13]

I can’t help with any advice but will add that this one is high up on my must have list. I know of at least one growing unprotected in the ground here in Melbourne which is amazing considering their reputation for being tricky. 

[happypalms]

Hi Cindy I can speak for genoformis rooting I had one I found lying in garden with no root ball or  roots I was so disappointed I just pushed it into the ground and it is alive and growing well your little tuerckheimii are my dream chamaedorea as all chamaedorea are my favourite genus of palms but the tuerckheimii another level of omg I must have palm good luck I would be watching those flowers very closely to pollinate them.

[David B]

I have been told they are difficult to pollinate.... Is this true

[Darold Petty]

Cindy, you can air layer these palms for sure.  I had a Chamaedorea metallica with about 84 inches of stem.  I used this device, and reduced the stem down to 30 inches.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/garden/planting/propagation/46938-the-rooter-pot?item=AA640

 

[happypalms]

10 hours ago, peachy said:

I have air layered a few ficus species with mixed results but  Hoyas and Philodendrons all give a 95% success rate. Temu now sells little plastic 'cups' specifically for this purpose , which would have saved me time and tears in the past. I tried to air layer one of my C metallica when I moved house but it didn't take. The potato chip chamaedoreas are horrendously pricey here and I managed to kill both of mine. Not sure what went wrong either as Chamaedoreas grow like weeds in my climate.  I am jealous enough to spit after seeing the size of your 'potato chips'.

Peachy

Peachy you managed to find them for sale we have ways  of making you talk now tell us where and when and whom or the palm police will visit on the account of your cruelty to Metallica palms 😁

[peachy]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

Peachy you managed to find them for sale we have ways  of making you talk now tell us where and when and whom or the palm police will visit on the account of your cruelty to Metallica palms 😁

I bought one from Palms for Brisbane about 12 years ago and the other from Rob's Rare Palms 15/16 years ago. They had some at the PACSOA show this year but for the same money as their price tags, I bought 5 other palms that I like just as much.

Peachy

[Jim in Los Altos]

I didn’t expect this species to do very well here because of the low humidity levels we often experience in the summer, especially during heat waves. Their trunks leaned into the soil over time and rooted into the ground wherever contact was made over the years and these two seem pretty happy. 
 

[tim_brissy_13]

30 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

I didn’t expect this species to do very well here because of the low humidity levels we often experience in the summer, especially during heat waves. Their trunks leaned into the soil over time and rooted into the ground wherever contact was made over the years and these two seem pretty happy. 
 

That’s encouraging Jim and matches what I’ve seen here. Sounds like they are a good candidate for temperate and Mediterranean climates despite what I’ve previously heard. 

[Cindy Adair]

14 hours ago, David B said:

I have been told they are difficult to pollinate.... Is this true

I have been told on this Forum that many chams benefit by hand pollination but I have yet to try. Mine do flower and I hope to give it a try. 

[Cindy Adair]

58 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

I didn’t expect this species to do very well here because of the low humidity levels we often experience in the summer, especially during heat waves. Their trunks leaned into the soil over time and rooted into the ground wherever contact was made over the years and these two seem pretty happy. 
 

Beautiful!
 

Mine looked nice before I let them get spider mites. At least no ox rhino beetle fatalities on any Chams so far in PR. 
 

Interesting about them leaning over and rooting on the ground. I staked mine when I should have left them alone I gather. 

[Cindy Adair]

13 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Cindy, you can air layer these palms for sure.  I had a Chamaedorea metallica with about 84 inches of stem.  I used this device, and reduced the stem down to 30 inches.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/garden/planting/propagation/46938-the-rooter-pot?item=AA640

 

I read about these pots in posts you made awhile back.

They sound great especially for a novice like me. 
 

I have been trying to place an order, but some check out issues. More likely with my credit card tied to a PO Box in PR. 
 

I thought it was me being tired, but I just tried again and still a glitch. 
 

I tried to call, but they are now closed so will try again tomorrow. 
 

Looking forward to trying them on some other nice trees to have “spares” and to give some away. 
 

Thanks!

[Cindy Adair]

These two “sticks” are all that remain of one of my Cham metallicas that I left alone even though I had noticed them trying to make roots mid stem. 

[Cindy Adair]

16 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

I read about these pots in posts you made awhile back.

They sound great especially for a novice like me. 
 

I have been trying to place an order, but some check out issues. More likely with my credit card tied to a PO Box in PR. 
 

I thought it was me being tired, but I just tried again and still a glitch. 
 

I tried to call, but they are now closed so will try again tomorrow. 
 

Looking forward to trying them on some other nice trees to have “spares” and to give some away. 
 

Thanks!

Just ordered by phone. Those of us in hurricane prone areas should try to have multiples of things hard to replace plus these look to be easy to use and monitor root growth. 
 

It will take a couple of weeks for them to get to me so I will leave my sphagnum moss and foil on for now.