Chamaedorea plumosa

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I'm going to get two C. plumosas next week because I'm obsessed with Chamaedoreas. How much water do they need? And do they grow faster and healthier in the sun or in the shade? Pictures would help, I need some inspiration.

[happypalms]

As a chamaedoreas collector myself I can say plumosa is as tough as nails. They will drink whatever water you give them and they will also tolerate dry conditions. As for sun they do take a fair bit of sun, disliking hot afternoon sun they will go a little less green. They do just as good in deep shade as dappled light to bright light. Either way they are tough predictable growth patterns but will get tall, being a relatively medium paced grower given good conditions. My ones set seeds so start planting them. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

7 minutes ago, happypalms said:

As a chamaedoreas collector myself I can say plumosa is as tough as nails. They will drink whatever water you give them and they will also tolerate dry conditions. As for sun they do take a fair bit of sun, disliking hot afternoon sun they will go a little less green. They do just as good in deep shade as dappled light to bright light. Either way they are tough predictable growth patterns but will get tall, being a relatively medium paced grower given good conditions. My ones set seeds so start planting them. 

I have a very good place for them. Gets some morning sun in the summer and spring and it's warm during the winter. It's also under some canopy.

[WagnerMX]

I have a few plants started from seed a year ago. They are very fast growers, straight from the beginning. They like a good drink but they can handle drought very well. I've got mine in "bolsa vivero", black plastig grow bags. They are in a bright spot but only receive direct sun for 2-3 h before sunset. One of the tougher species I'm growing. My climate is tropical, Chiapas coastal lowlands. I haven't seen the thermometer go below 20º in quite some time.

I'll try and remember to take a snapshot tomorrow.

[gyuseppe]

I had 20 of chamaedorea plumosa, unfortunately all dead

[idontknowhatnametuse]

6 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

I had 20 of chamaedorea plumosa, unfortunately all dead

Did they dry out?

[gyuseppe]

yes, due to lack of water. I have been ill for the last 5 years, and I could not irrigate them, fortunately I recovered

[Mazat]

13 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

yes, due to lack of water. I have been ill for the last 5 years, and I could not irrigate them, fortunately I recovered

Yes, this is great that you recouvered🤗

[idontknowhatnametuse]

9 hours ago, WagnerMX said:

I have a few plants started from seed a year ago. They are very fast growers, straight from the beginning. They like a good drink but they can handle drought very well. I've got mine in "bolsa vivero", black plastig grow bags. They are in a bright spot but only receive direct sun for 2-3 h before sunset. One of the tougher species I'm growing. My climate is tropical, Chiapas coastal lowlands. I haven't seen the thermometer go below 20º in quite some time.

I'll try and remember to take a snapshot tomorrow.

It shouldn't be a problem here either because Monterrey is very warm and humid in the spring and summer and the thermomether rarely goes below 20⁰C as well.

[Harry’s Palms]

They are becoming more popular here in Southern California . They seem to be hardier than the Glauciifolia. Harry

[Darold Petty]

37 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

They are becoming more popular here in Southern California . They seem to be hardier than the Glauciifolia. Harry

Do you mean tough and resilient to demanding conditions, or can tolerate lower overnight frost  temperatures ?  I always assumed that C. glaucifolia was third most frost resistant,  after C. radicalis, and then C. microspadix.  thanks 

[gyuseppe]

45 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Do you mean tough and resilient to demanding conditions, or can tolerate lower overnight frost  temperatures ?  I always assumed that C. glaucifolia was third most frost resistant,  after C. radicalis, and then C. microspadix.  thanks 

no Darold after microspadix and radicalis the third and klotzschiana these resisted the strong frost of 2017 while the plumosa in the garden died

[Harry’s Palms]

My 3 Glaucifolia died after they grew into the sun . They just couldn’t handle it . The Plumosa I see popping up here in town are planted in sun and are going along just fine. My neighbor also had 2 Glaucifolia die , they were about 6-7’ like mine . I had many species of Chamaedorea when I moved to this house from down on the flats 27 years ago. The ones that are hardy , in my experience , are Radicalis , Microspadix ( in shade) , Metallica , Seifritzi , Ernesti Augusti . My Klotchiana ( spelling?) , and others all perished within 6-7 years. The Radicalis , to me is the hardiest , the others all need protection or various levels of shade. I will say that my knowledge of palms is much better now so had I been smarter about where they were planted in my yard , they may still be here. Harry

[Rivera]

Seems to be a durable species as others have noted. Accepts relatively dry conditions, but much better with regular water and a bit of supplemental soil fertility in my sandy soil.

Grows well in my cooler conditions, fast once the stems reach their mature girth. 

I removed some in my garden, leaving only those exposed to the sun. Those in deep shade were spindly and weak. Probably at their best in bright shade to part sun. 

While they don't look bad, there's nothing I can throw at the two tall plants to improve their appearance in their full sun position. That's as good as it gets. Don't be fooled by the senescing leaves on the Howea in the foreground; this area receives ample water. 

Not the tidiest palm. Hangs onto dessicated crown shafts, drops lots of old leaflets. But these aren't offensive qualities to me, and they're really great palms for tight spots. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:19 AM, gyuseppe said:

no Darold after microspadix and radicalis the third and klotzschiana these resisted the strong frost of 2017 while the plumosa in the garden died

How much cold can klotzchiana take? I also read that that one had more cold tolerance than other Chamaedoreas.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

On 1/24/2025 at 2:26 PM, Rivera said:

Seems to be a durable species as others have noted. Accepts relatively dry conditions, but much better with regular water and a bit of supplemental soil fertility in my sandy soil.

Grows well in my cooler conditions, fast once the stems reach their mature girth. 

I removed some in my garden, leaving only those exposed to the sun. Those in deep shade were spindly and weak. Probably at their best in bright shade to part sun. 

While they don't look bad, there's nothing I can throw at the two tall plants to improve their appearance in their full sun position. That's as good as it gets. Don't be fooled by the senescing leaves on the Howea in the foreground; this area receives ample water. 

Not the tidiest palm. Hangs onto dessicated crown shafts, drops lots of old leaflets. But these aren't offensive qualities to me, and they're really great palms for tight spots. 

Do you know how many fronds they throw per year?

[Darold Petty]

This image (used without my knowledge or permission) shows my C. plumosa palms several years ago with an eastern exposure, so morning sun and afternoon shade.

https://www.rarepalmseeds.com/chamaedorea-plumosa?search=Chamaedorea plumosa 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

14 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

This image (used without my knowledge or permission) shows my C. plumosa palms several years ago with an eastern exposure, so morning sun and afternoon shade.

https://www.rarepalmseeds.com/chamaedorea-plumosa?search=Chamaedorea plumosa 

That's exactly what the ones I will plant in that spot will get

[gyuseppe]

1 hour ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

How much cold can klotzchiana take? I also read that that one had more cold tolerance than other Chamaedoreas.

live,without even a burn on the leaves,at - 5.7 degrees celsius,in January 2017

also Metallica live no died

[Rivera]

1 hour ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

Do you know how many fronds they throw per year?

Sorry, I haven't counted. 

It's steady growth year-round, temps 40-75F or 5-25C. Usually in the middle, cool summers. Same climate as Darold's, but his are better positioned. 

[Cindy Adair]

I have one in mostly shade and although it is fine it is not as pretty and has a smaller diameter trunk than the two in lots of sun. 
 

Here’s the several years older one in shade, hard to photograph between a C. renda and a tree fern.

That’s a small Masoala madagascariensis below so may need to edit this area one day…

After reading posts on PT I planted my other two in a much better location. 
 

I agree that they are a little messy as the lowest (dead) leaves hang on tightly and not easy to get a ladder nearby to trim. 
 

[Foggy Paul]

Ours get plenty of sun, in a cool climate similar to Darold's and Rivera's. They get irrigated with the rest of the yard. They are our fastest growing palms (well, until our cunninghamias get going). They sometimes look slightly ragged during our windy springs but get better the other three months. They were 5-6 feet high when planted about four years ago and are now about 10'-12'. I sure wish the little H. balmoreana were as fast!

[Josue Diaz]

I grow them in Fresno, which is quite hot and dry. These get some shade from a nearby tree and my neighbor's big phoenix. I get blooms every year and seed as well. 

 

Soon, the arbor will be finished and I'll be growing vines on it which will further shade them as they're getting a bit tall. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

22 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

I grow them in Fresno, which is quite hot and dry. These get some shade from a nearby tree and my neighbor's big phoenix. I get blooms every year and seed as well. 

 

Soon, the arbor will be finished and I'll be growing vines on it which will further shade them as they're getting a bit tall. 

They look nice planted in groups. Did they ever set seed?

[Josue Diaz]

6 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

They look nice planted in groups. Did they ever set seed?

Yeah, they set seed most years. I have a nice batch of seedlings from them