Chinese Fan didn't mind cool weather with no sun!

[lucky1]

This guy's growing like mad despite virtually no sun combined with coolish temps for the last two-three weeks.
Seems to like its location under patio roof.


Barb

[Cali-wanna-b]

Livistona is fun to grow. They can take abuse and still look good. Yours seems to be liking the shade.

[lucky1]

Craig, the abuse is something I easily provide

I'm just surprised 'coz these guys are sun-loving.
Figured they'd sulk in less than ideal temps/cloud/cold winds.
He's probably just happy to get outdoors.

Barb

[Cali-wanna-b]

I prefer them when they "stretch out" for sun. I think they look even more tropical. Are you going to plant it in the ground for the summer? I had a seedling planted last spring that took a 23*F night and didn't even flinch. They are very hardy.

[lucky1]

I like the stretched palm look too, Craig.
Someone said they're grown in low light to get them to stretch for daylight.

I'm running out of bare soil areas.
Figure if it's right by the door, I'll weed and look after it.

This'll have to stay in a big secondary pot, same with the Reed/Bamboo and Cataractarum palms.

How's your seedling doing a year later?
BTW are you building a GH this year?
Barb

[Cali-wanna-b]

I dug the seedling up last fall, it just wasn't in a very good spot and was getting crowded . It now resides in a pot in my greenhouse, but I plan on planting in my garden soon. I was going to build a kind of "living" greenhouse over part of my new garden, but the plant locations make it unfeasible. I will be building Insulation board boxes with supplemental heat for the larger palms I am leaving in the ground.

[lucky1]

Re your living greenhouse, that idea occurred to me here too.
It'd be pricey to install a structure that looks like it belongs to part of the house.

Will look forward to pics of your insulation board boxes (come Fall, hopefully a long way off )
There were several good ones pictured on the forum last year.
Worked like a charm from all reports.

Take more pics as you plant more stuff, please.
Barb

[Dean W.]

Barb, how's your Chinese Fan Palm doing now? I got a few myself that I need to fertlize and get ready to overwinter.

Craig, do post photos of your greenhouse when you get a chance. I would be intrested in seeing what you have there.

Dean

[lucky1]

Dean, the CFP continues to do well, but I don't dare put it out in the sun for even an hour.
Seems to love the shade under the patio roof, but it's not dense dark shade. It's very bright from white stucco and the white soffits.

Have a couple of frogs living in the large pot that is the CFP's second (outside) pot.


Can we see some pics of your Chinese Fan Palms?
Barb

[Dean W.]

They are just little one-gallons. I'll get a pic posted soon. I like how the frogs have taken up residence among your plants. When I water outside in the evenings I have noticed I got some toads among my plants.

Dean

[lucky1]

I like the critters among the plants, too, especially at night when they get vocal.
Mine might be toads, don't know the difference except toads like it drier.

I still wonder how they can crawl up those spiny petioles without getting shredded.
My arms got lots of little cuts when I transplanted it.

Look forward to your pics, Dean.
Nice that you're increasing your palm inventory.
Barb

BTW my original post was mid-May when it was cool.
It's been blistering hot for ages...we're getting a bit of reprieve for two days with thunderstorms.
Nice to have SOME clouds!

[Dean W.]

Hey Barb,

Her's a photo not anything special. They are still young.

[lucky1]

Looking good, Dean!

They appear a tad thirsty.
A somewhat shady spot will allow them to really develop in the next month or so.

Mine started to improve when I removed it from hot sun and increased the watering a bit, never allowing the top to dry out completely.
Good luck with your 6 babies.

Barb

[Dean W.]

Barb, I use to have like 30 of them. That's the shadiest spot I got outside right now. It's on the East side of the house so it gets shade after 1 to 2 pm. I water them every other day. I may need to step it up a notch. I was told they had a fungus that's why I was leaning towards the dry side.

Dean

[lucky1]

Dean,
They'll do great on the east side with only morning sun.

Fungus? could it infect your other stuff?
Hope not.

Did you sell the 30 other ones?
Barb

[Dean W.]

Barb, yes a fungus I think he said it was. To much water being sprayed on the foliage. I try not to get the foliage wet now when I water. I treated them with some Copper Soap fungicide about a month ago.

Yes, I sold the others. It was just way to many for me. I had offered some for postage and had a few takers. But all in all the sell enabled me to buy more potting soil.

Dean

[lucky1]

Dean, that fungicide will have done the trick.
Now that you've got that great soil, maybe repotting will get them off to a good start.

CFP are nice palms despite their (ouch!) spines...
Barb