I'm not familiar with the abbreviation, PDP. What does that mean? Could you be thinking of CIDP (Canary Island Date Palm)? Thanks, Barrie.

Pygmy Date Palm. Phoenix roebelenii
I don't like the way the ones at Wal Mart look with 3-5 trees in one pot, instead I like the single look. HOWEVER, after potting up about 15 singles, I quickly found out why they put many multiples in a pot 😆 So the rest went in sets of 3-5 per pot.
One of these days I am going to get a digital camara and post pics.

never used vermiculite. I use perlite, which is white fluffy stuff about the size of a small kernel of corn. The stuff makes very good draining soil. I use a combo of perlite, coarse sand, pine bark mulch and a good brand of potting soil to make most of my potting medium. good stuff.

Yes, I have used Perlite a lot also. Currently use it alot in my germinations.
Now when you say coarse sand, is that the same sand you buy for sand boxes?
If so, I would very much like to hear your recipe as I am still looking for a good one.

Thanks Kansas. I'd not heard that abbreviation before.
I just saw a post from the UK Oasis forum where there was a great pic of a P. roebelinii x reclinata that survived undamaged by 21f (-6 celcius). A very nice looking palm.

http://www.ukoasis.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3446

Cheers, Barrie.

I bought one last year and it never saw anything below +3C and still two of the three trunks I lost the centre spears on. I am hoping that they will come back but still nothing after almost 8 months. The one trunk continues to grow.

Be patient Wes. I had spear pull on mine coming out of inside wintering last year and after a good summer of every other day soakings, it is a wonderful tree that has three new spears growing on it as I write this. Do not give up on it.