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Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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I planted a 4 1/2 ft. Trachy yesterday. I dug a hole 2 1/2 ft. in diameter and 8" or 9" deep which was all clay. I started with a bit of organic black soil at the bottom, bone meal, put the tree in, backfilled with more black soil, tamped it down, added some water, then mixing it in with Miracle-Gro Premium Potting Mix 0.14-0.14-0.14 (enriched with plant food) right to the top. I watered it in well but it was draining a bit slow (over a minute) so I added a bit of sandy native soil from another part of my yard, which didn't work - maybe made it drain slower. Now what should I do? The Miracle-Gro is sphagnum peat moss, composted bark fines and perlite.
Thanks,
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
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Posted : 19/04/2009 12:58 pm
Adding sand to clay just makes it worse. Trachycarpus can do well in clay. Bone meal isn't needed unless you barely have any phosphorus in your soil since Trachycarpus only require a small amount. Adding more perlite to the soil can help aerate it and a little vermiculite will help as well.
Posted : 19/04/2009 4:57 pm
Topic starter
Thank you Turtile, I appreciate it!
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
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Posted : 19/04/2009 5:29 pm
Wow ... that's a lot of effort. I just plop mine in the ground and keep well watered until they can root down properly. Once they establish I then start a simple fertilizing regime.
Cheers, Barrie.
Posted : 19/04/2009 7:42 pm
Topic starter
Hi Barrie - yeah it was a lot of effort. Do I water it deeply everyday for a couple of weeks now?
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
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Posted : 19/04/2009 7:53 pm
