Image – Flickr/Maja Dumat
There are many palm trees which are very, very beautiful. In addition, there are those who would have a hard time saying which is their favorite, like me for example. But there is no doubt that the phoenix canariensis It is special. It has an elegant appearance, and although it is a little slower than the date palm and its fruits have a less good taste, many wonder if it is possible to grow it in a container.
Well, since I’m interested in your plant living all the years it has to live, I’ll give you my opinion on that. And that’s it, yes, It’s easy to find a good-sized and above all healthy potted Canarian palm, but… does that mean it can always be that way?
What are the characteristics of the Canary Islands palm?
Image – Wikimedia/CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS
It is important to know the characteristics of this plant if we want to have it in a pot, because otherwise we could be wrong in some decisions. And it is that The Canary Island palm reaches a height of 13 meters and its trunk widens to 70 centimeters at its base.. Its roots, like all those of this type of plant, are adventitious: they all arise from the same point. Some are deeper, which keeps it anchored to the ground, and there are others that are not so deep. But none of them are able to break through a layer of concrete or a solid plastic pot.
For this reason, when any palm tree is planted in a container, it will be seen to grow well for a while, but then it stops. Because? Because the roots ran out of space and nutrients. In very severe cases, the leaves begin to die, starting with the lower ones and then the others.
Is it possible to grow a Canary Island palm in a pot?
Even at the risk of not liking my answer, I’ll be honest with you: I do not recommend having a potted Canarian palm, not for the rest of its life. Not only because it is a plant that can grow very tall, but also because unlike trees, you won’t be able to prune it to branch out. Palms have only one growth guide, which is the heart, capital or crown tree what the Americans and the English call. If it takes damage, the plant will die.
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Why aren’t palms trees?
And we’re actually talking about a giant weed, a megaphobia. It has no cambium, so it cannot produce wood, nor is it able to branch.
But I will also tell you that our protagonist has a slow growth rate, that’s why yes it is possible to keep it in a pot for a few years. The question is, how?
What care does the person need? phoenix canariensis potted?
Now let’s get to the heart of the matter, to what surely interests you the most. What should we do to make such a beautiful palm tree feel comfortable in a pot?
Plant it in a pot according to its size
That is, more than its size, the diameter and height of the clod (earth/root bread) that it currently has. Assuming it’s about 4 inches high by 6 inches wide, your new pot should be about 8 inches high by 12 inches wide; i.e. double. In addition, it must have holes in its base so that the roots do not drown.
After about two years, see if the roots come out of the holes, because if so, you will need to plant it in a larger container in the spring.
Put a good quality substrate
Don’t worry: you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a good substrate. Currently, there are very interesting brands, such as Flower, Westland, etc., which sell soil bags at low prices. This, yes, I advise you to choose one specific to green plantssince in this way the leaves will remain of this color.
Place your palm tree in full sun
This is one of the most important things to do. The Canary Islands palm is a solar palm, so the sooner it is exposed to sunlight, the sooner it will start to grow well. Of course, if you buy it in the summer from a store or nursery that has it indoors, wait until fall arrives to take it to a sunny location or you risk it burning.
Prevents thirst
Although the Canary Islands palm tolerates drought, this is a half-truth. And it is that, once it is planted in the garden and takes root, it can stay for a while without receiving a drop of water, but in a pot things change. As the amount of soil available is much more limited, it will then be necessary to be careful that it does not dry out completely.. For this reason, it is advisable to give it moderate watering in summer, and more spaced out in winter.
Fertilize during the growing season
To grow well and stay healthy, It is necessary that you pay it in spring and summer. For this, it is advisable to use fertilizers for palm trees, whether in liquid format like this, in granules or in cloves. If the manufacturer’s recommendations are followed, the plant will look beautiful, that’s for sure.
Protect it from extreme frost
The Canarian palm is an outdoor plant, but it is not good if it is not protected if there are severe frosts. In reality, If the temperature drops below -7ºC, it is better to protect it with an antifreeze cloth (available here) so that it does not suffer any damage.
In any case, there are other palms that can be in pots, such as the Chamaedorea. Here is an article in which we talk about it:
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+10 types of palm trees to have in pots