Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Soil acidity test strips are the quickest way to test your soil acidity. Feed the palm with a weak liquid fertilizer a few months into its growth period. If you have just planted your palm tree, its water needs are significantly different than for an established plant. In general, remove only fully browned leaves and never cut your palm down to just one or two new fronds. They are clump formers, and their self-seeding tendency might become a nuisance. Most of the water-loving palms that tolerate standing water are natives of swamps, such as the Everglades, and range in size from 10 to 100 or more feet tall. Every six months use a soil nutrient test kit like this one (link to Amazon). American Society for Horticultural Science, 19,4,690-694,2009. doi:10.21273/HORTSCI.19.4.690. The fronds are popular in flower arrangements, Palm Sunday decorations, and wreaths because they can survive for up to 40 days after being cut from the plant. The roots seek water and will damage septic systems. These plants are almost always propagated from seed by professional growers. The tree is tolerant of drought but needs plenty of water when flowering and fruiting. Once the seed has sprouted, move the palm somewhere with abundant light and continue allowing it to grow. There are tropical, subtropical, and desert species, as well as palms that grow in cold-weather climates like Alaska. Texas is a huge state, with some zones more ideal for growing palms than others. The parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) has long been used as an indoor plant. Gardenologist: Wet Garden? These trees are large and require significant space in the garden, and they should never be planted near a septic field. Windmill Palm. Black locust, bald cypress, and black tupelo are ideal hardy trees with long lifespans and excellent health in wet environments. tolerate high pH well but prefer good drainage. and waited a couple of months. They prefer loamy soil but also can grow well in clay. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. You will need a hand trowel, knife, or scissors; a container; and well-draining soil suitable for palm trees. Cold-hardy palms include the parlor palm and kentia palm, which explains why these are among the most popular indoor palms. Blazing star plants have grassy foliage and spiky bottle-brush flowers that bloom over a long period. When planted against a backdrop of mountains or the ocean, tall palm trees provide the ambiance of a tropical island. Jon VanZile was a writer for The Spruce covering houseplants and indoor gardening for almost a decade. If possible, choose a palm fertilizer, which contains all the required micronutrients for a healthy palm, as well as extra potassium and manganese. River birch, bald cypress, and willow trees require the most water. The pot should only be about 2 inches larger than the circumference of the offset, and the pot should have about two inches of growing room at the bottom too. This lovely plant with deep green foliage was first discovered in Central America and brought back to the United States where it immediately became a popular indoor palm. 5. They provide expert guidance and advice for their customers. Both male and female trees bloom; however, the date . Robellini palms bloom creamy-white flowers from spring into summer. The purple variety is the most well-known, but newer hybrids come in several more colors. Sago palms prefer bright, indirect light. The average lifespan for a weeping willow is only 30 years, so plan to replace the tree after this timespan! A suitable soil-based potting mix contains parts equal organic matter, non-organic material and soil. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can apply manganese sulfate powder to the soil two to three times annually to correct the problem. Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. The mangrove fan palm is a small, multi-trunked palm that thrives in wet soil. Authors note: Warrens Southern Gardens provided excellent insight and suggestions and we appreciate their assistance. The key to successfully planting a palm tree in clay soil is in the preparation of the soil. Switch grasses are tall, upright, clump-forming grasses with feathery flowers that appear late in the season. Unfortunately, this leads to trees with short lives that may not be ideal for long-term landscaping goals. These plants are light feeders. Water Preference. Youll be fertilizing quarterly but you still want to keep an eye on these nutrient levels in case an increase in a specific nutrient is needed. But it does fine in clay soil, as well. Clemson University Cooperative Extension, Chamaedorea Elegans. If your sago is planted in clay, a less porous medium, you will need half the amount of fertilizer. Dating back at least 300 million years, they predate Tyrannosaurus rex by more than 200 million years. They can handle brief temperature snaps at 15 degrees F but die when kept at 23 F or below. He knows exactly what the challenges are to nurturing a thriving yard in difficult soil.Paul takes a practical approach to yard improvement and enjoys putting best practices and golden rules of lawn care to the test. You can buy a cactus or palm soil mixture specifically made for growing palm plantsotherwise, they will grow just fine in a general-purpose commercial potting soil. Mulch the tree roots to keep them damp and cool in areas where the soil may dry out. But if the tips of all leaves turn brown, it is often due to excessive fertilizing. While this is not a native palm, it is not invasive and makes an excellent addition to a water-laden garden. The plants do especially well in 3-gallon pots (about 10 inches wide) in a northern exposure or foyer, where they show off their fine-textured leaves. The areca palm is also called the butterfly palm, golden cane palm, and yellow palm. You would be hard-pressed to find a more dependable flower tolerant of many growing conditions. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. One of the hardiest palm trees available, the windmill palm can withstand temperatures as low as 5F (-15C)! Liquidambar is a fantastic tree for fall foliage in wet locations, but it does produce spiky seed capsules that can litter lawns and sidewalks. The plants aren't clumping by naturebut grown in clumps for aesthetic reasons. Indoor parlor palms are hardy and can live up to a few decades. Debra LaGattuta is a gardening expert with three decades of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. Among the tropical palms that thrive in wet soils is the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), which grows in USDA zones 8 thorough 10. If it gets stuck, use gardening shears to cut it out. Plant three windmill palms together to create an attractive tropical grove. Some are understory plants that prefer shade and a moist, dark environment, while others love heat and sunshine. There are hundreds and hundreds of different palm trees out there, with some better suited to an indoor environment than others. Diane Bulanowski, a representative from the company, was kind enough to offer helpful insight into a successful palm tree planting for homeowners with clay soil. These fairly low-growing plants with long green fronds are cycads, a group of ancient tropical and subtropical plants that usually grow from a trunk that doesn't branch out; it produces nuts but doesn't flower or fruit. This tree does produce spiky gum balls that drop to the ground in the winter and early spring periods. You can also drape a blanket over the base of the Palm for heat retention. Keep the containers moist, as dry seeds will die. Palms often have shallow root systems and do not appreciate being disturbed frequently. Debra is a member of The Spruce Gardening andPlant Care Review Board. You will find fountain grasses in a wide range of heights and colors, but they tend to be perennial only in warmer zones. Palm Diseases and Nutritional Problems. Consistently wet soil prevents the proper oxygenation of plant roots, causing many plants to die when there is poor drainage. Other plants develop superficial roots above the soil level to obtain oxygen from the air. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. It will give the right amount of drainage, retention, and texture as well as nutrients in the soil for the plant. This fungus can be washed off the sago's leaves with a steady stream of water on each spot. Insects can also cause yellowing, and if you haven't noticed any bugs on the plant, you can suspect a manganese deficiency in the soil. Most palms can be distinguished by their large, compound,evergreenleaves (known as fronds) that are arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. 2X4s work well, equally spaced around the Palm with the top edges wrapped in burlap. Once it completely drains the first time, fill it again. Except for the grasses, all the other plants have notable blooms. Many Portlanders have heavy clay soil that holds a lot of water during rainy months, so preparing the soil well is an very important step in growing hardy palms successfully. Brace your palm, protecting it from high winds. Slightly reduce watering in the winter when the plant is not actively growing. It's also a recommended plant for beginner indoor gardeners. However, a thriving Chamaedorea Elegans will require porous sand, roam, or clay soil. (Full sun plants are listed first.). Among the palms that tolerate wet soil are the Everglades palm (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii), also known as the silver saw palm, which grows in USDA zones 9b through 11, and carnauba wax palm. Protect your palm from cold winter winds using a windbreak. It is also possible to get better drainage in clay by planting above the surrounding soil, thus increasing rainage by gravity. Everglades palms are clumping palms, sprouting new stems from the root system. Alchemists saw the Palm Tree as the perfect embodiment of masculine and feminine characteristics in balance. Just because palms live in warm (sometimes tropical) regions does not mean they enjoy being waterlogged. Below is a walkthrough of the planting process from This Old House. Place the container in a warm, humid location while you wait for it to sproutdepending on the varietal, it can take two months or more for the seed to sprout. Click here to read our articles on composting and learn how easy it is to make your own! Canadian wild rye is a clump-forming, cool-season grass with a gentle arching habit. New York ironweed is a vigorous wildflower that puts out clusters of small violet flowers atop the 5- to 7-foot plant. Mg demanding, but dont mind poor drainage: queen palms. Tricolor willow is a beautiful ornamental shrub that thrives in wet environments. Coneflowers are tough, dependable prairie plants. These include the Needle Palm, Windmill Palm, and Dwarf Palmetto. He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines. Giftmischer87, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. The sweetbay magnolia will withstand periodic flooding but should not be planted where standing water never recedes. It may be possible to divide a clump into two smaller clumps successfully, but this is not recommended because it will put the plant and its roots under too much stress. Thriving Yard is an affiliate for companies including Amazon Associates and earns a commission on qualifying purchases. The crab apple or 'Malus' is one of the best trees to grow in clay soils as it offers interest throughout the year - and is also a great pollinator. When grown indoors, protect your sago palm from drafts and airflow from heating and air-conditioning vents; extreme temperature fluctuations can damage the plant. From black-eyed Susans to coneflowers and blazing stars to daylily, their flowers come in many hues, including yellow, orange, blue, purple, and more. Plant them in a shallow seed starting tray or pot. Hardiness zones: 4-10 Mature size: 50-100 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide Foliage: Deciduous Bloom time: March-April Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade But it can tolerate clay or loam as long as drainage ensures it doesn't stay constantly damp. He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines. But it does not tolerate salty soil. This palm prefers high humidity and will not thrive in arid climates. Weeping willow is an excellent choice near ponds and other wet environments. Hardy Palms grow as far north as Zone 6 (-10F low temperature in winter). Keep the suckers pruned to maintain three to five trunks on the tree. So if you have a nearly-mature palm bursting from your house, congratulationsthe next step is to seek a nearby hotel or office building looking for a wonderful interior plant. Native to southern Asia, the tree performs well in tropical gardens located in USDA zones 9-11. Bald cypress planted in areas of standing water will develop interesting knees that protrude from the water, adding to landscape interest. Windmill palms can grow in USDA zone 7, withstanding some snow and frost. It's easy to grow from seed and can adapt to various soils and conditions. Arkansas blue star's delicate, willow-like leaves make it a lovely foliage plant for borders. The fungus will not feed on the sago, but it will grow if left unchecked and can overtake a plant's leaves, affecting chlorophyll production and photosynthesis. Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Mature palms often adorn public spaces and foyers, adding an elegant and distinctly tropical air to the decor. 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Air to the soil planting process from this Old House, fill it again prevents proper... They prefer loamy soil but also can grow well in tropical Gardens located in USDA zones 9-11 mind drainage! Needs are significantly different than for an established plant other plants have grassy and. Upright, clump-forming grasses with feathery flowers that appear late in the season shallow seed starting or... Amazon Associates and earns a commission on qualifying purchases tree after this timespan butterfly... Months into its growth period drape a blanket over the base of the Spruce gardening andPlant Review! That protrude from the air thrives in wet environments to grow from seed and can adapt to soils.