Can you have a potted Canary Island palm?

Image – Flickr / Maja Dumat

There are many palm trees that are very, very beautiful. What’s more, there are those who would have a lot of trouble saying which one is their favorite, like me for example. But there is no doubt that the phoenix canariensis is special. It has an elegant appearance, and although it is somewhat slower than the date palm and its fruits do not taste as good, many people wonder if it is possible to grow it in a pot.

And, well, since I’m interested in your plant living all the years it has to live, I’m going to tell you my opinion about it. And it is that, yes, It is easy to find a potted Canarian palm of a good size and, above all, healthy, but… does that mean that it can always be like this?

What are the characteristics of the Canary Island palm tree?

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 when making certain decisions. And it is that the Canarian palm tree reaches a height of up to 13 meters, and its trunk reaches up to 70 centimeters wide 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 are what keep it anchored to the ground, and there are others that are not so deep. But none of them is capable of breaking through a layer of concrete or a strong plastic pot.

For this reason, when a palm tree, whatever it is, is planted in a container, we will see that it grows well for a while, but then it stops. Why? Because the roots have run out of space and nutrients. In very severe cases, the leaves begin to die, starting with the lower ones and then the rest.

Is it possible to grow a Canary Island palm in a pot?

Even at the risk of not liking my answer, I’m going to be honest with you: I do not recommend having a canary palm in a pot, not for its entire life. Not only because it is a plant that can become very large, but also because unlike trees, you will not be able to prune it so that it branches. Palm trees only have a single growth guide, which is the bud, capital, or crown shaft that the Americans and the English call. If it takes damage, the plant will die.

And we are actually talking about a giant herb, a megaforbia. It has no cambium, so it cannot produce wood, nor is it capable of branching.

But I am also going to tell you that our protagonist has a slow growth rate, which is why yes it is possible to keep it in a pot for a few years. The question is, how?

What care does the phoenix canariensis potted?

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter, to what will surely interest you the most. What do we have to do to make such a beautiful palm tree feel comfortable in a pot?

Plant it in a pot according to its size

Or, more than its size, the diameter and height of the root ball (soil/roots) that it currently has. Assuming it’s about 10 inches tall by about 15 inches wide, your new pot should be about 20 inches tall by about 30 inches wide; that is, double. Also, 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, since if they do, you will have to plant it in a larger container, in 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., who sell bags of earth at low cost. Yes indeed, I advise you to choose one that is specific for green plantssince this way the leaves will remain that color.

Place your palm tree in full sun

This is one of the most important things to do. The canary palm tree it’s a sun palm tree, so the sooner it is exposed to the light of the king star, the sooner it will begin to grow well. Of course, if you buy it in summer in a store or nursery that has it indoors, wait until autumn arrives to take it to a sunny place, since otherwise you would run the risk of it burning.

Prevents thirst

Although the Canarian palm tree withstands drought, this is a half-truth. And it is that, once it is planted in the garden and takes root, it can go a while without receiving a drop of water, but in a pot things change. As the amount of land you have is much more limited, then you will have to be careful that it does not dry out completely.. For this reason, it is advisable to give it a moderate watering in summer, and more spacing in winter.

Fertilize it 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, either in liquid format or this, granules or nails. If the manufacturer’s recommendations are followed, the plant will be beautiful, for sure.

Protect it from extreme frost

The Canary Island palm tree is an outdoor plant, but it is not good if it is unprotected if there are significant frosts. In fact, If the temperature drops below -7ºC, it is best to protect it with an anti-frost fabric (for sale here!) so that it is not damaged.

In any case, there are other palm trees that can be in pots, such as Chamaedorea. Here is an article in which we talk about them:

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