Outdoor potted palm tree care

Palm trees are plants that can be grown in pots when they are young, and some also when they reach adulthood. When they begin to develop their true leaves, their beauty only increases as they grow new, which is why they are highly recommended plants to beautify a balcony or patio.

But What are the care of outdoor potted palms? Sometimes we can take the risk of letting time go by, which could harm the plants. For this reason, it is important to know well how the irrigation should be, when they should be transplanted, and so on.

Where should they be put: in the sun or in the shade?

The first and most important thing to find out is where we are going to put our palm trees. There are some who want sun, but there are others who prefer shade. Getting the location right will avoid many problems, so here is a list of the most popular species and where you should put them:

• Palm trees that want sun:
  • Chamaerops humilis (The palmetto)
  • Nannorhops (all of the genre)
  • Parajubaea (all)
  • Phoenix (all except the rupicola phoenix who wants some shade of youth).
  • Syagrus (all)
• Palm trees that want shade:
  • Archontophoenix (when they are young, everyone wants shade)
  • Chamaedorea (all of the genus, although the Chamaedoa Radicalis. can get used to the semi-shadow)
  • Dypsis (especially the Deeply shining as a young child)
  • Rhopalostylis (all of the genus)
  • Howea (both the Howea forsteriana o kentiaLike Howea belmoreana)

How should the pot be?

Material: plastic or mud

Choosing a pot It may turn out to be a bit of a chore, but it really isn’t that much. To find the right one, one thing must be taken into account above all: the material. The clay potsfor example, they are beautiful, and very durable, in addition to allowing the roots a better ‘grip’, but they have two drawbacks: if they fall, they break easily, and the price.

If we talk about those of plasticThey can also be very beautiful, and resistant (especially if they are made to be kept outside). Their price is lower, but they have an important disadvantage: if you have them in the sun, in summer they can overheat (especially if it is exposed to the sun, with a temperature that rises above 30ºC), and if that happens, the roots will suffer. damage.

Therefore, whenever possible, I recommend that you opt for a clay one. If you’re going to have a few palm trees, it pays off in the end. But if your intention is to start a collection, then from my own experience I advise you to opt for the plastic ones, or second-hand clay pots.

Size and shape

Now let’s move on to the overall size and shape of the pot. There are some that are taller than they are wide, and others that are wider than they are tall. How do you know which one to buy? Well, for that you have to think about what the palm tree we have is like. In other words, is it one of those with a single trunk, or on the contrary, does it have or will it have several? Is this trunk or will it be thick like that of the Canary Island palm tree (phoenix canariensis), or finer like the Alexandra palm tree (Archontophoenix Alexandrae.)?

Usually, For palm trees with a thick trunk and also for those that will have several trunks, pots that measure more or less the same width and height are recommended.. On the other hand, for Archontophoenix, Howea, among others, it is usually opted more for pots that are taller than wide.

If we focus on the size, it will depend a lot on the plant we want to transplant. For example, if we have one that is growing fast (about 30 centimeters or more per year) it surely feels good to plant it in a large pot, about 10 centimeters wider and taller than the one it has. But, if we have one that grows slowly, like a Hare or a caryota They only grow about 10 centimeters on average per year when they are young, it will be highly advisable to opt for a container that is about 5-7 centimeters wider and taller than the one you have now.

With or without drainage holes?

To finish with the pots, it is very, very important that I tell you that always you have to opt for pots with holes. Palm trees are not plants that like to have waterlogged roots, so if the plants are in a container without holes, they will eventually die from excess water.

How often to water outdoor palms in pots?

At first, you have to bear in mind that during the summer you will have to water more frequently. The temperatures are higher, it may rain less (or not at all) in your area, but also your plant may be growing. So, you will have to make sure that it does not lack water.

But what will be the frequency of irrigation? The truth is that it will depend on the weather conditions in your area and on the plant itself. An Archontophoenix for example needs frequent watering in areas where temperatures exceed 30ºC and it does not rain, but a Chamaerops in those same conditions is watered about 2 times a week, or a maximum of 3.

During winter, on the contraryas the palm tree hardly grows, and that if it does, in addition to the fact that the temperatures are lower and it can rain, will be watered from time to timeonly when we see that the land is almost dry.

If in doubt, the best thing to do is check the substrate for moisture. One way to do this is to insert a stick all the way in: if it comes out with a lot of soil attached, then it won’t be watered.

Do potted palms have to be fertilized?

Of course. Fertilizing potted palms is even more necessary if possible than those planted in the garden, since the soil they have is more limited, and consequently, so is the amount of nutrients they have at their disposal. your disposition.

In order to avoid problems for them, it is advisable to pay them from spring to late summer. If there are no frosts in your area, or they are very weak (down to -1º or -2ºC) you can continue to pay until autumn. Use liquid fertilizers, such as guano (for sale here!) or a specific one for palm trees (for sale here!), always following the instructions on the package.

Related article:

What to use to fertilize the palm trees?

When to transplant them?

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Forest & Kim Starr

Palm trees grow, but to be able to do so they need space. When we buy one from a nursery, the normal thing is that it has already rooted completely, that is, that its roots have occupied the entire container, so that the first transplant will be done when we get home as long as it is spring. From there, we should plant it in a larger pot every 3-5 years.

To know exactly, you will have to pay attention to whether the roots come out of the holes in the pot. Now, if you have doubts, you can try to take it by the base of the trunk, and pull it up as if you wanted to remove the plant from the container: if you see that it comes out with the whole earth bread, and especially if you do it with ease, it is because it needs a pot change.

As a substrate, use one that is rich in organic matter, light and drains water quickly.like for example this one that they sell here!.

We hope that these tips will help you to have outdoor palm trees in well-kept pots.