The Soil and Containers of Palm Trees

A while back when planting a palm tree they recommended that you add organic material to your planting hole. That has now changed as new research found that its better to back fill with native soil only so that the roots travel, and not confine themselves as much to the newly amended soil. Make sure also that your plants root ball is level, or slightly higher than the soil around it, and make a bowl with the excess soil to hold in water. Don't forget to mulch, and keep mulch about 2inches from the trunk.

The pH of your soil is important, and like temperature pH controls the fertilizer / nutrient uptake of the plant. The best thing to do is have your site tested by your local agricultural extension service. If your pH is at an extreme you may have to add sulfur or lime, and just not grow palms that require an exact opposite. If any plant requires any pH other than slightly acidic this will be noted with the plant..

There are tons of soil and soil less mixes to choose from and another great amount of people telling you what mixes are best, and how to make your own. Most of plants sold here will do great in a well drained, medium weight, organic potting soil when grown in a container. Not many will survive if grown in soil from your yard or topsoil. The pH of 99% of these mixes will be slightly acidic when new, yet this can change as the soil ages in your container with fertilizer and water being continuously added. Its good to get in the habit of checking your soil pH every so often to make sure it's still in the proper range.
The basic makeup of a good potting soil is:

As long as high quality mix at your local nursery contains the above, you will be fine (many do not include sand, for palms add about 1 part coarse sand per 3 parts of mix, or increase the perlite). Plants that require anything different will be noted in with the plant, but experimenting is also a great way to learn, sometimes a plus and sometimes not. Many people's habits and cultural conditions can make other soil makeups better but this mainly depends on the person.

For palms the ideal container in the home is deep , with drain holes, on a saucer filled with 1-2 inches of pea gravel. The deep container provides room for the roots without taking up floor space, the holes drain excess water from the soil, the saucer catches the excess water, and the pea gravel prevents the container from sitting in that water. This also provides added humidity to your growing area. Important: make sure the water in the saucer does not reach the bottom of the container, and allow the container to sit in the water.

Decorative containers or cachepots without drain holes, are used best in a method called double potting. Use the decorative container like the saucer, place 1 -2 inches of pea gravel in bottom and place another container with drain holes inside of your decorative one. Be careful and make sure the container with drain holes is not sitting in the water from your decorative one.

Outdoor containers also should be deep with drainage holes. The saucer is not recommended unless on a balcony, and must be drained after each watering and or rain. Outdoor containers dry quickly and should be monitored at least twice a week.

Clay and wood containers opposed to plastic containers let water evaporates from their sides and in turn try out more quickly. This could be an advantage for slower growing plants that do not absorb high amounts of water, but could also be a disadvantage by drying out to quickly, especially outdoors in warm sunny areas.

About every year for fast growing plants and every couple or few years for slower growing plants they will need to be repotted. (exeptions are banana's and other very fast growing plants, which will need repotting much more often) Make sure to go up only one container size as not to stress your plant and to prevent over watering. To see if your plant needs repotted gently and slowly remove it from the container, if the roots are one solid mass its time, if not make sure to wait or your plant may decline. The most important thing to remember here is when placing your plant in its new container to keep the soil at the same level as it was in the original container. If any soil covers the trunk (as little as ½ inch in some palms) this could easily rot many plants..

When you first recieve your palm or other tropical from The Palm Shop its a good idea to use a transplanting solution to give the roots a good start. This item will soon be available here at ThePalmShop.com.

The Palm Shop / LaBelle, Fl / 239-634-4040 Fax(863-675-6696) / Sales@ThePalmShop.com
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The Palm Shop is a Florida Registered nursery # 47232878 FNGLA certified horticulture professional certification H99 6248