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View Full Version : Trachycapus Fortunei leaf size.


BananaLee
10-08-2009, 03:07 PM
Hey! I went to the Belle Isle Conservatory (http://www.bananas.org/f2/belle-isle-conservatory-michigan-9861.html) and I saw a trachy palm with only a half-a-foot of trunk and the leaves were about 3-4ft wide! is this normal for a trachy palm or is it because it's in a greenhouse. It's in partial to light shade. Thanx! God Bless! BananaLee:woohoonaner:

Dalmatiansoap
10-08-2009, 03:09 PM
Thats normal for Trachy. Who knows how many spicies and crosses Trachys made so far:ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

Jack Daw
10-08-2009, 03:33 PM
Palm fronds in the greenhouses can be 4 to 5 times longer than those created in normal, non-greenhouse climate.
This is mainly caused by relatively stable humidity, windiless conditions and reduced sunlight (filtered EM frequencies from the light - by glass, PVC...).
Trachys in milder climates have smaller, yet very compact and dense leave, Trachys in subtropical climates have larger, weaker leaves.

Ante, any interesting palm your repository? Some that could survive here?
I have to rid of my Nannorrhopses, I germinated about 50 seedlings and now don't know what to do about them. I didn't expect to have 100% germination ration. :D

Thats normal for Trachy. Who knows how many spicies and crosses Trachys made so far:ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:
8 species, 17 registered crosses. ;)

Dalmatiansoap
10-08-2009, 04:09 PM
I can allways adopt few:ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

Jack Daw
10-08-2009, 04:12 PM
I can allways adopt few:ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:
Silver or Green?

Dalmatiansoap
10-08-2009, 04:13 PM
your choice
:woohoonaner:

Jack Daw
10-08-2009, 04:19 PM
your choice
:woohoonaner:
Will bring some with me next summer. ;)
Have you managed to salvage/collect/... any interesting palm seeds yourself? Some that might possibly be able to surivve the rush, continental climate?

BananaLee
10-08-2009, 07:33 PM
My summers are very hot and humid and it's in full sun (I should of put it in partial to full shade) and it just started to produced small fan leaves about 5in wide. How big should the leaves be when there's 6in to a foot of trunk?

turtile
10-08-2009, 09:40 PM
My summers are very hot and humid and it's in full sun (I should of put it in partial to full shade) and it just started to produced small fan leaves about 5in wide. How big should the leaves be when there's 6in to a foot of trunk?

There isn't an answer to your question. Trachycarpus fortunei is highly variable. From the shape, size, thickness, color etc., Trachycarpus vary heavily genetically. Not only are the genetics different but the phenotypical traits (traits expressed due to the environment) also have a major effect on of the appearance of the plant.

Since your palm is in full sun, the plant will be more compact. Along with what Jack mentioned, you also have to take in account the type of soil, the soil moisture, the available nutrients in the soil, the fact that the climate is variable outside...

I would keep the palm in full sun in the same location. There is no need to put it in shade.

Dalmatiansoap
10-09-2009, 12:44 PM
Will bring some with me next summer. ;)
Have you managed to salvage/collect/... any interesting palm seeds yourself? Some that might possibly be able to surivve the rush, continental climate?

Im pretty sure that we ll find something among pots here:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

bikoro child
10-09-2009, 01:25 PM
If you plant several trachies very close to each other the petioles will be long too as the leaves are searching the light when they are older the trunks diverge and itgive a more tropical look...

BananaLee
10-09-2009, 02:55 PM
That's really cool, I didn't know that! I love them with long petioles! What if you plant them in the shade, will they do the same thing. The leaves also get bigger if the plant is in the shade because it needs to absorb more light, am I correct?

Jack Daw
10-09-2009, 03:17 PM
That's really cool, I didn't know that! I love them with long petioles! What if you plant them in the shade, will they do the same thing. The leaves also get bigger if the plant is in the shade because it needs to absorb more light, am I correct?
I wouldn't try shade in zone 6, if I were you. :D

BananaLee
10-09-2009, 04:01 PM
I don't see why not, there hardiness is just the same, I heard pros said it does better in the shade and I agree.

BananaLee
10-11-2009, 01:26 PM
Which variety has the biggest leaves?

bikoro child
10-11-2009, 05:45 PM
takil has the biggest leaves i think...

Jack Daw
10-11-2009, 06:33 PM
takil has the biggest leaves i think...
I think it might also be Manipur. It seems to have larger leaves on almost every picture. But is supposedly less hardy.

BananaLee
10-12-2009, 07:17 PM
I'm gonna try Manipur when I can get one.

BananaLee
10-19-2009, 05:33 PM
My trachy leaf size is only 3in or so wide. Do you think next year it should start forming a trunk?

Ueberwinden
10-19-2009, 07:33 PM
BananaLee,

Are you in a microclimate? I noticed you show living in Michigan, I thought Michigan was all zone 5?

Michael

Ueberwinden
10-19-2009, 07:42 PM
BananaLee,

You lucky devil, you are in a micro climate!! Most of Michigan is a five, but you seem to fall into about three small spots that are 6. I also noticed some zone 4 areas in MI on the map I looked at.

Michael

BananaLee
11-03-2009, 02:02 PM
Thanks! Ya, Michigan is zones 3 (in the U.P),4,5,6a and 6b (most in the west). The new zone map says most of southern MI is zone 6 but im not sure. I'm glad I just made it into zone 6!!