Roystonea dunlapiana - Tray 60

About the Roystonea dunlapiana - Tray 60

Roystonea dunlapiana is an evergreen tropical palm that develops a solitary, upright habit and large green pinnate leaves as a mature specimen. Mature plants also form a smooth, grey-white columnar trunk and a long green crownshaft. In Tray 60, the species is offered as a seedling for further growing on in a warm, very bright position. This tray size confirms the seedling stage but provides no information about exact age, when trunk development will begin or when flowering maturity will be reached.

Characteristics

Origin: Roystonea dunlapiana is native to south-eastern Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. The species grows in a wet tropical climate and is known from estuaries and coastal swamps.

Family: Arecaceae, the palm family.

Position: A warm, very bright and sheltered growing area in a heated conservatory, greenhouse or another frost-free space. During warm, frost-free periods, the seedling can be placed outdoors, provided it is gradually acclimatised to the conditions.

Height: In open ground under tropical conditions, the species can reach about 20 metres. The offered Tray 60 is a seedling size and remains far below these mature dimensions.

Flowering period: Mature specimens may flower under suitable warm, tropical conditions. The seedling in Tray 60 is not mature enough to flower. No fixed flowering period can be given for container cultivation in the Netherlands.

Flower colour: The described male flowers of mature specimens are white and have purple anthers. No reliable colour description is available for the female flowers. Flowering is not expected at the offered seedling stage.

Hardiness: Not hardy. Keep the seedling warm and frost-free and protect it carefully from cold and strong temperature fluctuations.

Soil type: An airy, moderately fertile, moisture-retentive and well-drained growing substrate. The substrate should retain even moisture without allowing water to stagnate around the young roots.

Care

Light: Place the seedling in very bright light, preferably with gentle or filtered sun. Acclimatise it gradually to stronger direct sun to prevent leaf damage from a sudden change.

Water: Keep the substrate evenly moist during active growth and allow excess water to drain freely. Check the moisture regularly because the small growing cell can dry out faster than a larger container, but avoid standing water.

Fertiliser: During active growth, apply a suitable palm fertiliser sparingly according to the instructions on the packaging. Avoid overfeeding the young roots and reduce feeding when growth slows.

Pruning: Remove only completely dried or damaged leaves. Do not cut into the central growing point.

Repotting: Repot when the roots have made good use of the growing cell and the root ball holds together sufficiently. Choose a small, sturdy container that is only slightly larger and has drainage holes.

Humidity: Preferably maintain moderate to high humidity while also providing sufficient air circulation around the young foliage.

Special features: The long green crownshaft and smooth, almost columnar grey-white trunk belong to the mature species profile and are not yet present in this seedling. The first juvenile leaves may be simpler in form than the mature pinnate leaves. Allow for the substantial dimensions of a mature specimen when choosing its eventual position.