I think it can probably be done considering how slow growing it is. I would definitely give it a try. All my tropical palms are in containers and although they would be much happier in the ground, they still manage (and mine have to deal with being indoors whereas your palms just have to deal with the restrictions the palms have on roots). So I would say go for it! They are beautiful palms!

-Alex

I think I will! Thanks, Alex!

They make magnificent potted palms. If you don't have the room for a 30' tall 15' spread large palm...these are just as adaptable as Howea's. More Howea then King palm like incontainers. Have you seen the guy who has the 20 year old Bottle palm in a not giant pot?..same thing. They will trunk and grow a crown of fronds. Just use Bonsai techniques like root pruning every few years,replacing top soil yearly and add fresh..
Another great long term outdoor potted palms for Californians are..the silver Date palms,the Butia palms. I have a old Butia in a pot and enjoy the recurved fronds, pineapple trunk.
Its too bad palm forums almost never have anything about keeping palms long term in pots. Not all of us want a yard of telephone poles...we want to see the fronds in our small yards.