Others will disagree with this, but I do not believe in constricting pot size unless you intentionally want to slow down growth.

Certain plants, Palms included, seem to perform better when potbound. In my opinion, the reason for this is because a pot full of roots needs more frequent watering which enhances oxygenation in the root zone. In addition, there is no unused soil so there is a reduced likelihood of unused water that stagnates and can lead to rot.

I believe that the goal should be to create an environment where soil aeration exists by optimizing on the media being used, rather than to "hedge" against this by cramming roots.

I will not go into more detail because there is plenty of good reading to be found in these forums on this topic.

So to answer your question: I would personally leave them where they are for now and pot them up in the spring to a much larger size pot - if - and only if - a container mix is used that will accomplish the goal of maximum aeration and stability. I am assuming of course you are able to repot without damaging the roots.

But that's just my opinion. Hear what others have to say. Wouldn't it be interesting and informative if you tried 2 different methods and compared the results? Keep one potbound and the other not?

x

X,I think I agree with you,robusta does not seem to mind wet feet as much as filifera so if your soil drys out fast and drains well those two palms should basically have outgrown their pots by next year at this time, they could easily be 2'-3'tall in zone-8, so as long as soil drains fast and does not stay wet,I would say they are good to go!

Are you sure they are washy robusta?
My 2 yr old are 5 ft tall?
Took mine right from seedling tray to 1 gallon pots,then with the first fan leaves potted to 3 gallon,and when the wind kept blowing them over,potted up to 5 gallon.
Don

That's what I was told they were from someone here on GW last year...My dad brought some seeds home from Southern California a few years ago and out of 5 seeds, 4 sprouted...Maybe they are a different kind of palm??

Not sure...Does someone know???

I did not notice until dbryal mentioned it planted in 2006?
mine were planted this time last year and a few of them are close to 2'tall.The growth rate sounds more like C.humilus,but I think I see threads on the palm on the right so maybe they are washys,if they are washys they should be in all day sun and heat to grow as fast as possible.

They are in full day sun...That's why I thought, after reading more about them, that they are in too big of pots...Can I repot them in to smaller pots now or should I wait until spring??..What would be the right size pot??...Should I put them in dark colored pots to absorb more heat??

I want to keep them in a pot for as long as possible as we're not quite ready with their "garden" spot.

I thank all of you SO much for your help.

It's also possible that they aren't gowing very fast because of your location. I notice you are in SW Washington, which probably doesn't get very warm most of the year. Washies LOVE heat. Mine never really start cranking until I have temps solidly in the 80's. Even now, when we've had temps in the 70's, they've pretty much come to a standstill.

I second bradleyo on temps.I don't think you need to repot as long as your soil dries out.If you want growth to speed up,you could try putting them next to a brick wall in the sun or putting a black tarp under them,something to increase temps around the plants.

Thank you so much for all your help...I will keep them as they are and make sure they get more heat in the spring.

knotz