Madagascar palm ( yes I know it's not a palm )

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Hey everyone. I was just wondering, for anyone that has Madagascar palm. Did your rate of growth decrease tons? I planted it in the end of January or beginning of February Once it started growing, it did so at a rather fast pace. But after it popped its second set of leaves it has been at a snails pace or slower. The 3rd set has been coming in for weeks now. At such a slow rage. Today I'm finally noticing its a wee bit bigger. I was scared that I killed it when I repotted them seperatly. I gave them a few drops of fertilizer, so I'm hoping that is why its finally starting to let the 3rd set of leaves come through. But is that normal for them to just stop and hardly grow? I seen a link of someone documenting their growth and theirs already had thorns within 2 months. And mine still looks like seedlings. I was just wondering if that's normal. I'm new to patchypodiuns and it has quickly become my favorite plant. It seems now that i think about it, my plants growth went to a crawl when i took off the plastic lid for humidity. Would it be safe to cover in plaatic again without having to worry about root rot? Seems thats when they was growing peetty fast when they were covered. Here's a pic. Thanks yall.. Oh and second question. How long did it rakw yours to get the Spines?

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Comments (4)

Josue (Zone 9b, Central, inland California)
9 years ago
You'd get much more help on the succulent/cacti forum. They are fairly fast growers but like most plants, they need plenty of sun and heat in order to grow. Increased heat speeds up the process of photosynthesis. I'm guessing these are indoors and that it is still rather chilly where you are (northern hemisphere).
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
They even like the Florida heat and humidity. These like much water when they are growing. Great first Pachypodium plants. You can watch these grow year to year. Then flower around the 10 year mark if you summer them outdoors.
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Donnie Lee
Original Author
9 years ago
I'm in Kentucky currently. I want to put them outside. We've had warmer weather lately. But being quite small and being poisoness, don't want to harm the stray cats running around everywhere or any other animal that might try to eat it. So I was going to wait until it at least got its thorns, then they would most Likley stay away from it.. Do you think I would be good to continue covering it with plastic to give it more humidity, like I did when I germinated it, without having yo worry about root rot? Or maybe switch off and let it breathe for a whole but still give it somewhat humidity? Can't wait for it to grow bigger, but don't want to kill it with a rotten death I'd rather just let it continue growing super slow before I did that haha.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Covering them creates a very high artificial humidity. That means the leafs will always be thinner and not adaptable to normal room humidity. They are off and running,I would take off the covers. If they shed the leaves? They will grow new ones back.

As a matter of fact you will see EVERY TIME you move them in to out? They will shed old foliage and grow what can take the sunny summers. Just like when you put them out for summer,those plants in bright shade will grow leafs that are only for bright shade..not full hot sun. I would not put these out in summer in full sun. That can burn the trunks of the plants. Bright shade,dappled sun is the most light they need.

Now,if you move to Florida? lol. THEN you can plant them in ground in full sun!