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Canary Island Date Palm not happy in conservatory

I've just bought a large (rather expensive!) Canary Island Date Palm for our conservatory, which is east facing. It gets very hot in summer (measured 46 degrees recently when it was 28 outside) and cold in winter (3 deg last winter) and need something that can survive that range. I read that they can manage this temperature range, at least for short periods.

However after just a couple of days the leaves (mostly) on the lower fronds are really closing up and looking like they are drying out at the tips already after 1 week. It doesn't look happy. I have watered it least twice in the last week but thought they wouldn't need that much watering (and don't want to over water). I've moved it outside for the time being so it doesn't die before I have worked out what is wrong! I've not repotted it since it arrived but the put is quite small for a large plant (25 cm pot for 140 cm plant) but Patch usually send them in amply sized pots.

Does anyone have any experience with these plants in conservatories and how much watering they need, or other care? I really don't want it to die, or to have to live outside as we really wanted a big palm in our conservatory. Any help much appreciated.

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Not something I’ve grown, but from what I know I suspect it’s been too hot and too bright for it in your conservatory … I think it would be happier outside from early June to mid September, and then you can bring it in when the weather is cooler and damper. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Thanks for your reply. I’ll see if it looks happier outside, however given that this palm is essentially native to North Africa, should it not be ok in direst sun and the 30s? I read somewhere that it can tolerate up to 45 degC. Is it the temperature, sunlight, amount of watering or humidity that is likely the problem? Or all?

    it was bought for the conservatory and we don’t have a lot of space for it outside so am keen to make it work if at all possible!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited July 2023
    There's a big difference between direct sun and sun thru glass so try and put some light shade above the palm for the 4 to 6 weeks either side of the summer solstice. According to the RHS they need partial shade. 

    Rather than watering from above, try dunking the pot in a bucket of water till no more air bubbles appear and then let it drain.  That way you know every bit of root has had some water but isn't drowning or rotting.  Feed lightly during the growing period.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/12767/phoenix-canariensis/details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Plants that have always lived in North Africa will be used  to the bright sun and dry heat .., your plant will have always lived in a more northern climate and the leaves will not have developed as thick a pellicle which prevents the leaves from being scorched. 

    Just as we have to harden tender plants off when we put them outside from indoors in the spring to get them used to the cooler weather, so too your palm needs a gentle introduction as it’s moved from what was probably a semi-shaded palm house or nursery to the searing heat of a sunny conservatory. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I'd say that the pot your plant arrived in is much too small - OK for transport but not for healthy growth.  I have a Kentia palm indoors in a similar sized pot but it is only 50cm tall.  In those sort of temperatures in your conservatory, there won't be enough water retained in the soil/potting medium to support the large the fronds of a plant of that size.  Due to dehydration, your plant is selectively losing its lower leaves as a survival mechanism.  I would repot your plant as soon as possible using a suitable soil based compost, water it thoroughly, let it drain and then keep it out of direct sunlight and water it again in a similar way when the top two cm of compost feel dry.  Patch offer an online advice service so it might be worth contacting them too.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Thank you everyone for all the responses. I've already dunked it in a bucket of water and let it drain so hopefully it will be well watered now, and moved it outside for now. Hopefully it will improve! I will also buy a bigger pot and repot it as soon as I can, and get some shade up in the conservatory, which will make the room slightly more useable too :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Please let us know how it gets on.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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