Editing Chamaedorea cultivation

{{PalmSpeciesHeader}}
__NOTOC__
===Contributed by members of the
[[localhost_branches_Brisbane|
Brisbane chapter of ''PACSOA'']]===
 
'''Nick Craig''' (D'Aguilar - 30km north of Brisbane)

Species in the ground in my home
are&#160;: ''C. klotzschiana'', ''C. metallica'',
''C. deckeriana'', ''C. elegans'', ''C. cataractarum'',
''C. costaricana'', ''C. ernesti-augustii'',
''C. microspadix'', ''C. oblongata'', ''C. seifritzii'',
''C. tepejilote'', ''C. falcifera''.
All of these species are growing
well, having been through many
winters outstanding plants being
''C. deckeriana'' and ''C. ernesti-augustii''.
Plants in pots at home
''C. sartorii, radicalis, geonomiformis, elatior, erumpens, brachypoda''.
All going well, to be planted out in
spring. They have all been resilient
and very worthwhile to grow&#160;


'''Phillip Arrowsmith''' (Ashgrove - Brisbane suburb)

Phillip has a collection of about 30
different species of ''Chamaedorea'' in
his garden at Ashgrove which is
well developed with ample canopy
to suit understoty palms like
''Chamaedorea''. He reports that they
are easy to grow relative to other
tropical palms, and they tend to be
cold hardy, but with the occasional
problem with red spider mite and
fungal root rot. Phillip has also
concluded that ''Chamadorea'' are
generally not a long living plant and
they seem to lose vigour after a few
years. In the commentary on his
experiences which follows those
species which have produced fruit
are indicated with an asterisk(*).
Also, because there are so many
species, we have included
comments from Greg and Carlien
Smith about their experiences in
brackets after Phillip's comments.
Now to Phillips observations:-
''C. allenii''
4 single-stem specimens about 1.5m
high, going well in shade/semi-shade.
''C. brachypoda''
Prefers shade stems lose vigour
with age, grows up to 1.5m or more.
(Ed. ''C. brachypoda'' spreads readily
in the garden from rhizomes and can
be readily divided. In our garden it
tends to have yellowish leaves)
''C. cataractarum''(syn. atrovirens)*
Could stand more sun in past has
suffered from spider mite and root
fungal problems as shade closed in
on their area.
''C. correae''
One (single-stem) plant has only
been in ground about 6 months and
is struggling a bit.
''C. costaricana''*
Clump 5-6m high have had
problems with spider mite and root
fungal problems.
''C. deckeriana''*
No real problems perhaps a little
more cold sensitive, less hardy than
some others.
(Ed. slow but healthy in our garden
in Bulimba and I recall seeing
some nice specimens in Denis
Hundscheit's garden in Sunnybank)
''C. elatior''*
No problems, growing vigorously
(also in Bulimba- Ed.)
''C. ernesti-augustii''*
No problems some of the original
plants have died of old age.
(Ed. going well in Bulimba and
we recently sighted a very healthy
flowering stand in a garden in Bray
Park.)
''C. fragans''
No problems, suckers freely
leaves split in strong winds.
''C. geonomiformis''*
Growing well in a shaded spot.
(Ed. we lost a couple of these but
second pair going OK)
''C. glaucifolia''* & ''C. plumosa''
These seem to like more light than
some other ''Chamadorea'', even full
sun for part of the day.
(Ed. these are no problem in our
garden in part shade, ''glaucifolia'' is
tidier than ''plumosa'')
''C. klotzschiana''
No problems will take some full
sun.
(Ed. first sighted klotzschiana at
Will Kraa's nursery at Pullen Vale
in 1982, purchased some
immediately, going well in our
garden. Will advises that most
Chamadorea are cold-hardy despite
their tropical origins, and many
withstand the frosts experienced in
the low-lying areas of Brisbane's
western suburbs.)
''C. metallica''*
No problems in Phillip's garden in
Ashgrove (also going well in
Bulimba)
''C. microspadix''*
No problem.
''C. neurochlamys''
Single stem to 2.5m, no problems.
''C. oblongata''*
No problems, have self-propagated
in Phillip's garden.
''C. oreophila''
Died!
''C. pinnatifrons''
No problem.
''C. radicalis''*
Single stems to 5m high, comes in
trunking and non-trunking varieties.
(Ed. this species was fast growing
and self-seeding in my previous
garden in Graceville, but the
transplanted progeny are much
slower in Bulimba).
''C. sartorii''
No problem.
''C. schiedeana''
Not happy at Ashgrove, gets red
spider mite, maybe too hot?
(Ed. our single specimen went
continuously downhill after
acquisition. We note that it
originates from dense wet forest on
the Atlantic slopes of Mexico at
altitudes of 900-1600m).
''C. seifrizii''*
No problem (Phillip believes that
''C. erumpens'' and ''C. seifrizii'' are different
but Hodel and Gamble disagree!)
''C. stenocarpa''
Very small single stem species,
difficult to grow, needs full shade
and humidity.
''C. stolonifera''
Growing well in Phillip's garden.
''C. tepejilote''*
No problems in Ashgrove
(Ed. or Bulimba, Bray Park or Mt Coot-tha
Botanical Gardens).
''C. tenella''
No problems, similar to
''C. geonoformis''.
''C. volcanensis''
Going OK, meant to be
single but is suckering.
''C. woodsoniana''
No problems.
(Ed. our 2 specimens only ever
carry 2 leaves. Maybe they need
more light?)


===External Links:===
<p>
[[Category:Chamaedorea|cultivation]]
[[Category:Palm|Chamaedorea_cultivation]]