Chamaedorea microspadix - The Bamboo Palm

[Dave Brown]

Nick, as you asked about Chamaedorea microspadix see HERE

This is a C. microspadix trunk, and you can see why it has the common name Bamboo palm.

[Nick]

Dave that's an interesting palm there, is it readily available to buy at garden centres or Akamba, so just how fast is it when it's in active growth and what would a pot of this Bamboo Palm cost to buy Dave if you don't mind me asking.I do like it, how is it with wind, how well dose it stand up to strong winds
Thanks for sharing this info with me Dave.

[redsquirrel]

when i bought my first microspadix from nigel ,he very kindly wrote me a label for it. when i looked, one side read chamaedorea microspadix. on the other side of the label it read 'slug bait' first joke we ever shared.touch wood to date,none of mine have been munched

[Nick]

Dave are they really slug food as I get lots of slugs and snails in my garden and if I get one I don't wont it eaten alive

[DiCasS]

Two words Nick - slug pellets
After reading the threads on here, could this one be a good candidate for here. I've never thought of planting this as they look too delicate to survive

Di

[Nick]

Dicas I am more worried about the wind with this one breaking it's stem or rather bending it over so it would never stand up right anymore
slugs would get pellets

[dk]

Very nice plant... but what happens when (not if) this plant get hit by -8 and below like we've had this year, is it likely to resprout from the root?

[redsquirrel]

so far DK,my radicalis which is outside doesnt show any signs of major damage and the microspadix in the unheated polytunnel still looks good too. we had near enough -10 here for 2 nights,both had shelter of sorts but you would plant in a sheltered area anyway.a tiny clump of microspadix i forgot last year,less than a foot in the pot,came through -9 with some leaf burn. i think was very lucky in that instance though as it was tiny plants

[Dave Brown]

Nick, C. radicalis can take more sun than just about any other Chamaedorea, but don't get confused, C. radicalis and C microspadix are not the same plant and do not share the same degree of sun tolerance.

C. microspadix will need shade and an ovehead canopy to survive in most places. Mine is under the north facing, open porch.

There is virtually no chance of the trunks being snapped in the wind, but the leaflets get completely ripped off leaving the bare midrib.

This is not a palm to pay a lot for to experiment with in an exposed situation. For that you'd be better off growing from seed and trying a some out in a few years time.

[Nigel Fear]

Nick, C. radicalis can take more sun than just about any other Chamaedorea, but don't get confused, C. radicalis and C microspadix are not the same plant and do not share the same degree of sun tolerance.

C. microspadix will need shade and an ovehead canopy to survive in most places. Mine is under the north facing, open porch.

There is virtually no chance of the trunks being snapped in the wind, but the leaflets get completely ripped off leaving the bare midrib.

This is not a palm to pay a lot for to experiment with in an exposed situation. For that you'd be better off growing from seed and trying a some out in a few years time.

Dave, do you still have any C.Radicalis seedlings for sale?
I'd like a few if you do!

[Simba]

Must be honest, both of these have appeared on my radar as possibles for 2010....

I think the Radicalis is slightly the better looking of the two, so I might well have a punt one of them this year.

[Nick]

Dave my little C. radicalis has sailed through this winter with out any sign of damage, for a palm so small it would have had trouble handling this winters temps, but it's looking really good outside and it only has a tracy leaf or two over head for protection, in-fact I must admit I forgot all about it so I would be well happy to have more of this palm to grow around the garden.

[Adrian]

I have never had a problem with microspadix either through cold or slugs.

[mixiepalms]

My little microspadix has been in the ground for 2 years, no damage at all but hardly grown. It is under my trachys and should be growing lol. No it isnt plastic Darren!!! I have a radicalis to plant this year. Fingers crossed it will grow lol. If i get another radicalis I may keep it indoors for a few years then plant out at a reasonable size.

Mix

[Dave Brown]

I have never had a problem with microspadix either through cold or slugs.

Is it outside this winter as I recall you said you had -7.8C ish which is close to it's supposed limit.