Chamaedorea Radicalis

[DaveP]

The problem with microspadix is that it is a martyr to slugs and snails. The leaves of radicalis are very tough and virtually mollusc resistant. I've grown several radicalis outside here for a good 15 years or so and they withstood our 'killer frosts' of 2009/10 (down to -6.4C here) without incurring any damage whatsoever. Ripening berries during that winter continued to develop and I've got several pots of seedlings from that batch ready to plant out this coming spring.

[Wilza]

Yes i've heard slugs and snails like them. We can get down to -15c here so probably a waste of time long term in the ground. but might get a few years grown in a pot and tucked up against the house during winter.

[DiCasS]

I was wondering about these microspadix too, a couple have been sat in pots for 18 months with the intention of planting them under the canopy of trees I have here in semi-shade. One thing and another they never got planted out this year. I wasn't sure of the lowest temperature they could take, but before and since the bad years of 08, 09 and 2010, temperatures have generally got no lower than -8.

Di

[marcel]

I also have one Ch.microspadix beside the Ch.radicalis under canopy and it also seems to be
very tough against frost. No damage so far at -5/-6 C°.
But I don't think it can take lower temperatures than that. It just might be the border line.

Marcel

[JakoMonster]

i had a Microspadix but one of my family members fell over and completely flattened it and hurt themselves in the process but the trunk was snapped

[marcel]

I will still have to protect them for the colder days and prolonged freezes.
It is a kind of a game bringing them through winter without killig it in my climate.

[DiCasS]

I don't mind protecting in the Winter Marcel, it's worth it to get them through. I could always try planting one out and pot plunge the other, bringing it into the greenhouse over Winter. Depends how I feel next Spring How long you had yours in the ground?

Did you have any new growth Jako???

Di

[JakoMonster]

it was pushing out new spear (it go through the winter fine with no protection) but then the poor thing got crushed

[marcel]

It has been in the ground since spring this year, together with three radicalis.

Marcel