The new leaves on my Pachypodium lamerei just die

11 years ago

The new leaves on my Pachypodium lamerei "Madagascar Palm", just die when they start to grow. It was doing this in Winter inside as a houseplant early this year, which I understand. But I've had it outside for a month and a half in the full sun and it won't start growing properly again. It has been very hot and sunny, with little rain. No frosts have hit the plant.

Last year I put it outside from May to October and it grew very fast and had no problems, even out in rainstorms. I thought was going to be easy to grow. I did repot it during the winter to give it a more gritty soil. It did fine last year in store bought "Cactus" mix (peat, sand, perlite).

What could I do to help this cool plant? I could repot again in a larger pot. Did the time as a houseplant ruin the plant? Should I have low expectations?

It still has remaining leaves from last year outside.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

mrlike2u
11 years ago
Think of slower expectations not lower.
Was the inside to out side tranfer done slow enough ( 2-3 weeks of gradual more direct sun) or to fast.

Someone may say something more but if mine. Before repotting again and posibly disturbing roots during the prime growing season water it more often but also try be a bit light handed if no noticable better changes in 2-3 weeks then repot.

Keep in mind if/when it shows signs of recovery it may be a weeee bit hungry during the growing time.

Related topics also include Adenium and Plumeria
juliebees2009
11 years ago
hope this helps:
I have one and they have small roots and need to be in a small pot....also they do go dormant and the leave will drop off and come back in the spring so less water.
Don't worry it will look like a regular cactus but the buds will show up in spring slowly start the water and dont fertilize till the plant has at least a show of 3 inches of leaves. I have done this for years and also keeping it in a small pot help's it when its in dormancy.
Related Discussions
Transplanted my Pachypodium Lamerei!
Q
Comments (1)
Wow, Xica, that sounds like quite a job! Nice work on getting it moved and settled. I love my BBQ tongs too, LOL. Keep us posted on how it does for you. They're a bit of a gamble in most of Phoenix as I know you know, so keep us posted! I've got one small one that I keep in a pot on my patio year round--so far so good. Take care and thanks for the fun update--sounds like a LOT of careful work!!! Take care, Grant
...See More
Pachypodium lamerei from seed anyone?
Q
Comments (8)
WOW!!! That's one great looking plant you have there, did you buy it as a plant or is it seed grown? I hope I'm around to see mine look like that in 25 yrs time!! I have only seen a couple of these and both were tall and single stemmed. As for planting in pure sand, I assumed that was a non starter as with DR's as I always thought it was a bad choice as it compacts/is airless/holds water too long so would be cold. Anyway, the seeds have been soaked for the magic 24 hours and are now potted up in 50:50 of perlite and cactus mix so we will see what happens. Fingers tightly crossed and here's to the next 25years! thanks, Gill form the UK.
...See More
Madagascar Palm (pachypodium lamerei)
Q
Comments (134)
I live in the Texas Hill Country and have a madagascar palm I purchased about four years ago. It is planted in a 12" ceramic pot that is about 16" tall. The palm itself has grown to just under two feet. It gets below freezing here in the winter, so I move it into the house near huge windows for light. Even so, the palm loses all of its leaves during the winter. In the spring I move it back out onto the patio where it gets sun all day. This year it has not sprouted new leaves which worries me. In the pot around the base of the plant I planted some hens and chicken succulents. They are doing fine but I wonder if perhaps they are robbing nutrients from the palm. Is this OK or should I dig them out? Watering is a constant worry to me. I am afraid of overwatering, so perhaps I am not watering enough. Do I need to fertilize? When and how much? I am very fond of this plant and hope to have it for many years to come, but am concerned about the fact that it is not getting any leaves. The trunk is nice and hard, so I don't think it has root rot. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thanks Pat in Comfort
...See More
Pachypodium lamerei. I need advice.
Q
Comments (12)
I would unpot this and look at the roots and see what's going on down below the surface. That will tell you if it's rotting for sure. The color of this one concerns me but you never know until you take a look. I actually almost lost my P. lamarei due to underwatering, believe it or not. At a small size, within 2 days of being thirsty it was bending at the trunk, soft from dehydration. It bounced back though, unlike the 2 other uber-finicky varieties I tried. What is your growing zone? Pachypodium also go dormant at times and can decline quickly if watered when they don't want to be.
...See More

The new leaves on my Pachypodium lamerei just die

Comments (2)

mrlike2u

juliebees2009

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US