I have five kentias, three in the ground in full sunlight, having planted them a few years ago. The other two are on the northern exposure side of my house, and are very slow growing. The three in full sun did well for about a year or so, then suffered mightily from a rare, rare cold snap here in Ventura back in February. But all in all, they're making a great comeback, and I look forward to their beautifull umbrella-like fronds restoring fully by next spring. I have over thirty palms, a few cycads, and a few ferns (Aussie Tree, Tasmanian, Meyers, etc, and the battle seems to be that, when growing tropical plants at 34 degrees north and beyond, one has to remember to be patient; this is not their home environment. They will grow slower, suffer setbacks, and generally be less vigorous as they slowly adapt to their new climate. Light level is very important, for in equatorial climes, the sun is almost directly overhead year round; thus the symmetry most tropical plants exhibit. And watering there is a daily thing - even the so-called "dry season" brings at least light rain each day. And so, consider that a palm or cycad or fern is being asked a lot when planting this far (or further) north - a good soaking once a week or so during summer, then back off during winter months, when most tropical plants nearly "shut down". All sorts of blogs have been posted, but it all comes down to this: Every plant on Earth has one thing in common - the roots seek water. Therefore, when planting or potting, always remember to put a good layer of sand beneath the root ball, and around it with about a 50/50 mix of sand and Cactus Mix around the sides of the planting hole when filling. Watering will thus suround the roots and leach downward and beyond the lower portions of the roots through the sand, causing the roots to "seek" the water below, establishing in not to much time a healthy root system.

Not to "wander" to far from the palm topic once again, but speaking of pups, I'd mentioned the many pups on my Costus barbatus not long after it grew to blooming size, though I've never had it produce them since, til recently, and I'm still wondering if the pups are produced under very specific situations only? Perhaps growing in overly dry soil, or something else triggers the production of pups on some gingers? I must add , since they're so easily to grow just from simple cuttings and also from dividing the rhizomes in the clumps, I guess the production of pups isn't a big deal unless you wish to propagate many new ones and I've not had the need to do so, but it is a very easy and quick way to get new plants . In some cases years back each shoot might have half the entire shoot from midway up to the tip covered at every leaf axil with a pup, so there were many of them!

For most of zone 7 the growing season ends around the 1st of november to the 15 of november. Good thing about living along the coast is frost comes pretty late in the fall because the sea temperatures are still fairly warm from the summer The northeast and mid atlantic should watch out on friday morning though, because many areas will be getting a hard frost, that includes NYC, philly, and maybe DC, (as well as all the coastal areas which are the few areas that havent gotten a frost yeton the eastern seabord). Also those spike plants are very close relatives to ti plants. Spike plants are also known as Cabbage trees and can grow really large (and look quite tropical too). They are cold tolerant to 10F making them zone 8 plants, but Ive seen a some survive zone 7 winters in pots. I saw someone near me planted them in the ground and they survived three winters with no protection at all and were in very exposed areas. They got to be almost 4 feet tall, and if they were protected that one cold night, they would probably still be alive today. Good luck.

Red Sealing Wax Palm - Cyrtostachys renda Wish it could be grown inside. Only if you have a greenhouse in zone 7. One of the most beautiful and coveted of all palms. There is nothing that comes close to looking like a red sealingwax. Just search and compare a few photos. Very bright red trunk and leafstems. I grew two to about 3.5 feet (they are clumping & multitrunked) in pots and brought them inside at 45 degrees. however they are subject to a fungus even then. They died on me before I learned that. I talked to a grower with some 8' (about $1000) ones and learned that from him-he uses mancozeb or another systemic during winter. Not easy to germinate the seeds either-tried that but needs to be consistenly moist and over 80 degrees and may take 1-3 months. ultra tropical needs wet humid conditions and bright light and will even grow in swamps. Hates cold winds-very thin leaved. May try again. Palm Beach Palm and Cycad society is having their semi annual sale Oct. 14 weekend in Boynton Beach FL Caloosa Park-they will have some. Rusty