You don't say where you come from, which could be a big clue, because this plant looks as if it suffering from lack of light. Palms (and there are more than 100 different kinds so I'm not sure exactly what we are dealing with here) are, as I'm sure you know, mostly tropical plants. That means they need plenty of 1.light 2. warmth 3.water. Given your plant's debilitated condition I wouldn't start watering it frantically, however, just let it get going a bit first. Move it somewhere a bit more, well...tropical. Good luck. Ian.

There is about a 25-30' specimen of this here locally. not to mention several dozen others that ive found that are smaller ones in the 15' range. so yeah they do grow a little farther north of south florida. also, they have huge ones with ~10' of clear trunk at epcot in orlando. as sensitive as the roots are for this palm I find it intriguing that youd be able to bare root a seedling and have it survive. I have no experience with these seedlings so, im not much help I was just commenting!

Hey KB, I have a Musa Basjoo banana, and an Ensete banana, along with 3 Cannas and 3 Elephant ears. The Musa Basjoo and the 3 elephant ears should be able to overwinter in the ground this winter, I'll just need to dig up my Cannas 3 of em, and move my ensete banana and in my basement this winter, I also have a Pineapple lily that will need moved indoors in winter. I have "Pink china" elephant ears, and they are said to be truly zone 6 hardy. I have them mulched well. I've been overwintering Calla lilies for about 3 years now in a raised bed up[ against the house) but they are in a bunch of shade so only get a couple flowers on them. I will likely try to make a raised bed in more sun next year, right up against the foundation, and dig out some of the Calla lily plants. In more sun they should do well. I'll be looking for the "Midwest banana farm". BTW, my Windmill palm is doing great in my native soil, I will be making my shelters soon, I already have all the materials to make it. I just am not sure how I'll make the wire enclosures a nice circle without it being not a perfect round enclosure. You know how wire on a roll wants to kink? I'm sure it will work out. I still need to plant my Needle palm in the ground. I should do that ASAP, so it gets settled in the ground before winter. It's been fine in a pot, unlike the Windmill palm that hated being in a pot. My first purchased Windmill palm died from me watering it too much in a pot. WE were having 90'sF so I was afraid it would dry out in it's pot so I watered it everyday. My first Windmill palm did have a rotten middle stem, so it did die in the pot. I'll be checking the "Midwest banana farm" now thanks KB.

A good estimate is approximately the diameter of the crown. I try to keep it away from the trunk and more out in the root zone.