Don't sweat the small stuff....while not ideal, I've forgotten to water my "clump" of PT's several times and they only start to shrivel a little. Yes, some leaves may turn yellow, but a good drink always plumps them back up. PT's grow very slowly, so it is up to you whether you want to separate them or not, and no, they won't fuse into one giant bulb. When you repot, you should generally only move up one or two inches in pot size, but with the grouping you have there, I think you did ok. I agree with Whip in regards to the perlite though; I would make a 50/50 mix. You can repot again if you need to, you won't hurt the plant. I, personally, would plant them higher in the pot...they look to be much lower than the lip. You do have them adequately covered, so no worries there. You have a nice little collection. Nancy

All posts are good to read, search for the topics that interest you. Lots of knowledge on this and many other boards including (depending on where you live) the Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board, Palmtalk on the IPS board, Hardy palms for the Northeast, and Hardy Palms in Temperate zones. The other boards are much more specific in knowledge, this is more of a general "people from everywhere and all climates" board. As far as germinating them, my best success is with the baggie method. Basically, you put some barely damp, not too wet sterile potting mix or peat moss in a ziplock bag with the seeds, and then put it someplace very warm, like on top of a water heater or anywhere else you can achieve max temp inside the house. I wouldn't go any higher than 120F, though I've never found anyplace in my house that warm. Google baggie method and you should get hundreds of posts. Once they sprout roots and first leaves, carefully transplant into larger pots. Palm roots don't like disturbance. Good luck.

Royal Cubans are gorgeous, without a doubt my favorite in terms of beauty. They should be able to grow a few winter fronds under the conditions you describe. I find that epecially when there is snow cover outside, an unobstructed southern exposure provides great winter light conditions. Royals overwinter quite well indoors. Personally, I find them much easier in this respect than Adonidia (Christmas palm). Be on the watch for spider mite (moderately prone--nothing excessive). Definitely would move them outdoors for the growing season (though you might decide to wait now till the coming season as it's late in the year). True, eventually they want to be towering trees but growth in containers in a northern climate is only moderate (not fast), so no immediate need to take the roof off your house or send them on a one-way-trip to Boca or Lauderdale. Good luck!:)

After the first couple of winters in the ground and your plants get established, neither should need thermal protection in zone 8b. I think your enemy will be getting water into the crown of the palms, then having a hard freeze, not so much just cold temps. If they are really small you can cover them with a big plastic bucket or tub to keep the rain/sleet out of the crown/growing spear. I live in 8a and only worry about my youngest palms when there is freezing rain or rain followed by a deep freeze. Your fan palm may get its leaves frozen off at temps below 20, but should grow new ones back in no time....