Compost for potting on Palms

I have 3 or 4 small palms (Trachycapus fortunei) that I have grown from seed ; they are just starting to produce their second leaves & I think its about time I potted them on (I germinated them in an old 5 liter water bottle with the top cut off, using about a 40/60 mixture of compost & sharp sand).

I was going to make up a mix of compost, JI#2 & sharp sand, about equal parts - but was wondering if theres something better ; Im planning on moving them out into the greenhouse in a couple of months so they should get the best sun & heat I can provide.

Any recommendations ?

 

First Nick Trachycarpus will not like the heat of a greenhouse, its the hardiest palm and even seedlings survive quite cold weather.
Direct sun in a greenhouse could actually stop them growing, or worse.

As for potting, I'd use something like 40% JI, (I only bother buying no 3), 40% multipurpose, and 20% either sharp sand or sharp grit.

I'd not overpot either, the long roots on palms tend to make you feel you should go for large pots, it can cause root rot during winter, but with Trachys that should not be a problem.

I'm sure others have more advice.

 

25% John Innes number 3 ... 25 % garden topsoil ....20 % vermicompost (worm humus) ... 20 % well rotted farmyard manure ... 10% perlite ... 3 tablespoons of volcanic rock dust

plus use rootgrow, then feed with liquid seaweed concentrate/ fish concentrate as a foliar feed

thats what I would do

 

Useful advice - thank you both. Off to the garden centre in a bit once the coffee has kicked in.

 

if you do decide to add the vermicompost (worm humus), you may not find that at the garden centre

google to find a hydroponic store in your area .... a 10kg bag costs approx £10 and a little goes a long way

you may also prefer to use one of their pre-mixed composts such as plagron bat mix ... 50 litres costs approx £15 .... all you need to do is add a bit of garden topsoil and a bit of extra perlite

http://www.homehydro.co.uk/bat-mix-50l-plagron.html?___store=default

 

That is an impressive mix Dim
What is the verdict on Rock Dust ? Will it make a differnce added to Nicks mix

 

I've only recently started using rock dust .... B&Q sell a 10kg bag for £5.98 .... there have been many good reviews from people who use it

here is a link showing the minerals that rockdust contains

http://www.pinetumproducts.co.uk/index.php?page=info&action=Rock Dust Analysis

 

herewith a video about rockdust:

 

I reckon so, although I've not tried it. Vegetable Competition Winners have sworn by it for years.

 

No reason not to, but I think that Palm Booster is the thing to use to get the roots under way (which in turn will enable the plant to take up more nutrients)

 

I'v

I've been using a liquid organic nutrient/fertilizer called Iguana Juice Grow which is made by a company called Advanced Nutrients

it has several different rock dusts from different parts of the world, plus kelp, fishmeal, alfalfa, worm humus, guano, over 70 minerals etc etc

not sure if the rockdusts are the sole responsibility to growth, or a combination of all the ingredients, but can say that in 2 weeks the Huechera that I tested it on have had explosive new growth and the leaves are huge compared to the huechera that I have not used it on ... I have only used it twice on the Huechera

a bit pricy (£18 per litre), but you only use 4ml mixed with 1 litre of water (will make 250 litres when diluted),

and I use it as a foliar spray (1 litre of foliar spray goes a long way)

will test it with some newly planted ferns next week and see what happens

 

I'll get a bag of Rock Dust from B n Q next week when I get my MPC . I presume it has reputed advantges in flower beds as well as the veg patch

 

there have been loads of good reviews about rockdust ... search google and youtube

I have been including volcanic rock dust in all the planting holes of newly planted shrubs/perennials .... and you only need to use a little

I also add a few heaped tablespoons to the ingredients of compost tea

this is all new to me, and I have only recently started using rockdust, so I am going by heresay

here is a report from south africa ... (it's called turbo grow in south africa)
http://www.turbo-grow.co.za/

and another report:
http://remineralize.org/blog/latest...goreaus-rock-dust-trials-in-panama-at-ser2011

it basically re-mineralises the soil ... i.e. it adds 70+ minerals to the soil, and people from several countries inclusing the USA give good reports

some guys on the lawn forums swear by this aswell, but add it to the lawns in autumn

buy a bag, test it and report your findings

 

Ah, Palm Booster. Seen that before, great reviews on palm forums.

And:

 

advanced nutrients Voodoo Juice for roots is what I am using .... pricey though, but gets rave reviews from people who have tested it

I have not tried the others