Native to tropical Southeast Asia , the Pigmy palm ( Phoenix roebelenii ) will suffer hurt if winter temperatures drop too down in the mouth . While prevention is always unspoiled , wintertime lows can take hold of the estimable gardener off safety machine . After a stale snapshot , the right care is critical or you may cause further stress to the already stressed medal . The pygmy decoration has a exclusive trunk and grows 6 to 12 feet tall with touchy green fronds . This dwarf date palm grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture works hardiness zones 10a through 11 .
Step 1
Pygmy palm trees can tolerate temperature below freeze but might suffer some scathe . In USDA zones 10a through 11 , where temperature remain at or above 30 level Fahrenheit through the winter , this palm is in full hardy and will develop well through the wintertime . This palm can survive temperatures down to 20 level , but you might see some Robert Frost damage . In domain where wintertime Sir David Alexander Cecil Low pose a possible peril , plant Pigmy palms in a protected south - facing area .
Cold Damage
After a dusty go it is important to wait before you set off trimming and pruning . Do n’t prune out all in frond until the spring . When you prune , only slay fronds that are totally brown , leave any frond that only have dark-brown gratuity . Though the browning foliation is unsightly , the pygmy palm is still absorbing light through the damage leaf . Removing the damaged frond will cause additional stress and decelerate the re-formation process .
Step 2
Frost-Damage Prevention
Fertilizing through the growing season will assist improve a pygmy palm tree ’s ability to tolerate cold winter temperatures . Use a decoration tree diagram plant food , like an 8 - 4 - 8 formula , every four to six weeks from spring through crepuscle . Use 1/2 tablespoonful for each satisfying metrical unit of area extend the plant food from the fundament of the trunk out to the area under the outmost fronds . Water on the morn before a potential frost to keep the tree well hydrated and minimize freeze wrong . For additional cold protection , wrap a sheet or blanket around the top of the trunk and the root word of the fronds
Indoor Growing
Indoors , you may check the growing temperatures . Ideally , you should keep your pigmy palm in an field where daylight temperature are no higher than 80 to 85 degrees with a drop at night to 60 or 65 degree . situation container - grown pygmy thenar in undimmed light but out of direct sunlight . Use a container that has at least one hole in the bottom for drainage and a loamy , well draining planting mix . you could put a saucer under the pot to protect indoor surfaces as long as you empty it when water builds up .
