Hello! Im new here so hope to meet some new people who are as interested in cactuses as i am! Well i joined because i had a question about my madagascar palm and this looked like the forum to go to :) I'v had it for 5 months now and its been outside this whole summer...I just now noticed this odd variagated bulb type thing at the base of the trunk. I was wondering if this is a second branch coming up? Im totally new to this kind of succulant so anything you know will help! I cant get pics just yet as my sister inlaw went on vacation and took all the cameras with her but i will get one posted as soon as i can. ~katie~
Without actually having a photo, all I can say is that your thoughts are likely correct. There is quite a bit of information about your "Madagascar Palm" in the "Caudiciform and Pachycaul Tree" forum. Your plant is a Pachypodium, likely a lamerei or geayi...as these are the two common species cultivated as Madagascar Palms. We have a photo gallery, culture guides, and forum threads about your plant.
Since there are several species to consider, a photo would truly be useful. In general, most people loose their palm plants by giving them inadequate light as well as inadequate water. Tropical palms from wet regions require fast draining soil. Since you've been keeping this one outdoors for the summer, you're on the right track. But winter is certainly coming in Missouri (we're in Arkansas) and this one won't survive a cold winter. These are tropical species and few will survive in a home without really good care and adequate light. As you may have figured out by now, your palm is not a succulent. It needs lots of water! There is a small group of Central American palms commonly called "parlor palms" that do sometimes survive in low light conditions. But even those prefer brighter light. I grow several palm species inside a fairly large greenhouse that is designed to simulate tropical conditions. The light is lower than they would prefer, but they do survive. But it is much brighter than most homes! The vast majority of palms species grow in direct sunlight with receive large volumes of water. Several palms from Madagascar are sold as "house plants" and these all grow directly on the sides of a stream where they receive large volumes of water. Still, you can find them sold in grocery stores all the time as "house plants". They are sold this way due to the fact many species grow easily and rapidly from seed and commercial growers start hundreds of thousands of plants from seed, grow them in the sun, then send them to discount stores where they are instantly put in deep shade. I've known personally more than one grower that produces thousands of palms annually for the trade. If you visit their nursery, they will tell you to keep it in bright light. But once they sell it, the care is out of their control. The shock alone of moving a palm from the direct sun to dim shade causes the majority to wither and eventually die. But you'll never have one of the discount sellers explain to you the plant is tropical and needs bright, often direct sun light and frequent water! That is the situation you are about to face. Once you take the palm from the sun and into the house, it may well suffer and begin to loose fronds. You can get some idea of how to make sure the palm has enough light in your house by reading post #3 of this thread: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=31893&highlight=old+camera Hope this helps you keep it healthy!
As Mark said your plant is more likely to be Pachypodium, which is not a palm at all. That is the problem with a lot of common names, it is often misleading, and don't get me started on this subject ;) Ed
Well, you just taught me something Ed and Mark. I'm not crazy about common names and didn't even know there actually was a succulent called a "Madagascar Palm". Now that is crazy because there really is a Madagascar Palm! And that one is a palm!
Thanks for all the info guys, here is a pic of the growth at the bottom of the trunk and a pic of the plant itself. sorry for the dates, my camera died and i havnt put the correct date back on since As the plant obviously cannot stay outside in the winter would some sort of bulb be needed to make sure it has enough light?
It sure looks like a thickened root. I have several caudiciform plants with roots exposed like these. Tease the soil away from it to confirm. It is not uncommon for caudiciform plants in containers to develop these type of roots. I have to admit, though, it is the first time that I have seen them on a Pachypodium lamerei or geayi. I think yours is a P. geayi, but since your plant is still very young, it is difficult to say from that photo. If you can place the plant by a window where it can get a fair amount of natural light, it should do fine over the winter. When the weather warms up, you can transition it outdoors during its active growth period. I would not be overly concerned about giving it a lot of light during the winter as it will likely go into a semi-dormant period and growth will slow down or even stop. You will likely loose a few leaves during this time, as well. Keep the soil relatively dry during the winter...do not mistakenly try to "save" the plant with water, as it will cause root rot.
