The Story Behind My 25-Year Old Potted Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)

My potted Washingtonia Robusta turns 25!
I've mentioned this palm briefly in previous videos, but go into a little more detail for this one. It's seen some tough situations, but it's still going strong after two and a half decades!
Thank you for watching!

[@carpy1252]

This is actually a great idea to keep them potted... I always wanted to plant them but they would get huge here in CA so I haven't.

[@zonehardypalms1188]

Yeah, I want to get it in the ground someday, but want to make sure it’s in a place where it won’t be taken out by a freeze in a few years.

[@sandorspalms]

Great story behind it and amazing how fast they grow once you plant them in the ground.

[@zonehardypalms1188]

Thanks, Sandor! The plan is to eventually get it in the ground, but it'll all depend on location. It seems happy in the pot though.

[@AllenD556]

I had one in a pot for 3-4 years I finally put it in the ground and it grow more in one summer than all four years in the pot.

[@zonehardypalms1188]

I believe it! Mine would probably be 50 feet tall today if it had been left in the ground.

[@AllenD556]

@@zonehardypalms1188 For sure

[@Butcħer]

you should of planted it it would of been like 25ft right now

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

That’s awesome! I never thought palms can live long term in containers but they can!

[@zonehardypalms1188]

I’m surprised too. Never planned on keeping it in a pot for this long, but it seems happy.

[@shoesuntyd]

Have you changed out the soil or fertilized or anything like that? Has it been in the same pot the whole time??

[@RyanRytrades]

Happy birthday to the Palm, may it find its way into the earth to realize its full potential someday lol🙌🌴

[@zonehardypalms1188]

lol, thanks! Gonna be extra picky about where I plant it.

[@CardiacCat]

I wonder what it aspires to be one day when it grows up?

[@Eli-iz6oq]

Thank you

[@grasshopper4033]

A very sentimental plant indeed. You made me fall in love with it and it's not even mine 😂 You gave me an idea (I want to keep mine "dwarf") I might plant it in the ground with the pot and slightly cover the base and pot. So that way it looks nice in the garden, will stay small and I can take it out with ease. What do you think?

[@zonehardypalms1188]

Definitely something you can try! As long as the roots don’t escape the bottom of the pot and start establishing in the ground, that’s a great way to blend the tree into the landscape. Thank you for the comment!

[@Eli-iz6oq]

Love it

[@jimcharles9705]

I'm thinking that that palm isn't full-blooded Robusta. There's a LOT of filaments - what palm aficionados call "cotton." Typically, that indicates some W. filifera DNA in the mix. Pomona is a place where both Filifera and Robusta are commonplace. Given that and the ease with which the two species hybridize, you might just have a "filibusta" on your hands. That too might've had a role to play in that palm surviving while the other 2 died. Filiferas are more cold hardy and tolerate drought better than Robustas.

[@zonehardypalms1188]

It’s possible since it’s hard to find full blooded Robustas or Filiferas with how common they’re cultivated together and hybridize. The other two that died were during the summer, so it was definitely from lack of water. This one was the only one getting hit with the yard sprinkler.

[@mickobrien3156]

Nice! How heavy is it?
In other words... moving it around.... in and out..... How heavy is it?
Just curious

[@zonehardypalms1188]

I’m guessing, but I would say it’s between 50-60 pounds.

[@mickobrien3156]

@@zonehardypalms1188 OK thanks for the reply.