Question
QUESTION: I have a cat palm that i had in a medium sized pot. The soil was drying out ever other day. I thought maybe if i planted it in a bigger pot that the soil would be able to hold more moister. I used a mix of Cactus/palm soil and orchid mix I read that the orchid mix holds moisture but is well draining but im still watering it ever 2-3 day's I don't know if the plant is getting to much light it sits near my porching sliding doors which some morning sun comes in but the plant never gets direct light only indirect. Can a cat palm tolerate a slight drying to the soil? if you can give me some advise to help with the moisture retention and how i can help the soil from drying out so quickly it would be of some help to me. By the way i thought of using a moisture control soil but  was afraid because of the roots not being able to breath. It's planted in a 20" pot.

ANSWER: HI Jonathan,

A 20" pot is a very large pot and too large for a Cat Palm unless it is more than 6 feet tall. I am wondering if you jumped it up several pot sizes, which is never a good idea.

A standard potting mix is appropriate for a Cat Palm. Mixing in Orchid mix is not a good idea because it does not retain moisture for very long at all. Palms do not need that much extra drainage.

There is no way a Cat Palm in the light you described and potted in a  20 inch pot should dry out in less than a week. That calls into question your sense of "drying out." If you are using a moisture meter that is probably misleading you as the meters are notoriously unreliable. Or perhaps you are determining dryness by the surface of the soil rather than allowing the top couple of inches to dry before watering.

I suggest that you undo the repotting that you did. Either put it back in its original pot or in a pot one size larger. Use a standard potting mix. Water only after the top inch or two of soil feels dry.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with a plant that dries out every day or two as long as you remember to water it that often.

I have written an article on Palm care, including Cat Palms and on repotting that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


unknown plant   QUESTION: hi I just bout a new plant this weekend but it had no tag I that maybe it could be a bird of paradise or a helconia but now im not sure can you maybe describe it for me thanks

Answer
Hi Jonathan,

Your new plant is a White Bird of Paradise. I can only see the top of the pot, but it looks like the pot is a bit on the large size. I don't recommend repotting to a smaller pot, but you should remove all the loose soil on top that is not in immediate contact with the roots. Then allow the top half inch of soil to dry before watering enough so that the top half inch of soil is dry again in about one week. Provide as much direct indoor sunlight as you can for this plant. Don't use any fertilizer for at least a year.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com