One motivating factor as to why I started planting palms grown for houseplants in my yard, is because every time I would buy one, it would always die in a couple of months. I figured that planting them outside during the summer would allow the plants to be enjoyed much longer. (And realize that just because they are called houseplants, it doesn’t mean that in nature they grow in a house - a true houseplant does not really exist. Yes, they can be used outdoors.) When I first started experimenting with palms outdoors, the plants that I planted during 2005 and 2006 did not do very well. Southwest Minnesota normally gets around 26 inches of rain a year, and this is just not enough water for Palm Trees and Palm Shrubs that are native to moist areas. The number one thing to remember - and I will repeat this over and over on this site - Pigmy Date Palms, Majesty Palms and Cat Palms ARE AQUATIC. These three palms, commonly sold as houseplants, grow along rivers and marshes in their native habitat. You will need to install a Drip Irrigation System and water often, or you will need to use Pots without drainage holes. The Cat Palm in the above 2008 photo was planted in the ground and watered with drip irrigation that was installed the previous year. Since this photo was taken, I have learned a great deal about keeping Palms alive during the winter. I now use the Pot-in-Pot Method so that I can bring all of my tropical plants indoors and enjoy them during the winter - and maybe even into the next summer. You can plant palms as annuals like I did the first four years, but having a tropical paradise in your home during the winter makes it worth the extra effort to learn how to keep them thriving.

Updated March 25, 2011