Growing a Kentia palm outdoors in Phoenix, Arizona

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Yesterday I got a magnificent Kentia palm as a gift. I encourage people to give me gifts for my birthday, which happens every year, and I really like palm trees. And this one is unbelievable.

I tried to find a place in the house, but really, you need a big mansion for something like this, and mine is a tiny house. So I put it out on the patio, where it will get shade, and I will keep an eye on it.

No, you can't just go plant a Kentia palm here in your yard in the Phoenix area. Like many cycads, Kentias don't mind the heat, but they really can't take the burning sun, and the winter cold. So, I have high hopes for this one as it will only get a tiny bit of morning sun, and I will protect it in the few nights that get really cold here.

I'm experimenting mostly, but I have a lot of confidence in this plant. I've learned that Kentias like to be kept in small pots, so I've left it in the pot it came in, and did a cache pot around it. I'll leave it alone, but it seems to me that it will need to be potted up at some point, maybe next year, or the year after.

I'll let you know how it goes. So far, the plant seems really happy there, but it's March and the outdoor temperatures in Phoenix are absolutely idyllic. I'm told to water it sparingly, and the cache pot has holes in it to allow the water to drain.

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