Dwarf palms require comparatively little care and are therefore also suitable for beginners. But you should keep an eye on them in winter. This is especially true if you want them to stay outside
Are dwarf palms hardy and what is the best way to overwinter?
Dwarf palms are hardy down to -10°C or -13°C if they are at least 10 years old. In winter, protect them by insulating the container, tying up the fronds and covering the root zone. Alternatively, they can overwinter indoors at 5-23°C.
Winter hardy – but winter hardiness has its limits
The European dwarf palm, which comes from the western Mediterranean, can tolerate frost, at least when it has reached a certain age. Only older specimens are robust enough and can withstand frost. Your dwarf palm should ideally be 10 years old. Then it can tolerate temperatures down to -13 °C in protected locations and up to -10 °C in unprotected locations.
Dwarf palms can be left outside in wine-growing areas
Dwarf palms in pots can stay outside over the winter in warm regions of Germany such as Rhineland-Palatinate or Saarland. But be careful: there are usually temperature extremes in winter every 5 to 10 years, even in wine-growing regions. Therefore, caution is advised! It's hard to believe, but the roots of this plant are more delicate than its fronds.
Preparing for the winter outside
It is better to protect dwarf palms outside. If they are in a planter, wintering outside can look like this:
- Wrap the container with bubble wrap (€14.00 on Amazon)
- Place the container on a thick log or Styrofoam block
- Choose a location on a protective house wall or wall (ideally towards the south)
- if applicable Tying fronds together
- make sure the soil doesn’t dry out
- do not fertilize
You can overwinter planted specimens like this:
- Wrap fronds with fleece
- Cover root area e.g. B. with straw or brushwood
- don't be afraid of snow: it protects the dwarf palm from severe frost
- Be careful of cold frost!
- Remove winter protection from March
Settling in: How wintering works
Dwarf palms can easily be overwintered indoors. If they were left outside over the summer, they come into the house in October. They can be kept cool over the winter at around 5 °C or at usual room temperatures between 18 and 23 °C. If the winter is warm, it is important that a lot of light falls on the dwarf palms.
Tip
The dwarf Yatay palm, native to Paraguay, which can also be kept in planters, can tolerate temperatures down to -11 °C.
