I know this is not usually a gardening forum but obviously the two are fairly closely related.

However this question relates to a non-edible plant I've just bought and wondered if anyone knows about it ?

"Canary Island Palm"

Its a green thin leaved plant (looks like a lot of the plants around the Med) will live outside in milder climates but needs protecting from the harder winter weather.

Well we want it in our porch which is a small area with lots of light, and in summer its like a green house in there (in winter its a bit chilly but nothing like being outside).

Can I leave it there?

Will it need a lot or a little watering (and just how much is that) ?

Can the stems be cut back? (if so,how ? at certain joints?)

How long can it go without watering ? (thinking about holiday times, will it be ok as its from a hot dry place)

thanks for any help,thoughts or ideas !

Steve

You will get loads of replies from some real gardeners, if you post your message here; http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbgardening/F2759007

Thanks Mamta, I'll give it a go later in the week...

(just in the middle of making Lasagne, Spag Boll, Garlic bread supremes and whatever else I can stretch this last minute everyone is coming up for dinner in to!!)

Steve

Hope yur dinner went well Steve. We too had a few people for dinner tonight. My sister is visiting from Delhi, so she helped me to cook.

Mamta

Went very well, managed to make Lasagne and a load of "garlic bread surpremes" (thats like a pizza but with only garlic butter, thinly sliced onion and a little grated cheese), as well as making a batch of Spag boll for those not as keen on all the cheese sauce in lasagne !

Steve