Repotting (not a moment too soon)

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:15 pm

Seeing these roots, time to pot up, albeit in too-large containers.
These palms will be kept very dry this winter, especially in the 20 gallon pots.

Cataractarum:

Reed/Bamboo Palm: (holy cow, look at the volume of time-release fert the nursery had put in this).

Chinese Fan:

Done...they won't fall over in the wind now!

Barb

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:52 am

Nicely done and healthy root systems.

Dean

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:40 am

Thanks Dean.

The Cat palm "hinted", by going into decline, that it was necessary.
There wasn't an ounce of soil left around those roots!
I used a drywall saw

to cut apart the circled roots.
Hope it makes it.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:49 pm

Barb,
I once too used a drywall saw to cut apart a clump of Cat Palms, they sulked for a week or two and then took off again

( Don't let them dry out too much over the winter, Chamaedoreas resent that)

BTW ~ Everything looks great

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:28 pm

Steve, thanks for the warning re Chamaedoras...
Glad your Cat survived the saw!

Because I over-potted (from 3 to 20 gallon!), I'm worried the soil will remain soggy for too long.
It'll be a balancing act trying to get watering right.

Anyone who needs to cut roots apart should try a drywall saw.
Works great, with little effort.

Only one thing: can't find it now -- it's probably inside a potted palm

Barb

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:13 am

nice looking stuff Barb. great looking palms and great looking views from your driveway. you truly are lucky Barb.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:41 am

Thanks, Kent.
It's all you PN folks who are responsible for my love of plants!

Are you starting some winter protection soon?
Let's see the pics when you do, please.

Barb

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:09 pm

our average first frost date is Oct 20. I know I promised a pictoral on my winter protection. Maybe in a month or so. With any luck nothing will have to be protected until mid December or later. It seems like Jan 1 is usually our first round of real winter with single degree temps F*.

How about you ? will you be protecting stuff outside or does all your stuff move inside for winter.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:57 pm

Kent,
Our weather is less predictable than ever with each year it seems.
Like you, I'm hoping for December before winter hits.
January would be too much to hope for.

As for protecting stuff, depends on how energetic I am at digging it all out and potting up.
I'll let you know next month how it's looking.

Barb