transplanting needle palm

[willy1der]

Im gettiting a needle palm and I want to plant this in the yard but the thing is Im selling the house in a few years and I would want to dig this up and bring with me.would this palm handle the transplant very well.Does the root system grow deep on these.thanks for the reply!!!

[mnpalms]

I don't have a ton of needle palm experience, but maybe my recent situation can offer you some help. I planted a 7-gallon needle early last spring, it was potted (all roots intact) and about 3' tall and with a good foot of clear trunk. I wintered it in ground here in MN but accidentally forgot to plug in its xmas lights/rope light heat last mid December when it got covered. It was covered by a large plastic garbage can. Made it through the MN winter without any heat, just the garbage can covering it. It suffered 75% defoliation, no spear pull though. It is alive but will take a lot of time to recover as needles grow so slow. Even it's two suckers died back. Our absolute winter low was -18F here in my yard.

I recently decided to dig it up and pot it so I can rehab it indoors over the next winter or two until it is fully recovered. I'll keep it outside during the spring/summer/fall though. I put it in a 12-gallon pot. I observed the roots did not go that deep, it seemed the roots near the surface are the ones that really grew outward though. I was careful to dig down to get all the lower roots and it seemed that 2 feet down was plenty. I did end up cutting through some of the surface roots but tried to minimize that. About a foot out from the trunk all the way around it. That seemed to get most of them. I gave it some root hormone and it barely fit into the big pot. So overall I'd say that in one full growing season it about tripled its roots but they did not go as deep as I thought they would. Mostly outward in a thick mat. I hope this helps. Good luck!

[lucky1]

Interesting info mnpalms.

If it's only "a few years" until you move, willy1der, maybe plant it in a 15 or 20 gallon plastic pot with LOTS OF EXTRA DRAIN HOLES DRILLED IN THE BOTTOM, and sink the whole thing into the ground. There should also be a few inches of gravel right under the pot to further aid in drainage from the pot it's planted in.

Barb

[willy1der]

Sinking the pot in the ground sounds like my easiest route.Glad to here that it survived with no heat in your zone.Makes me more confident planting one in my zone5b.Thanks for your replies.How is your palm now!!!!

[JackLord]

In my experience, you can transplant almost anything- provided you do it carefully. Three of my four Trachys are transplants. I originally planted them in my parents' yard as I was then an apartment dweller. I purchased a house and I moved one right off the bat, then two more last year. The first is now the star while the other two are recovering from transplant shock. I think they will do fine.

Our house came with lots of large azaleas. I have moved three to other spots and while it was hell, it worked.

As the poster before me said, just allow for a big enough root ball.

[mnpalms]

I think sinking a large pot is a good idea. The only potential issue might be the drain holes/roots. Yes needles need very well draining soil so the holes are a must. I just wonder how much of the roots will want to try to grow out through the holes and into the ground below though. That could become a little messy when trying to dig it up after a few years. I'm sure it would work well, just might be a little tricky...

From what I've learned from experience root hormone is a MUST when digging up and/or transplanting. I can't recommend it enough. That and mycorrhizal fungi. I know there is some debate as to whether or not adding it is beneficial. I'm a true believer based on my experience though. I've never lost a basjoo pup cut from a mother when I used root hormone and the fungi in the soil, not a single one. Another fine example is Monrovia brand plants. If anyone here has bought any of these Monrovia plants at a local garden center, you will know what I mean. It's all about the soil according to Monrovia and I think they are right. Even with my potted Monrovia trachy in which I paid $30 for when it was 3' tall and had a foot of trunk, it nearly doubled in size in a year (potted) and now has over 2 feet of trunk and has grown at an amazing rate for a trachy, especially compared with my other potted trachys and other palms. Same with their basjoos, med fan palms, yuccas, etc. Most larger (US) independent garden centers buy stock from this grower and can get items people want by request also.
As for the status of my sad needle palm right now, it is just slowly getting used to being in a pot I think. Very little spear movement so far. It is going to be a long slow road to recovery I'm afraid. At least I didn't lose it though!

[mnpalms]

My needle palm last summer (front left of the planter). Second picture is 3/2/10 after surviving an MN winter unheated, covered by a plastic garbage can from mid Dec. until 3/2. I dug it up once it warmed up somewhat and potted it. Y. thompsoniana went into its spot in the planter. Another similar planter on the other side of the pool will be all basjoos this year. See Jimhardy's thread in the cold hardy palms section for pictures of the second trachy I'm putting in that planter with my other mature trachy and y. thompsoniana.

<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C00455.jpg>

<img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... C00556.jpg>

[ROBRETI]

Wow, mnpalms, this is a morale booster!! Thanks for the pics.
Robert

[gpenny]

Hi! I'm new to board (first reply). Needles are very easy to transplant (very tough). I've heard of individuals that harvest seedlings in the woods, dropped some on the ground, come back a week or so later and they survived! I wouldn't recommend this !! I have transplant many plants and suckers and never lost one. Good luck!

[hardyjim]

I don't see what area your in but the farther north the more difficult a time the plant has settling in.
There is really no good reason to plant it if you are moving soon.
I would say pot plant as Barb said,put a slightly bigger pot in first and you can slide it out
in winter if you are in z6 north,this will keep it from getting winter damage(remember they grow slow
esp north)keep it pristine and wait to plant it in it's permanent spot.
Winter damage is slow to heal on these,unless your Bill and get 10 leaves a year out of them-
I still think he gives his plants HGH and steroids!

[lucky1]

unless your Bill and get 10 leaves a year out of them

BTW, where'd he go?

gpenny, welcome aboard!
Yippeee, more palms to look at..post away please!

Barb