CIDP must be eating its soil...

[lucky1]

...because it's disappearing

Top dressed with sand last time.

Now that's gone, likely down the pot's sides.
This Canary Island Date palm feels like it weighs a ton, desperately in need of a repot.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8235322251/" title="017 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8235 ... 5dcf_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="017"></a>

Barb

[oppalm]

that trunk is getting fat so he/she must eating the soil. maybe you should try some low calorie soil, made with vegetable compost. my cidp does the same thing. I think they grow a ton of feeder roots just on top of the soil. I keep covering mine up but they just grow through each year. thats a good sign, healthy tree. happy tree= happy palm tree farmer.

[lucky1]

I think they grow a ton of feeder roots just on top of the soil. I keep covering mine up but they just grow through each year.

Sounds like those are the "adventitious roots" I've read about.
http://www.ehow.com/info_10028007_root- ... palms.html

Good to learn yours does the same thing, Kent.

Speaking of nutritious soil, do you use leaf mold, etc. in your CIDP soil mix?

Yours must be huge by now, Kent.
Barb

[oppalm]

I'll post a pic soon. Its pretty good size but its 4 palms growing in one pot. Its very heavy. This summer , rather than move it up to the next size container (which I would be unable to lift) I decided I would trim roots on the palm and put it back in the same container. True Story here, I cut the root ball in half and cut 2-4 inches off the sides, and stuck it back in the container watered it, took it out of the sun for a few weeks and this plant never sulked, never drooped, never wilted. It just grew bigger and better.

[lucky1]

I cut the root ball in half and cut 2-4 inches off the sides, and stuck it back in the container watered it, took it out of the sun for a few weeks and this plant never sulked, never drooped, never wilted.

Good to hear CIDP's actually thrive with that treatment.
You may recall this photo 5 years ago where I inadvertently did the same thing, snapped off half its roots as the tractor lifted it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1519497644/" title="DSC00454 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2390/1519 ... bcc8_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00454"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1518662251/" title="DSC00459 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2350/1518 ... 1b75_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC00459"></a>

Since there's no larger pot than a garbage can will do the same again.

I've seen pics on the internet of CIDPs being moved...
great big monsters with only a 2 foot x 2 foot x 2 foot rootball.

Have a peek at these! http://www.balsamfir.com/MotoJournal/mo ... eCreek.jpg

Look forward to seeing a new pic of yours, Kent.

Barb

[TimMAz6]

I bet the CIDP will do fine if you place it in a warm microclimate.

[lucky1]

place it in a warm microclimate

Oops.
No space for it in the house, so it spends every winter in the cold barely-heated building near a south window.

Barb

[TimMAz6]

I'm talking outside!

[lucky1]

My CIDP spends ALL summer outdoors in the hottest sunniest windiest driest area I can offer it.
Other potted plants bake to a crisp there.
Even the Butia capitata in the photo is dead.

The CIDP is one of the first plants I put outdoors in early spring, and among the last to come inside.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/4186271708/" title="DSC02763 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2617/4186 ... 3f3f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC02763"></a>

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Sorry, just noticed this thread.

My CIDP also seems to eat soil and will need a potting-up come spring. Yes, also one of the first out and last in. Was in west-facing wall up against parking lot and so must have been >120 F when the airport air was 114 F. Sucked up lots of water (thanks, W! I was in Oregon then ).

I managed to carry in inside. In the dining room, so not much light. I trimmed many lower fronds so it takes up less floor space.

[lucky1]

My CIDP also seems to eat soil and will need a potting-up come spring.

Amazing amount of fibrous roots.
Probably why it can take a 50% root prune...either accidental or intentional.

You carried it inside?
With your back still recovering from surgery...

trimmed many lower fronds

Me too, easier to walk past it when it's crammed in somewhere for winter.
They do look strange, however, if they're prune ABOVE the 9 and 3 o'clock "line".

Given enough water, they do love intense heat, yours must've taken the record Erik.

Barb