How to transplant a palm tree

There are palm trees that can be potted

Do you have a palm tree and want to know how to transplant it? If so, the first thing you have to keep in mind is that it is a type of plant that does not like changes too much. It has a very sensitive and fragile root system, like that of all herbs, which is why transplants must be done with great care so that it can pass normally.

For this reason, it is also important to carry them out at the right time, as long as the plant suffers as little damage as possible. So we are going to explain how to transplant a palm tree, whether you want to plant in a larger pot or in the garden.

How do you repot a palm tree?

Palm trees need space

There are many palm trees that can always be in pots, such as the robeline palm (roebellini phoenix), heart of palm (Chamaerops humilis), and of course the Chamaedorea, which have very thin trunks that rarely exceed two meters in height. But it is very, very important that we make sure they are in the right pots., since if we keep them in ones that are already small, over time they will weaken and end up dying.

Therefore, We must avoid this by transplanting them to a larger pot as soon as the roots come out of the holes of the one it currently has, and/or if it happens that the plant has been in the same pot for more than three years.. In case of doubt, what we can do is take it by the trunk and try to remove it a little: if when doing so we see that the earth bread comes out whole, without falling apart, then it is that it needs a change.

When should a potted palm tree be transplanted? The ideal time is spring, once it has settled. It could also be done at the beginning of summer, but it is preferable that it be done before temperatures begin to exceed a maximum of 20ºC, since when that happens, these plants grow a little faster as the heat stimulates their growth.

Materials you will need

  • Pot with holes in its base. It should be about 7 centimeters wider and taller than the one you already have.
  • Quality substrate, light and fluffy. We recommend the universal of the following brands: Flower, BioBizz, weedness. You can click the links if you want to buy them.
  • Watering can filled with water to water after transplanting.
  • Gardening gloves.

You have it all? Then it's time to transplant it.

Step by step

To transplant the palm tree to a larger pot, what should be done is the following:

  1. The first thing is to take the new pot and add enough substrate, more or less up to half or a little less. The height of the old pot must be taken into account, since the plant must not be too high or too low with respect to the edge of the container.
  2. Then, you have to remove the palm tree from the old pot. First of all, I recommend giving the pot a few taps so that the soil detaches from it, and thus it can come out better. In the event that the roots have come out of the drainage holes and become entangled, we will have to untangle them carefully.
  3. Then, we introduce it into the new pot, placing it in the center.
  4. Later, we will finish filling the pot, leaving the trunk uncovered since if it is covered with soil it can rot.
  5. Finally, we will proceed to water. You have to pour water until the soil is very moist.

How do you plant a palm tree in the ground?

Palm trees grow best in the ground

Washingtonia filibusta (left) and Phoenix roebellini, from my garden.

The vast majority of palm species are too large to have in pots, so very often there will be no choice but to plant them in the ground if we want them to remain beautiful. But to do it correctly, we have to wait until spring arrives and the risk of frost is behind usotherwise they would be damaged.

Even if it is an exotic species, it is best to wait until the beginning of summer is near, since in any case until the temperatures do not exceed 20ºC it will probably not grow. And if for whatever reason we plant it earlier and there is a drop in temperatures, the most exposed leaves will no longer look healthy.

Materials

  • Una hoe to make the planting hole.
  • Gardening gloves to protect your hands.
  • Watering can with water.
  • And of course a place to plant our palm tree.

With regard to this last point, we must take into account several things: one, that palm roots are not aggressive and that therefore they cannot break anything, unless the pavement is very soft or poorly made; and two, that there are palm trees that need sun (such as Washingtonia, Phoenix, Chamaerops, Sabal, Butia, Jubaea, Parajaubea, Trithrinax, Roystonea, etc.), and others that prefer shade, such as Chamaedorea, Howea forsteriana (kentia), Cyrtostachys renda (red palm), Calamus, Archontophoenix, among others.

Step by step

Once you have everything you can plant your palm tree in the ground by following these steps:

  1. Make a hole or planting hole that measures at least 50 x 50 centimeters and fill it with water. Then wait until the earth has absorbed all of it, and control the time it takes to do so. And it is that if it takes more than 30-40 minutes you will have to make the largest hole, 1 x 1 meter, and put a layer of about 40 centimeters of volcanic clay (for sale here) or perlite.
  2. Then, fill the hole with universal growing medium from one of the brands we mentioned before, such as Flower or BioBizz taking into account the height of the pot.
  3. Next, carefully remove the plant from its container. Give the pot a few knocks so that the earthen bread comes off and the palm tree can easily come out.
  4. The next step is to insert it into the hole and finish filling it.
  5. make a tree grate with the land that is left over, and water.

Thus, you can have your palm trees well transplanted.


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