James,

Thanks for the pictures, and I'll be watching for the results as I may need to move some next winter.
I noticed you didn't prune the branches; I would have thought that would be required to accommodate the loss of roots?

Hi Glenn,

As I mentioned, I ran out of time to do much to the trees. I left more of the root mass than I wanted to, since I knew I would not be pruning the tops. Not pruning the top is a little bit of a problem on the larger one. I had to set to rocks on top of the soil to keep the tree from falling over.

My plan for this year (if they survive the experience) is:

-Let them leaf and fruit as normal.
-After fruiting but before going dormant, air-layer some of the larger limbs.
-Remove air-layers and prune smaller limbs when dormant.
-Root-prune and repot again at the end of the year.

I am planning to prune so the crown starts about six feet (including container) high.

When I do this again, my plan is to airlayer/prune the tree BEFORE it comes out of the ground. I wanted to do this with this tree, but I had a hard time visualizing what the tree would look like separated and in containers.

~james

Glenn,

I neglected to mention, I dug the moat around the tree in Dec 05 and Jan 06. It had a year to push new roots from the base. I developed this principle from the Air-Pot concept. So the tree (and eventually both halves) had a pretty substantial root mass. Also, I removed it from the ground and potted them up during the second week of Dec 06, which allowed the root system to grow and establish itself in the container before the tree breaks dormancy.

~james

Even without any pruning, all of the limbs on both trees have leafed out. Both leaf and figlet production seem to be inline with the sister tree still in the ground. I pulled back some of the growing mix, and both have new root growth.

I'll give progress reports as the year goes on. For now it looks like business as usual.

~james

It's OT, but in one of your pictures above I think I see Sago palm's?
If so, I am in need of some information and maybe you can help. I purchased a couple last summer and they seemed to acclimate "so-so" and now one of them appears to have frozen to the ground. There's still some green in the "stump" portion but no new fronds have started to develop. Do you have any idea whether it will come back from the root or stump? Thanks.

I am not sure, but I think most palms only grow from the growing tip. They kill palm trees to serve the heart of the leaves in tropical areas. It's called something like million dollar salad. Keep trying though. I have heard the same of phaleanopsis orchids and I have seen them produce a new growth tip near the roots if conditions are right. Good luck.
Dawn

Glenn,

I really don't know much about Sagos. The ones in the containers are from a palm in the front yard. They are waiting there until I re-landscape the front.

It could be that the main palm has died, but its possible that it will put off babies off to the side. I have also seen around here some Sagos that have started growing off the side of the mother plant well above the soil line. I would think if it does not recover this year, its a goner.

~james

Here is a link that might be useful: Palms and Cycads Forum

OK James,
In you transplant post you promised progress reports. How did it do? I love the pictures.

Were both of the split trees slated to go back in the ground, or were you aiming to keep them potted?

The picts are great! I also want to see what happened James! Thanks!

The reason I took them out of the ground was due to an RKN infestation. Because of that, I am growing all of my trees in containers. I took this tree out as a test before taking another one out. Basically, my thought was if this one died, I'd learn what not to do on the other one.

Both survived, leafed out and put out a modest number of fruit. Because of the rains this year, everything (including the fruit on these two) split.

Despite (or maybe because of) the RKN infestation, both trees seem to have rooted vigorously in the containers. This may be another reason why top production was modest this year. I had root pruned very heavily not only to fit into the container, but also to remove any visible galls on the roots.

In short, the trees removal was a success. What would I do differently? Well, as I mentioned, I am pruning the next tree to come out of the ground by air-layering it (the pictures in Air-Layering with Air-Pots are from one of these two trees or the one being removed at the end of the next growing season) now and pruning again before taking it out of the ground. Also, I think I need to find larger containers.

~james