Many palm trees form a trunk from which the characteristic crest grows. These palms cannot be divided, because the main stem nourishes the plant and it would inevitably die. However, there are also palm species that form side shoots or saplings. You can separate these and grow new palm trees from the sprouts.

Some palms form daughter plants

Separate the shoots from the mother plant

If you repot your palm tree, side shoots often appear directly from the root. If the sprouts have already formed a few fronds, you can separate them from the mother plant, they usually grow well. Follow these steps:

  • Lift the palm tree out of the planter.
  • Clean a very sharp knife well so that no germs penetrate through the cut.
  • Cut shoot.
  • Place this in a small flower pot filled with potting soil or a sand-peat mixture.
  • Put a transparent plastic bag over the offshoot and close it in the lower area (greenhouse climate).
  • Make the offspring bright and warm. The optimal temperature is between 20 and 23 degrees.
  • Don't forget to air it every day. Putrefaction bacteria and mold spores don't stand a chance.

The care of the small palm tree

It is poured very carefully with lukewarm, lime-free water. Be careful not to get the soil too wet. Too much moisture inhibits root development and promotes rotting.

It can take up to three months for the palm tree to sprout roots. You can tell that the offspring has been successful by the fact that the offspring puts out new fronds. Now you can remove the plastic bag.

Water and fertilize in the first year

It is important that you only water the plant moderately and never keep it too moist or too dry, because young plants are much more sensitive than older palms.

There is no fertilizer at all in the first six months. After that, you can supply the plant with half the dosage of a commercial fertilizer every 14 days.

tips

Propagation by seeds is extremely tedious in palm plants. There are varieties that take two years to germinate and it takes another several years for the small plants to grow into handsome palms.

Category:

Trees