hyphaene seedling survived a root cut

[sonoranfans]

I planted a hyphaene thebaica seedling from Rod Anderson last december(yeah it was late in the year for that). I was concerned that I needed to get it in the ground, as they have a bad reputation for not liking containers because the "sinker root" development is thwarted. From what I have read, this palm likes to grow a sinker root to a depth of up to 140-150 cm before it starts really growing up top. Well, when I was planting the seedling, I was cutting the bottom of the 14" deep(big) liner to let the roots out, but the roots had already circled the perimeter of the square shaped bottom of th eliner, so I inadvertently cut a root off. The root was >1/8", less than 1/4" inch in thickness, and 3" long, ughhh! I have since learned to use a carpet knife without sharpened tip, but I was kicking myself for probably killing the seedling. So I planted it anyway, put a homemade mini poly greenhouse over it(keep it warm in winter, keep the rain off), and periodically(~3 week interval) rinsed it with humic acid solution, and sometimes fish emulsion. The only strap leaf on it started to die back and turn pale. I didnt take a pic because I dont take pics of doomed palms, kind of hurts. Well it appears that the palm survived, as it has pushed 2 new strap leaves since early may and a third spear is emerging. These palms dont appear to grow at all until the heat hits. Here is my cut root seedling, starting to put some "blue" on.

Edited July 17, 2009 by sonoranfans

[freakypalmguy]

Glad to hear it survived Tom. My two Hyphaene coriacea succumb to my cold temps and frost every year and completely defoliate. They are amazingly resilient though, and when the warm temps arrive, they rapidly replace their lost fronds. This year one appeared to get jammed and took a bit longer to produce fronds, but finally pushed past with a vengeance and is pushing near an inch a day.

[sonoranfans]

Glad to hear it survived Tom. My two Hyphaene coriacea succumb to my cold temps and frost every year and completely defoliate. They are amazingly resilient though, and when the warm temps arrive, they rapidly replace their lost fronds. This year one appeared to get jammed and took a bit longer to produce fronds, but finally pushed past with a vengeance and is pushing near an inch a day.

Got any pics, Matt? Hyphaene pics are kind of rare around here, I'd love to see 'em.

[aztropic]

Heres a pic of my 6 year old Hyphaene coriacea.It has divided into 4 trunks over the years but I plan on taking it back to 1 when I can get to the growing points.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[aztropic]

A better view of the 4 trunks.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[aztropic]

My 2 year old Hyphaene thebaica. Both Hyphaene's were planted by seed in the spots they are currently growing.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[sonoranfans]

Nice hyphaene pics scott! They seem to be doinv very well for you. How frequently, if at all, do you water in winter?

[freakypalmguy]

Glad to hear it survived Tom. My two Hyphaene coriacea succumb to my cold temps and frost every year and completely defoliate. They are amazingly resilient though, and when the warm temps arrive, they rapidly replace their lost fronds. This year one appeared to get jammed and took a bit longer to produce fronds, but finally pushed past with a vengeance and is pushing near an inch a day.

Got any pics, Matt? Hyphaene pics are kind of rare around here, I'd love to see 'em.

Here is a shot of one of my H. coriacea. The other is recovering from being jammed, so it is nothing to look at right now.

This one is about 4 years old from seed and has been in the ground two years.

[aztropic]

Nice hyphaene pics scott! They seem to be doinv very well for you. How frequently, if at all, do you water in winter?

They are interplanted among cacti and agave's so I don't water this area at all over winter.Whatever rain we see is all they get.They are a very drought tolerant palm.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[sonoranfans]

Nice hyphaene pics scott! They seem to be doinv very well for you. How frequently, if at all, do you water in winter?

They are interplanted among cacti and agave's so I don't water this area at all over winter.Whatever rain we see is all they get.They are a very drought tolerant palm.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

Very interesting info scott, thanks!

[Tala]

these like all Borassoid palms do have extraordinarily brittle roots for such rugged palms, but only as sdlgs. Once they are a few yrs old they're easy to move. One rule of thumb I use for all of these type palms (Biz, Bo, Latania, etc.) is plant them in tall liners that are almost as deep as a 3g container, then wait for the 2nd or 3rd leaf. That tells you the roots have branched. If you break a one leaf sdlg w/ just the one root its almost always history. Once I have a few leaves then I move them into 3g containers, raised up a bit (growing point will be higher than orig. in liner). Then just step up one size per yr from there. The Biz & Hyphaene palms are easy but for the quintessential article on doing these go to the ol' Virtual Palm Encyclopedia, I think its linked under cultivation. This applies mainly to Borassus and (could for) Lodoicea but gives you an idea how all the others grow as well.

[sonoranfans]

these like all Borassoid palms do have extraordinarily brittle roots for such rugged palms, but only as sdlgs. Once they are a few yrs old they're easy to move. One rule of thumb I use for all of these type palms (Biz, Bo, Latania, etc.) is plant them in tall liners that are almost as deep as a 3g container, then wait for the 2nd or 3rd leaf. That tells you the roots have branched. If you break a one leaf sdlg w/ just the one root its almost always history. Once I have a few leaves then I move them into 3g containers, raised up a bit (growing point will be higher than orig. in liner). Then just step up one size per yr from there. The Biz & Hyphaene palms are easy but for the quintessential article on doing these go to the ol' Virtual Palm Encyclopedia, I think its linked under cultivation. This applies mainly to Borassus and (could for) Lodoicea but gives you an idea how all the others grow as well.

thanks for the info Tala, my little seedling may have been on its 3rd leaf in a 14" deep liner. It seems to be growing visibly each day now in the heat.

[Kostas]

Thats great to hear Tom,i am very happy it survived for you! Hyphaene thebaica is a very beautyfull palm!

Something equally interesting i had happen is with my Bismarckia nobilis(Silver) seedling.While barerooting it just before its first spear reached the soil surface,i saw that the end of it central,thick root had rotted at the tip but there was a new growing point for this root formed already and was growing straight down from inside the rotten root part! This seedling is in the ground from then and is now pushing its second spear from seed and is very healthy now(its first spear had a necrotic region and half of the leaf was dead while emerging fro the ground but the rest and the newest spear is perfectly fine!)

[sonoranfans]

Thats great to hear Tom,i am very happy it survived for you! Hyphaene thebaica is a very beautyfull palm!

Something equally interesting i had happen is with my Bismarckia nobilis(Silver) seedling.While barerooting it just before its first spear reached the soil surface,i saw that the end of it central,thick root had rotted at the tip but there was a new growing point for this root formed already and was growing straight down from inside the rotten root part! This seedling is in the ground from then and is now pushing its second spear from seed and is very healthy now(its first spear had a necrotic region and half of the leaf was dead while emerging fro the ground but the rest and the newest spear is perfectly fine!)

Very interesting Kostas, these borrasoids are all teriffic palms with a reputation for sensitive roots, but sometimes we find they can recover from damage.