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Needle palms getting out of control

OhioTodd

By OhioTodd
in COLD HARDY PALMS

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OhioTodd Rookie

OhioTodd

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi, I have 2 needle palms in southern Ohio.  They have been out for over 10 years and are thriving.  That’s the problem.  The largest is about 6 ft tall x 8 feet wide.  Very healthy.  My question is can I defoliate it and allow it to start over?  The leaves wouldn’t reach as far for a few years.  I know it’s not ideal care but has anyone done this and would the plant likely suffer serious harm?  Thanks!

054C1345-45A0-4E85-983E-0E201A53D615.jpeg

Edited by OhioTodd
  • Like 1
EastCanadaTropicals Experienced

EastCanadaTropicals

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, OhioTodd said:

Hi, I have 2 needle palms in southern Ohio.  They have been out for over 10 years and are thriving.  That’s the problem.  The largest is about 6 ft tall x 8 feet wide.  Very healthy.  My question is can I defoliate it and allow it to start over?  The leaves wouldn’t reach as far for a few years.  I know it’s not ideal care but has anyone done this and would the plant likely suffer serious harm?  Thanks!

054C1345-45A0-4E85-983E-0E201A53D615.jpeg

No, it's not gonna get any smaller, and it will start refoliating in a few months. Since its green, you will cause serious harm to the needle.

Nothing to say here. 

DAVEinMB Grand Master

DAVEinMB

Posted
Posted

@OhioTodd not the answer you're looking for but leave them be, they are gorgeous. I'm sure someone else will chime in with pruning advice.  Also, welcome to PT

  • Like 2
EastCanadaTropicals Experienced

EastCanadaTropicals

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, OhioTodd said:

Hi, I have 2 needle palms in southern Ohio.  They have been out for over 10 years and are thriving.  That’s the problem.  The largest is about 6 ft tall x 8 feet wide.  Very healthy.  My question is can I defoliate it and allow it to start over?  The leaves wouldn’t reach as far for a few years.  I know it’s not ideal care but has anyone done this and would the plant likely suffer serious harm?  Thanks!

054C1345-45A0-4E85-983E-0E201A53D615.jpeg

You gotta transplant it, if you don't have any spots left in your house, give it away to another grower in a cold climate.

  • Like 1

Nothing to say here. 

Allen Grand Master

Allen

Posted
Posted

I agree move it or prune fronds only where they overgrow walkway, etc.   

  • Like 1

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@tntropics - 60+ In-ground 7A palms - (Sabal) minor(8 large + 27 seedling size, 3 dwarf),  brazoria(1) , birmingham(3), etonia (1) louisiana(4), palmetto (1), riverside (1),  tamaulipas (1), (Trachycarpus) fortunei(7+), wagnerianus(1+),  Rhapidophyllum hystrix(7),  Blue Butia odorata (1), Serenoa repens (1) +Tons of tropical plants.  Recent Yearly Lows -6F, -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F

 

Xerarch Grand Master

Xerarch

Posted
Posted

Hey I used to live near Marietta, for now I live in Akron.  Man I thought I was the only palm nut in those parts, I have a needle palm in a pot but I still take it inside in the winter.  If I would have ever driven past your house in Marietta and saw those two beauties in your yard I probably would have knocked on your door.

Corpus Christi, TX, near salt water, zone 9b/10a! Except when it isn't and everything gets nuked.

OhioTodd Rookie

OhioTodd

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I’m from Marietta but used to live in Akron (Jackson twp) loved it up there

Looking Glass Grand Master

Looking Glass

Posted
Posted

Gorgeous palms there.  Good job.  Probably pretty unique for the area.   Can you do a very selective hand trim of the unruly, shabby, or in the way, leaves?  It adds a nice touch to that water feature.  Zoom out.  Let’s see a little more of the overall picture.  

NBTX11 Grand Master

NBTX11

Posted
Posted

Those are some great looking healthy palms.

  • Like 1
donofriojim1 Collaborator

donofriojim1

Posted
Posted
On 3/17/2021 at 6:54 PM, OhioTodd said:

Hi, I have 2 needle palms in southern Ohio.  They have been out for over 10 years and are thriving.  That’s the problem.  The largest is about 6 ft tall x 8 feet wide.  Very healthy.  My question is can I defoliate it and allow it to start over?  The leaves wouldn’t reach as far for a few years.  I know it’s not ideal care but has anyone done this and would the plant likely suffer serious harm?  Thanks!

054C1345-45A0-4E85-983E-0E201A53D615.jpeg

Hello from Cincinnati!

mnorell Veteran

mnorell

Posted
Posted

Those are really beautiful needles! Wow, and in Ohio! Please don't trim them! The worst thing in the world is the inexplicably common desire of growers to "leg up" a Rhapidophyllum. In nature they grow in large aggregations, in very shady limestone areas under large trees, clothed in foliage from head to toe. The effect when you duplicate that natural habitat with a grove effect is magnificent. You have managed to get a very full effect with only the assistance of your house-eaves for shade. You might be able to move the one near your walkway if it really becomes a nuisance, but be careful when you do and make sure it is at the right time of year. It would be a terrible shame to lose either of those. Congratulations on your success with those beautiful palms.

  • Like 1

Michael Norell

Rancho Mirage, California | 33°44' N 116°25' W | 287 ft | z10a | avg Jan 43/70F | Jul 78/108F avg | Weather Station KCARANCH310

previously Big Pine Key, Florida | 24°40' N 81°21' W | 4.5 ft. | z12a | Calcareous substrate | avg annual min. approx 52F | avg Jan 65/75F | Jul 83/90 | extreme min approx 41F

previously Natchez, Mississippi | 31°33' N 91°24' W | 220 ft.| z9a | Downtown/river-adjacent | Loess substrate | avg annual min. 23F | Jan 43/61F | Jul 73/93F | extreme min 2.5F (1899); previously Los Angeles, California (multiple locations)

climate change virginia Experienced

climate change virginia

Posted
Posted

I don't know but maybe you might be able to separate the 'suckers' like how people do with banana plants

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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