Quickest way to a free Butia

[Fusca]

As I have pointed out in previous threads it is common to find Butia seedlings growing in old leaf boots of mature palms.  This one I got this morning from a Butia that also had Sabal seedlings growing on the truck!  It must have been growing there for a few years as it's almost growing pinnate leaves.  I'm going to pot it up for another year and then plant out.

[Fusca]

Here's the palm with the seedlings - Butia on the left and Sabal on the right.

[Sabal King]

Ironically enough we did this two years ago.. found a nice mature butia, and saw a young seedling growing which we took home, and years later, it's doing great.  Good job saving these!

[Dwarf Fan]

Is there any kind of “technique” involved to not rip off the rootball? I tried this a few days ago on a S. Mexicana stuck just over head high in Momma’s boots and the rootball just wouldn’t budge and I eventually ended up with only 2 torn strap leaves and no rootball whatsoever after a few gentle tugs didn’t seem to do the trick to free it. 🤨

Are Butias a little hardier when it comes to getting them liberated after months and months of boot growth? I have a Butia “boot baby” I have had my eye on for over 3 months just waiting to run into the owner to ask permission.

 

[Fusca]

 

10 minutes ago, Dwarf Fan said:

Is there any kind of “technique” involved to not rip off the rootball? I tried this a few days ago on a S. Mexicana stuck just over head high in Momma’s boots and the rootball just wouldn’t budge and I eventually ended up with only 2 torn strap leaves and no rootball whatsoever after a few gentle tugs didn’t seem to do the trick to free it. 🤨

Are Butias a little hardier when it comes to getting them liberated after months and months of bit growth? I have a Butia boot baby I have had my eye on just waiting to run into the owner to ask permission.

I waited until after a good rain which made the extraction a bit easier.  I've also pulled the old boot away from the trunk some (to kinda break up the organic matter that the roots are growing in) at the same time I'm pulling on the seedling.  I didn't have to do that this time.

Edited October 11, 2023 by Fusca

[teddytn]

Crazy they have enough moisture to even survive 

[Dwarf Fan]

1 hour ago, teddytn said:

Crazy they have enough moisture to even survive 

Agreed. The Butia Odorata I have had my eye on has remained green through months and months of 96 degrees in South Texas end of summer heat with NO rain. The only thing I can think of is morning dew/humidity gathers inside the boot material and the seedlings are able to sustain life from that little bit of moisture that is all I can think of?!?

We have had tons of rain recently so this might be a good time to go see if I can run into the homeowner who probably doesn’t even notice it is there and get the go ahead to gently peel back the boot a touch and see if I can work it free with the rootball intact this time.

[SeanK]

You can find a lot of freebies like Adonidia m around Miami.

[Fusca]

20 hours ago, teddytn said:

Crazy they have enough moisture to even survive 

 

19 hours ago, Dwarf Fan said:

Agreed. The Butia Odorata I have had my eye on has remained green through months and months of 96 degrees in South Texas end of summer heat with NO rain. The only thing I can think of is morning dew/humidity gathers inside the boot material and the seedlings are able to sustain life from that little bit of moisture that is all I can think of?!?

We have had tons of rain recently so this might be a good time to go see if I can run into the homeowner who probably doesn’t even notice it is there and get the go ahead to gently peel back the boot a touch and see if I can work it free with the rootball intact this time.

I think one factor in the seedling's survival is the fact that it had enough organic material to get some good roots going and another factor is that this particular palm is surrounded by other mature palms (mostly Sabals) so the seedling wasn't exposed to much direct sunlight.  Plus the fact that this area stays very humid to your point @Dwarf Fan.  I had a neighbor in Flour Bluff who had an even larger seedling growing in the trunk of his Butia, but I never did ask him about trying to rescue it.  I wonder if it's the same guy?  LOL!