Separating S. minor

[5am]

Ever been too afraid to separate minors because the root damage may kill them? Me too! But since my last move, seedlings are readily available at a local nursery so I can experiment without feeling too much remorse if something goes wrong.

March 19. There were 3 minors growing in a single pot and I wasn't happy with the arrangement. These 3 have much smaller leaves than my other minors. Not really sure if they're misidentified or perhaps just a much smaller variety. Anyway, it was time to yank it out and see what could be done! The roots were only about 1/3 of this depth just 10 months before, when it was potted.

 

This lizard was hiding under the pot. The camo is so effective that my phone wouldn't focus on it.

 

Separating the roots with a jet of water went nowhere so out came the reciprocating saw!  It was over in under a minute. Avoiding one of the underground stems proved impossible, so the sliver you see on the small one at left actually belongs to the middle one. Before potting them back up I rubbed cinnamon over the cuts. I have no idea whether that actually works, but I've already used a saw on them so why not try?

 

I also removed some older fronds while I was at it. Will they recover in time? Maybe! The smallest one made it out with the most roots, but if it's true that damaged Sabal roots die all the way back to the plant, it won't matter.

[Fusca]

9 hours ago, 5am said:

Ever been too afraid to separate minors because the root damage may kill them? Me too! But since my last move, seedlings are readily available at a local nursery so I can experiment without feeling too much remorse if something goes wrong.

March 19. There were 3 minors growing in a single pot and I wasn't happy with the arrangement. These 3 have much smaller leaves than my other minors. Not really sure if they're misidentified or perhaps just a much smaller variety. Anyway, it was time to yank it out and see what could be done! The roots were only about 1/3 of this depth just 10 months before, when it was potted.

 

This lizard was hiding under the pot. The camo is so effective that my phone wouldn't focus on it.

 

Separating the roots with a jet of water went nowhere so out came the reciprocating saw!  It was over in under a minute. Avoiding one of the underground stems proved impossible, so the sliver you see on the small one at left actually belongs to the middle one. Before potting them back up I rubbed cinnamon over the cuts. I have no idea whether that actually works, but I've already used a saw on them so why not try?

I believe that the underground stem is what you need to be concerned with.  I hope you get success with the other two but I'd guess that the middle one will look alive for awhile before it gives up. 

What nursery did you get them from?

[5am]

Dyer's in Weslaco. Their hours listed on google maps are wrong. Weekdays are 8:30-3, but they are not open on weekends. The entrance isn't marked so it might feel more like you're pulling up someone's gravel driveway, but don't let that deter you. The place is absolutely worth a visit. Take cash in case the card reader isn't working. You won't want to leave empty-handed. The 1-5 gal palm selection is larger than I've seen anywhere else. They've also got a large bromeliad collection and the more mundane stuff like crepe myrtles. No flowers or bananas, though. 

[5am]

They’re still alive! After the butchery I didn’t keep them in individual pots long before I decided I had space in the ground. 

The largest of the 3 is doing fine. 

 

The smallest might finally be pushing out its first proper spear since that event. It made a couple extremely small fronds then reverted to a strap but now there’s a normal looking spear.

 

The one with the stem cut had been doing nothing until recently. It suddenly looks to be on its way out, as @Fusca predicted.

[SeanK]

They all look great. A couple weeks back, I transplanted a bunch of stray S.minor in the yard. Mult-strap and split-leaf specimens. Not too many roots to damage. I assume they'll sulk a year but I wanted to do it while the soil was warm and I can water each day.

[NC_Palms]

Oh wow yours are definitely larger than mine. I tried to separate Serenoa repens like this and ended up killing them lol. 

[5am]

On 8/26/2025 at 4:07 PM, NC_Palms said:

tried to separate Serenoa repens like this

I have a young Serenoa (no pups yet) that lost some leaves both times I repotted it. So I’ve been wondering about that, whether they can be propagated by division or only by seed. There’s conflicting info out there! Are you aware of any successes in dividing them? 

[NC_Palms]

9 hours ago, 5am said:

I have a young Serenoa (no pups yet) that lost some leaves both times I repotted it. So I’ve been wondering about that, whether they can be propagated by division or only by seed. There’s conflicting info out there! Are you aware of any successes in dividing them? 

I'm sure someone on PT had more success than I have. I never could get it to work.