Laccospadix Australasica Transplant Technique for Difficult Palms!

[SHEP]

This is my fifth attempt to grow this palm, and was finally successful under my large Brahea Moorei, which I keep very wet.  But now - how to move as it was getting into full sun?  I remembered Dwight telling me a technique. Here it is!  Patience is absolutely necessary. I dug down on one side of palm and excavated half of root ball area, approximately 6-7” deep, and 3-4” wide (take no prisoners) and packed with very moist spaghum moss.  A year later I went deeper by sacrificing any roots another 2” on same side, I used very long trenching shovel,  I also dug out in mud areas of that side of rootball that didn’t have any roots and packed same wet peat moss in the pockets in root ball, waited at least six months, maybe a year and then took entire plant out, and put in my palm soil mix.  I cut many of the branches, kept in shade, with a little filtered light.  Here it is!  I live in Contra Costa county and I know Florabunda has seedlings but this is a touchy palm.  I hope this help's someone!

 

[Darold Petty]

Congratulations, Cecille !   

[Merlyn]

@SHEP thanks for the tips, I didn't know that Laccospadix Australasicus was a touchy palm!  I bought seedlings from Floribunda in June 2023 and only have two left...still struggling to survive.  Any tips on growing these up to planting size in pots?  I had them in a pretty shaded spot in my nursery area in 6" pots, but I think they were staying too wet and started getting apparent iron deficiencies.  They have done better in AM sun / PM shade with daily watering, but still aren't totally happy here.

[happypalms]

Seems to me just another Australian moving around overseas in another country again job well done.🤣

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

I can attest to the same method with Sabal palm, but with a little twist because we do not have rocks in the soil. I do not use peat moss as we get adequate rain and backfilling a trench is not needed. I too use a trenching shovel with cutting edge sharpened with a file and dig a circle only halfway around, with the shovel blade slightly angled in towards the bottom of the root ball and handle away from the trunk. It makes the dig way easier if you periodically stop and sharpen the blade during the dig. Make the cut down as far as the soil will allow. Then mark the ends of the cuts so you can find them later. Wait a year or whatever time suits you and then complete the dig of the circle. You can then remove the palm or wait a while for it to adjust to the 2nd cut.