Stilts question

[Cindy Adair 2,171]

Sharp eyes may have noticed this Areca vestiaria in my Verschaffeltia line up. This ready to be planted clump was a recent generous gift and deserves to be liberated immediately and stretch its roots, don't you think?

It has been in this spot more than a week and seems to be responding well to the light level and I am in a planting mode.

I usually try to plant out potted plants into the ground at exactly the same soil depth as they were in the pot. However with this one I am not sure.

Other A.vestiarias I planted tiny are now much bigger and have shown no stilt formation.

Is this a reaction to the pot, like reaching for better conditions? 

Basically do I plant it even slightly deeper or not?

Thanks!

[doranakandawatta 2,789]

Cindy, 

I would cover these roots with a good humus soil, it seems that the pot substrat reduced all the time your Areca has grown there.
Anyway its' time for the Areca to start a new life in your garden soil since it looks more like a mature plant than a young seedling !

[realarch 2,635]

Hi Cindy, here are a few shots of my remaining A. vestiaria, all with stilt roots. 

I would think you could plant with the roots exposed as they currently are in the pot, or sink them down a bit. Either way they will develop stilt roots. 

Tim

[Kim 2,302]

Stilt roots will happen, you can be sure...  And offspring!  Millions of offspring!

 

[Palm Tree Jim 584]

11 hours ago, Kim said:

Stilt roots will happen, you can be sure...  And offspring!  Millions of offspring!

 

Wish I had this problem!

[Yunder Wækraus 475]

Great photos in this thread!

[doranakandawatta 2,789]

here are a few shots of my remaining A. vestiaria, all with stilt roots. 

Tim,
Actually what happened to the not remaining A. vestiaria ?
Did you remove them and put on your compost pile ? 
I would love to see your compost then !

[mike in kurtistown 406]

Cindy,

Here is my little clump of the orange-crownshaft variety, 5-gal orange bucket for scale. I think I agree with Tim's recommendation. I noticed that there seemed to some surface root runners extending beyond the stilt roots.The two in back (one a double) were planted in July 2011, the smaller one in front in May 2013. They are in full all-day sun and get a bit too much wind (hard to avoid here).

I also have three clumps of the red-crownshaft variety, but they are so dense that I can't even see the roots.

 

 

[Cindy Adair 2,171]

Again I am most appreciative and humbled to see the photos here. Books and internet encyclopedias are useful but one on one answering specific questions by growers all over the world is priceless. 

As much as I envy the big trees I will miss the pretty bifid juvenile leaves.

I have dozens of 2 leaf seedling size that seem to be the red crownshaft variety from their similar mother, but this ready to plant clump will need to represent the orange version. I expect it to leap being planted soon and the rainy season beginning!