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Help with trimming Cordylines / forming a trunk (UK)


cameron

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Hi,

I'm a new member based in Northumberland (UK - North east). I'm a palm tree addict, trying my best to grow cordylines, washington robusta, tracycarpus, banana tree's, Phoenix Canariensis in my garden. 

I've had some bad experiences with washington robusta's dying (mainly due to a bad winter when we had snow at the end of February and i didn't protect them) however replacements i got last year seam to have got through this winter hopefully.

Anyways getting onto my question. I have one Cordyline Indivisa & quite a few australis, obviously when the leaves turn brown, you cut them off close to the trunk however how do i make this look like an actual trunk, i'll try my best to explain by attaching images. (Not of mine but googled images as i don't have photo's of mine on my laptop).

 

So mine when trimmed look similar to the last 3 images where you can see it's just leaves that have been cut off, but i see lots like the first two images where it looks like a propper trunk & sort of smooth. How do people do this, do they use a knife and carve the trunk? I can't find any videos on youtube to figure out how this is done.

 

I hope this makes sense - and i hope someone can help me. 

 

Thanks.

 

 

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Sorry just realised the images attached in reverse (the first two are the ones with the smooth trunks and the bottom three are similar to what mine look like.

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Cameron;

  I believe that you should trim the older, brown fronds, resulting in a remnant bit of frond, this will eventually wear away on its own schedule, resulting in the smooth trunk.  I would not attempt to excise the complete frond, as persons have done to the trunks of Trachycarpus.

Great plant!  I had a nice one but it was killed by gophers, and I have not been able to obtain a replacement.

Welcome to Palmtalk !  :) 

San Francisco, California

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I believe the first two are a different species of cordyline and naturally have soother trunks. The last three are like all the rest around here until they get older and fall off clean.  In my wet winter climate, I get roots growing between the dead leaves if I don't cut them short. 

Welcome to PalmTalk. 

Edited by Palm crazy
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2 hours ago, Laaz said:

They do wear away over time. I really wish there was a source for true Indivisa in the USA.

 

 

cant even find australis…… so I planted yucca instead

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2 hours ago, Laaz said:

They do wear away over time. I really wish there was a source for true Indivisa in the USA.

I purchased seed from a vendor based in Nevada, and obtained four small plants from the seed lot, but they are NOT C. indivisa.  Possibly not even a Cordyline as the foliage is strongly distictous, as much so as a Ravenala.

Round two, I purchased seed from a website vendor based in NZ, supposedly the real thing, but no germination yet.  Palmcrazy has seed from the same source. 

Gardening is nothing if not patience!  :winkie:

  • Upvote 1

San Francisco, California

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12 hours ago, Tropicdoc said:

cant even find australis…… so I planted yucca instead

They are usually sold as "spikes" I had three over 12 ft tall, all were killed from last winters 16F ice storm we had.

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