root pruning of tropical palm trees

[Marc Suhor]

Dear forum,

I ask you to share your experiences with root pruning of (sub-) tropical palm trees. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, it is no longer possible for me to choose ever larger planters for my home-grown palms. In the past I had no problems with root pruning with the following palms: phoenix dactylifera, Canary Date palm, Washingtonia robusta, Senegalese date palm (Phoenix reclinata)

With my other palms I don't dare to prune the roots yet. When you see the damage to the leaves, it is usually too late or no longer reversible.
You may have already pruned the roots of the following palms or have the knowledge/experience to prune the roots of such palms:
Golden fruit palm (dypsis lutescens), dwarf palm (chamaerops humilis), livistona chinensis, syagrus romanzoffiana, triangular palm (Dypsis decaryi), fishtail palm (Caryota plumosa), royal palm (roystonea regia), Ptychosperma macarthurii and Arenga porphyrocarpa.

I guess that the subtropical palm trees tolerate the cut better than their tropical counterparts.

I look forward to your comments and thank you!

[Victor G.]

Not exactly of much help, but I once heard that palms don't like it to have their roots pruned or cut. Sorry I have no exprerience on this, just thought I would share this info.

Do you mean that the roots are coming out of (or breaking) the container you put them in?