Repot in winter?

[Zeeth]

One of my older coconuts needs a repot soon. Not into another pot, but the same pot with more soil (when I originally potted it, I ran out of potting mix, so the pot is only half full). I want to wait until spring, but I was thinking, will the added soil help with cold insulation any, or would repotting it in winter shock it past the point where the added insulation wouldn't help. I expect the responses will tell me to wait until spring, but you never know...

Keith

[Walter John]

wait

[Zeeth]

wait

Thought so, thanks

Keith

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Today I potted up 100 Chambeyronia hookeri, 60 Dypsis species white, 30 or so Socratea exhorriza, 8 Mauritia flexuosa, a bunch of random Pinangas, and a partridge in a pear treeeee....

It's not cold enough down to worry about shock... Go for it bro!!

[Zeeth]

Today I potted up 100 Chambeyronia hookeri, 60 Dypsis species white, 30 or so Socratea exhorriza, 8 Mauritia flexuosa, a bunch of random Pinangas, and a partridge in a pear treeeee....

It's not cold enough down to worry about shock... Go for it bro!!

Are you sure? I don't want to lose this coco...

[Pivi]

Are you sure? I don't want to lose this coco...

Zeeth, if you don't want to lose your coco and you don't want to take any risk then leave if for spring.

Is he sure? It's on you to decide. He told you what he did and his opinion.

Edited November 21, 2009 by Pivi

[Succulentum]

HI Keith,

if you can remove the tree without breaking the root ball, and put the new potting mix below without touch the Roots, where is the shock problem ?

I often do that.

Jean-Bernard

[Zeeth]

Well, I repotted it. It was a quick job, and I tried to be as careful as possible around the roots. I threw down some root stimulator, to lessen the possibility of shock also. I once ripped a coconut about this size out of the ground, and he had only a little bit of roots that weren't torn. He went into transplant shock for a few months, but is now coming out of it with a new leaf. I treated this one much better. Some dirt fell away from the roots when it was taken from it's pot, but no roots broke, so I'm thinking it should be fine. I'll make sure to care for this guy a lot this winter, any temps below 40, and he's going inside!

Keith

[Gtlevine]

Do it now, it will make no difference. If a palm is rooted in a pot you can re-pot it or even plant it in the ground in the middle of winter and it won't make a difference, it is digging palms that is risky.

[Palmə häl′ik]

I just potted up a couple dozen seedlings today myself! Now they're in individual sporty little containers of their own... Your bringin' those potted cocos in if frost comes anyways right?

[Zeeth]

I just potted up a couple dozen seedlings today myself! Now they're in individual sporty little containers of their own... Your bringin' those potted cocos in if frost comes anyways right?

Well, if we have any frost, or temps 32 or below all the coconuts were going in anyway, but I'll treat this guy to a specialty, if things go below 40 he's going in. Heck, I'll do the same with my Guatemala coconuts too probably, as they are my most valuable palms so far... I've also got a Pritchardia Pacifica seedling that is staying inside until spring to compare growth with the 3 outside (Yeah, I know, zone 10b-11 palm, so they all have to go in on cold days anyway). He's on my windowsill that gets a ton of light every day and I'll do mistings every morning to keep humidity up. He's a bit smaller than the coconuts though, so it's not really a big deal to haul in and out a water bottle filled with dirt and one leaf... I've got the inside Pritchardia pacifica (Fiji fan palm) potted up in a Fiji Water bottle, this kind: . I couldn't resist

Edited November 21, 2009 by Zeeth

[Palmə häl′ik]

I used ZHILLS water bottles for awhile... They didn't drain well the way I had them...

A milk crates great for holding a whold bunch of 'em!

[Zeeth]

I used ZHILLS water bottles for awhile... They didn't drain well the way I had them...

A milk crates great for holding a whold bunch of 'em!

I put 4 large holes in the bottom (one at each corner) and 12 slits with a knife between the holes, and 1 smaller hole on each side of the bottle, about 1/2" from the bottom (for aeration) so I think the drainage is good. It makes a good impromptu seedling pot, and the Fiji Bottles have nice tropical designs on the front of them!

[SubTropicRay]

I wouldn't repot on a cold day but otherwise go for it if there's no cold air on the way. I repotted a Hyospathe, Licuala and Hydriastele today since there's nothing under 50F forecasted for at least another week or more. Keep the rootball as intact as possible but the key is not exposing the roots to air for longer than a few minutes. Repotting this time of year has never posed problems for me.