Force palm to curve?

[Central Floridave]

This solitaire palm is growing straight into an oak. I want it to curve towards the bench where it can grow into more sunlight and give a tropical look. It kind of gets lost in the tree. What is the best way to force it to curve? i was thinking about removing some dirt on one side of it and tie a bungee cord to the bench to force it that way. Any other suggestions?

[Ken Johnson]

We have seen this discussion here before. In this case the palm looks flexible enough that you can just pull it with a "rope" and tie it off but digging it and leaning it causes a different type of curve. I think take your choice is the answer.

[rozpalm]

I would dig it up enough to lean it at a steep angle out from the tree. It will look strange at first but by this time next year it will be heading back to the sun.

[MattyB]

If you want the existing vertical trunk to lean you obviously have to do some digging and pulling. If you want the new growth from here on out to change direction, cut all the leaves off of the oak tree side and let the oak fill out, forcing the palm to the opposite side.

[Central Floridave]

So, I'm thinking of root pruning it on the front and back side of the lean and tie it down using the bench as a counter weight. Probably flood the soil also to loosen it up some. The palm is just too tall and not getting noticed growing up that oak. Its pretty tall, that is a 6 foot fence. There is some open sky it can find but towards the bench and up.

[MattyB]

Take some pics. I'd love to see how you go about doing it. This last weekend I was actually doing the same thing with some of my dicot trees. We have very strong winds that come up the canyon and over the years all the tree trunks end up leaning and I wanted to right them again and stake them back upright.

[Central Floridave]

Ok, I'll photo the job. I'll do it this weekend if I can get to it. I'm thinking solitaire palms are pretty easy to transplant, although I've never moved one. They seem very tolerant of neglect and are tough as nails. They are probably weeds elsewhere.

If anyone has any more tips that would be great. But, I just plan on root pruning it then forcing the palm towards the bench. It will be straight then recurve up as it tries to recover.

if you don't do common names, the scientific name is: Ptychosperma elegans

When I first got this palm I thought it was a Christmas palm (adonidia). Then it grew up to about the 4 foot level and I thought it was a Veitchia. Now it is certainly a solitaire. Its flowered once, but no seeds. I have a bigger and taller one in full sun that has flowered and no seeds either.

[Central Floridave]

I think this is the other topic thread talking about making palms curve:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Cryosophila+guagara+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#pq=christmas+palm&hl=en&sugexp=eqn&gs_nf=1&cp=7&gs_id=7u&xhr=t&q=neglect&pf=p&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&biw=1441&bih=972&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=neglict&aq=0s&aqi=g-s4&aql=f&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a3f48d0a671fb834

[redbeard917]

If you added a turnbuckle to your tiedown, you could tighten it slowly (say a half-turn a day) giving the plant time to adapt and adjust. If you just use rope, a trucker's hitch would be an easy way to maintain, or increase, tension on the line.

http://www.netknots.com/html/truckers_hitch.html

[Ken Johnson]

If you dig it front and back you may be able to lean it without breaking too many of the side roots. If you root prune it all they way around and in 5 weeks dig it some more you can move it and or lean it easily without fear of it dying. This time of year keep it wet in any case.

[Central Floridave]

Great advice thanks. I think I will root prune this weekend and then wait awhile. Time is on my side! I never water this palm, but when I prune it I will. Thanks. Photos in 5 weeks.

[pindo]

This solitaire palm is growing straight into an oak. I want it to curve towards the bench where it can grow into more sunlight and give a tropical look. It kind of gets lost in the tree. What is the best way to force it to curve? i was thinking about removing some dirt on one side of it and tie a bungee cord to the bench to force it that way. Any other suggestions?

Be careful...!!!!

good luck

[palmazon]

Keep in mind the established trunk will not keep a natural curve; if you lean it away from the oak. it will grow more or less straight up from its growing point, leaving an 'elbow'. Stay tuned for photos - over & out.

[Central Floridave]

A couple more 'PRE' photos. I'm root pruning the palm today and want it to curve towards the house.

[Central Floridave]

Root pruned it. The palm is not budging and is pretty stiff. I dug out a trench where I want it to fall, but it ain't liking to move that way. I probably need to dig deeper. But waiting for 5 weeks until I cut more roots.

I also cut the seed stalk off.