Cutting Flower Bracts off palm

[epicure3]

Ok, so I planted a chamaedorea tepijilote a couple of years ago and did so in a very poor place. The palm is subjected to way too much wind and full sun. It started out with 4 fronds a couple of years ago. Then, at the end of last year it had 3.....not I'm down to 2. The wind just tatters up the fronds. Unfortunately, I have no where else to put it....so it's staying put for now. The wind is the real damage....much more than the sun.

Anyways, this thing flowers and seeds like crazy. If I cut off the bracts, will the speed of frond growth increase? I'd like to get a few more on this thing before it's a stick.

Thanks for any advice.

[TikiRick]

I have often asked that very question. My reasoning is that the energy would be spent toward frond production, not seed production.

I have been told is that not true.

[epicure3]

well, that kind of bums me out as the seed is beautiful.

[PalmGuyWC]

It only stands to reason that cutting off the flower bracts would put more energy into frond production.  There are a lot of "juices" flowing up that trunk and it has to go somewhere.

Dick

[Tad]

I once "castrated"  a sabal mexicana, trying to push growth, that palm has not flowered right since, I think it does make them grow a little faster, but I may be wrong.

[F Zipperbaum]

Well, I will say that banana growers cut the flowers off of the bottom of the bunch to produce sweeter fruit.  I have about 7 banana trees and it does work... so just maybe the same principle applies here???

[Kris]

In india our farmers try to prune the flowering stalk in all the

dicot trees.if they feel that the plant is not mature enough to

put out fruits.

but not heard wheather this is practised even for the palms or cycas varities ?

love,

Kris