Splitting Needle Palms

[prouse]

Anyone have any experience splitting needle palms.  Have several large needle palms and would like to split off some of the pups and plant them in other parts of the garden.  Concerned I may damage the main trunk if I do this however.

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, prouse said:

Anyone have any experience splitting needle palms.  Have several large needle palms and would like to split off some of the pups and plant them in other parts of the garden.  Concerned I may damage the main trunk if I do this however.

There are older posts that you can search on this forum.  I haven't done this myself but know of at least 3 members who have done this successfully and they say it's pretty simple.  Best of luck!  Here's one thread: 

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Fusca

[Allen]

I've thought about this too.  But haven't tried because I don't want any chance of damaging main trunk.  I think I remember people on here trying it with mixed success.

[Alex Zone 5]

I can be done, but based on my own experience 25% won't make it. 

Dig as close to the trunk you want to remove, dig deep. Wait for the hot season (that a no brainer) Water/water/water...

Good luck. Take pictures for the forum. 

 

[Quasarecho]

6 hours ago, prouse said:

Anyone have any experience splitting needle palms.  Have several large needle palms and would like to split off some of the pups and plant them in other parts of the garden.  Concerned I may damage the main trunk if I do this however.

 

6 hours ago, prouse said:

Anyone have any experience splitting needle palms.  Have several large needle palms and would like to split off some of the pups and plant them in other parts of the garden.  Concerned I may damage the main trunk if I do this however.

I split off a couple of suckers a couple of years ago. I think I may have used rooting hormone at the cut. Seems like it was mid summer. Probably don't want to do this going into fall & winter.

[Las Palmas Norte]

For some reason I made an uneducated assumption and thought they'd be similar to Chamaerops, and be next to impossible to successfully divide.

[Fusca]

12 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

For some reason I made an uneducated assumption and thought they'd be similar to Chamaerops, and be next to impossible to successfully divide.

Yes, I've tried a couple of times with Chamaerops unsuccessfully.  Joseph from the former Texas Cold Hardy Palms told me that to have success with a Chamaerops the sucker should be at least the size of a 1-liter bottle and have some roots with it.  Before moving here I had not come across many specimens mature enough to have suckers that large.  I might try it again now that I access to some that qualify.

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 minute ago, Fusca said:

... success with a Chamaerops the sucker should be at least the size of a 1-liter bottle ...

I'm more inclined to buy a second palm. 😆

[Leelanau Palms]

On 2/25/2023 at 3:47 PM, prouse said:

Anyone have any experience splitting needle palms.  Have several large needle palms and would like to split off some of the pups and plant them in other parts of the garden.  Concerned I may damage the main trunk if I do this however.

Did you ever end of dividing your needle? How did it go? Pics?