I've heard mixed reports whether air layering palms is possible. I've heard coconut palms are "shortened" by air layering the crown and replanting it when it gets too tall. I know that date palm offshoots can be air layered too.

 

It seems that this is entirely possible despite not being widespread information.

 

Here's a video I found where a date palm is seemingly air layered halfway up the trunk.

I have recently successfully air layered three Chamaedorea spp. 

I did a search on PT on air layering and read every post. Thanks to all who helped me!

These palms were very leggy and had roots forming in the middle of their stems. 

I just put moist sphagnum covered with foil around a group of roots and waited a few months. 

I cut the trunks and potted up the tops two months ago and they seem to be doing well.

I am waiting until I see that the roots are filling up the pots and then will plant them out again once our rainy season begins again in May or so.

Eventually I will post about them but want to wait until I am sure of their success longer term. 

 

Is it necessary to seal the cut trunk below the roots?

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

Is it necessary to seal the cut trunk below the roots?

I was gonna ask the same thing. I would worry about the trunk getting infected or something and that spreading throughout the tree. 
 

Regardless, I never considered that high adventatious roots could be used to start a whole root system, at least in woody trunking palms.

Again, my only experience is with Chams and I did not seal anything after cutting the top off.
 

The bottom part is expected to die. 
 

Yes, it was scary, but I had lost several after they got very tall and the others were not attractive nor easily replaceable so I gave it a try. 

Interesting... just curious now if you can graft them..

5 hours ago, SailorBold said:

Interesting... just curious now if you can graft them..

to my understanding it’s not a realistic idea

to put it simply, and as you probably already know, palms do not grow their trunks the same way as normal trees. the trunk of a palm does not change once it grows, it will not get thicker, grow new bark, etc. so any damage done cannot be repaired because active growth does not occur below the growth point (except for suckers), and trying to stick 2 trunks into one would likely not result in anything

that being said, I have never actually tried and am just going off of my knowledge. not impossible until proved so…