Small Chrysalidocarpus (formerly Dypsis) Decipiens - Possible dig up and relocation?

[BayAndroid]

So... no guarantees, but I may have to move in the near future and I am wondering what I would need to do to transplant this small Decipiens? If it's very unlikely to make it, I *might* leave it and just hope it survives, but I don't know what would be worse, to watch it get chopped by some new owner, or possibly neglect it, verses me just doing my best to dig it up and put it somewhere new. 

What do you think? 

 

[Billeb]

Oh man….good question. I know next to nothing about moving Decipiens but it would take drastic scenario for me to move that thing. 
 

Im sure others will chime in with their experiences but as far as details….

-how long has it been there?

-how big was it when grounded?

-is it going on the property to another location? (Soil medium similar) 

Good luck whatever you choose to do. It’s a nice one. 

-dale 

 

[BayAndroid]

Here it is planted back in late August of 2023, so not quite 2 years in the ground. Size... I'm not sure what gallon size I would say it is, but it's fronds are around the 2' tall mark. This would be a different property and the soil type would be a more rocky soil VS the clay it's in now. 

[Johnny Palmseed]

I would recommend poking around from a distance and see if you are hitting roots. If you can determine the rootball size, it might help you decide whether it’s worth doing. Since it has likely been producing more roots than top growth, the rootball could be too big to risk it.

[Harry’s Palms]

I had a friend move one that was larger than that and it did well . He was very careful and really wasn’t sure it could be done. It worked! I would get the ground good and moist and maybe dig a trench on the outer boundaries of the root ball. Then slowly dig down getting as much mass as possible.

He has some larger ones and didn’t want to keep the smaller one where it was . I think at that size you have a good chance . Harry

[David B]

I have moved a much larger one without any issues. Nothing to loose

[BayAndroid]

20 minutes ago, David B said:

I have moved a much larger one without any issues. Nothing to loose

Alright, I think if this ends up coming to fruition, I will go for it. I'll start out maybe 18" from the trunk and go looking for roots.

[RichardHemsley]

Different palm, but I have worked on a few gardens where I needed to move medium sized Phoenix canariensis, and have taken the same approach I always use to moving any plant.

Dig a trench around the plant to expose the root ball, and slowly dig down to get as much of the tap root as possible, so pretty much the same as Harry suggested. I reckon you have a very good chance that it will transplant 

[PalmatierMeg]

I have moved a good sized Areca catechu Dwarf via trenching. I started about 3 months before the move by digging:

1) A trench 3’ deep, 3’ from the trunk. Stop

2) Wait 2-3 weeks while cut roots harden off. Dig a second trench like the first. Stop.

3) Wait 2-3 weeks. Dig a third trench. Stop

4) Wait 2-3 weeks. Dig fourth trench.

5) Wait 2-3 weeks or until time to move palm.

6) On day of the move, undercut through the bottom of the rootball and lift the palm out of the hole. Wrap rootball in burlap or similar material. Have the transplant hole prepared in advance at your destination. Plant palm and water in.

It is important to not rush a transplant by hacking the palm out of the ground all at once  then tossing it into another hole. The palm needs time to adjust to each trench and the cut roots within