Hi all! long time listener, first time poster. I recently acquired another pygmy date palm, to be grown outdoors during the growing season and brought inside for the winter. I'm in the southwest Ohio area, zone 6b. My question is in regards to repotting this late in the season. Usually, we can get reliably warm temps (especially during the day) until about early/mid ish October. Now, this nursery pot does only have side drainage holes, so i made sure to cut 4-5 holes with pruning sheers into the bottoms. The plant doesnt look horribly root bound on top, though, as you can see, it does have some escapees on that shown drainage hole exclusively and some aerial roots just below the trunk. Is now (mid/late august) too late to be repotting these guys? Is it even necessary based on the info? I understand they're generally okay being root bound to an extent. I bought one earlier in May, repotted immediately, and it has thrived this summer. Would love some tips, dos or dont's for repotting as we begin to near the end of the growing season here. Thanks! This forum has been a godsend. Long time palm fan, this is the first season i've ever bought one.

That is a multi so it’s gonna need a pot with ant least about 2-3” out , all around and at least that much more depth. If you were successful with the last one , you should be fine with this one . I use a sandy loam potting soil and mix in a bit of perlite to assist with drainage . I put medium sized , smooth pebble at the bottom of the pot before adding soil . This helps with drainage . I have never had P. Roebelini get fussy on me from repotting or transplanting . They are pretty tough palms. They do grow rather fast and have quite the root system. So be prepared to repot from time to time. Harry

I can't tell from the photo the size of the pot. I would go up to the next size for now. A cheap nursery pot is fine. Drench it once to help the soil settle in the new pot. For display, set the nursery pot into a decorative pot.

No dont repot if the weather is getting colder. It will be fine root bound in the container, and once you repot in the warmer months it will start growing well the.

One great way to grow palms is by having them rootbound. Then you reopt them. Dont fertilise in winter either.

In cold temperatures when you repot them they get a wet soggy mess of sour soil due to low temperatures and no oxygen in the soil, as soil temperatures drop the palm stops metabolising and stops growing in the cold. With no root activity you get that messy soil and especially in a what was it zone 6b, you are one great grower of palms and a gardening master in my eyes to grow anything tropical looking in that cold climate. Well done I give you two green thumbs 👍 👍 award!

Here’s a picture of two in my garden, they are 30 years old!