Cleaning up the trunks on indoor palms

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

Illustrious Member

Topic starter

Glad to see some dried petiole stems ... so I can prune away.

Spindle palm is now starting to show a bulge...the spindle 😛
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6489828899/" title="DSC05175 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05175"></a>

I wish the Bottle Palm would hurry up and push that new leaf...want to get rid of the older brown fronds.
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6489828903/" title="DSC05178 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05178"></a>

Not the neatest job...harder than it looks.
<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6489828911/" title="DSC05179 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05179"></a>

Simply had to get rid of those two big sunburned leaves on the Cocos nucifera.
A new little spear is pushing:

Also pruned off sunburned fronds from the 3 Triangles, but camera battery died.
Plants look tidier now.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 10/12/2011 8:47 pm

sashaeffer

(@sashaeffer)

Posts: 1100

Noble Member

Great pics. Looks like your dog is as spoiled as ours.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 11/12/2011 7:44 pm

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

Posts: 2981

Famed Member

Thanks for sharing.
I pruned off most of the sun scorched fronds when I brought palms in.
I do want to trim the bottle bases like you do. I'm putting that off into January--some cold night.
Strangely, several palms have moved spears lately, with the triangle opening a frond over the weekend. 😯
Anyway, back to the bottles: any tips/suggestions?

Posted : 11/12/2011 8:46 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

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Topic starter

Yup, that dog's got a good life, Scott. 😀

Erik,
All my "warm winter" palms flush once they're inside the warm house.
Those in the cold building don't push spears until it's warm again, i.e. May/June.

Re pruning a bottle, the trick I learned from someone on the internet was to firstly cut off the totally dry and brown petiole near the crown.

Then from the top, gently pulling away from the trunk just enough to get a hand pruner or drywall (handsaw) to cut without cutting into the main stem, split the dead leaf stem VERTICALLY, pulling down to where you'll make that "bottle cut" horizontally.

Several vertical cuts for each stem works best for me.

The drier the spent leaf, the better.
Just don't cut into any green part.

I'm still getting the hang of it, but it gets a little easier each year.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 12/12/2011 10:42 am

oppalm

(@oppalm)

Posts: 694

Honorable Member

your bottle palm looks great. I gave up on mine. It never held more the 4 fronds at one time and looked horrible at the end of winter. Made the decision to get rid of it. I love the bottle (palm that is) but sometimes you gotta make tough decisions. Everything looks good in your cellection. the dog loks like he/she may be protecting the palms from your pruning eye.

Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Posted : 12/12/2011 11:04 am

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

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Topic starter

Thanks Kent!

never held more the 4 fronds at one time

Yeah, unlike other palms, Bottles never have many, even in habitat where they hold, at most, five.
Too bad yours is gone...I'm growing mine for the bottle, not leaves 😆 😆

The dog likes lying under the palms...fortunately she's female so never any "marking" of her palm territory.

Palms have to be rearranged...just to get guests in the door for Christmas dinner. :reindeer:
Running out of "palm places"...

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 12/12/2011 12:25 pm

sashaeffer

(@sashaeffer)

Posts: 1100

Noble Member

Running out of "palm places"...

I know what you mean! and I want at least two more yet.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com