You make a good point Jubaea, thanks!
I wondered which palms could be successfully root-pruned.

Your comment that large CIDPs are often relocated/transplanted obviously indicates root pruning practices.

I was reluctant to damage that maze of white fleshy roots at the bottom.

Maybe next year 😆 😆

thanks again!
Barb

I had a Phoenix Roebellinii (Pygmy Date Palm) that had outgrown its container in June 2011. It actually needed to be repotted in 2010, but you know how that goes. Anyhow, I pulled it out of its container and the root structure looked like yours did Barb. I severely cut the root ball with a sharpened kitchen knife (don't tell my wife) I honestly cut the size of the rootball in half, sides and bottom, repotted in the same container, watered well, stuck it in the shade for several weeks , thinking the plant would sulk or go into shock or something, etc. It never missed a beat, no sulking, no complaining, no nothing. After a few weeks, I put it back in the sun and and the rest is history. I think the key here is to do stuff like this in summertime when the plants are actively growing roots to minimize shock.

Yes summer would be the trick, Kent, versus September.
(your wife will know you used that knife!)

Your repot story reminded me this one had been severely pruned too a few years ago.
Well, sort of.

Impossible to run tractor control lever and hold new garbage can (pot) straight to receive roots...well here it is in pics:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1518631101/" title="DSC00451 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00451"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1519505864/" title="DSC00456 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00456"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1519509800/" title="DSC00457 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="DSC00457"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/1518662251/" title="DSC00459 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="DSC00459"></a>

Yup, the bottom half of rootball was so heavy it just broke off without having to use any knives from my kitchen 😛

Barb

PS--my PDP could use a repot too.