re-potting small trachycarpus

I have been growing a small trachycarpus in a container for about 3 years now. The trachy is about 2 1/2 feet high with a spread of about 2 feet and the container is a circular wooden tub about 18" deep and about the same from side to side. Could anyone advise whether I should be thinking of re-potting and if so is this the right time, would be grateful for any suggestions.
Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for being so nice! :D :D :D

 

Hi, Barneyb! I've never had one in a pot, as they're so hardy I've even been able to have them in the ground here.
On the whole, you're probably best to do anything i the dormant season, as the plant is less likely to be disturbed by whatever you do, so now should be ok, so long as you take care not to let the roots be exposed.

Again, on the whole, the root spread of a plant is usually about the same as the spread of the top growth, so I would think that potting on would be sensible. I don't know if Trachycarus likes to be potbound - but I doubt it.

I'm sure someone else will have some exerience of these in containers, and will pop in soon! :D

 

Thanks Dendy(hope you don't mind me calling you that), I've only got decking and a small concrete patio area at the back of the house so I have to grow in containers.I was thinking along the same lines as you've suggested, will do that unless anyone else has any other advice

 

Why shouldn't you - everyone else does! :D
Chances are there someone like Pete or Strongy will be in during the evening. They know their stuff with this kind of thing.

 

I agree with dendy on the fact that they dont like to be potbound.
Palms do tend to have massive root systems, that like to go deep, so the chances are that the pot is pretty full.
However I think I would wait until about April before repotting, just so its not sitting in a lump of wet possibly frozen compost for the next few months that could cause some root rot. Palms dont really mind a bit of root disturbance in the growing season, I find.

 

I know from experience that most palms do not like to be potbound for a long time and like you I have nowhere to plant them in the ground so they have to stay in pots until they are too big and then .... you have a choice (in my case dig up the paving and try and plant in solid yellow clay or pass them on). I have a date palm (phoenix)which has grown four ins above the pot rim exposing the roots and I can't find a pot big enough, it may have to go! a problem with fast growing palms. Your Trachy may be ok in a larger pot for a year or two but then you will probably have to think about what to do with it again but they need time to settle down and grow which repotting does not allow.

 

Thanks Pete and Strongy,I do have a small plot at the front of the house. I would have preferred to keep the Trachy in a pot at the back as it goes well with the cordylines and other potted plants there but it sounds as though I'm going to have to plant it in the ground at the front. I'll do as you suggest Pete and wait till April. Thanks again and you too Dendy :D

 

Hi strongy, I see you have the same problem as me with some potted plants, the fact that they push themselves up out of the pot.
Some years ago I grew a canary date palm in a pot for many years, and after it reached a pot size of about 24in across I decieded that enough was enough.
When it reached a couple of inches above the rim I would turn it out and cut off 4 ins of the bottom of the root ball with an old hand saw. Put a couple of inches of fresh compost in the bottom of the pot and tease out as much of the old compost as I could, then water in as much compost as I could from the top.
I did this alternate years for at least five times, and the plant never flinched.
Thats why I say that palms dont mind a bit of root disturbance during the growing season. :D

 

Mine looks similar in size to yours, Pete, I might try root pruning, the only problem is getting it out and back in again as it weighs so much! :D The Washy and the Chaemedorea are also pushing themselves out too.

 

I just layed it over on its side and because it had pushed itself up it tended come out easily.
Saw the roots off, and because it was mainly root and very little compost it wasn't that heavy to lift it back in, in one quick heave.
Mind you I was 10 years or so younger then. :D