Majesty Palm Root Question

9 years ago

Hi,

I can't quite find the answer to this when searching the forums so I am asking it as a fresh question.

I've had my Majesty Palm for 8 years. The first 5 it lived in my office and thanks to a big window it did very well there reaching a height of around 7 ft. Then the last 3 it has lived outside year round on my balcony (I live in Florida) when I changed offices and had one with no window.

What's happened is that in the last 3 years my Palm has shrunk. It's now down to about 3 ft tall. The fronds are still nice and green thanks to Florida weather but each new successive frond batch is smaller in height.

I've attached a photo of the bottom of my palm. It appears that the roots have become very exposed.

My questions are:

1) Should I re-pot in same pot (I think it's a 16 inch pot now) only burying it deeper? Or does it need a bigger pot even though the plant is only 1/3 the height it used to be.

2) When you peel off old fronds, how far down to do you peel them? It seems to me that there is a lot of old brown frond on the outside and all new growth is in the middle and that's getting smaller in diameter all the time which may be why the plant is shorter and shorter. Is it good to peel the dead fronds really deep to the roots and how can I increase center the growth area of the plant so it gets larger/taller again.

Thanks,

Tim

Comments (2)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
9 years ago
They are not happy being potbound..I had them decline also after a few years. Like you,it was outdoors..so plenty of light and water.
You might find it hard to find photos of old potted majestys with trunks in pots,so ,its not you.
At the very least...take it out,prune roots all around..and refill with fresh potting soil. You might get a few more years out of it.
lzrddr
9 years ago
I would be careful about pruning palm roots... most palms take such behavior badly, and often croak. I would NOT root prune at all if I were you... I have found these palms to actually do very well root bound, but there is a limit to how root bound (if almost no soil, this will make them yellowy, sad and somewhat weaker). They do indeed like lots of water, though, and one of the few potted palms that appreciates fertilizer regularly (liquid, preferably, and rather diluted).

The reason your palm is 'shrinking' may be that it is now exposed to better light and is making 'more normal' leaves most likely (and not so etiolated, despite being in a window with 'good light'). You could move it up a pot, but I would personally remove the smaller palm if you can (you can just chop it off at the surface so no root damage will be done). It is competing for soil space and nutrients/water and is going to be a problem someday anyway, most likely.

I don't think the little amount of exposed roots is harming the palm, but if you repot it, put it a bit deeper, or at least angle it so the base is more even with the soil surface (this will make your palm lean markedly for a few years, but it will grow out of it).
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