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Please help - waterlogged palm tree

donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi - I have a young chaemerops humilis, planted a couple of months ago in a large stone container about 2.5ft by 2.5ft.  I'm in the North East and we've had about some torrential rain in the last couple of weeks and now the container is completely waterlogged as there's no drainage (I'd put some gravel at the bottom and thought that would be enough). I know these palm trees can't tolerate wet roots for any length of time so I guess I need to remove it and plant in the ground.  Can someone please advise me how to do this  and how do I dry out the rootball before replanting?  Any advice would be much appreciated - thanks in advance.  
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Can you tip the container over? It's often easier to remove a plant that way  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7
    I'm afraid not.  It's a concentrate container which was an old fountain so it's embedded in the ground.  Here's a picture

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You'll just have to bite the bullet and take a spade round it and lift it out as best you can.
    It won't survive as it is, so nothing to lose. If it's only been there such a short time, it shouldn't be difficult  :)
    Then just put it into a suitable container with plenty of drainage holes, and put it somewhere sheltered to let it dry out a bit. Against a house wall, where it won't get soaked, or similar. Once it's a bit happier, you can address the soil medium it's in. A nice, free draining mix using a soil based compost and grit. Compost is no use if it's staying in a container ling term  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7
    Thank you so much for replying.  I don't currently have a large enough container but will get one at the weekend.  In the meantime can I lift it out and put in on newspaper or something to try and dry it out?  Once that's done can I replace it in the original container if I just change the soil as you suggest?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Does the container have drainage holes?
    If not, you need a new permanent home for it.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7
    ok I'll do it now and rest it on the gravel until I can get a new container.  Thank you all so much for replying.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - you need a pot with drainage holes!
    You can't put it back in that - it's more of a pond. Perhaps you should use it as that instead  :)
    It'll be fine somewhere, just sat where it can't come to any harm. A carrier bag, or bin bag with holes would do.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7
    one last thing if I may.  Do you have any ideas what I can use the older container for once the soil has dried out as I'm not able to put any drainage holes in it.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @philippasmith2 ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • donnatomlinsondonnatomlinson Posts: 7

    @Fairygirl @philippasmith2 Done.  I've put it in a bin bag with holes and surrounded the rootball with newspaper like you've both suggested and will repot at the weekend :)
         
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