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Is it OK to cut Traveler Palm roots?
Bill Myers
Posts: 2
Hi:
We have a traveler's palm in a pot that is growing quite well, but the roots are sticking out the bottom (some thick and some thin) and it can't stand up because of this (the wind keeps knocking it over). At this point putting the plant in a new pot is not an option. Can I cut the roots off the bottom without hurting the plant?
Thanks!
0
Posts
I would contact somewhere like Kew Gardens about that, but I think they will simply say 'pot it on'! Alternatively, tie the plant or the pot to something to stabilise it, or place the whole thing in a larger heavier pot.
of course, to re pot it I would have to rip the roots anyway, since they have come out of the bottom hole of the pot and have spread to cover the bottom of the pot....
Not necessarily Bill - if you don't want to damage the plant, then if it's a plastic pot you can cut it with a Stanley knife (mind your fingers!) and extract the roots gently. If it's terracotta then smashing the pot (mind your eyes!) will enable you to remove the whole root ball, and it will provide you with plenty of crocks for the future.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.