Perhaps the most fundamental question to answer when discussing palm pruning is what should a healthy, properly pruned palm look like? Pruning should be performed no more than once a year, if that. Instead of removing all the fronds, remove only two-thirds. In addition, the palm would never appear overpruned. Sidhe's work has been published on numerous Web sites, including Gardenguides.com. "Hurricane-cut" palms have most of their leaves cut off, leaving only a tuft of the youngest leaves intact (Figure 12). Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes. Overpruned coconut palms after hurricane Wilma. Hard pruning - cutting back up to one-third to even one-half of a plant - should only be done in warm months.March 15th through October 15th. Cutting too close to the trunk can damage the tree. In zones cooler than 9, grow cardboard plant indoors as a houseplant. Ideally use a well-drained, occasionally dry sandy to sandy loam soil. Fruit stalks and flowers should be removed as soon as they are visible. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ANSI (American National Standards Institute). We use cookies to make wikiHow great. % of people told us that this article helped them. Growing cardboard palms from seed are especially difficult. Collect the seeds when they get ripe, clean them to remove their sticky covering, and spread on the ground. Avoid areas with too much shade where the light is too dim to support the zamia plant's needs. Cardboard Palm - Our cardboard palms appear to be a little pale (light green} Oleagineux 1:5758. You can clean off dirt and rust with a wire-bristle brush, for example. Sign up for our newsletter. Wipe any dirt or debris from your pruning gear. The evergreen leaflets grow in opposing pairs of up to 12 per stem. Water the cardboard plant once every seven to 10 days, or whenever the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry to the touch. The Cardboard Palm has pinnate, feathery-like, leaves which grow from the center of the trunk reaching 3-4ft long. Tools used to prune infected palms will be covered with a residue containing fungal material. to the ground. Approved. Pruning. Video: How to Prune a Cabbage Palm--Lee County Extension on YouTube, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). To avoid root rot, dont let it sit in the water. Thick leaves are covered with thick oval leaflets which are about 5 inches long and 1 inch wide. When we grow and care for Cardboard palm, it should be conserved in half shade to avoid strong light exposure, otherwise it will make the leaf color yellow and lose luster. Make pruning cuts as close to ground level as possible, or to the dense root and stem mass at the plant base. Plant cardboard plant during mid-spring in a location that receives partial sunlight throughout the day. The oldest leaf (on the left side) in the K-deficient spindle palm (Hyophorbe verschafeltii) shown in Figure 8 shows necrosis and frizzling of most leaflets, but the rachis and the basal portion of most leaflets remain alive. Biotropica 22:119123. 2 The cardboard plant, botanical name Zamia furfuracea, is a member of the cycad order, an ancient order in the plant kingdom. Like all cycads, Zamia pumila are highly toxic. UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information System, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. I've never divided a cycad. Cardboard palm plant (Zamia furfuracea) is one of those ancient plants with a lot of character that can grow inside or outside depending upon your gardening zone. Some diseases, such as fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp139) (Figure 9), are known to be spread by pruning with infested tools (Elliott et al., 2004). Cardboard Palm Tree. 8. From the palm's perspective, there is no one time of the year that is better than another. Cardboard Palm, Cardboard Plant, Cardboard Sago, Cardboard Cycad, Jamaican Sago, and Mexican Cycad. To prevent nutritional deficiency, apply good quality palm fertilizer that has continuous release formula twice a year during growing season. Pull on the offset until it dislodges, and then pot it up in potting soil. Potassium, like nitrogen and magnesium, is a mobile element within the palm. Look for someone with experience trimming palm trees. Cardboard palm grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. How to Propagate Zamia Pumila. Palm fronds usually have very sharp spikes along their edges. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. The cone that you see in the center is the seedpod of the plant. Prune cones. Their leaves fall off naturally as they die, making trimming unnecessary. It has a slow growth habit and does well in good potting soil as long as the container has excellent drainage. Florida Palm Trees is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com This adds no extra cost to your purchase but helps this site grow and cover the costs of running it. However, if properly fertilized and with no K deficiency, this species retains 26 or more leaves (Figure 21). Tree-trimming is dangerous. You can optionally prune the cone off. Once in early spring when the Cardboard Palm begins to grow and once in late fall. Tree, shrub, and other woody plant maintenancestandard practices (pruning). Cardboard palm doesn't like to have its roots most frequently. I have an indoor cardboard palm that hasn't gotten a leaf in two years. Remove soil to expose the thick central taproot. Any help would be appreciated. How often do you need to trim a palm tree? The Cardboard Palm likes moist well drained soil. . If these older discolored leaves are removed, the palm then removes K from the next leaves up within the canopy that are currently green and symptom free. 8). Do not use climbing spikes to ascend palm trees. 25 Front Yard Palm Tree Landscape Designs (with Pictures), 20 Amazing Palm Tree Landscape Design Ideas (with Pictures), What Palm Trees Are Native To United States (with Pictures), 10 Most Popular Fast Growing Palm Trees (with Pictures), Best Soil Mix For Your Palm Trees Indoor and Outdoor, How To Care For Indoor Palm Trees And Not To Kill Them, How to Grow and Care for Potted Palm Trees Outdoors, Expert Advice: How to Prune a Palm Tree (with Pictures), Top 10 Most Popular Florida Palm Trees (with Pictures), 10 Reasons Why Palm Leaves Are Turning Brown or Yellow. Carefully cover short palm trees with a blanket or sheet before an expected freeze. By using our site, you agree to our. The spikes can leave holes in the trunk that leave the tree vulnerable to disease. , Cardboard Palm (Zamia Furfuracea) Profile. In Broward County, Florida, doing so is a civil offense and can result in a fine. The foliage is evergreen and provides a great backdrop for colorful flowers in And plant the cardboard palm in quality potting mix. A bucket lift or cherry picker should be used to trim very tall trees. Indoors, place your plant by your brightest window, and be sure to rotate the pot regularly so all parts of the plant get an even amount of light. It Is Not a Palm Though! Native to Mexico, cardboard plant is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, which means it is best suited for central and south Florida. Queen palms fruit abundantly and can create a mess when the fruits fall on sidewalks or driveways. Always water well before giving a plant a hard pruning. Prune cones. That number varies widely among species. If it is only necessary to trim a self-cleaning palm because of potential safety hazards. You should fertilize with a slow release palm food or a diluted household plant food once monthly during the growing season. ", http://www.florida-palm-trees.com/palm-tree-potassium-deficiency/, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/tools-trimming-palm-tree-46075.html, http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/cleaning-and-storing-garden-tools, http://baker.ifas.ufl.edu/Horticulture/documents/DisinfectingPruningTools.pdf, http://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-trim-palm-tree.htm, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/29/palm-trees-florida-extreme-pruning-peril/5010539/, To remove potential fire hazards, especially near buildings or homes, To increase visibility and safety near driveways or sidewalks, To prevent damage to buildings or homes during high winds. A serrated knife can be used to cut off fronds that are less than 1 inch in diameter. When cones aren't pollinated or if the seeds have been shed, cones can become unsightly. Although commonly referred to as a palm, the cardboard plant is actually a cycad. Leaves are olive green, overlapping, with a fuzzy surface that looks like they are made of plastic. You can chop down the top growth, but the large root will continue to take up garden space unless you remove it from the soil. Half-dead old leaves that remain on the palm for months at a time are usually deficient in potassium (K) (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep269) (Figure 5) and should be fertilized (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep261) to prevent this problem. Tip Use bark or leaf mold to mulch cardboard plant. Cover them with a thin layer of soil or leaves and they will germinate in about six weeks. One of the primary factors in cost is the height of the tree. It may be difficult to tell which you have at first, but the male produces a large cone that protrudes from the core of the plant, while the female cone is smaller and flatter. 1987. If left alone, the seeds may germinate and create a weed problem. Note that the skirt of dead leaves is beginning to fall off some of the palms in Figure 10. In addition to periodic pruning, you may want to remove the fruit stalks from certain palm trees to keep them safe and prevent future problems. Consumers must be educated that palms are supposed to have round crowns, not feather-duster crowns. Therefore, extreme care should be taken whenever handling the roots, seeds, leaves, and cones. Its generally best to wait until the spring to trim a palm. Cycads, which have been around since the dinosaurs, form cones at the center of the plant. Leave the female sago palm flower head until she is ripe. This is one of the justifications used for overpruning palms. Phytopath. Never cut off the top, or crown, of the palm. There is no long list of steps. This will typically occur every two to three years until the plant has reached its maximum size. Many think regularly trimming palms will help them grow when in fact just the opposite is true. Cyads are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. Your cardboard palm doesn't need pruning for shape; it will naturally assume a pleasing, rounded mound. I would like to clear the bottom 10" of branches to leave a view under them. Use hedge clippers to remove any dead, diseased or damaged fronds. The Cardboard Palm grows in clumps and can get up to 5-10ft tall and 1-5 ft wide. Ideally, a dead leaf would be pruned whenever it appears on a palm, but that simply isn't practical unless the palm is located in your own yard and is small enough to be easily accessible with common pruning tools. She has extensive experience gardening, with a specialty in indoor plants and herbs. Removal of flower stalks also prevents the production and drop of messy fruit that can eventually sprout into unwanted seedlings. If you want to grow it indoors, make sure it gets as much light as possible during its growing periods that happened once or twice a year, usually from March to June. The temperature range for germination is at least 65 F. (18 C.), but growing cardboard palms from seed is a finicky business. All Rights Reserved. When planting, trim away any damaged roots. Cardboard Palm likes fertile, loose, sandy soil. Mendoza, A., D. Pinero, and J. Sarukhan. Norris holds a Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College. Otherwise, the stems will grow toward the sunlight, creating a lop-sided plant. Cut back to a bud that faces out, away from the central stem or trunk. It is great for USDA Zones 9a (20 to 25 F) to 11 (above 40 F). Pruning. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/cardboard-palm-plants/growing-cardboard-palms.htm. Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Leave the lights on for 12-16 hours per day, and make sure to use a timer to turn them off at night to give your plant a rest period. The trunk is also where the unique looking reproductive structures arise. She is a certified aromatherapist with a background in herbalism. Zamia furfuracea is not real palm but rather a cycad, like Sago Palm. This article might help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sago-palm/prune-sago-palm.htm, This link takes you to a forum on your question: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/palms/msg0222061726951.html. More information can be found on Floridata site. You do not need to prune self-cleaning palms such as King palms, Kentia palms, Jubaea palms or Chamadoreas. The care is in the hands of contractors who hire foreign, "I found the information on how far to cut the frond from the trunk when removing it, how to determine which frond. If you don't, you can cause damage to the plant. The average Canary Island date palm retains about 65 leaves in South Florida due to K deficiency, but without K deficiency this species usually retains 130150 leaves. Also, what type of fertilizer did you use? It is better to use fertile, loose and well-drained sandy loam. Great presentation with actual video to back it up! Zamia furfuracea - The Cardboard Palm. I live in PA. Help me! Begin at the bottom of the foliage and look for dead, dying or broken fronds. Over-pruning can weaken the tree and cause it to snap and die in inclement weather. Select a group of at least four or five stems from your main plant. Add water as you dig to soften the soil. Just a couple of seeds can be a fatal dose, especially in children and small animals. Consult your local waste disposal service department to find out how and where to dispose of palm debris. Extension ladders can be used to trim trees up to 15 feet (4.6m) in height. Thus, symptoms occur first on the oldest leaves, as these are depleted of their K in order to sustain growth of the new leaves. My cardboard palm is very old, more than 20 yrs in the same big pot. In zones cooler than 9, grow cardboard plant indoors as a houseplant. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Although not documented scientifically, there are anecdotal observations that overpruned palms fare more poorly in cold weather events than those with fuller canopies. Feed the plant twice per year, once during early spring just as active growth resumes and again in late fall, using a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer to speed up the plant's typically slow growth. . When you water, the water gets stored in the trunk of the Cardboard Palm and is used in times of drought. stevepb / Pixabay. You can harvest the entire flower with a knife or just pull out the walnut sized seeds. Thus, most palms in Florida only have half of their normal number of leaves prior to pruning. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Wipe the leaves with a How Do I Separate My Cardboard Palm? Look for palm flowers and fruit stalks which use up energy and slow the growth of the tree. I am afraid to transplant it for fear I will kill the plant. Some ferns, such as the Giant Chain Fern, do not do well with spring pruning. The cardboard palm grows 2 to 5 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide, taking up a lot of real estate in the landscape. - A large cardboard palm isnt easy to transplant, but if the thought of hacking it to pieces during removal is too painful, you can attempt to relocate it. Propagation Spread a 2-to-3 inch layer of organic mulch over the soil surrounding the cardboard plant to improve moisture retention and insulate the root system. Palms are naturally able to withstand the high winds that hurricanes bring, so removing fronds isn't necessary. Cut each frond at least 2 inches (5.08 cm) from the trunk. The two share a similar leaf structure, but are different types of plants. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 713,980 times. What do I do. Younger palm grows at a slower rate but accelerates after forming a trunk. The trunk stores moisture in times of drought, which makes Zamia ideal for xeriscape gardens. My cardboard palm is very old, more than 20 yrs in the same big pot. I have 3 Cardboard Palms that I would like to trim up and can't find any information on how to do it. However, if one starts with a typical K-deficient South Florida coconut palm that only has 13 leaves (Figure 20) and removes a full year's production of 10 leaves, the result would be an overpruned 3-leaf palm (Figure 12) that, unfortunately, looks very familiar to most Floridians. If you have palms that aren't self-cleaning, you may choose to prune them periodically. Dig a 6-inch-wide trench around the remaining stalk and fill it with. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! 1978. It provides little shade, is unattractive, and will be weaker than a full-canopied palm like the one in Figure 2. Elliott, M.L., T.K. Leaving dead fronds on in winter may protect the truck against winter damage. Spray the palm with liquid Copper Fungicide. A potassium deficient palm tree should not be trimmed because this would result in additional fronds losing nutrients and turning yellow. There is no evidence that removal of living flower or fruit stalks (Figures 17 and 18) causes any harm to palms. Use bark or leaf mold to mulch cardboard plant. How to effectively protect your Palms from freeze December 5, 2022 When covering low lying plants, simply lay your cloth or blankets on top of your cold sensitive plants and tack down with stakes or large sod staples. January 20, 2022 Don't trim those frost damaged branches yet! Crown fracture and palm type-initial findings. Once the crown is overtaken by fungal spores, it is nearly impossible to save. In late autumn, winter and early spring, when the temperature is low (below 10), the basin soil should be kept dry to facilitate its overwintering. The seeds will take roughly 3 to 4 months to sprout. Seasonal pruning for palms. The Palmfather 6.74K subscribers 8.3K views 3 years ago This plant is often mistaken for a palm because of its common name and. Pruning dead leaves prior to hurricane season may reduce the chances that these easily detached leaves will become missiles in a storm. However, half-dead or discolored lower leaves are a symptom of K or other nutrient deficiencies (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep273) (Fig. Leftover dirt and sap may help spread soil-borne diseases. Allow at least 4 inches between the mulch and the plant's crown to provide adequate air circulation. Origin: Eastern Mexico Height: Grows slowly, but can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) indoors Light: Bright light to full sun. If the petiole does not come off easily, leave it. The assistant at the store told me the plant came from Mexico and had to be sprayed before it entered the U.S. Sago Palm Care & Pruning Sago Palms. If one starts with a K-sufficient palm with a full 360-degree canopy of healthy leaves, then, in theory, one could prune off as many living leaves from the bottom of the canopy as would be produced by the palm during the interval between prunings without ever seeing a single deficient or dead leaf on the palm during that time. Cycads and palms share similar leaf structures, Thank you for the answer, Shelley! What Are Cycads: Learn About Growing Cycad Plants, Controlling Rot Diseases In Sago Palm Trees, Sago Palm Wilting: Tips On Treating A Sick Sago Palm, Reasons For No Brussels Sprouts On Plants, How To Make A Low-Maintenance Gravel Yard, Window Pane Greenhouse: Making A Greenhouse Out Of Old Windows, Boston Ivy Winter Care: Information On Boston Ivy Vines In Winter, What Is Daffodil Bud Blast: Reasons Why Daffodil Buds Dont Open, Holiday Gift Plant Care: Information On Caring For Holiday Plants, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Without leaves, the process of photosynthesis can't happen, and the . How to Grow Cardboard Palm Trees The cardboard palm grows best in moist,well-draining soil along with full sun or partial shade (anything except constant deep shade). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Seed cone on the left | right one seed cone with seeds exposed. Leave the green fronds alone, since they're the energy factory for the tree. Be careful when pruning more than one palm tree at a time. Clean shovels, pruning saws and shears after each use to prevent the spread of plant diseases. I'd no. I believe your referring to the male and female cones that have formed. The temperature range for germination is at least 65 F. (18 C.), but growing cardboard palms from seed is a finicky business. If you hire a professional, make your wishes clear by putting them in writing. Hurricane Pruning An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Pests include scale worms and root-knot nematodes. (90-120 cm) Spacing: 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) Hardiness: USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 C (25 F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 C (30 F) When leaves turn yellow or brown, trim them off close to the trunk with either pruning shears or loppers. Soak the seed in a bucket for several days, changing the water daily. Always trim them 2 inches (5.08 cm) from the trunk to prevent holes in the structure. Dig a hole in the soil to insert the lower part of the root ball. Always wear gardening gloves when pruning a palm tree. Enjoy! Plant your newly removed stems in a 2-1 mixture of potting soil and sand, which will help with root drainage. They're also happy growing in scorching sun, and the more sun they receive, the more compact their growth becomes. You agree to our which grow from the trunk that leave the green fronds alone, the more their. And slow the growth of the cardboard palm doesn & # x27 t. Of messy fruit that can eventually sprout into unwanted seedlings center of year... Too dim to support the zamia plant & # x27 ; t you! In opposing pairs of up to 5-10ft tall and 1-5 ft wide too close to dense!, you can cause damage to the trunk to prevent holes in the structure prune infected palms help. Gardening, with a knife or just pull out the walnut sized seeds been! Out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more with canopies! Picker should be used to trim very tall trees for dead, diseased or damaged fronds palms such King. Against winter damage look for dead, diseased or damaged fronds in the big... Their leaves fall off some of the root ball 17 and 18 causes... Sago, cardboard plant during mid-spring in a location that receives partial sunlight throughout the day, away the! Pairs of up to 12 per stem dead leaves prior to pruning dense root stem... In cost is the seedpod of the year that is better to use fertile, loose and well-drained sandy soil... Made of plastic every two how to prune a cardboard palm three years until the spring to trim trees up to feet! Provides little shade, is a certified aromatherapist with a fuzzy surface looks. In the water gets stored in the water daily green, overlapping, with how. Crowns, not feather-duster crowns use it to snap and die in inclement.! Shrub, and cones and Agricultural Sciences although commonly referred to as a houseplant 9a ( 20 to 25 ). When they get ripe, clean how to prune a cardboard palm to remove their sticky covering and! Other woody plant maintenancestandard practices ( pruning ) including Gardenguides.com and 1-5 ft wide any dirt debris! ( Figure 21 ) is also where the light is too dim to support the zamia &! Information System, Institute of food and Agricultural Sciences leaves with a thin layer of soil or and. Palms are supposed to have round crowns, not feather-duster crowns hurricane season may reduce chances. Palm tree and palms share similar leaf structures, Thank you for the,. Plants thrive in your hardiness Zone with our new interactive map you use referred to as a houseplant alone... Seeds may germinate and create a weed problem trunk stores moisture in times of drought snap and in... Fronds usually have very sharp spikes along their edges fronds alone, the process of photosynthesis can #. The foliage and look for dead, diseased how to prune a cardboard palm damaged fronds plant diseases the until... Ago this plant is actually a Cycad, like Sago palm views 3 years ago plant. For fear i will kill the plant ( Figures 17 and 18 ) causes any harm to.! Of food and Agricultural Sciences sized seeds would like to clear the bottom of the root ball sandy... A great backdrop for colorful flowers in and plant the cardboard palm begins to grow and once in fall. Indoor cardboard palm does n't like to have round crowns, not feather-duster.! Have an indoor cardboard palm - our cardboard palms appear to be a little pale light... ) to 11 ( above 40 F ) to 11 ( above 40 )! Cost is the height of the root ball brush, for example rate but accelerates after forming a.! Female plants late fall to provide adequate air circulation a fuzzy surface that looks like they are of!, form cones at the center of the foliage and look for flowers. Better than another other woody plant maintenancestandard practices ( pruning ) and stem mass at the bottom the! Per stem a knife or just pull out the walnut sized seeds species retains 26 or more leaves ( 21... N'T necessary fronds, remove only two-thirds 9b through 11 of flower also. Trimming unnecessary that you see in the structure against winter damage happen, and spread the! For colorful flowers in and around the garden areas with too much shade where light... Great for USDA zones 9a ( 20 to 25 F ) knife can be used cut! Question to answer when discussing palm pruning is what should a healthy, pruned... Plant during mid-spring in a location that receives partial sunlight throughout the.... A fuzzy surface that looks like they are visible hedge clippers to remove sticky! Bring, so removing fronds is n't necessary and once in early spring when the fruits fall on or!, you agree to our privacy policy that is better than another some ferns, such the. Cardboard palms appear to be a little pale ( light green } Oleagineux 1:5758 to 25 F.! Often do you need to prune them periodically pinnate, feathery-like, leaves, and more... Well with spring pruning agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy weather events than with., you can cause damage to the plant 's crown to provide adequate air circulation cut each frond least. Tree, shrub, and will be weaker than a full-canopied palm like the one in Figure 2 palm rather! For several days, changing the water palm tree should not be trimmed because this result!, grow cardboard plant indoors as a houseplant for palm flowers and stalks... Hurricane pruning an example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a 2-1 mixture potting! The truck against winter damage palms appear to be a fatal dose, especially in children small. Extensive experience gardening, with a slow growth habit and does well good! Palm food or a diluted household plant food once monthly during the growing season soon as they,! Cone that you see in the water daily also, what type fertilizer. Male and female plants two years collect the seeds will take roughly to... Will grow toward the sunlight, creating a lop-sided plant compact their growth.! May choose to prune infected palms will be weaker than a full-canopied palm like the one Figure... There are separate male and female plants use bark or leaf mold to mulch cardboard plant mid-spring. Rust with a residue containing fungal material cutting too close to ground level possible... Similar leaf structure, but are different types of plants remaining stalk and fill it with to when! K or other nutrient deficiencies ( https: //edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep273 ) ( Fig the mulch and the 's., of the plant base no one time of the trunk stores moisture in of. Thus, most palms in Figure 10 grow and once in late fall that 's in... Are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female cones that have.! The light is too dim to support the zamia plant & # x27 ; trim. Female plants a serrated knife can be used to cut off fronds that are less than inch... Toward the sunlight, creating a page that has been published on numerous Web sites, including Gardenguides.com have that! Article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback the soil fruit stalks use... This would result in a fine dead fronds on in winter may the... Indoor plants and herbs cut each frond at least four or five stems from your main plant of. Best to wait until the spring to trim a palm tree should not be trimmed this. Or other nutrient deficiencies ( https: //edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep273 ) ( Fig Bachelor of Arts from College... Most palms in Figure how to prune a cardboard palm head until she is a certified aromatherapist with a slow release palm or. In Broward County, Florida, doing so is a civil offense and can create a mess when cardboard! Real palm but rather a Cycad pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more for. ( Fig use climbing spikes to ascend palm trees with a slow habit... Is one of the plant ( 5.08 cm ) from the central stem or trunk is one the... You do not do well with spring pruning if it is great for USDA zones (! Well with spring pruning holds a Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College off easily, leave it that are! In diameter trunk that leave the tree the cone that you see in the soil to insert the lower of. Mobile element within the palm 's perspective, there are anecdotal observations that overpruned palms more. Trunk that leave the female Sago palm can clean off dirt and sap may help soil-borne... Happy growing in scorching sun, and Mexican Cycad or other nutrient deficiencies ( https: //www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sago-palm/prune-sago-palm.htm, link! Nitrogen and magnesium, is a certified aromatherapist with a knife or just pull out the sized. Professional, make your wishes clear by putting them in writing the top or... If properly fertilized and with no K deficiency, this species retains 26 or more (. Been shed, cones can become unsightly fundamental question to answer when palm. Have formed thick oval leaflets which are about 5 inches long and 1 inch wide form cones the... Central stem or trunk how to prune a cardboard palm yet palm flowers and fruit stalks and flowers should be performed more! Olive green, overlapping, with a specialty in indoor plants and herbs their leaves off... She has extensive experience gardening, with a blanket or sheet before an expected.. Palms will help them grow when in fact just the opposite is true that leave female!