Lady palms are readily propagated by removing the pups and re-potting them in their own pot. The pups are the new shoots that grow through the stolon from the mother plant. This is a photo essay showing how the process is done, and what to look for while removing these baby plants, to insure a better survival rate. Click on smaller image for more details and larger photo
Rhapis excelsa - Taking the Pups
step #1 Cleaning soil from around root ball.
step #1
Once the plant has been removed from the container, the soil must be carefully pulled away to expose the roots and stolons. If the root condition indicates that the new shoots are ready for separation, we then look for a point on the stolon to cut. I'm using a sharp pointed stick called a "spatula" to carefully remove the soil so as not to damage the roots.
Once the plant has been removed from the container, the soil must be carefully pulled away to expose the roots and stolons. If the root condition indicates that the new shoots are ready for separation, we then look for a point on the stolon to cut. I'm using a sharp pointed stick called a "spatula" to carefully remove the soil so as not to damage the roots.
Step #2 Pulling and prying roots
step #2
Irene is carefully and gently untangling the roots and at the same time looking for darkened roots that are unhealthy, these are removed from the plant as they serve no purpose.
Step #3 Prying stolon away from mother plan
step #3
Sometimes it becomes necessary to pry the plant apart, especially if the stolons are packed tight and inter-tangled with each other. This can become very time consuming and taxing on ones patience, but the rewards out weight all the hard work in the end.
Step #4 Making the final cut
step #4
When the new shoots and roots are all exposed, we than determine where our cut will be made along the stolon, once a decision is made, we cut the pup from the main body with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
Step #5 The removal
I just remove a large pup, this one has a very well developed root system as well as many new growth points (newly forming shoots) along the stolon that well someday become pups of their own.
Small Rhapis excelsa 'Taiheiden' Pup
This is a small pup, also having a well developed root system.
Cleaning roots and getting pups ready for shipping.
After the pups are removed they are brought into the greenhouse for a closer inspection. This is where any darkened roots or damaged leaves are removed and any remaining soil is washed off the plant. Finally the roots and stolons are wrapped in moist sphagnum moss and double bagged for shipping. These "Taiheiden" pups will be going to California.
