REPOTTING A MADAGASCAR PALM - Pachypodium Lamerei

[@daleandrews3552]

Hi Jeff, I'm Dale Andrews, a subscriber from Lake Charles, LA. We are about 50-60 miles north of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, so subtropical. Typically we have around 4 or 5 nights per year when the temp's get below 32, on rare occasion getting into the 20's. That said, today is August 20, 2023 and I just recieved my baby Madagascar palm from Amazon yesterday. It is about 4" tall and came in a 4" pot. I repotted it into a slightly larger terra cotta pot with about 4 built in "vents" running vertically down the sides. When I potted mine, I used pieces of window screen to cover the vents and hole at the bottom. Also, I dusted the root ball with rooting hormone. That was yesterday, so today I plan to give it a good soaking with water that I had left out for 24 hours to let the chemicals dissipate somewhat into the open air. What kind of growth should I expect in the first year? Keep in mind, it's only a baby. I see you mentioned the Desert Rose. I have 4 Adenium obsesums and 2 Adenium Arabicums that are in pots around 6" diameter that I got last summer. Keep the good videos rolliing, and I'll be watching. Happy gardening! 🪴🌴

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Hi Dale, the first year I had my Madagascar palm it grew about 30-40% taller then what it was and mine was rough 18” tall as I recall when I got it. I have found they grow fast. Sorry for the delayed reply I didn’t see your comment.

[@loandbehold7750]

Perhaps I am a pedant, but to be clear, Madagascar Palms, Pachypodium, belong to the family Apocynaceae. Great video, very helpful; thank you!

[@pearlyjames5842]

I loved mine when I seen it. It was just a baby.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

@@pearlyjames5842 Yes they are truly a different plant when you see them for the first time.

[@YouUceireTube]

I'm in love with these plants. I have about 30

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Lol I’m the same way with Desert Roses. I started out with one and now have hundreds lol. I really like my Madagascar Palm too I just don’t have as much access to buying more of them.

[@gerardoforesthillsbonsai]

Wow, that is a nice Palm 😱

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Thank you, yes I really like it. I wish I lived in a warmer climate so I could plant it outside in my yard lol Thank you for your support of the channel it means a lot.

[@olli8623]

I would have loosened the roots a bit. This doesn't harm the plant. On the contrary. Alternatively, you can remove the old substrate from the root ball with water and loosen the roots in the process.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

@@olli8623 I understand what you mean. This plant was very hard to handle because of all the thorns. The technique I used is called slip potting and to be honest with you it is how most professional nurseries repot most of their plants because of time. But loosening the roots is best when we can you are right. I should be uploading an update video on this plant soon stay tuned.

[@olli8623]

@@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777 Hi, an update would be cool and interesting. I have an 11 year old Pachypodium sandersii. This is a relative from South Africa. A Pachypodium can actually only kill waterlogging and no water at all. Has yours bloomed yet? Pachypodiums have beautiful flowers. I like this plants very much.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

@@olli8623 Mine has not bloomed yet for me. I have seen them in bloom in nurseries and yes they are beautiful.

[@olli8623]

@@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777 Mine has never bloomed either. I read that it needs a winter rest or dry phase with very little water to bloom. I'll try that out now. When it sheds its leaves in winter, it is the sign of the dormant phase.

[@stonkmark941]

Can you cut a plant of that size and it will still grow? Say maybe halfway down the stalk for heights sake?

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Yes you can prune it at any height and from the area you cut it at you will have multiple branches start to grow. Then you can root the top part of the plant you cut off to start a new plant as well.

[@ingrid3578]

isn't it bad not to loosen the root ball before placing it in a new pot? Interested to know your opinion on that.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Believe it or not most large scale nurseries transplant without disturbing the roots of the plant. It’s called slip potting in the industry and I was taught/shown this technique by multiple nurseries. They do it for a few reasons one it saves them time when they have hundreds or even thousands of plants to repot. Two it can prevent streets on the plant. Which leads me to this plant. Some succulents and cactus do not do well with their roots disturbed. Over time the roots will grow outward into the fresh soil. I hope this helps and answer your question. Thanks for your support for the channel.

[@ingrid3578]

@@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777 thanks!

[@Miafkute]

Hello , I just bring this plant ho my home today , last owners gived it to me but didn explain how take care of it. It’s 140 cm tall and I not sure when is right time to repot it , so it need to get used to my home like some other plants or I can just do it ? And how and how often you water it ? Thanks ☺️

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

I’m not sure where you live or your temperatures but during the growing season I water mine at least once a week. In the winter I water mine less often. I would only repot it during the active growing season too and the main thing is to make sure it’s in well draining soil like the soil in the video. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions let me know.

[@Miafkute]

I live in Lithuania , it’s have 4 seasons , I keep it home. When is actyve growing time for them ? And I’m what way you water them ? Do you just water them or you dip it into water ?

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

In my area the growing season is from April-October. I would imagine your growing season in Europe would be similar. So a good time to repot would be in May in my opinion. I water from the top down. They get to big to be picking up and dipping into water.

[@scribbledribble6226]

What’s your water schedule like?

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

In the winter I water it about once a month. In the spring once it goes back outside once a week. Then in the summer I water it every day. The key is the soil it’s growing in. My soil mix doesn’t hold a lot of water so the plants roots can breathe. Normal potting soil holds to much water so I wouldn’t plant a Madagascar palm in potting soil. I hope this helps. I will be making a follow up video on this plant in a couple months. Showing how much it has grown.

[@scribbledribble6226]

Thanks for reply…I just did a repot of 1/3 potting soil and 2/3 pumice…I had peat moss and some perlite and some sand but it was hold on to way to much moisture..the leaves started curling and getting brown spots..so I hope this new mix gives it room to breath just worried ..thanks dude

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

You got it👍

[@scribbledribble6226]

@@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777 you think that new soil mix I made spuds decent?

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Honestly yes I do. 2/3 perlite should do the trick. The only thing that you might need to watch out for is perlite is light weight. So the plant might get blown over on a windy day. Maybe not but just something to be mindful of.

[@pearlyjames5842]

Mine is 38 inches. Then to leaves is 50.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

@@pearlyjames5842 That’s great, I’ll be uploading a updated video on mine soon to show how much more it has grown. It is one of my favorite plants I have. How long have you had yours? You said you got it when it was a baby.

[@pearlyjames5842]

My guess is about 5 years and according to my husband he thinks 4 years. We're both. Not sure on how long but we know we've had it for several years.