How to Trim Elephant Palms
With fanlike leaves that can reach 6 feet wide, elephant palms make an impressive plant. If you have the space, elephant palms (Kerriodoxa elegans) make ideal houseplants. They can also can be grown outdoors in areas where winter temperatures stay above freezing. Also known as white elephant palm, these plants prefer filtered light, warm conditions and well-drained soil. Elephant palms require little maintenance, but occasionally trimming away dead leaves will improve your plant's appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Observe your elephant palm. Look for any leaves that have turned brown or yellow. Also look for leaves that have broken along the stem. These are the leaves you'll want to trim away.
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Cut the dying or broken leaves you've found with your scissors, cutters or shears. Make your cut so you leave the entire leaf base -- the point where the leaf attaches to the trunk. Leave 3 to 4 inches of leaf stem if you have any doubt as to where the leaf base is.
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Continue trimming away the dying or damaged leaves. The brown or yellow leaves should all be on the lower part of the plant. If you have several dying leaves in the upper leaves, your palm may have an insect or nutritional problem.
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Feed your elephant palm with a fertilizer specifically intended for palm trees. If you have trouble finding this type of fertilizer, look for a balanced fertilizer that contains manganese, magnesium and sulfur.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid overtrimming your palm. One or two trims a year is sufficient.
To prevent stress to the palm, don't cut away more than 25 percent of the leaves at any one time.
The cut palm leaves can be composted.
Follow the package directions regarding how much fertilizer to apply to your elephant palm. Also, keep the fertilizer away from the trunk of the tree to avoid burning the plant.
Elephant palms have narrow trunks. To prevent breaking the trunk, place as little pressure on it as possible when making your cuts.
References
- Sunset Western Garden Book; Sunset Publishing
- Jungle Music: Kerridoxa Elegans
- Palm & Cycad Societies of Australia: Kerridoxa Elegans
