Things You'll Need
Loppers or machete
Garden hoe or cultivator tool
Work gloves
Most palm tree varieties are propagated by seed or by air layering. However, one species of palm, the Cryosophila nana, can be propagated by planting a cut stem from an existing plant. Over time, the cutting will develop a root system that allows it to grow on its own. The palm stem of the Cryosophila nana has spiky thorns that grow along the side of it. When a cut stem is planted, the thorns begin to grow down into the soil to act as roots.
Step 1
Locate a Cryosophila nana palm that is healthy and free of disease. Examine one of the stems to locate the one with the most spiky thorns along the stem.
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Step 2
Cut off the stem near the base of the palm using loppers or a machete if the stem is larger than 2 inches in diameter. The length of the stem does not matter with regard to propagation, but in general should be at least 12 inches long.
Step 3
Look for an outdoor location that has full sunlight and drains well. The type of soil does not matter, since the palm will grow in all soil compositions.
Step 4
Loosen the top 3 inches of soil in the area using a garden hoe or cultivator tool. Dig a shallow trench, approximately 1 1/2 inches deep, in the center of the prepared area.
Step 5
Lay the Cryosophila nana stem into the trench and press the soil up against the sides of it to fill in the hole. Do not cover the top of the stem with soil.
Step 6
Water the area well until it is moist. After planting, water only when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch.
Tip
The spikes on the palm point upward at planting They will begin to grow downward and will eventually raise the stem to a vertical growing position.
It's a good idea to wear work gloves when handling the Cryosophila nana palm due to its spikes.
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