Start with a good quality, commercial potting soil for Cacti and Succulents. That will ensure that the soil is sterile and pest-free. Many are available with a mild starter fertilizer in the mix. If you choose to make your own soil mix, combine equal parts sand and general purpose potting soil.
Select a container with a drainage hole or be prepared to drill holes for drainage if there are none.
Prepare the container by filling with potting soil up to 2” (5cm) from the rim of the planter. Make a hole in the center of the soil large enough to hold the root ball of the plant.
If the plant is spiny be sure to wear gloves for protection. Rubber gloves should be fine if handling small-spined plants but if the plant has long or sharp needles, leather gloves offer more protection.
Small plants may be safely moved using kitchen tongs. For moving larger plants, a good method is to wrap the plant with paper towel or tissue paper. For exceptionally large or spiny plants follow with a layer of newspaper or wrapping paper for extra protection. Wrap gently, not too tight, so as not to crush the spines. Tape the outer layer of paper closed at several points to hold snug. Once the plant is moved to its new pot and secure, then the wrappings can be carefully removed.
Remove the plant from its pot. Place it in the planting hole and press soil firmly around the roots, just covering the root ball. For spiny plants, use a stick, spatula, or other utensil to move the soil and to keep distance between your hands and the spines.
Repot every 2 years. Unless the roots are pot-bound the same container can be used. If a larger pot is needed choose one not more than 1-2” (3-5cm) larger in diameter than the existing pot.
I have extra heads growing on my plant are they babys and how do i harvest them?
Hi Cindy,
The new growths are called “offsets” and they can be removed and propagated into new plants. Here’s a video from Madagascar Madness channel on YouTube that shows how to cut them off. After you take the cuttings you will want to follow these simple steps:
• Don’t pot right away. Allow the cuttings to dry for a week or two until a callus forms over the cut.
• Select a pot with a drainage hole. A clay pot is a good choice for a Madagascar palm.
• Use a sterile potting mix for cacti and succulents.
• Plant the cutting in the pot (just deep enough that the cutting is well supported by the soil).
• Place in a bright location, but not in direct sunlight. Near a west or south-facing window would be ideal. Outdoors where it gets morning sun or partial shade through the day.
• Water in your cutting and then try to establish a watering routine where you water only when the top two inches of the soil is completely dry.