The Madagascar Palm is one of those plants where the name is only half right. While it definitely calls Madagascar home, it’s not actually a palm tree at all! Biologically speaking, it’s a succulent, which is great news for us gardeners because it means we can propagate it using offsets (or “pups”).
Cutting the Side Shoots
If you want to grow new babies, you’ll need a healthy mother plant that has already started growing side shoots. Timing is everything here: aim to take your cuttings in the spring. This gives the little guys plenty of time to establish a strong root system before winter rolls around.
How to Get Started
When you’re ready to remove a shoot from the main trunk, make sure to use a clean, sharp knife or shears and cut right below a node. Once you’ve made the cut, let the offsets sit out for a few hours so the “wound” can callous over. After that, strip the leaves off the bottom of the cutting. You might hear some folks suggest rooting them in a glass of water first, but I’d skip that. The new roots are incredibly fragile, and trying to plant them in soil later without breaking them is a total headache!
Potting Your Cuttings
It’s much easier to start them directly in nursery pots. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Fill your pots with a high-quality seed-starting mix or cactus soil.
- Moisten the substrate slightly.
- Make sure those lower leaves are removed from the shoot.
- Stick the cuttings into the soil.
- Cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or dome to create a mini-greenhouse.
Place your pots in a bright, warm spot, but keep them out of direct, scorching sunlight. You’ll know they’re ready for their “big kid” pots once you see new green leaves starting to sprout!
A Quick Safety Warning
Propagating a Madagascar Palm comes with two main challenges: it’s toxic, and it’s covered in nasty thorns. Those spines will poke right through standard gardening gloves like they’re not even there. If you don’t have heavy-duty leather gloves, try wrapping the trunk in several layers of plastic wrap or thick cardboard before you start cutting. Your hands will thank you!