The Date Palm (Phoenix palm) is a total classic with those gorgeous feathery fronds. When you pick one up at the garden center, they’re usually about 15 inches tall. They’re slow growers, eventually reaching about three feet high in your living room or out on the patio. Because they take their time, you’ll only need to worry about repotting every two or three years.
When is it time to repot?
These palms do most of their growing in the summer and take a little “nap” from fall through spring. The best time to move them is right before they start their spring growth spurt. Usually, the soil is spent after two or three years and needs refreshing. However, if you see roots pushing up out of the soil or the fronds start turning brown, that’s your signal that it’s time for an early move!
How to get the job done
Date palms are deep-rooted plants. They have “taproots” that love to grow straight down, so you’ll need a pot that’s nice and deep. Make sure your new container is also a few inches wider than the old one.
As for soil, you can buy pre-mixed palm soil, but it can get pretty pricey. If you’re up for a little DIY, you can mix your own! Use a loamy garden soil mixed with sand and some mature compost. Pro tip: the bigger your palm gets, the more clay/loam you should add to the mix. It gives the plant better stability so it doesn’t tip over.
- Get your new pot and soil mix ready to go.
- Carefully slide your palm out of its current home.
- Gently shake off the old, tired soil from the roots.
- Give the roots a very light trim. This helps keep the growth manageable after the move.
- Start with a drainage layer at the bottom of the new pot. These palms hate “wet feet” (standing water), so this step is crucial.
- Use coarse gravel, expanded clay pebbles, or even broken terracotta shards for drainage.
- Add a layer of your soil mix and set the palm inside.
- Fill the rest of the pot with soil.
- Press the soil down firmly so the palm feels nice and secure.
- Give it a good, long drink of water.
Now, just move your Date Palm back to its favorite spot. During the summer, they love being outside on the porch or in the garden. Just remember to acclimate them slowly to the direct sun and fresh air so they don’t get shocked. When it gets really hot out, make sure to keep up with regular watering and fertilizing!
