Question
Hi Tom
I have a further question about the above species..thanks for your last reply it was helpful.  I have and continue to germinate many palms with great success. I have about 50 from a few inches to 4 ft or so.....my wife is not too pleased as I have taken over her laundry room with grow lights during the winter months lol.
I realize Bismarckia nobilis is very sensitive to transplanting...I have germinated 3 and planted them in quite large pots after germinating. Recently I have found these palms in a local greenhouse (brought in from Flordia) 4-5 feet high for a very good price (in Ontario Canada) 70.00.  If I understand correcty they can be transplanted from one container to another container (carefully, with little root disturbance) quite successfully, but are almost impossible to transplant/move once planted in the ground. I would appreciate any information transplanting this sensitive rooted (beautiful palm) from one container to a larger one and success in doing so.  Here in Southern Ontario palms do very well in our hot and humid summers but have to be brought in for the winter, that being said Chusam, Waggies, European Fan palms etc. can and are grown in this area with a bit of winter protection.

Thanks in advance
Larry (Ontario Canada) pushing the limits in zone 6b

Answer
Hi Larry,
Thanx for your question.  When attempting to transplant plants with delicate roots such as the Bismarck Palm, I like to let the soil dry out a bit and palms are perfect for that.  They don't suffer immediate detrimental effects when you let the soil dry out.  When the soil is dried out, the roots help keep the dry soil in one big clump, usually retaining the shape of the container.  Carefully, tip the container upside down and give a couple of taps to the bottom of the pot and light squeezes on the side and the hole clump should come out fairly easily, in one big piece.  Then, all you have to do is dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the sige of the clump and stick it in, cover it up and soak the daylights out of it with water.  I hope this helps.  

Tom