How to Transplant Cataractarum Palms

The Chamaedorea cataractarum palm is also called the cat or cascade palm. It comes from southeastern Mexico and grows to only 6 feet tall at maturity. However, it spreads to 8 feet, making it a useful border plant when you plant several of them along your property line. It grows relatively quickly and makes an attractive houseplant, but it will withstand temperatures as low as 24 degrees Fahrenheit. Because it is a clumping plant that will fill an area 2 feet in diameter, it can become rootbound. Periodic transplanting is important to its health and longevity.

Knife
Clippers
Large pot
Standard potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Remove your cat palm from its container by sliding a large knife around the outer edges of the pot, taking care to damage the roots as little as possible.
- 2
  Rinse the soil from the palm's roots and examine them to determine if any are broken, spongy or infested with any soil-dwelling insects such as borer beetles. Snip off all such roots back to healthy growth. Only cut damaged roots and not those that wrap around the outside of the rootball.
- 3
  Fill a new pot with several inches of potting soil and then set your unpotted palm into the pot to determine if the root system will sit deep enough for it to be completely covered with more potting soil. Add or subtract potting soil to enable the crown of the plant to rest about 3/4 inch from the top of the pot.
- 4
  Fill the pot with additional potting soil and lightly pack it down around the base of the palm.
- 5
  Water your repotted cat palm thoroughly, until water runs from the pot's drainage hole. Keep it in a partially shady spot and keep the soil moist; this palm grows in streambeds in its native habitat and can endure having its roots constantly wet.

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