Q. I have a Joshua tree that is sending out what I’ve
been told are “pups”. In other
words, more trees are coming up around the main tree. Can I transplant the pups to a new area and
how do I do that. Thanks for your help.
A. Pups are
produced normally from underground stems or rhizomes.
produced normally from underground stems or rhizomes.
Not all
Joshuas will produce rhizomes that are usually three to ten feet long. If they
are closer than this then they could be seedlings and not on rhizomes.
Joshuas will produce rhizomes that are usually three to ten feet long. If they
are closer than this then they could be seedlings and not on rhizomes.
Native Joshuas
growing at higher elevations have a greater chance of producing
rhizomes than those at lower elevations. I am not sure if this is due to the
type of Joshua or the elevation since the research does not say but kind of
suggests they are different types of Joshuas.
growing at higher elevations have a greater chance of producing
rhizomes than those at lower elevations. I am not sure if this is due to the
type of Joshua or the elevation since the research does not say but kind of
suggests they are different types of Joshuas.
As you
probably know, a Joshua tree stand can be an interconnected web of plants
connected by rhizomes or underground stems. Joshuas can also occur from seed.
probably know, a Joshua tree stand can be an interconnected web of plants
connected by rhizomes or underground stems. Joshuas can also occur from seed.
 |
| This is not a Joshua but another agave, Agave americana. You can see its “pup” nestled next to the mother plant. |
They are
difficult to move. Many people believe they must be oriented the same compass
direction as they were in the wild to do well.
difficult to move. Many people believe they must be oriented the same compass
direction as they were in the wild to do well.
I would
wait about another month before I moved them in early spring. You could take a shovel between
the mother plant and the pup and sever the rhizome now. It should not be very
deep. Just slice the soil with the shovel as deep as you can in a swath between
the two.
wait about another month before I moved them in early spring. You could take a shovel between
the mother plant and the pup and sever the rhizome now. It should not be very
deep. Just slice the soil with the shovel as deep as you can in a swath between
the two.
Hand
water the pup once only. Move the pup around mid-October by taking as much of
the soil with it as you can. It does not have to be around the roots of the
pup. You just want some of that soil from around the roots to “inoculate” the
hole you are putting it into in case there are some beneficial organisms in it.
water the pup once only. Move the pup around mid-October by taking as much of
the soil with it as you can. It does not have to be around the roots of the
pup. You just want some of that soil from around the roots to “inoculate” the
hole you are putting it into in case there are some beneficial organisms in it.
Make
sure the new spot drains easily of water. Water it thoroughly once after you
plant it and don’t water it again until next spring and water it deeply again.
Water two or three times a year from that point forward.
Collecting
any Joshua from the wild is illegal and can result in a very stiff penalty.
sure the new spot drains easily of water. Water it thoroughly once after you
plant it and don’t water it again until next spring and water it deeply again.
Water two or three times a year from that point forward.
Collecting
any Joshua from the wild is illegal and can result in a very stiff penalty.
I have Joshua plant the state land sold me. It has pups, and I want to move 1 plant. should I do it in spring or fall.
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Sorry for these late responses to comments. Move pups, plant or transplant in spring or fall when weather is cooler. They are not as sensitive cooler months as palms which should be planted during warm weather only.
You willing to sell the pup