A: The growth you described is called a pup. You can remove it or leave it attached. If you remove it you should do it as soon as possible. Once you have removed the pup, put it in clean soil. Keep the soil moist but not wet to encourage root growth. Put the newly planted pup in a protected site that will obtain lots of indirect sunlight. It may take it several months for the pup to develop roots as these plants grow very slowly. Some people like the look of the multi-stemmed palms and leaving the pup attached would be one way of achieving that look. It really is up to you. No long term damage will occur to the adult plant if you leave the pup attached. Remember palms, and plants similar to palms (cycads), should be fertilized using palm fertilizer during spring, summer and fall. Spread the fertilizer throughout the whole canopy (along the root area). Be sure to irrigate the palm around the root area immediately after applying the fertilizer’; about ¼ inch is sufficient.

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