Palm tree help

[Eric Perry]

Hey all,

I planted a Pygmy Date Palm last week, and I'm starting to see the frond ends turning a dark brown. I think it's watered okay, but I don't know. My cheesy moisture reader reads moist (hehe) to moderately wet at various points around thw root ball. Another I planted about six weeks ago I thought died (it looks terrible), but also appears to becoming back... or at least hanging on. I don't want this one to meet that same fate. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? The soil is very dense and clay-like. When i planted, I amended the native crap soil with a nutrient rich organic soil.

 

[MJ5150]

It could just be in shock from being transplanted.

-Mike

 

[TOOL460002]

Internet says soil drainage is important, but, for now, I would agree with the above post and evaluate shock first. But if it's really dense clay, that drainage could be an issue in the future. I've had that affect other plants.

 

[Tom Lane]

Google "Epsom salt palm trees". They need magnesium.

 

[pappabass]

Where do you live? Generally tropical plants like a more sandy soil. But sandy soil can lack nutrients needed. I have a palm that is not too happy either

 

[Eric Perry]

Thanks everyone for your input. I live in Phoenix. My soil is definitely not sandy. Drainage seems okay, maybe a little slow. I have read that palms really crave both magnesium and potassium. I'm going to stop after work today to get a good pal-specific fertilizer. Hopefully that will help. Pygmies grow so slowly that if he withers away like my other one did, it'll take forever to come back to a lush look. Obviously I want him to survive, but I also don't want it looking like a dead bush for a year as it recovers the healthy green fronds.

 

[dwm74]

I planted a couple of those in my front yard a couple years ago. They looked like that for the first month or two whether I watered them heavily or lightly (mine had more yellow than brown on the tips). I'd attribute it to shock but keep a close eye on them if they get worse. This time of year is hard on all vegetation here in the desert (especially this past week we've had with temps between 110-115°)

 

[Eric Perry]

Fingers crossed. And yeah, the weather has been brutal. Truth told though, I love it!