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Stunted growth on palm

12 years ago

I have several Christmas palms in an island in the front yard well established, in the ground 4-5 years in healthy condition. I noticed on one a stunted spear which opened to a very small frond, appx 25% normal size. It shows no sigs of deficiency or damage, it is nice and green with no yellowing or brown spots to indicate Magniesium problems. It does give the appearance of being crunched up like it is not fully expanded. What could this be? Upon checking the other nearby palms some also show reduced size fronds in the most recent or youngest fronds but none as severe as this and they are all nice and green some of the best looking on the tree. We did have an unusually cold winter here in S. Florida, Palm Beach Co. and these trees did suffer cold damage in the form of dead leaf tips but with the warm weather they seem to be growing out of this producing new growth. They are in full sun most of the day and were fertilized a few months ago when the cold left. could I have over done it with the fertilizer?

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Comments (6)

jaxboro
12 years ago
It could be the damage finally showing, but I honestly don't know.
cocoabeachlorax
12 years ago
Sounds like what we're experiencing up here (brevard), cold damage likely. I'm holding out hope that it will grow out before next winter hits us again.
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tropicalzone7
12 years ago
I also think its probably cold damage, but the fact that it pushed up a new leaf means its still alive so with good fertlizing and lots of heat (always reliable in FL in the summer), it should get back to normal really soon.
garyfla_gw
12 years ago
Hi
You might pose the ?? to Fairchild?? Who has more experience growing palms in florida. lol There are several diseases inclusding lethal yellowing that often follow cold spells. I would send a photo along with the post??? gary
xerophyte NYC
12 years ago
It takes months to see damage to palm leaves, whether it is a nutrient deficiency or cold damage.

The newly developing leaf is hidden withing the body of the Palm at the time it is exposed to a negative event. When that leaf is ready to mature, some months later, only then is it visible.

Just give it time to outgrow the damage.

x
jaxboro
12 years ago
It sorta sounds like what is happening to part of my triple Foxtail, spear is still green and hasn't pulled, but isn't doing a damn thing, the other two trunks have. I'm trying to be patient, but with the amount of cash I paid for that, I do not wanna lose a single piece.

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