They look like they need alot of water. When do you water them?

I believe they are watered twice a day on the drip line. Once early a.m. and once in the later evening. I believe it's a few minutes each time. Don't quote me on that, I would have to find out.

Hello,
I have a queen that is doing very well and I live in Canada near Toronto (6a) I read they need a lot of manganese. I use manganese spikes on my queen and its growing nicely. I don't know about where you are but if you go to www.treehelp.com they sell the spikes.

What kind of soil are these guys planted in ?
good drainage ?

I live in Tampa Bay where Queens are everywhere. I have 6 that are at least 35' tall and full. They are heavy feeders, and can get by with normal amounts of water. I would use a water soluble fertilizer with high nitrogen (like fill a bucket) and water in well. Then, allow them to dry out in between. If you are drip watering twice a day, is the soil too wet? They do not like wet soil, as most palms don't. Just moist once in a while. The Philo in the pic looks sad, too. Was it planted recently? They grow into huge bushes here, too. Same fertilizer. Follow up in a month or so and see some improvement. ALWAYS use a complete fertilizer with micronutriens. Greg in Tampa Bay

the reason I ask that because when I was in southern cali buying palms everything was dry everywhere, the nurseys I went to had there drips on constantly. Is the soil dry at the base of the palms?

There is a HUGE difference between drip watering a potted plant and one in the ground. Pots obviously dry out often, as palms are generally rootbound. The ground will hold more moisture sin ce it is covered. Be careful, and fertilize often. Greg

Greg
I agree they look too wet to me to.
all those queens you have if ya ever want to get rid
of any let me know !

k, so they look too wet not too dry? I'm very confused!

I went out there to check them all out. Obviously since it's 98F out there right now, the soil is dry. How far would I need to go down to check if they are getting good amount of water or needing more/less?

I am really grateful for this site and for everyone's help. I'm trying to take the bull by the horns here because Jim's just too busy with his job right now (fire season) to be able to devote enough time out there. And I don't want to lose any of my plants!

So, thank you all for your help, your time and most of all your patience. - Terra

Toph- It vwould be a rough move for sure. I do have 6 smaller ones at about 20', shading a gorgeous Heliconia lathisphata (orange/yellow) in full bloom at 12' tall in a clump, 5 claws open next to Heliconia rostrata (hanging) which has a dozen hanging. They provide what little shade I can get since the hurricanes knocked my oaks down in '04.
As for the Queens, check down a foot or so (use a pipe) and see how wet it is. I would also fertilize with a liquid as suggested....Greg

I know this is going against what everyones saying but im almost positive its not gettig enough water. Cali is real arrid and dry, I would leave the drip on all night. Give them a good soak. Your soil doesnt hold any water and the sun dries up any water that does happen to be around. My brother lives out there and when I visit him you can see alot of the tropical plants suffering from under watering but palms like filiferas and date palms and cactus and yucca do well.

So....I finally get to a big piece of info that I didn't know about. Apparently ALL our plants are on the same drip line. The landscape guy only put in one line back there when he did the wall. UGH! I had no idea about this.

So, this means I can't do anything right? If I bump up the water on my palms/tropicals, I drown my roses, right?

If I water the palms seperately say with a bucket or something, how much and how often?

I didn't go down a full foot, but I was able to try and go down a few inches and it's pretty dry, yeah.

About the Philo, yeah, all the tropicals minus the palms went in March/April-ish. The philo was really doing good and now it's just become so hot. I am trying so hard to find out what to do. I am upset w/the nursery we purchased all our stuff from because they're not calling back at all to help w/advice. The bird of paradise and our canna are doing amazing. Everythign else I am trying so hard to figure out what to do so I can save them. This heat sure is not helping me either.
--Terra

I would just bump up the water as much as you can, you wont drown your roses, those are impossible to kill. leave the drip on. Is there a timer on it? can you adjust the flow of the water?

Ok - now she's confused. I agree with Mike. If Cali's soil is that dry, as is the air, then perhaps soak the plants with a hose. Do it slowely over a few minutes. Then follow up with some fertilizer 9bucket). I guess I am used to dewpoints in the 70's where transpiration does not occur that fast. Yesterday it was 93F at 2pm and a dewpoint of 76F humidity 63% and clear sky with a 10mph seabreeze. That's tropical. What you are doing is not working, so go the other way. Queens definitely require moisture and fertilizer to get going! Now, send me some rain - horribly dry summer here and it is our rainy season. :-((( Greg

Thanks everyone!

We need rain, too! We had a whopping 3 inches this year!

So, my husband's fire season is so far much luckier than they imagined it to be.

I will keep everyone posted.
Any more suggestions please send them my way!
Thanks- Terra