skip to main content

Yellowing/black spots on small California Palm

10 years ago

Hey everyone, I'm pretty new to palm trees and about 2 months ago I bought these 2 small, California fan palms. As you can see in the pictures, one of the leaves is starting to develop yellowing and some black spots. The yellowing and black spotting is only happening to one of the palms.

One mistake I might have made was I added 2-3 teaspoons of palm "food" 12-4-12, to both the palms. Although, if this were the case, both of them would have showed signs of yellowing/black spots instead of just the one shown. They're of course watered regularly and the soil is kept fairly moist but not wet. Very humid down here in SC.

{{gwi:1156304}}

Another close-up
{{gwi:1156305}}

Here is another leaf that is starting to turn brown
{{gwi:1156307}}

A picture of both of my little ones

Comments (3)

us_marine
10 years ago
In the last pic they look fine to me. It looks like its just the oldest fronds are dying off naturally. Are the fronds/leaves pictured above the oldest ones at the bottom? And do you know for sure if they are CA fan palms?

I don't think you have anything to worry about if those are just the oldest fronds. Brown spots could mean fungal disease though. And if they are pure CA fan palms you'll have to keep an eye on them. They don't really like humid summers and easily die from fungal complications.Even over here in the West where humidity is very low they don't really do so well on the coast where humidity is higher.
I've had brown spots (fungal disease) kill 2 of my coco's before. But if it were a fungal problem you'd see brown spots on healthy fronds too.

- US_Marine
smithgn
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks very much for your reply. Yes, these are the older fronds at the bottom which have the yellowing/black spots. Although, the larger and newer ones at the top also have small yellow and black spots; except they're very small. If they get any larger, should I assume its fungal disease? What action would I have to take next?

I don't know 100% if they're California fan palms, although the guy I bought them from said he started growing them in December- then we hit a hot spell, and they started sprouting by late December. I just bought these around mid-May and they've been growing pretty fast. He said they were California fan palms.

Very interesting about the humidity. Didn't know that, although it makes sense now since I know California isn't humid like it is here. Any way I can reduce the humidity? Maybe not mist the leaves as much or at all?
Related Discussions
Black Beetle with 4 Yellow Spots on Lucifer Bulb.
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks Linrose! I went to the bugguide and it looks like this: http://bugguide.net/node/view/14400 So I am pretty sure it is a Sap beetle (Glischrochilus fasciatus). I am guessing that there is sap in the Lucifer bulb and that the bulbs might be in trouble. :c( Anything one can do for this? Here is a link that might be useful: Sap beetle (Glischrochilus fasciatus)
...See More
Is my grape plant doing alright? yellow black spots (pictures)
Q
Comments (1)
Did you plant them both this year? If not when? Is the entire vine affected? I'm wondering if perhaps this vine is running short of water for one reason or another. In case you did plant it this year -- if it doesn't improve soon, I suggest you start over with a new plant next year.
...See More
black spots and yellowing leaves- help!
Q
Comments (1)
I'm not getting enough clarity off of those photos to really pin it down... but you mentioned that the spots were small, and they look quite dark. Is it progressing just a couple of leaves at a time, rather than by leaps and bounds? Fungal spots tend to show up so fast it's breathtaking, especially in wet weather. If it's going slowly enough that you can note which leaves get it and when, that suggests a bacterial disease. If the spots are also pretty consistently small -- 1/8" or less -- I'd try treating for bacterial speck or spot, and see what happens. Pick off the worst leaves, as they won't get any better, and throw them in the garbage can. Then pick up some fixed copper spray from the hardware store or nursery, and spray them as directed (or as close as you can -- I understand you guys are building arks out there). If and when the rain settles down, you should be able to get a handle on it pretty well. I'd suggest mulching just on principle, but I'm guessing plastic tarps might be more useful right now. Soil splashing up onto the leaves just makes matters worse; once the bacteria or fungus has a foothold in the lower leaves, though, it spreads upward by water splashing on those leaves. --Alison
...See More
Advice re: brown spots & yellow leaf on new Kentia Palm
Q
Comments (3)
Hi malicitator, sorry to pester you so long after you first posted this. We have a Kentia, too, and it seems to have exactly the same problem as yours: very similar spots on some of the fronds and yellowing (with brown spots) of one of the small leaves. In addition, our plant has a couple of developing fronds that seem healthy, but have stopped growing. The height of the shoots has not increased in weeks or months, and they show no signs of opening, either. Did you ever find out what was wrong with your plant, and, if so, did you manage to fix it? Many thanks!
...See More
User
10 years ago
Humid here too now. Us Marine right about those black spots, a few years back I ordered a Canary Island Date from Miiami, Fl.. I almost sent it back--covered in black spot. Figured it was the humidity and kept it. Today, it is fine having long grown out of its issues w. Florida humidity.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

MIDCENTURY HOMES Houzz Tour: Pools and Martinis Inspire a Palm Springs Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Weighed down by black-heavy ’80s style, a California desert home gets a fun and lighthearted look just right for its midcentury roots

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Brittlebush Brightens Rocky, Dry Spots

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Masses of cheerful golden flowers belie the tough nature of this highly drought-tolerant shrub

BLACK 14 Buzzworthy Yellow and Black Interiors

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Follow the flight of the bumblebee for a bold, glam, elegant or even subtle look for your home

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)

By Curtis Adams

Looking for unusual, long-lasting blooms, low maintenance and deer resistance? Try this self-sowing perennial

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Spanish Meets Tuscan in Southern California

By Planning Pretty

Carved wood and detailed tiles give a home near Palm Springs warmth and old-world flair

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Seattle Remodel Channels Palm Springs

By Lawrence Karol

Indoor and outdoor living merge atypically in this Pacific Northwest home, thanks to California-style updates

COLOR Bold and Beautiful Color Combos: Yellow, Black and White

By Becky Harris

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Celebrate a Sunny Climate With the Right Leafy Palm for Your Site

By Steve Asbell

So you get freezes or floods. So your garden is small. These palms send excuses riding off into the tropical sunset

HOUZZ TOURS Rare Modernist Home Uncovered in Palm Springs

By Nora Burba Trulsson

A custom home by modernist William Krisel gets restored and updated

DECORATING GUIDES Houzz Tour: Warm, Curvy Modernism in Palm Springs

By Mary Jo Bowling

It’s endless summer in this midcentury gem with bright white interiors and rich bursts of color

Sponsored

Mary Shipley Interiors

32 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

Please help my palm ignorance!

4

Pot size for Palm

5

Can I put these in a worm bin?

1

Drooping frawns

10

Sick pindo palm

0