Palm tree with brown, sticky bumps and drying leaves

8 years ago

Hey everyone. I've had an indoor palm plant for about 6 months now, and recently it became quite sick. It had brown, sticky bumps on the top of many of the leaves. Also, some of the leaves were brown, dried, and dead. The floor below the palm was sticky, as was the wall beside it.

Using a damp cloth and warm, soapy water, I cleaned every leaf with gentle rubbing and was able to remove all of the brown, sticky stuff. Unfortunately, it slowly came back. Thus, I cut off the infected branches.

Now, the ends of many of the leaves are turning brown and drying out. Here're some photos of the palm:
http://imgur.com/a/u2nzw

Help! What should I do?

Featured Answer

kaitlynmix

3 years ago

I know this post is super old but just in case anyone else is looking into this.

So I've had this problem with my palm for a year now and it went away so fast as soon as I put it outdoors. I think the constant movement of fresh air really helps. I soon as I had to bring it back inside for winter it came back, you do have to try and keep up with it but if you are able I would suggest a shady spot outside for it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

MrBlubs
8 years ago
Looks like a scale infestation and if it is they are very difficult to get rid of.
Usiing alcohol, dish soap, and water in a spray bottle usually does the trick. They're are also many insecticides and insecticidal soaps that will get rid of them if you spray on a weekly basis (usually) but there are also many home/natural methods
I'll let someone else expand on that
summersunlight
8 years ago
Yes, Mr Blubs is right that your plant has scale insects.

How important is this plant to you? If this plant isn't sentimental or valuable, it may not be worth it to try to fight the scale. Scale can be tough to eradicate.

If you really want to try to save the plant though, I would suggest using a systemic pesticide that is labeled for indoor use in addition to following the advice to spray it (as well as the pot and the surrounding area) with a mixture to try to kill the insects every few days for several weeks.
Related Discussions
bumps on yellowing leaves w brown tips on gardenias
Q
Comments (9)
Hi All: I just bought myself a nice little Gardenia tree of the Veitchii variety. I've killed them before but I'm determined to grow at least one in my lifetime. I've found this while searching for care information on the web. Its from a California Nursery so the care should be applicable to us. GARDENIAS Soil Acidic, moist, well drained. Use an azalea/camellia type mix when conditioning soil. Light Filtered light inland, full sun on the coast. Water Evenly moist, never too wet or too dry. Adopt a consistent watering schedule. Fertilizer Use a fertilizer for acid loving plants once a month Spring-Fall. Gardenias love iron, also. Feed with iron after main flowering season. Problems Yellow leaves and leaf drop Changes in weather or soil moisture levels. Some leaf drop is normal in early spring before buds begin to appear. Yellow leaves with green veins Iron chlorosis. Feed with chelated iron or iron sulphate. Flower or bud drop Usually cold weather or inconsistent watering. Gardenias like warmth and even moisture. Tiny black or green insects on buds or leaves Aphids, spray with Ultra-Fine. Leaf tips and edges browning Salt accumulation. Leach the plant with water thoroughly. Leaves turn brown Too dry. Gardenias like to be evenly moist. Varieties of Gardenias: AUGUST BEAUTY 5Â tall and 3Â wide Large double white flowers May - November Heavy bloomer MYSTERY 6-8Â tall 4-5" Very large flowers May-July Tends to have an open growth habit. Prune to keep neat. RADICANS 6-12" tall and 2-3Â wide 1" double, white flowers. Summer bloom Small scale ground cover or container plants VEITCHII 3-4 Â½ tall and wide 1 Â½" white flowers May Â November and through warm winters Heavy bloomer WHITE GEM 1-2Â tall and as wide Dwarf plant with single, fragrant flowers Great in containers, raised beds. Blooms often. Courtesy of Sperling Nursery 24460 Calabasas Road, Calabasas CA (818) 591-9111
...See More
Little brown sticky growths on branches
Q
Comments (1)
It's scale insect. You're going to need to remove them or consider a pesticide or an organic means of pest control. Since you describe the tree as very small, it is possible to manually remove them--snap or scrape them off. You may wish to wipe down the branches, stems, and leaves with a damp paper towel or something to remove the juvenile forms--they are very tiny little yellowish waxy looking bumps that don't look like an insect in the least and often seem like part of the bark. Be sure to check in little nooks that the bugs like to hide in--forks of branches, undersides and ribs of leaves, etc.--and you are going to have to be vigilant and do this repeatedly over a few days. Some people like to use (carefully) hort oils and whatnot, and I think you can use Malathion if pesticides don't concern you ( though I wouldn't on a food plant), but I don't do anything except for manual removal on small plants. Neem oil is another option. There are plenty of discussions on this forum regarding battling scale--I encourage you to look at some of those. HTH.
...See More
Sticky Floor beneath my Banana Palm
Q
Comments (5)
Nice plant, but its neither a palm or a banana. Just as I suspected, you have a white bird of paradise 'Strelitzia nicolai'. Don't bother dilluting the rubbing alcohol...you can use it full strength, it won't harm the plant or you. First, pick off the adult scale (brown bumps) from the leaves & stems, then gently but thoroughly wipe the underneath side of the leaves as well as the stems with a soft cloth saturated with the rubbing alcohol. Repeat this treatment every week for a month or so, and then keep a close eye on it for any adult scale to appear. It should be fine, but don't be surprised if you see the scale reappear periodically. As long as you keep it under control, it won't kill a plant that size.
...See More
Help IDing brown bumps on Sago Palm leaves underside (scale? sap?
Q
Comments (2)
I can't believe someone thought those were seeds. Seeds on sagos are orange and are almost 3 inches in diameter. Those are the typical brown, round scales. You don't hear much about those because they aren't such a bad problem. Spray some horticultural oil directly on the scales and it will smother them. If you do, use it first thing in the morning because it will burn if used closer to noon time. You can also use twice brewed coffee as a direct contact spray of you don't like the oil.
...See More
nickh_
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, guys. I'll do that and report back on how it's going. BTW, might you know what type of palm this is? I haven't been able to ID yet.
Jasdip
8 years ago
Areca and Majesty palms are commonly sold as houseplants. They are also difficult to grow as our low humidity isn't favourable to them. A picture would be a heck of lot easier to diagnose what kind of palm it is.

Scale is very difficult to get rid of, it will also get on nearby furniture; wooden tables etc. I had scale once on a schefflera and it was much easier to just replace the plant.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
That's a very bad scale infestation, nick. You'll have a difficult time getting that under control, even with strong pesticides which you shouldn't be introducing into your household, anyway.

I'm thinking that it's a Majesty Palm, which is one more big hurdle to overcome.

I can't tell if your plant is also infested with spider mites, another real common problem with palms, or if all the webbing is from cob web spider.

If that plant were mine, it would be on the curb before lunch. Some battles aren't worth it.
MrBlubs
8 years ago
I think it's a Majesty Palm to....
But i don't think they're difficult to grow indoors as I bought mine 3 year's ago (my 5th houseplant ever) and it's doubled in size and Continuously puts out new fronds. Maybe I just got lucky? Or is it a disaster waiting to happen? Idk but it dosnt look like it's in anysort of decline.....

Palm tree with brown, sticky bumps and drying leaves

kaitlynmix

Comments (7)

MrBlubs

summersunlight

Related Discussions

nickh_
Original Author

Jasdip

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

MrBlubs

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Palm tree with brown, sticky bumps and drying leaves

kaitlynmix

Comments (7)

MrBlubs

summersunlight

Related Discussions

nickh_Original Author

Jasdip

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

MrBlubs

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

nickh_
Original Author