Jump to content
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×
  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Some consideration on Bismarckia


Phoenikakias

Recommended Posts

Ugh! I am not exactly sure what the name of that pest is, but it appears that he brings nothing but misery! Poor beautiful palm!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both are long dead, maybe since a couple of years and were found beneath 7 to 8 layers of old leaf bases! I think sanitation of Bismarckia is very important and not only because of RPW. Certainly a Bismarckia deprived of most of old debris can be more effectively protected through preventive spraying with contact chemicals. But this not the main issue, which remains very discreet in the posted pictures. I mean that Bismarckia concentrates an enormous ammount of moisture under old leaf bases. A moisture that is favored not only by rpw but also by fungi.This may be not an issue in places with low rainfall and spring like temps during winter, because under such conditions accumulated moisture around fresh trunk's part remain low, but in a place with a damp, cloudy and cool to cold winter, it may be most serious trouble. It may also explain why in places of Europe with generally milder winter than in my place but also with more frequent rainfall one can rarely ever or at all encounter a Bismarckia but he can see less cold hardy palms such as Archontophoenix and Caryota.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bismarckia do not usually keep dead leafs on them, they only keep 1-3 and shed them fast. I think yours kept the, as an exeption due to the fungal problems it had and staying behind in growth. Normally it wouldn't have kept them, it's a pretty self cleaning palm

''To try,is to risk failure.......To not try,is to guarantee it''

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm, maybe it happens as you describe, when entire leaf (blade, petiole, leaf bot is left on palm still dry until it falls by its own weight and provided that palm has gained a certain height), but a an isolated leaf boot... I doubt so.Old boots detach easily but the lst two or three ones as you said, but some human help is needed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yes Giuseppe, it's the punteruolo rosso (two of them) but dead since a a couple of years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks to be growing out of its problems. Here they die from the centre outwards but I must say I have planted five Bismarckia and so far had no losses in my cool damp climate. The problem seems to be lack of air flow arising when they get too crowded by other plantings. Here they really need space all around them and maximum sun. I have learned the hard way not to remove old leaf bases too soon!

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agree Richard,, and when Bizzie plus other palms grow eventually bigger, situation may get crowded...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, i mean when the whole leaf is left on. Leaf bases don't have enough weight to be shed on their own. And of course the trunk needs to be tall enough for the leaf to hang, otherwise its more difficult, but whole leafs are generally shed easier than leaf boots.

When the palm is young, i agree that some gentle manual help is inevitably needed, especially since we can't always leave the whole dead leaf on then. But its important not to rush them either

Giuseppe,

Those dead weevils do are Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Individuals that are long dead get this uniform darker color through oxidation of the coloring substances of the exoskeleton.

  • Upvote 1

''To try,is to risk failure.......To not try,is to guarantee it''

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have worked at the National Forest Research Institute, at the entomology lab, and done research on Rhychophorus ferrugineous, it's biology, ways of attraction to palms and ways to protect/treat the palms. I already had some knowledge on entomology prior to that but I worked greatly on it during my work at the entomology lab with the help of a great entomologist, Dr. Petrakis, who runs the lab :)

''To try,is to risk failure.......To not try,is to guarantee it''

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...