Browning / Yellowing of Leaves

[Liam150987]

I have recently purchased two Mexican fan palm trees, planted them in pots with compost, I have been watering these daily to aid their growth. 

I have noticed in the last four days that the leaves are starting to go yellow and brown and are starting to flop over.

Can anyone tell me why this is occurring? Am I over watering the trees? Is the compost not sufficient? 

Many thanks in advance 

 

[Monòver]

The first, wellcome Liam.

A few pictures will be the best to know what is happening with your palms.

I think the mexican fan palm is Brahea armata. This palm, hates wet soil and i think if you are watering every days, your soil will be very wet.

Only compost is not the best option for Braheas, this palms loves fast draining soils. You must mix your compost with sand, perlite, backed clay.

But now the most important is good picture to see your palms and less water.

[Liam150987]

Many thanks for your reply manòver. Unfortunately it will not let me upload a picture as the one taken on my phone camera is too big (file size) to upload. I will resize them tomorrow. 

By the sounds of it I am over watering the trees, I have added some drain holes to the plant pot this evening, hopefully this will help to drain any excess water tonight. Tomorrow I will replant them both with a compost, soil, sand and perlite mix. 

Should I allowe for a generous amount of sand in the mix? 

 

Edit: just managed to upload one picture.... Yippee! 

[Neil C]

Looks like a Washintonia in which case they love lots of water and are generally tough. Could be transplant shock?

Regards Neil

[PalmatierMeg]

If the pot had no drain holes before today, your palm's roots have been sitting in sludge since it was potted and are rotting. Adding drain holes now is too little, too late. I suggest you unpot it, rinse the sludge off the roots and inspect them. Healthy roots are white, dead/rotted roots are black or brown. Trim off the rotted areas, then soak roots in hydrogen peroxide for an hour. H2O2 disinfects dead tissue without harming live tissue. If palm still has live roots, scrub out the old pot or get a new pot. Repot palm in a well-draining potting mix, not pure compost. I add perlite to my mix for extra drainage. Keep soil barely moist, i.e., on the dry side, while palm re-establishes itself. In your cool climate I don't see how you should water more than 1-2 times per week. A rule of thumb is not to water until the top cm of soil is dry. Then water until excess drains from the pot bottom. Never let your Washy sit in a tray or saucer of water or you risk more root damage. Are there 2 palms in that pot? Washies are solitary palms and grow quite large. I suggest you separate them into their own pots. Good luck.

Welcome to PalmTalk.

 

[tunku2]

If the pot had no drain holes before today, your palm's roots have been sitting in sludge since it was potted and are rotting.

I have done that before today Meg but with flowers, I tend to leave palm compost to totally dry out. I have been shocked at the amount of over wet compost in some pots. I now have the pots off the ground to drain when it rains.

Watch out for Ants in the roots, also Vine Weevil.

Good luck!