Mule palm help

[ShadowNight030]

My mule palm has been in a pot for a few months while I wait to plant it in the ground. The newest frond is a lighter green than the other fronds, and it hasn’t pushed a new frond in months. I water it weekly, but all the tips of the fronds are turning brown. The newest frond also seems like it’s quite weak when I pull on it. The roots look somewhat root bound, but healthy. Back in December it’s spear pulled when the other fronds were healthy green. Is my palm gonna die or need immediate planting on the ground? 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Pics would help provide better advice. 

[Palmsbro]

On 6/8/2018, 8:16:01, ShadowNight030 said:

My mule palm has been in a pot for a few months while I wait to plant it in the ground. The newest frond is a lighter green than the other fronds, and it hasn’t pushed a new frond in months. I water it weekly, but all the tips of the fronds are turning brown. The newest frond also seems like it’s quite weak when I pull on it. The roots look somewhat root bound, but healthy. Back in December it’s spear pulled when the other fronds were healthy green. Is my palm gonna die or need immediate planting on the ground? 

I think it needs some peroxide or something, not an immediate change of planting conditions.

[ShadowNight030]

On 6/14/2018, 6:01:52, Palmsbro said:

I think it needs some peroxide or something, not an immediate change of planting conditions.

Back when the spear pulled I poured some peroxide down the crown, and that’s when this newest frond had emerged. So far still nothing different. It’s growth was rapid for months, and Since December I have gotten almost no growth from it, just 1 frond. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

It may be rootbound and ready for a slightly larger pot or to be put in the ground. Avoid tap water in the crown of the palm. They hate it particularly if it happens often. Rain water does not adversely affect it though. 

Edited June 18, 2018 by Jim in Los Altos

[mnorell]

If you haven't had any growth from the bud in months, you may have a dead palm on your hands (even if there are green fronds still alive). Did you protect the palm during the past winter's big freeze? Mules have variable cold-hardiness depending on their genetics, but weather stations in the French Quarter registered 19F during that event and a young potted specimen would surely be heavily damaged or most likely killed at the bud if left out to endure such temperatures. You can do some surgery and carefully open up/expose the bud/meristem area to see if there is live tissue. You mention that the roots appear healthy so it would seem you protected it during sub-freezing events. In at least some species, the root zone has been shown to be the most sensitive to freezing and a major reason potted palms may die in a cold event (where the root-zone can be frozen solid), while in-ground specimens may survive, their roots sheltered in relatively warm soil.

[ShadowNight030]

2 hours ago, mnorell said:

If you haven't had any growth from the bud in months, you may have a dead palm on your hands (even if there are green fronds still alive). Did you protect the palm during the past winter's big freeze? Mules have variable cold-hardiness depending on their genetics, but weather stations in the French Quarter registered 19F during that event and a young potted specimen would surely be heavily damaged or most likely killed at the bud if left out to endure such temperatures. You can do some surgery and carefully open up/expose the bud/meristem area to see if there is live tissue. You mention that the roots appear healthy so it would seem you protected it during sub-freezing events. In at least some species, the root zone has been shown to be the most sensitive to freezing and a major reason potted palms may die in a cold event (where the root-zone can be frozen solid), while in-ground specimens may survive, their roots sheltered in relatively warm soil.

When it got below 25 degrees I put my mule palm in an unheated shed. I know it didn’t get too cold in there as my plumerias survived with little damage along with my tender succulents and pandanus plants. 

[ShadowNight030]

The newest frond looks and feels like it’s just barely hanging on. 

[ShadowNight030]

I planted the palm seeing it was very root bound, and some of the tips of the roots looked like they had root rot. I planted it in my yard where it’s all sand. Should I maybe add some soil and recommendations for fertilizer? 

[SEPalm]

Keep it well watered. Being in sand it should drain nicely and prevent further root rot. I would wait till the palm started growing before fertilizing but in your case some fertilizer may be what saves the palm. Maybe start with a fish emulsion liquid fertilizer and see if the spear responds. You have little to no chance of root burn with the fish fertilizer when used properly.

good luck

[ShadowNight030]

 I went on a 2 week vacation, and when I returned I noticed my lab completely destroyed my mule palm. I guess my neighbors didn’t see that when they cared for her while I was gone. I think I’ll just replace it with a canary island palm. I know it’ll be significantly slower, but for their beauty I think it’ll be worth it. 

[ShadowNight030]

Wow the mule palm is alive. I don’t know what happened, maybe it’s all the rain we’ve been getting, but last week when I walked outside to mow I noticed the mule was pushing some green fronds. Half the roots have been destroyed from my dog digging it up and it didn’t get water for a few weeks since I thought it was dead. It’s still not even all the way in the ground.