Ruffled Palm Fronds - Deficiency?

[nicholas99]

We planted 12 small Livistona decipiens (formerly decora) in their endemic range here in Australia about 9 months ago with a combination of potting mix and the local good organic/clay soil on a moderately steep slope in full sun. A couple of them show individual palm fronds/leaflets that are quite "ruffled" (see photos here: https://goo.gl/photos/KE6GSVR29h48oRfS9 ). Is this a normal growth variation or indicative of a deficiency such as Calcium or Boron? If a deficiency, what's the best solution? 

BTW, we also have a triangle palm in a pot under greywater irrigation in almost full shade with a somewhat similarly ruffled frond/leaflets
(see photos: https://goo.gl/photos/uZUFe5mb8GKmb4HU7 ).

If you know what causes this please let me know. 


 

[palmislandRandy]

It looks like a Boron deficiency

[Insomniac411]

On 8/1/2017, 10:58:00, nicholas99 said:

We planted 12 small Livistona decipiens (formerly decora) in their endemic range here in Australia about 9 months ago with a combination of potting mix and the local good organic/clay soil on a moderately steep slope in full sun. A couple of them show individual palm fronds/leaflets that are quite "ruffled" (see photos here: https://goo.gl/photos/KE6GSVR29h48oRfS9 ). Is this a normal growth variation or indicative of a deficiency such as Calcium or Boron? If a deficiency, what's the best solution? 

BTW, we also have a triangle palm in a pot under greywater irrigation in almost full shade with a somewhat similarly ruffled frond/leaflets
(see photos: https://goo.gl/photos/uZUFe5mb8GKmb4HU7 ).

If you know what causes this please let me know. 


 

Did you correct this, and what did you use?

[nicholas99]

On 8/7/2017, 10:19:20, palmislandRandy said:

It looks like a Boron deficiency

I was told it may have been a calcium deficiency, and the photos from this page looked similar, especially the ruffled look with the lines going across the leaf (not along the leaf): 

http://farmextensionmanager.com/English/Coconut%20technology%20bank/pest%20doctor/Calcium%20Deficiency.html 

But you could be right, it could be a Boron deficiency instead:  
http://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/PalmNutrientDeficiencies.htm 

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between Boron and Calcium deficiency symptoms in palms like Livistona decipiens and Dypsis decaryi ? 
 

[nicholas99]

17 hours ago, Insomniac411 said:

Did you correct this, and what did you use?

I did apply some garden lime (not dolomite lime) which has a high calcium content on the assumption that it could be a calcium deficiency. But I will have to wait a long while to see if it's resolved the issue. 

It could also be a boron deficiency, and the problem is too much boron is toxic so it's important to apply a small amount. Also I just found out from the paper below that high calcium levels can prevent boron uptake. So it would seem important to know if it's a calcium or boron deficiency before treating with calcium and potentially making the boron problem worse. 

This Cornell University paper on Boron deficiency (http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/crops/factsheets/boron_deficiency.pdf )
suggests the following treatments for boron deficiency:  

• Soluble Trace Element Mix (S.T.E.M.) at 4 ounces per 100 gallons (supplies 4 ppm B plus other trace elements)
• Borax (11% Boron) at 0.75 ounces per 100 gallons (supplies 6 ppm  ) 
• Solubor (20% Boron) at 0.4 ounces per 100 gallons (supplies 6 ppm )