Needle Frond pull ?!!!! :{

[newtopalmsMD]

I have a 15 gallon Needle Palm with a main plant and two pups that I planted in April.  In early November one of the pups suffered spear pull.  I sprayed  copper fungicide in the crown.  I checked out the palms just before last week's arctic event and found this dead frond which pulled out of the same pup that had the spear pull.  Pics of the frond below.  The pup still has 4 green fronds.  I splayed 6 more shots of copper fungicide in the crown.  In the last pic the white frost cloth (kinda light green a little left of center) is covering the crown and you can see a couple of the good fronds.  I covered the crown with leaves to try to keep snow and water out of the crown.  Any other ideas on killing the fungus or if I am using too little copper fungicide would be welcome.  Will post the aftermath of the arctic blast and the freezing rain when it warms up on Thursday.

Thanks

[mdsonofthesouth]

Try H2O2 and see if it fizzes. Treat it every so often til the fizzing goes away. H2O2 or hydrogen peroxide acts as an anti fungal that you can see it "working", just dont do it before we get a cold spell rather do it on a warmer day.

 

Almost all of my super exposed unprotected baby/strap leaf rhapidophyllum hystrix had one offshoot pull. They should recover as I hear the younger growth tends to pull in winter but mostly should recover.

Edited February 13, 2019 by mdsonofthesouth

[PalmatierMeg]

Use hydrogen peroxide first. Recently I was told that copper fungicide is toxic when overused, i.e., more than once a year. I definitely wouldn't use it on a spear pull on the same palm more than that. Hydrogen peroxide disinfects dead/dying tissue without harming healthy tissue so can be used much more often.

[newtopalmsMD]

Thanks,

I poured the Hydrogen peroxide into the crown a couple of days ago and got no fizz.  I hope that means the fungus is gone.  At any rate the 4 fronds that are left are still green... so here's hoping the problem is solved.  I may wait a week and pour some more as long as the hydrogen peroxide won't damage the plant.

Thanks! 

[mdsonofthesouth]

H2O2 is how I revived and saved my palms last year. I am doing the same this year but it was a test year so I doubt anything will return. But part of me is hopeful.

[LasPalmerasDeMaryland]

This happened to my big needle around 3 years ago. It went brown and “crunchy” in early fall, before any freezing weather hit. I blame transplant shock since needles are very touchy with their roots. Mine was delivered bare root and I think it made the tree weak. 

[mdsonofthesouth]

9 hours ago, LasPalmerasDeMaryland said:

This happened to my big needle around 3 years ago. It went brown and “crunchy” in early fall, before any freezing weather hit. I blame transplant shock since needles are very touchy with their roots. Mine was delivered bare root and I think it made the tree weak. 

 

Yeah if I can help it I wont be buying anymore bare root plants unless I have to have it.