Overnight Frond Death

[mxcolin]

I recently pruned a few burnt looking fronds from my Chinese Fan Palm, almost overnight a previously healthy frond withered up and died. The rest of the plant looks fine other than some sunburn but I've never seen a frond wither and die so quickly. Have you seen something like this before and what would be the cause other than the pruning to older fronds perhaps? The petiole still looks healthy to me.

 

[Fusca]

My guess would be either heat coming from the wall it was touching or possibly sun reflecting off of a window or glass door which can act like a magnifying glass.  I've seen sun directed off of a neighbor's window 20' away hitting plants in my yard and scorching them.

[mxcolin]

Unfortunately this plant is very susceptible to the glass reflection issue. However most fronds get a little burned over time. Never seen it work this quickly before

[Jim in Los Altos]

L. chinensis really aren’t very well suited to full sun except in cooler climates or very humid ones. In California, they either yellow or burn badly in the sun. Partial shade is best, even full shade. They look incredible when grown out of the reach of direct sun rays. 

Edited June 23, 2020 by Jim in Los Altos

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

46 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Partial shade is best, even full shade. They look incredible when grown out of the reach of direct sun rays. 

I absolutely agree , we have a nursery here that has multiples under deep oak shade and the palms are spectacular.