So Cal Dypsis Oropedionis Issues

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

Okay. So I have had this palm for a while. I got lucky and it made it through the Dypsis infant mortality stage that this species seems to have for a lot of So Cal growers. It was doing great up until about three years ago when I removed some competing ginger from the area. Then I noted a gradual decline in overall health, vigor and appearance. Then it starting declining even more rapidly, opening very light green, bleached looking fronds. One thing I did note was that it kept pulling itself down over the years, even though I planted it relative high on a slight mound. Starting last year, I began a regular chelated iron treatment, and last spring dug down about 6-8 inches around the trunk to expose the heal. I think the palm was struggling in the cool wet winters/springs with the depth of the growing point too low. I think it is making a comeback, albeit slowly. The new spear looks way more healthy than the last one. I will keep the heal exposed until it hopefully fully recovers.

Any others experience any of these issues with your Dypsis Oropedionis? Other observations?

Trunk; you can see some rot or damage on the last frond; it just got mushy and fell over.

 

Thanks

[LJG]

Brett, I had an issue with one myself where it always opened light-colored leaves and over a few weeks, would brown tip. This went on for years.  No amount of fert helped. I began to realize it was growing right next to a huge pour of concrete. I started putting down chelated iron and after a new leaf or two, the issue was solved. For me, it was the fact a high plateau palm was being starved of Fe do to high pH from the cement making the Fe unavailable to the palm. 

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

Len, Thanks for the feedback. I think I got the cheated iron tip from you on another thread somewhere along the way! That is very encouraging.

[LJG]

5 hours ago, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

Len, Thanks for the feedback. I think I got the cheated iron tip from you on another thread somewhere along the way! That is very encouraging.

For the same palm? 

[Palm Tree Jim]

15 hours ago, LJG said:

Brett, I had an issue with one myself where it always opened light-colored leaves and over a few weeks, would brown tip. This went on for years.  No amount of fert helped. I began to realize it was growing right next to a huge pour of concrete. I started putting down chelated iron and after a new leaf or two, the issue was solved. For me, it was the fact a high plateau palm was being starved of Fe do to high pH from the cement making the Fe unavailable to the palm. 

What part of your yard?

Must be in the back?

[Palm Tree Jim]

16 hours ago, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

Okay. So I have had this palm for a while. I got lucky and it made it through the Dypsis infant mortality stage that this species seems to have for a lot of So Cal growers. It was doing great up until about three years ago when I removed some competing ginger from the area. Then I noted a gradual decline in overall health, vigor and appearance. Then it starting declining even more rapidly, opening very light green, bleached looking fronds. One thing I did note was that it kept pulling itself down over the years, even though I planted it relative high on a slight mound. Starting last year, I began a regular chelated iron treatment, and last spring dug down about 6-8 inches around the trunk to expose the heal. I think the palm was struggling in the cool wet winters/springs with the depth of the growing point too low. I think it is making a comeback, albeit slowly. The new spear looks way more healthy than the last one. I will keep the heal exposed until it hopefully fully recovers.

Any others experience any of these issues with your Dypsis Oropedionis? Other observations?

Trunk; you can see some rot or damage on the last frond; it just got mushy and fell over.

 

Thanks

Brett,

If you are around, I can come over and help assess. However, Len's suggestion makes sense as if I recall yours is in a planter surrounded by concrete?

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

15 minutes ago, Palm Tree Jim said:

Brett,

If you are around, I can come over and help assess. However, Len's suggestion makes sense as if I recall yours is in a planter surrounded by concrete?

Thanks,  Jim. Yes, the planter is in the backyard and the planter by the window is completely surrounded in concrete, which was poured in 2007. It appears to be responding favorably to the iron treatments. How is your Oropedionis growing? Has it acclimated nicely since it was planted? 

[Palm Tree Jim]

6 hours ago, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

Thanks,  Jim. Yes, the planter is in the backyard and the planter by the window is completely surrounded in concrete, which was poured in 2007. It appears to be responding favorably to the iron treatments. How is your Oropedionis growing? Has it acclimated nicely since it was planted? 

I should get at least 2 new fronds this season so it has settled in. The medium is very sandy and well draining where it’s planted so maybe that’s helping as well.

Let me get some pictures for you and share.

[Palm Tree Jim]

Brett,

As promised.

 

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

Very nice Jim! Nice green color. Thanks for sharing. The trunkal region is way more elevated above the soil line than mine. And more robust looking. I hope mine gets to that outcome!