Damaged spots on spears / newest fronds? What causes this?

[chad2468emr]

Hi All, 

Recently, on one of my A. alexandrae and one of my D. leptocheilos, their spears developed this "damaged" spot, and I'm unsure of what caused it. It couldn't be physical damage since literally nothing has touched the alexandrae's spear at any point that I'm aware of, though I guess it could have been physical damage on the dypsis since this part of the spear had already emerged prior to my purchasing it. In the case of the alexandrae, this is the fourth or so frond it has put out since I got it. All others looked completely fine. 

LEPTOCHEILOS: 

ALEXANDRAE: (Looked exactly like the leptocheilos when it first opened and then the leaflets drooped after it did) 

[lzorrito]

54 minutes ago, chad2468emr said:

Hi All, 

Recently, on one of my A. alexandrae and one of my D. leptocheilos, their spears developed this "damaged" spot, and I'm unsure of what caused it. It couldn't be physical damage since literally nothing has touched the alexandrae's spear at any point that I'm aware of, though I guess it could have been physical damage on the dypsis since this part of the spear had already emerged prior to my purchasing it. In the case of the alexandrae, this is the fourth or so frond it has put out since I got it. All others looked completely fine. 

Looks like internal fungal/biological event (more likely) or mechanical order damage (wind shear or hail?) occurred when still on spear growth (note the symmetry). I bet on the biological (fungus, mold, bugs...) issue, and as it occured on two different palms at once, you should check those crowns...just in case.

[chad2468emr]

16 hours ago, lzorrito said:

Looks like internal fungal/biological event (more likely) or mechanical order damage (wind shear or hail?) occurred when still on spear growth (note the symmetry). I bet on the biological (fungus, mold, bugs...) issue, and as it occured on two different palms at once, you should check those crowns...just in case.

No sign of fungus at all. Plus these get tons of direct light (dry) and we’ve had very little rain since we’re in the dry season still so I think it must have just been mechanical damage. I live in a townhome and my street forms a bit of a wind tunnel at times, so I think that might have been what happened. 

Either way, my paranoid self will be treating with systemic fungicide now that you said that though, haha 

[Allen]

That first pic shows what I think is fungal damage when the frond was still a 'spear'.  Gone now.  The tell is the band of brown at the same spot on the fronds

[Merlyn]

I was thinking wind as well.  We've had a few crazy wind days in January-now, including a 30+ mph day last week.  I staked my recent plantings, after having a newly planted K.O. get knocked over last week.  Hopefully it wasn't an actual K.O. and just temporary! 

[Jimhardy]

Palms need to be moving those spears...as mentioned -where the damage is and how it

was damaged across the leaves would possibly indicate that it slowed or stopped growing

maybe after cold as mentioned or being repotted.

[Missi]

Oooo great question, something I've often wondered myself. Interesting, informative answers.

[James B]

Looks like wind damage. Same thing happened to many of palms spears due to excessively high Santa Anna’s in January and February this year. Once they opened this March the damage was evident. The good thing is it should be only cosmetic but never hurts to play it safe. 

[Jimhardy]

First picture tells the story, look at the angle of the damage.