What is wrong with my sago palms ??

[AJ_del]

Hi everyone

I planted some sago and queen sago palms some time back. They were comparatively healthy at that time (around 1 month ago) than today. Now, in the sago palm the bottom leaves have lost all green color and seems to be falling off. Also the edges of the leaves are losing color. Please have a look at the pictures below and tell me if this is natural or is there some deficiency in the soil etc.

In the queen sago (the last photo) the leaves are also getting spotted, losing color and generally looking sick. Please help identify the problem

The sago palms bottom leaves dying

Best Regards

[AJ_del]

The upper leaves losing color

The queen sago leaves in poor shape

[cencalpalmguy]

AJ, i'm no expert but you may be overwatering them and it looks like they're in a low spot. Sago's like good drainage and very little water. The lower leaves that are brown may have been broken and died during transplant. The last pic looks like the leaves were chewed on or beaten up some how. Once it starts warming up, trim off the older leaves and fertilize it. Over all I don't think they look bad at all for just being planted.

[virtualpalm]

I actually think this is primarily a soil drainage problem. The soil looks like it is very dense and does not drain well.... which could mean that the plants are being "overwatered" without them actually receiving that much water. I would recommend that you dig them up and put them in pots in a well-drained mix and see if they recover.

Jody

[edric]

Is the soil wet most of the time, or is it dry most of the time, how warm is it there, in the day time? how often do you water them, Ed

[carolstropicals]

Hi, I signed up on this site just to answer your problem.

Your Sago is planted too deep in the ground. The crown or bottom ball needs to be half above the ground for this plant to thrive.

I have several regular Sago palms - too many. Also, why so much sand. Sagos love regular dirt. You're asking for alot of watering.

I purchased a Queen Sago several months ago that is still in the pot. It is my first Queen type Sago. The leaves had the same problem as yours.

I read on a site that the Queen gets Scale insect which is bad. I had scale in my yard last summer on many plants. It is very hard to eradicate especially if you are fairly organic. Maybe my plants got it from this Queen sago. When I read that this could be scale on the Queen and that it could have transferred to the rest of my yard, I immediately cut off all the fronds. My husband treated it with dormant oil spray which, I understand, can only be used in the winter. In fact, I have cut everything almost to the ground that had scale.

I wonder if this Queen Palm messed up my whole yard. Even the Lemon trees.

I definately recommend cutting the fronds off. The Queen Sago will get new fronds in the spring. I don't know if systemics work, but if you are not organic use a systemic which keeps on killing insects after spraying. It works through the leaves. Hope this all helps. Carol

Edited February 12, 2009 by carolstropicals

[Walter John]

Here's the post the mod squad was fearing, I'll do it nicely Dean.

Try calling them cycads instead of palms, that might help, after all they are Cycas revoluta cycads.

[Cycadlady]

I agree that the ball should be halfay out the soil else they do not grow well.

Overwatering could be the cause although mine seem to thrive with more water.

Hope u manage to figure out the problem./

Wal are we starting again?

Edited February 13, 2009 by Cycadlady

[Walter John]

I agree that the ball should be halfay out the soil else they do not grow well.

Overwatering could be the cause although mine seem to thrive with more water.

Hope u manage to figure out the problem./

Wal are we starting again?

Just passing on valuable info, you know me........as always..

[gsn]

Here's the post the mod squad was fearing, I'll do it nicely Dean.

Try calling them cycads instead of palms, that might help, after all they are Cycas revoluta cycads.

Wal,

I'm fairly certain you are right, that calling these plants by there correct sceintific name will SOLVE most of the cultural,diease,or insect problems this relativly NEW person to the board, might be having in connection with these CYCADS!

Edited February 13, 2009 by gsn

[southlatropical]

Down here sagos don't seem to mind lots of water and they are not particular about soil. True it could be planted too deep. It also could be perfectly normal for it to loose some leaves while the roots establish. The individual leaflets browning I believe are sometimes caused by Magnese or Magnesium defficiency. Can't remember which one.