Licuala Grandis Seedlings drying up

[Gbarce]

THese were the very first seeds I germinated and I am a bit worried because they are having problems.

As their spears come out the tips seem dry and eventually turn brown. They have a hard time opening after that ( I forced open the ones in the picture).

Some of the leaves turn completely dry and some stop just before reaching the petiole.

I have has one seedling turn brown like this but the next leaf did turn out green and healthy again.

What is wrong and how do I fix it? --- seems to only affect the licualas.

[John in Andalucia]

THese were the very first seeds I germinated and I am a bit worried because they are having problems.

As their spears come out the tips seem dry and eventually turn brown. They have a hard time opening after that ( I forced open the ones in the picture).

Some of the leaves turn completely dry and some stop just before reaching the petiole.

I have has one seedling turn brown like this but the next leaf did turn out green and healthy again.

What is wrong and how do I fix it? --- seems to only affect the licualas.

Gene,

I get the same problem with my Cryosophila williamsii seedlings. The colour just drains from the tips and moves down the leaf as it grows. The tips don't feel dry, but soft, just like the rest of the leaf. I know this palm likes an alkaline soil, and I haven't amended the soil from my standard mix, so maybe it is lacking something?

[Palmə häl′ik]

I have mine in no sun. All shade, all day.

They look green as can be...

Are yours in ANY sunlight at all?

[Breadfruit Bill]

That looks like what is referred to as "dampening off"... I think Licuala are deceiving, one thinks they want to be wet... but I think they do better in a faster draining soil.

[Tyrone]

Yeah I think you have the dreaded "damping off". This is caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi fungi and Rhizoctonia, which infect the roots and slowly shut the vascular system of the plant down. Seedlings are more susceptible than older plants due to the weaker cellular structure when they're young. If your seedlings have been sitting in water and have been too wet for too long I'd say that's it. Especially if they've been near water that runs from another area. If the leaf tip is soft not crunchy, it's definitely too much water, which creates an environment which "Damping off" fungi love. Licuala's actually need very free draining soil. I plant mine in coir mix in my hothouse and they seem to love it.

I hope you can fix it. Do you have Fongarid available? I'd give them a treatment of that and see how they go.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Jose Maria]

Licuala grandis seedlings do fine in full sun, and resist dry weather even better than the weeds!. Since the L. gandis grow like volunteers from the seeds that fall under the palms, I "sowed" some in full ground.

Left to their own, rain and sun, and even after a dry spell, they did better than the grass that grows next to them. Now I can go transplant them.

I guess the "damping off " is from lots of water and too much shade.

John in Andalucia;

Yes , the Cryosophila grow on limestone here, amid the rocks, and they seem to like it.

[Copihue]

Jose María,

Lucky your licualas grow tougher than your weeds!

[Kris]

Jose María,

Lucky your licualas grow tougher than your weeds!