Clustering Saw Palmetto One Cluster Bud Rot

[PricklyPearSATX]

It's been a long time since I've been on palm talk.

I bought this saw palmetto with 5 healthy clusters a few months ago.

I think my kids overwatered it. One of the clusters developed bud rot. (Spear pulled etc) The rest of the saw palmetto looks healthy.

What should I do?

Throw it away?

Cut out the diseased cluster?

(If so, how?)

(I've got a blow torch that I use to disinfect pruners and have used it on plants to kill disease)

Note the funny color in the circling root (Second Picture)

Thanks a bunch!

[Tad]

I have been growing some of these in the ground down here south of you and I have noticed that they sometimes just do this??? I would just trim off the afflicted part, give it a dose of fungicide maybe and let it grow!

[Breadfruit Bill]

You could pour a bunch of Hydrogen peroxide down the sick area daily for a couple weeks, it will turn around, that is one tough palm... If all else fail you could use that blow torch and just torch the whole palm... It'll grow back in two-three years and then it will have a hardcore burned black truck like they do in the wild!

[PalmGuyWC]

Linda,

I've had the same thing happen once in the ground, but never in a container. I have a heavy adobe clay soil, and I don't think Serenoa like a clay soil. I've learned to keep mine on the dry side during the warmer months and they do much better.

Dick