Leaf spots on Phoenix canariensis

[BlufftonSC]

We have a rapidly growing P. canariensis that's about 9 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It's medium to dark green with no yellow leaves, but upon close inspection, I see lots of yellow—and in some places grayish brown—spots on all of the leaves, both old and new. I've researched the topic, but not really sure what is causing this and how I can correct it. We're in coastal South Carolina just across the river from Savannah, GA. Our soil is both black and sandy, which is odd. I know it is not rich in nutrients because I have to fertlize the heck out of everything to keep them healthy and growing. I would love a fertilizer recommendation for all of our palms in the yard: S. palmetto, S. bermudana, W. filifera, W. robusta, needle palm, Chinese fan palm, etc. Thanks!

[DoomsDave]

Bluffton:

Welcome to our merry band!

Generally, I don't use fertilizer on palms, but I don't have sandy soil, either. I'm sure one of the Floridians et al from your neck of the woods will chime in with suggestions. Sandy soil is hard to keep fertile, since the nutrients tend to leach out very rapidly, especially in a rainy climate like yours.

As a rule Canary Island Dates aren't all that fussy, except in a marginal environment, which I'm afraid you probably are. Hmm. A picture will help, and if you need help posting shoot me a PM, or check the Board's site for instructions.

Again, welcome to our group, and it sounds like you have a great palm collection.

Also, your sandy soil should be great for growing Braheas, which ordinarily get too most where you are. I'd try the Mexican Blue, especially. (BRhea armata.)

[gsn]

Sounds like a magnesium deficiency?

Are they little translucent yellow dots all over the leaflets?

Magnesium deficiency is a widespread problem of Phoenix canariensis here in Florida.

Edited December 15, 2009 by gsn

[BlufftonSC]

Sounds like a magnesium deficiency?

Are they little translucent yellow dots all over the leaflets?

Magnesium deficiency is a widespread problem of Phoenix canariensis here in Florida.

Yes! They are translucent yellow dots. What do you do to treat that?

[Kris]

Dear Jeff Cline

A warm welcome to you... And as Dave has said we love to see the Cidp & your other palms in your garden.

And by the way even iam a canary date palm fan...

And here a link for you,it teachs new members how to upload stills to this site !

So You Want To Add a Photo ?

Lots of love,

kris

[gsn]

This could also be a potassium deficiency as well,but it really doesn't matter if it is potassium or magnesium, as you NEED to apply both in conjuction with each other to avoid an imbalance between those two! The recommended rate is 3 to 1, 3 parts potassium 1 part magnesium.

If you have access to a Lesco outlet, they have a product called K-Mag that has the correct ratio of these 2 nutrients.

[MattyB]

All of the P. canariensis we saw in Florida looked like they had deficiencies or problems with the humidity or something. They all looked bad. P. dactylifera all looked fine.

[BlufftonSC]

Dear Jeff Cline

A warm welcome to you... And as Dave has said we love to see the Cidp & your other palms in your garden.

And by the way even iam a canary date palm fan...

And here a link for you,it teachs new members how to upload stills to this site !

So You Want To Add a Photo ?

Lots of love,

kris

Hi Kris,

I need to take some pictures and post them soon. Our yard is full of palms. Actually, our driveway is full of palms. My son has been raising them from seed and we're being overrun. Hopefully, the economy will improve enough for people to start buying them this spring. We have several Phoenix varieties, sabals and W. robust and filifera in the driveway. The biggest palm in our yard is 6 years old from seed. My son sent my mom in Texas the seed and she planted it 4 months before she died. It's a W. filifera and it's now 13 feet tall with a trunk so wide I can't get my arms around it... about 9 feet tall.

Jeff

[BlufftonSC]

Correction on the height of that W. filifera. It's 17 feet tall. It's up above the eaves on our 2-story house! Where was my head? It's 13 feet wide! For a six-year-old palm that really amazes me.

Jeff

Dear Jeff Cline

A warm welcome to you... And as Dave has said we love to see the Cidp & your other palms in your garden.

And by the way even iam a canary date palm fan...

And here a link for you,it teachs new members how to upload stills to this site !

So You Want To Add a Photo ?

Lots of love,

kris

[Kris]

Want to see that washy filifera rightaway....

[BlufftonSC]

I'll see if I can find several pictures to mark its rapid growth.

Want to see that washy filifera rightaway....

[BlufftonSC]

Thanks for the response. Is K-Mag time released? What would be the best time to apply it? We'll probably come close to, if not have, our first freeze of the season tonight.

This could also be a potassium deficiency as well,but it really doesn't matter if it is potassium or magnesium, as you NEED to apply both in conjuction with each other to avoid an imbalance between those two! The recommended rate is 3 to 1, 3 parts potassium 1 part magnesium.

If you have access to a Lesco outlet, they have a product called K-Mag that has the correct ratio of these 2 nutrients.

[Walt]

If your leaves have translucent yellow-orange spotting, it almost has to be potassium deficiency. Here in Florida where most of the soil is sandy, potassium is the most deficient of all minerals.

If your Phoenix canariensis is suffering from magnesium deficiency, the leaves would show yellowing on the ends, while the opposite ends growing off the rachis (plus the rachis itself) would be green.

First, I would get your soil's pH tested at your local county extension office, so as to make sure your soil's pH is in the optimum range to take up the minerals in the fertilzer you put down. My soil's pH is too acid, so I must raise the pH using dolomitic lime and/or wood ash (wood ash has about a 50% calcium carbonate equivalent).

And with regard to fertilizer, try to find a palm special fertilizer with an NPK (Nitrogen, Potash, Potassium) ratio of 8 (N)-2 (P)-12 (K)-4 (Mg), with N,K, and Mg. in slow release form. This is the optimum, but you are unlikely to find it.

The closest optimum palm ratio fertilizer I'm able to find in my area Highlands County, Florida) is a palm fertilizer made by Sunniland Corportion, with an analysis of 8-2-12-2.6, containing some slow release nitrogen and potassium.

However, it seems to keep my palms healthy.

When posting palm questions/problems at this forum, a picture is worth a thousand words. So, hopefully, you will soon be able to do so.

[Kris]

I'll see if I can find several pictures to mark its rapid growth.

Thanks !

And by the way if you have accesses to 'coconut palm fertilizer' from anywhere it works wonders for me.And in india we have it.But there should be some countries that allow the export of such ferilizers.Use it sparingly,the results are stunning and its chemical based,since it has all the micro & macro nutrients included in it.And they are usually in crystal form,once you open the plastic bag it starts sweating and becomes like a gel.. So once you open the bag it must be used quickly.

Lots of love,

kris