king palm in san diego ca

[town]

Hello all

I have several Kings in my yard and I am having problems with a few. I am a complete beginner so give me a little slack. My palms fronds aren't growing completely out before opening. They are also growing cosiderably slower than the others. Is this a symptom of anything? Thanks in advance

[town]

Hello all

I have several Kings in my yard and I am having problems with a few. I am a complete beginner so give me a little slack. My palms fronds aren't growing completely out before opening. They are also growing cosiderably slower than the others. Is this a symptom of anything? Thanks in advance

Also all my Kings are on drip systems. Is there any specific amount of water I should be giving them For example per foot of height or size of trunk? Thanks again

[freakypalmguy]

Hi Town,

Welcome to the forum, you've definitely come to the right place. Others with more experience will be able to help for sure but here is a possibility, If these are newly planted palms they will sometimes do this until they have put down some new roots, then they will grow normally. A picture of you ailing palms would also help.

Matt

[epicure3]

No slack for you. Two years.

Seriously, we need a little more info and some pics of the palms would probably be great. Could be anything from water to deficiency.

[town]

Hi Town,

Welcome to the forum, you've definitely come to the right place. Others with more experience will be able to help for sure but here is a possibility, If these are newly planted palms they will sometimes do this until they have put down some new roots, then they will grow normally. A picture of you ailing palms would also help.

Matt

Here are a few pics. Let me know if they are good enough. I can take more when the sun is overhead. Thanks again. I should also note that the palm in the picture has been there for two years.

Edited March 11, 2010 by town

[paulgila]

i got my sister to plant some thinking she might get into palms but no luck.anyways,they look alot like that & she NEVER waters them deeply,only with the sprinkle system that is on for a coupla minutes.kings love water so i suggest you try some DEEP watering.

[town]

i got my sister to plant some thinking she might get into palms but no luck.anyways,they look alot like that & she NEVER waters them deeply,only with the sprinkle system that is on for a coupla minutes.kings love water so i suggest you try some DEEP watering.

They are on a drip about (2) 2 GPH dripers 3 times a week and I give them an extra gallon or so once a week. For deep watering exactly what is the procedure?

[paulgila]

that sounds pretty good,should be helping.

[town]

that sounds pretty good,should be helping.

Thats what I have been doing for the entire time

[OverGrown]

From what I have observed in King palms. The ones that were planted in amended soil thrive and are more robust, whereas the ones who are just planted seem to struggle. I'd think it has to do w/ water absorption and air exchange for the roots. How is your soil?

[town]

The soil is heavy clay underneath. I mixed palm soil, good top soil and natural soil for this one. I even went back after a year and dug from the side and tunneled in to give it some extra drainage. Then repacked the soil. I have heard that replanting Kings is usually disaterous so I am hesitant to do so. Do you know if that is true and is there anyway to amend the soil without replanting?

[OverGrown]

Because there are variables that can differ in environment, technique and quantity. Let me just describe how I've done my plantings of King Palms in a very dry climate in adobe clay.

I dig the hole 2 1/2 times the size of the pot. Fill the hole w/ water and allow for it to absorb. Then I amend the planting hole & backfill w/ one full bag (approx 3-4 cubic feet of Miracle Gro Cactus mix / Amend / or Garden Soil) and I throw in about two handfuls of Miracle Grow General Fertilizer (slow release pellets). The amending ratio is usually 50/50, or 70/30 new soil to original clay. This depends on the palm or planting area and how quickly I want water to absorb and be retained.

If you search for an old post of mine called "creating a desert oasis" you can see that I put scalloped paver rings around my palms so that water is directed towards the roots for assured absorption. I can water the unamended parts of clay in my yard for 20 minutes and it won't absorb any more than 4 inches beneath the surface. The thorough amending counteracts this, despite what others might think of as creating a bowl effect. I live in a dry area so there is no fear of too much rain.

It is true that King palms don't transplant well. You can amend the soil w/o transplanting. I would just break up the surface soil around it by a 2 or 3 inches and throw in the new soil making sure not to damage roots.

As for deep watering... I water 20-30minute intervals twice / bimonthly. Have you checked to see how deep your drippers are saturating the soil? is the water running off? From your pictures, it looks as though it could just be suffering from sufficient water. I think they will be fine and could be adjusting to the area. King palms are pretty tough.

There is saying " a hundred dollar hole for a ten dollar plant" and in my limited experience have found it to be very true.

[town]

Because there are variables that can differ in environment, technique and quantity. Let me just describe how I've done my plantings of King Palms in a very dry climate in adobe clay.

I dig the hole 2 1/2 times the size of the pot. Fill the hole w/ water and allow for it to absorb. Then I amend the planting hole & backfill w/ one full bag (approx 3-4 cubic feet of Miracle Gro Cactus mix / Amend / or Garden Soil) and I throw in about two handfuls of Miracle Grow General Fertilizer (slow release pellets). The amending ratio is usually 50/50, or 70/30 new soil to original clay. This depends on the palm or planting area and how quickly I want water to absorb and be retained.

If you search for an old post of mine called "creating a desert oasis" you can see that I put scalloped paver rings around my palms so that water is directed towards the roots for assured absorption. I can water the unamended parts of clay in my yard for 20 minutes and it won't absorb any more than 4 inches beneath the surface. The thorough amending counteracts this, despite what others might think of as creating a bowl effect. I live in a dry area so there is no fear of too much rain.

It is true that King palms don't transplant well. You can amend the soil w/o transplanting. I would just break up the surface soil around it by a 2 or 3 inches and throw in the new soil making sure not to damage roots.

As for deep watering... I water 20-30minute intervals twice / bimonthly. Have you checked to see how deep your drippers are saturating the soil? is the water running off? From your pictures, it looks as though it could just be suffering from sufficient water. I think they will be fine and could be adjusting to the area. King palms are pretty tough.

There is saying " a hundred dollar hole for a ten dollar plant" and in my limited experience have found it to be very true.

Thank you very much for the detailed response. After this one I did go the extra mile and dug a four foot deep hole about 5 ft wide for a 15 gallon triple King. I pu crushed rock at the bottom for drainage and topped with 50/50 palm soil to natural. It is doing much better. But I also have one that was there when I bought the house and its straight in the clay soil and its doing amazing. Go figure. What sort of watering schedule are you putting them on. Since mine are on drip, how many and which amounts do you think? Another question I have is how high do you fill the soil? Is it where you can just see the roots, just up to the trunk or ....? And....do you put mulch on top? Thanks again

[Walter John]

I think I know what it is. These were probably shade grown or pot grown for quite a few years and are stretched for their age. Once planted for a period of time they will renew their size and growth by sometimes immature and short (stubby) leaf openings. Time will convert these palms into shape and true form and as for water, they are out and out water lovers although I would temper the watering in cool/cold weather and slowly build it up to a peak at late summer. Plenty of mulch and add some sheep manure for good luck.

[OverGrown]

Thank you very much for the detailed response. After this one I did go the extra mile and dug a four foot deep hole about 5 ft wide for a 15 gallon triple King. I pu crushed rock at the bottom for drainage and topped with 50/50 palm soil to natural. It is doing much better. But I also have one that was there when I bought the house and its straight in the clay soil and its doing amazing. Go figure. What sort of watering schedule are you putting them on. Since mine are on drip, how many and which amounts do you think? Another question I have is how high do you fill the soil? Is it where you can just see the roots, just up to the trunk or ....? And....do you put mulch on top? Thanks again

I think you over did it w/ your planting depth and width but that is ok. My kings are watered by hand w/ a hose at full blast w/ an industrial grade nozzle. We do it this way b/c we have dogs that will destroy any form of irrigation. The correct amount for you would allow the entire root area to get saturated. With regards to planting depth, I plant level w/ the ground to where only the trunk is visible. I don't like seeing roots. Others like to mound up, planting 1"-2" above level ground and bring the soil up to cover the roots. Its a matter of preference and necessity. The main concern would not to plant to a depth that would cause parts of the trunk base to rot because of too much contact w/ water. Suggested mulching is around 4."

Good Luck.

[town]

Thank you very much for the detailed response. After this one I did go the extra mile and dug a four foot deep hole about 5 ft wide for a 15 gallon triple King. I pu crushed rock at the bottom for drainage and topped with 50/50 palm soil to natural. It is doing much better. But I also have one that was there when I bought the house and its straight in the clay soil and its doing amazing. Go figure. What sort of watering schedule are you putting them on. Since mine are on drip, how many and which amounts do you think? Another question I have is how high do you fill the soil? Is it where you can just see the roots, just up to the trunk or ....? And....do you put mulch on top? Thanks again

I think you over did it w/ your planting depth and width but that is ok. My kings are watered by hand w/ a hose at full blast w/ an industrial grade nozzle. We do it this way b/c we have dogs that will destroy any form of irrigation. The correct amount for you would allow the entire root area to get saturated. With regards to planting depth, I plant level w/ the ground to where only the trunk is visible. I don't like seeing roots. Others like to mound up, planting 1"-2" above level ground and bring the soil up to cover the roots. Its a matter of preference and necessity. The main concern would not to plant to a depth that would cause parts of the trunk base to rot because of too much contact w/ water. Suggested mulching is around 4."

Good Luck.

Thanks again for the info. I'm stoked I found this site.

[town]

Thank you very much for the detailed response. After this one I did go the extra mile and dug a four foot deep hole about 5 ft wide for a 15 gallon triple King. I pu crushed rock at the bottom for drainage and topped with 50/50 palm soil to natural. It is doing much better. But I also have one that was there when I bought the house and its straight in the clay soil and its doing amazing. Go figure. What sort of watering schedule are you putting them on. Since mine are on drip, how many and which amounts do you think? Another question I have is how high do you fill the soil? Is it where you can just see the roots, just up to the trunk or ....? And....do you put mulch on top? Thanks again

I think you over did it w/ your planting depth and width but that is ok. My kings are watered by hand w/ a hose at full blast w/ an industrial grade nozzle. We do it this way b/c we have dogs that will destroy any form of irrigation. The correct amount for you would allow the entire root area to get saturated. With regards to planting depth, I plant level w/ the ground to where only the trunk is visible. I don't like seeing roots. Others like to mound up, planting 1"-2" above level ground and bring the soil up to cover the roots. Its a matter of preference and necessity. The main concern would not to plant to a depth that would cause parts of the trunk base to rot because of too much contact w/ water. Suggested mulching is around 4."

Good Luck.

Thanks again for the info. I'm stoked I found this site.

SOrry a couple more things. How often are you watering them now? You're in LA so I figure the climate is similar. And two, how do I know and test if I am completely watering the root ball. I'm a bit scared to shove a stick down next to the roots to see if the water is getting down there. Thanks again