Question re Areca Palms

[Hen74]

I have a hedge of 6 year old Areca palms. They don't appear to be getting enough water. The spray nozzles aren't getting the job done. Should I change to netafim or poly tube with emitters? Also, need to get them some fertilizer as they are developing more of that school bus yellow color. What's a good fertilizer for Areca palms? Many thanks to any palm expert who can offer help/advice.

[Walter John]

areca palms ?

[John in Andalucia]

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

[Peter Pacific]

Hello Hen74, welcome to Palmtalk...you have to be careful when you say "Arecas" around here! If you do indeed have Dypsis lutescens, get them something with a little nitrogen and they'll green right up. Peter

[Walter John]

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

[John in Andalucia]

  On 4/24/2010 at 6:09 PM, Wal said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

[peachy]

Hullo Hen, welcome to palmtalk. Areca is a commonly misused name for a few species of palms that are actually nothing to do with the areca genus. If you do have Dypsis lutescens, they are also called the Golden Cane Palm. If the trunks are a nice yellow colour, that is sign that they are happy and healthy. If the leaves are yellow then that is a different story. Just buy a good general purpose organic fertiliser. Pelletised chicken manure works very well for me and maybe a little sprinkle of essential elements and potash. These palms are pretty tough old things, hard to kill and dont really need all that much water to survive. They are a very common garden palm in my area and believe me, they dont get any special treatment at all from most people and do just fine..

Peachy

[Tyrone]

Hi Hen74,

Welcome to Palmtalk.

Golden Canes are quite drought tolerant but thrive and go greener if given enough water and fertiliser. The gold colour is normal to a degree, but the leaflets are green when they're healthy. As for using Netafim drippers emitters etc, yes they will be much more efficient as you can get the right amount of water to the roots and avoid spraying all over the place and missing the roots. As Peachy said a good organic fertiliser will do well or if you want a fast green up, a fast acting NPK fertiliser with trace elements will green it up given at recommended amounts. Overall good organic compost will keep the soil healthy and therefore your palms in the long run.

Feel free to ask anything you want here. How else will you learn. The only stupid question is one you don't ask.

I hope this helps a bit.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Moose]

  On 4/24/2010 at 6:09 PM, Wal said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

Wal - being snarky to a new person on PalmTalk could be construed as rude. Some could feel offended and may not return. We all need to check ourselves when we start sounding like "palm snobs".

If you can't get a question about a palm answered at the International Palm Society website forum, that is a bad relection in my opinion. I was once a "grasshopper" and many a question I asked .

Let's not forget we were all a beginer as one point.

Ron.

[Jeff Searle]

  On 4/24/2010 at 12:40 AM, Hen74 said:

I have a hedge of 6 year old Areca palms. They don't appear to be getting enough water. The spray nozzles aren't getting the job done. Should I change to netafim or poly tube with emitters? Also, need to get them some fertilizer as they are developing more of that school bus yellow color. What's a good fertilizer for Areca palms? Many thanks to any palm expert who can offer help/advice.

In alot of situations, D. lutescens are heavy feeders and will enjoy a good, regular feeding of a granular palm fertilizer. They also enjoy a steady amount of water, especially if you go through dry periods like most people experience. It sounds like you need to step up the watering.

Welcome to PT.

Jeff

[Bill Schmidt]

  On 4/26/2010 at 9:34 AM, moose knuckle said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 6:09 PM, Wal said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

Wal - being snarky to a new person on PalmTalk could be construed as rude. Some could feel offended and may not return. We all need to check ourselves when we start sounding like "palm snobs".

If you can't get a question about a palm answered at the International Palm Society website forum, that is a bad relection in my opinion. I was once a "grasshopper" and many a question I asked .

Let's not forget we were all a beginner at one point.

Ron.

Right on, Moose Knuckle!

Welcome Hen, Areca palm is the common name here in Puerto Rico also. I knew what you meant right away...

[Hen74]

Thanks for the useful info and correct name for my problem palms. Sorry for my ignorance, but that's why I asked for help. Note that these palms are commercially sold under the name of Areca, and that is how they are commonly (albeit incorrectly) known here.

Anyway, thanks to all for helpful advice.

[MattyB]

Henry, if you're going to throw down a bunch of granular fertilizer remember that your drippers aren't going to wash it in for you. You'll have to soak it in with your hose or let the rain do it. I actually poke holes right next to my emitters and drop in a handfull of granular fertilizer that way the drippers are slowly washing it in over time, similar to a tree spike fertilizer.

[Just1MorePalm]

  On 4/24/2010 at 12:40 AM, Hen74 said:

I have a hedge of 6 year old Areca palms. They don't appear to be getting enough water. The spray nozzles aren't getting the job done. Should I change to netafim or poly tube with emitters? Also, need to get them some fertilizer as they are developing more of that school bus yellow color. What's a good fertilizer for Areca palms? Many thanks to any palm expert who can offer help/advice.

I would leave them and continue doing what you are doing...All is good...Deep water now and again feed once in a while...these palms love negelct...school bus yellow is why I grow this "Golden Cane Palm"...it provides the perfect contrast to all the green palms...

[Darold Petty]

Welcome Hen74, You should contact Al Bredeson, of Papa Bay Estates. He's quite the friendly guy and has grown palms for many years. Send him a PM here on Palmtalk to his title 'Al in Kona'.

[Walter John]

  On 4/24/2010 at 6:09 PM, Wal said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

I could have said I was prompting, would that of made you attackers happier ? Because I said that word "snark", you jumped on the bandwagon of some kind of um, well , ah it dozen matter.

[Tyrone]

  On 4/27/2010 at 10:14 PM, Greenleaf said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 6:09 PM, Wal said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:33 AM, John in Andalucia said:

  On 4/24/2010 at 9:21 AM, Wal said:

areca palms ?

Dypsis lutescens, Wal. Don't ask me why.

I know that John, I was throwing a level two snark attack.

I could have said I was prompting, would that of made you attackers happier ? Because I said that word "snark", you jumped on the bandwagon of some kind of um, well , ah it dozen matter.

You also could have helped out in the first place.

[peachy]

Perhaps one would require some knowledge before imparting it.