A couple weeks ago, I bought a 7 gallon European fan palm from a Lowe's in Waco, TX. The palm had two separate crowns, but no trunk yet. I bought this palm with intention of keeping it as a houseplant. Today, when I came home from school, I noticed the new fronds were dry looking. I gave a slight tug, and all new growth and spears pulled from each crown...The bottoms of these pulled spears have a wet, spongy texture and are white-ish brown. Is this crown rot? And is there anything I can do to save the palm?

Thanks!

-Jacob in Kansas

Most likely a goner...

If you have your receipt, bring the plant back and you should get something back.

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

I'd do just that, however, it's probably not really worth a 7 hour drive to return a $40 plant...we have 4 different Lowe's stores in Wichita, but I really doubt they'd take it there...really not sure what happened with this, I only watered when the soil was very dry. Since I've had it, about two weeks, I only watered twice. I can't help but wonder if the the palm got freeze damage when it was outside the store in Waco, and it only just now manifested itself...oh well, life goes on;)

Here's a picture of the damage:

Also, off topic, but I have two potted Washingtonias...both are about two feet tall and in the west facing window...one of them is healthy, but the other is starting to turn yellow...except for the newest frond, which is still green...these have a "bulge" at the base of the trunk, and the dirt is not quite up to it...should it be? I'm new to planting bare-root palms;)

Shoot a mix of fungicide and insecticide down the crown and it might come back if it didn't get too cold. Keep watering it. You have about a 50/50 chance with euro fans in my experience. I deal with crown rot a lot in the humid environment here.

Also, pour hydrogen peroxide (from the drug store) down into holes where the spears were. You've got nothing to lose but another $ or so.

I'd do just that, however, it's probably not really worth a 7 hour drive to return a $40 plant...we have 4 different Lowe's stores in Wichita, but I really doubt they'd take it there...really not sure what happened with this, I only watered when the soil was very dry. Since I've had it, about two weeks, I only watered twice. I can't help but wonder if the the palm got freeze damage when it was outside the store in Waco, and it only just now manifested itself...oh well, life goes on;)

Here's a picture of the damage:

photo (11).JPG

It can't hurt to try to return it to the ones near you. It might live, but that number of fronds pulling out is troubling.

Also, pour hydrogen peroxide (from the drug store) down into holes where the spears were. You've got nothing to lose but another $ or so.

That was the first thing I did, after I finished crying. Haha just kidding;) But I did pour 3% peroxide into the crown, a lot of fizzing ensued...I'm hoping the palm survives, but if it doesn't, nothing really lost...Now if I lost my Trachy, Butia, Sabals, or Washies (might be losing one already:( ) I'd be sad:(

I'd do just that, however, it's probably not really worth a 7 hour drive to return a $40 plant...we have 4 different Lowe's stores in Wichita, but I really doubt they'd take it there...really not sure what happened with this, I only watered when the soil was very dry. Since I've had it, about two weeks, I only watered twice. I can't help but wonder if the the palm got freeze damage when it was outside the store in Waco, and it only just now manifested itself...oh well, life goes on;)

Here's a picture of the damage:

photo (11).JPG

It can't hurt to try to return it to the ones near you. It might live, but that number of fronds pulling out is troubling.

Yeah...I hear Lowe's has a one year warranty on plants, so I'll give it some time, and if it dies, I'll try taking it to the store...and yeah, when they kept pulling like that, I was somewhat sickened...

Here's some pics of my declining washy...in that up close pic, is that white stuff on the petiole a fungus? I sprayed the entire plant with neem oil/fungicide just to be safe, but I don't see that stuff on my other washy.

Outlook (14).zip

Edit: Sorry about the zip upload, I honestly don't know why it did that...

Edited March 25, 201412 yr by jfrye01@live.com

I would demand that they take it back at your local Loews. They should, and if they dont, ask them why they don't have a uniform return policy amongst all of their stores since they are the same company.

Well, they wouldn't take it back...because according to the "garden expert" there, it looked "fine"... > Pretty irritating...

Well, you still have 49 weeks to kill it and get your money back. Stick it in the ground. I'm betting it'll make it. If not, after it is completely dead, dig it up in the next 49 weeks and there you go, money back.

Well, you still have 49 weeks to kill it and get your money back. Stick it in the ground. I'm betting it'll make it. If not, after it is completely dead, dig it up in the next 49 week and there you, money back.

Very true, good idea;)

Do they have a stated return policy? I'll bet my bottom dollar that their garden "expert" doesn't know squat about palms. They probably get those plants on consignment anyways. How does the garden expert in Kansas know what the plant looked like when it was bought in texas? I don't doubt that it looked fine when it came off the truck from florida... Doesn't sound to me like they are honoring their policy...

Edited March 27, 201412 yr by Sabal Steve

Do they have a stated return policy? I'll bet my bottom dollar that their garden "expert" doesn't know squat about palms. They probably get those plants on consignment anyways. How does the garden expert in Kansas know what the plant looked like when it was bought in texas? I don't doubt that it looked fine when it came off the truck from florida... Doesn't sound to me like they are honoring their policy...

Yes, they do...it states: "if your perennial plant doesn't survive a year, we'll replace it, free of charge"...and that's kind of what I was thinking, how does someone who's probably lived in Wichita their whole life know a darn thing about palms?? (Well, I do, but then again, I've loved palms since my first trip to the Bahamas 11 years ago, but, I digress;) ) Obviously the thing wasn't healthy, the spears (and one healthy looking frond) literally rotted in two...

Do they have a stated return policy? I'll bet my bottom dollar that their garden "expert" doesn't know squat about palms. They probably get those plants on consignment anyways. How does the garden expert in Kansas know what the plant looked like when it was bought in texas? I don't doubt that it looked fine when it came off the truck from florida... Doesn't sound to me like they are honoring their policy...

Yes, they do...it states: "if your perennial plant doesn't survive a year, we'll replace it, free of charge"...and that's kind of what I was thinking, how does someone who's probably lived in Wichita their whole life know a darn thing about palms?? (Well, I do, but then again, I've loved palms since my first trip to the Bahamas 11 years ago, but, I digress;) ) Obviously the thing wasn't healthy, the spears (and one healthy looking frond) literally rotted in two...

You just forgot to kill it all the way before you brought it back. That is easily rectified, but since you got time why not give it a try. Then kill it all the way and bring it back.

When young, meds love to cough up their spears. Treat it with hydrogen peroxide once a week or so. A little copper or aluminum fungicide down the throat wouldn't hurt. It may be mid-summer before it starts to push a mass of fronds out. They're tough.

Yes, they are very tough. Just put it outside in a hot spot and give it lots of water.

Place it outside at a hot sunny spot. It should grow back from the base. Chamaerops are one of the thougest palms, even surviving wet cold Dutch winters!

Alexander

Place it outside at a hot sunny spot. It should grow back from the base. Chamaerops are one of the thougest palms, even surviving wet cold Dutch winters!

Alexander

Do you guys use "Dutch Ovens" when it is cold over there?

Checked on my Chamaerops today...one half is dead, but the other half is pushing new growth!! How do I remove the dead half?