Royal Cavity

[palmislandRandy]

I was looking at a damaged Roystonia in my development along with the property manager & a local palm "doctor" rep.

This trunk cavity on this one had previously been filled with concrete & of course over time it just fell out. It was recommended that the cavity be filled with some expanding foam to seal it. Otherwise the tree which has over 30 ft of trunk is fairly healthy for a tree with a big hole in it. Should the cavity be sealed or left open to ventilate?

I told the property manager this collective group knows more than any "doctor" & I know that a storms' going to take this one eventually.

-Randy

[_Keith]

http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/cavity.shtml

[Umbrae]

spray foam IMO is gonna look like a hammered dog muffin, I'd say leave it as is, and just know that sooner or later its gonna have to come down , maybe plant a smaller one next to it so it grows for a year or two or 5 and then the old one comes down you have its back up right there in place, or you could pack it full of sphagnum and grow so

me bromeliads in it

Edited April 25, 2014 by Umbrae

[palmislandRandy]

http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/cavity.shtml

Thanks Keith,

I think they are going to use the canned expanding foam. I don't think it will "fix" the problem, but only delay the inevitable.

-Randy

[Moose]

I'm all for the expanded foam remedy. Leaving the cavity will only invite pathogens and insects. The expanded foam can be shaped to the contour of the trunk the next day after curing. No way to match a color to the trunk, perhaps a white band of paint may be needed to cover your patch work.

[_Keith]

I'm all for the expanded foam remedy. Leaving the cavity will only invite pathogens and insects. The expanded foam can be shaped to the contour of the trunk the next day after curing. No way to match a color to the trunk, perhaps a white band of paint may be needed to cover your patch work.

Actually another Florida site talked about a layer of color matched bondo over the foam for a color match.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Leave the hole alone and if you don't like the looks of it, plant a bush in front of it so you can't see it.

[Alicehunter2000]

I would probably go the foam route as well. Might want to spray some anti fungal first. The foam needs to be sealed if you trim it.....otherwise it will suck up moisture like a sponge. If is not damaged it is self sealing .

[MattyB]

I say leave it. Stick an epiphyte in it.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I thought when i opened this thread i was going to see the queen mums dental x-ray.

[Mike Evans]

No problem. Here is my peek-a-boo Royal. Matty had a very good idea with the epiphyte. It looks good now. Actually, this Royal has been taking out some rare Zamias when it drops leaves, so it must go. It is going through a slow death, because there is no room to drop it. Don't worry, there are plenty left.