Hello!

 

My queen palm is growing very poorly/ abnormally and I have no Idea what's going on with it. Is it disease? Leaning Crown? Is it trying to grow around the queens that are directly to its south? I have no idea! Thank you for taking a look:

Looks like it needs to be trimmed... Grass level. Plant something better-it's making the choice for you. 

It's trying to tell you that you should remove it and plant something much better in that spot.

 

Lol yes.....

The only time i see palms do that is when they are severly undewatered and about to die. I believe it is caused from a lack of membrane pressure from lack of water that makes it lean over. 

2 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

The only time i see palms do that is when they are severly undewatered and about to die.

While I don't have an answer why Patrick's Syagrus is leaning, I have experienced this with Howea forsteriana (Kentia).  In the case of my Kentia, it had no correlation to water, as it was planted as a double, and only one of the two palms developed the leaning problem.  I ended up chopping it down rather than waiting for it to fall and damage anything nearby, but the crown was as tall as my two story home when it happened.  If it fell in the direction it was leaning, it would have taken out palms closer to my heart (Burretiokentia hapala or Woodyetia bifurcata).  The Kentia adjacent to it looks great today, and no sign of leaning on any of the other Kentias in the garden nor any other palms in the yard.

My advice Patrick would be to try to treat as a fungal infection if you want to keep it (which may or may not work), or just take it out and look at it as a planting opportunity.  Good luck whatever you decide Patrick!

Planting opportunity for sure! I thought to myself, do I plant the Sabal Riverside or the Brachychiton rupestris, or the..... 

 

I will make it a 2 for 1 package and chop the Bougainvillea too. Bob Vila would do it! He would always make a point of having a little blip on his old show every time there was one, pointing out how "This things gotta go". I don't think he was a fan.

If you take down all the queens you'd have EVEN MORE space to plant!!!

 

Also, judging by your first photo, your neighbors have some nice queens too, so you can always enjoy them vicariously. That planter is a prime planting space and I'd plant something unique that you'd enjoy seeing everyday you come home. 

I have seen this before after a very cool wet winter.  The growth point eventually burst out the side and redirected upwards but it has looked a twin -headed mess for at least 5 years!  Time for the chainsaw imo.

23 hours ago, Pando said:

It's trying to tell you that you should remove it and plant something much better in that spot.

 

Such Palmsnobbery.... this guy comes for help and this what he gets.

There have been some reports that say a boron deficiency can increase odds of leaning crown disease. 

20 hours ago, The Germinator said:

Such Palmsnobbery.... this guy comes for help and this what he gets.

It's okay I understand completely. I am at the point in my yard where I am asking myself "why did I plant so many queen palms??!!?". I have many other potentially large plants in pots that need a home; but I sure love my canopy! 

 

But it does look like Leaning Crown Syndrome, yes?

Patrick,

Tthe older I get, the more ruthless I become about garden choices.   My advice, (meant most kindly), is "fire up the chainsaw". 

23 hours ago, Patrick said:

I am at the point in my yard where I am asking myself "why did I plant so many queen palms??!!?".

It's the effect of "Home Cheapo special". Get a plant cheap, enjoy it while you can still trim it yourself, then spend $$$ to remove.

As opposed to a more desirable species - spend more up front, wait a little longer, but then it appreciates in value and it will be the envy of the neighborhood (or PT).

That is classic boron deficiency!

If you go to this link ENH1012/EP264: Boron Deficiency in Palms University of Florida IFAS Extension, Timothy K Broschat has done a wonderful job of identifying what to look for.

Also if you go to Palm Nutrition and Fertilization it covers most deficiency and fertilization, again by Timothy K Broschat, a valuable source of information! 

This is the addresses for the two links 1.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep264  2. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_palm_nutrition

 

I would also recommend firing up the chainsaw.

 

I hope this helps!

Thank you Tomw.  

My Syagrus oleracea has been displaying the leaning symptoms since late spring.  It looked like it was recovering, but yesterday the lean became severe.  I cut back most of the leaning foliage to try and minimize further damage from the excess weight.  I did some temporary strapping for the new spear.  Should I remove the supports and let it recover as it wishes?

I had not fertilized this year because my AG supply source did not have palm fertilizer every time I went.  Better fertilize my other palms before winter.

 

I'm with Bill and Tom on this one. However this is based on seeing this in Florida. Because of our heavy rainfall, Boron gets washed out of the upper strata of our soil. Rocky or sandy soil can be a factor with Boron availability. If there is rich organic material in the soil, this deficiency is not as common. Unfamiliar with Patrick's, this can only be speculation. 

On 6/10/2017, 11:59:26, Patrick said:

It's okay I understand completely. I am at the point in my yard where I am asking myself "why did I plant so many queen palms??!!?". I have many other potentially large plants in pots that need a home; but I sure love my canopy! 

 

But it does look like Leaning Crown Syndrome, yes?

 

4 hours ago, Moose said:

I'm with Bill and Tom on this one. However this is based on seeing this in Florida. Because of our heavy rainfall, Boron gets washed out of the upper strata of our soil. Rocky or sandy soil can be a factor with Boron availability. If there is rich organic material in the soil, this deficiency is not as common. Unfamiliar with Patrick's, this can only be speculation. 

Since Moose brought this back up, what was your solution Patrick?  Did you try to treat the palm and if so with what and did you get positive results.  If not, did you remove the palm and try something else in its position?  Basically looking for an update.

9 hours ago, Tracy said:

 

Since Moose brought this back up, what was your solution Patrick?  Did you try to treat the palm and if so with what and did you get positive results.  If not, did you remove the palm and try something else in its position?  Basically looking for an update.

Me too! I'm dealing with a boron deficiency and trying to figure the best way to correct it. As of now I'm planning on purchasing Borox which is used as a detergent enhancer,  and mixing 4 ounces to a gallon of water and applying is the base.

you need to be careful with boron it kills them if you add too much

 

Easiest way to treat Boron defiency is to mulch well..(not up against the trunk) water moderately well and wait it out. There are other threads about how to trim, etc and help it along..

On ‎2‎/‎26‎/‎2018‎ ‎12‎:‎36‎:‎23‎, BS Man about Palms said:

Easiest way to treat Boron defiency is to mulch well..(not up against the trunk) water moderately well and wait it out. There are other threads about how to trim, etc and help it along..

Yes to Bill. Boron is also a trace element found in any "reputable" Palm Special fertilizer. Mulching is a no brainer if you have Boron deficiency or not. It's just the right thing for palms.