my Licuala Grandis is not looking too good

[miamicuse]

I am in zone 10b.  I bought this Licuala Grandis from a local nursery in south Florida in September 2020.  Stayed in it's pot for about a month then planted into the ground.  I watered it regularly (every other day) and fertilized once a month.  Was looking fine the first few months, then in March we had a few windy days, and it looked a bit wilty after that, since then the leaves have turned brown and the new fronds have not opened.

It does get some direct sun but not for long, it's in the shade of a very healthy triangle palm.

Should I dig it out and put it back in a pot to see if it does any better?

Edited June 2, 2021 by miamicuse

[aegean]

I am not familiar with this species, but to me this looks a lot like sunburn. Your photos must have been taken around noon time and at least at that time it is fully exposed to the sun.

[Palmfarmer]

21 minutes ago, aegean said:

I am not familiar with this species, but to me this looks a lot like sunburn. Your photos must have been taken around noon time and at least at that time it is fully exposed to the sun.

yes, but he has kept it there for months without any problems. Sunburn will usually show pretty fast. Maybe it is getting too much water. I would cut down on watering and only water when you feel the soil has dried some inches down. 

[greysrigging]

Yep, that spot looks way too hot for a juvenile specimen. Young ones are shade lovers, although they become quite tolerant of the sun  as they get older. At the very least build a shade stricture over it in the short term.

[Palmfarmer]

17 minutes ago, greysrigging said:

Yep, that spot looks way too hot for a juvenile specimen. Young ones are shade lovers, although they become quite tolerant of the sun  as they get older. At the very least build a shade stricture over it in the short term.

but he says it was fine there for months. I will usually see sunburn gradually getting worse

[WaianaeCrider]

 I put a 1 gal in the ground last June.  I was pretty shady then, but as summer comes on the sun moves and it's now getting a few hours of mid day sun.  So far it looks OK.  I gets water for 30 min twice a week at night on a timer.  I've been checking every few days and no sun burn yet.  I'm sure the sun here in Hawai`i is stronger that Fla.

 

 

[miamicuse]

Yes the first few months were OK.

Then we had a very windy few days.  After that the leaves looked wilted a little.  I added water and it recovered, but never got back to 100% and has been looking unhealthy increasingly since.

If it's the sun then the only solution is relocation right?

I didn't think that spot is too windy because it's shielded on two sides by the building but apparently not.

[Oviedo_z10b_lol]

Looks like sunburn. Perhaps the shifting angle of the sun as we get into summer is giving it more light as it moves out of the shade of that triangle. 

[PalmatierMeg]

I agree: too much strong sun. It was put in that spot last Oct, i.e., the fall. It did OK until the almost-summer sun rose overhead. Now it's burning to a crisp and summer is still 3 weeks away. You need to shade it ASAP. I always keep Licualas in full shade or under 90% shadecloth. The Florida sun is brutal year round.

[Merlyn]

I have two Grandis about that size, both in pots in full shade of queen palms.  They get an hour or so of direct sun around 8-10am.  And they get about 1 gallon of water every morning into a 3 gallon pot.  Grandis needs shade and water, especially in a windy drought like the last 2 months in FL.  When my larger one got the dripper knocked out of the pot, it looked exactly like yours.  And that was in shade!  It took 4 months to grow new leaves and recover.

If you want a solid leaf fan in that spot, I would find a Licuala Peltata v. Sumawongii.  I have them in the ground in shade, part shade, and full blazing sun here.  I doubt Grandis will ever acclimate in that spot.

[The Palm Nut]

On 6/2/2021 at 2:12 PM, miamicuse said:

I am in zone 10b.  I bought this Licuala Grandis from a local nursery in south Florida in September 2020.  Stayed in it's pot for about a month then planted into the ground.  I watered it regularly (every other day) and fertilized once a month.  Was looking fine the first few months, then in March we had a few windy days, and it looked a bit wilty after that, since then the leaves have turned brown and the new fronds have not opened.

It does get some direct sun but not for long, it's in the shade of a very healthy triangle palm.

Should I dig it out and put it back in a pot to see if it does any better?

Was it exposed to cold conditions last winter? Cold and wet in particular?

Cheers

Mike

[palmfriend]

Hi,

in my opinion almost all is said - just one more thing:

The concrete alround the plant is probably working like an oven, taking away any

humidity this species needs - leaving just very hot and dry air.  In my limited experience -

not the best conditions to grow this beauty successfully. 

I would move it to a shadier spot and away from any structure.

However, beautiful plant and all the best with it!

Lars