Licuala grandis

[Saara]

It is still alive. I should repot it. Latest 2 leaves were little bit smaller size

[Saara]

On 11/16/2025 at 8:11 PM, Saara said:

It is still alive. I should repot it. Latest 2 leaves were little bit smaller size

Trunk has grown size 

[Saara]

On 10/26/2024 at 9:01 PM, Merlyn said:

@Saara the big Grandis looks awesome!  It's a shame the other one in the pot isn't growing new spears, at this point it probably won't.  Eventually the old leaves will die off and you'll have to carefully cut off the remains. 

For your new plant, I would also guess Potassium.  The typical signs are on the oldest leaves first.  They generally start as translucent orange/yellow dots.  When it gets more severe you'll see dead spots on the leaves, especially at the tips on the oldest fronds.  Since it seems pretty evenly distributed I'd guess Potassium and not Magnesium.  Usually Magnesium has yellowed edges on the old leaves first.  If you have some Langbeinite/Sulpomag/KMag that might be a good long-term addition to the fertilizer.

What is wrong with my Licuala grandis plant?

I have been carefully fertilizing it with potassium and iron as you recommended. And little bit calmag but rarely and as little as possible.

My plant was doing well before, but I may have overwatered it once. Now it looks like this. One oldest leaves died and one yellow slowly picture 1 ja then later picture 2. 

It is really cold outside, so my plants dry out faster inside, and that is why I lost some due to underwatering and one due to overwatering.

I am now planning to replant it. I was planning to do so before, but I was missing an ingredient. I think it needs to be on the bigger pot. Now 28->33-34 cm.

Thank you! 

[Saara]

There was root rot at the bottom. Personally, I don't like this pot because it's loose and sagged. The previous one was good. I'll have to see if I can find the same one in a larger size online. The mixed growing medium ran out, so a slightly different, coarser mixture was added. I removed dead stem away 

[Saara]

I found a fabric pot from the same series, which is larger (28x35->) 35x39 cm. Maybe I'll replant it in it the next time I water it.

[Saara]

When wiping leaves behind it get this brown. Mites?

[Saara]

19 hours ago, Saara said:

When wiping leaves behind it get this brown. Mites?

Flat mite, false spider mite, red spider mites? How to get rid of? 

I sprayed the entire plant with a mixture of dishwashing liquid/hand sanitizer/water. Is pyrethrin better?

[Merlyn]

@Saara the brown stuff could be mites or another bug.  If you have a jeweler's loupe or other small magnifying glass in the 10x - 20x range, most bugs are easy to see.  Sometimes leaves have fuzzy bits called "tomentum" or "ramenta" left on there after they grow out.  Outdoors the rain washes it away, but that doesn't happen inside.  Tomentum/Ramenta are natural and no problem.  I had a white-looking spider mite on my indoor plants that was extremely difficult to remove.  If it is mites, something like Abamectin is a good choice.  I think pyrethrins work too.

For checking out bugs I use a cheap plastic loupe like the AVEN Tools 10x #26034: https://aventools.com/collections/magnifiers/products/eye-loupe-10x

I also use "nerd glasses" for electronics work, with interchangeable lenses like these: https://aventools.com/collections/magnifiers/products/eye-loupe-inspection-goggles-with-leds-6x-25x

Anything in the 10x-20x range ought to work well enough.  20x is better for small bugs, but you have a really small focal range on the lens.  So you have to get really close to the leaf to see it.  You could probably find a 20x plastic loupe for $5 or so USD.

Generally the leaves look pretty good, but I'd agree the newest leaf looks a bit splotchy.  That might be bugs, but the sort of regular spacing of the splotches makes me think it just needs a bit more fertilizer.  If it were totally random it might look a bit more like bug bites.  I forget, are you using a regular liquid or granular fertilizer along with the sulpomag/kmag?

[Saara]

23 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@Saara the brown stuff could be mites or another bug.  If you have a jeweler's loupe or other small magnifying glass in the 10x - 20x range, most bugs are easy to see.  Sometimes leaves have fuzzy bits called "tomentum" or "ramenta" left on there after they grow out.  Outdoors the rain washes it away, but that doesn't happen inside.  Tomentum/Ramenta are natural and no problem.  I had a white-looking spider mite on my indoor plants that was extremely difficult to remove.  If it is mites, something like Abamectin is a good choice.  I think pyrethrins work too.

For checking out bugs I use a cheap plastic loupe like the AVEN Tools 10x #26034: https://aventools.com/collections/magnifiers/products/eye-loupe-10x

I also use "nerd glasses" for electronics work, with interchangeable lenses like these: https://aventools.com/collections/magnifiers/products/eye-loupe-inspection-goggles-with-leds-6x-25x

Anything in the 10x-20x range ought to work well enough.  20x is better for small bugs, but you have a really small focal range on the lens.  So you have to get really close to the leaf to see it.  You could probably find a 20x plastic loupe for $5 or so USD.

Generally the leaves look pretty good, but I'd agree the newest leaf looks a bit splotchy.  That might be bugs, but the sort of regular spacing of the splotches makes me think it just needs a bit more fertilizer.  If it were totally random it might look a bit more like bug bites.  I forget, are you using a regular liquid or granular fertilizer along with the sulpomag/kmag?

Thank you!

I have used granular fertilizer Osmocote Exact Hi.End 15-9-12+2MgO+TE and liquid fertilizer Iron and Potassium. Couple times very little Calmag and Magnesium liquid.

[Merlyn]

1 hour ago, Saara said:

Thank you!

I have used granular fertilizer Osmocote Exact Hi.End 15-9-12+2MgO+TE and liquid fertilizer Iron and Potassium. Couple times very little Calmag and Magnesium liquid.

My guess is that the new frond might have a mild iron deficiency.  Sometimes that causes the random light green splotches on new growth.  You could try a foliar spray of something like EDDHA.  I occasionally use a product here called "Palm Nutritional Spray."

https://southernag.com/product/palm-nutritional/

This has worked on palms with deficiencies caused by root rot.  That's been a random problem in my nursery area with too much rain and soggy soil.  Sometimes the root rot just prevents the palm from getting all the nutrients out of the ground.  If you do try a foliar iron (or magnesium, manganese combo) just be aware that the spray will stain concrete and probably tile grout too.  So if you spray it on the palm in the shower, make sure to wash it off the tile asap!