Hey all, new member but i have browsed the pages multiple times for advice on how to transplant and look after my palms so thank you all for the wealth of knowledge you have shared.

I do need some advice on 2 palms i have transplanted which arent looking good and I'd like to know whether i should give up or continue on with them. Ill post a couple pics.

1st is an alexander palm (i think) it was a tri stemmed but 1 stem had trunk rot so i removed it quickly. The remaining 2 seem to be growing but the leaves it's shooting out are already dead and no green at all.

2nd is a kentia, same thing shooting out leaves but they are brown dead leaves.

 

Both a pruned back to help the tree with transplant shock but they don't seem to be bouncing back.

I water a couple times a week by flooding the area, seasol every 1-2 months.

Any advice please?

Thank you

Looking at the Alexander, it doesn't appear to have had much of a rootball? The way it is leaning looks bad. Is your soil all sand? What is your general location? 

The Kentia looks slightly better...maybe? Hard to tell. Might give it a little more time to produce a new spike?

I would probably replace the Alexander with a potted specimen, and no need to go big -- they are among the faster growing palms. A nice 5-gal would be more rewarding than trying to revive the existing palm. 

More information would help.

With such limited root mass, daily watering would be best. Twice per week is just not enough. I’ve moved a number of large Archontophoenix and they only survive if their root ball is kept wet at all times for a minimum of six months and then waterings three days per week from then on. Kentia (Howea) are a bit less finicky but daily watering is still necessary for a couple of months and then three times per week. 

Right now, the Alexander looks pretty bad. How long ago did you transplant them and what area are you in. I’m assuming somewhere in California. 

Edited February 20, 20224 yr by Jim in Los Altos

I concur with Kim.  Nursing the Howea is a worthwhile endeavor at that size.  The King palm will likely pencil neck on the odd chance it survives and always look funky.  Replacing it with a 5 gallon healthy plant will be a better strategy for long term rewards and they are fast.

When transplanting palms, I wouldn't remove fronds until they are brown.  Trying to get the largest root ball is also critical for best survival rate.

One  last observation is plant spacing.  Your Draceana draco, aka Dragon tree, will need a lot more space ultimately.  It is extremely close to the Kentia for their long term health.   You will likely need to make an editing decision someday if both survive.   Granted you have some time as the Draceana is pretty slow.  Where are you located?

Hey guys, im in perth australia. Thanks for all the replies. All the trees were planted here while my house was being built and will be moved to a suitable location soon. 

The kentia was transplanted about 9 months ago. Its popping out new spikes that are already brown.

The alexander about 4 months ago, it looks like its leaning over but that is how it sat when there was a 3rd branch on it. Unfortunately i removed that a month ago after it rotted about half way up.

Ok sounds like i need to smash the water, it is hot down here at the moment.

9 hours ago, Rvas said:

Ok sounds like i need to smash the water, it is hot down here at the moment.

Smash that water as you say and good luck!  Post an update whatever the outcome.  Some of the other folks on this forum from Western Australia should be able to provide some other planting suggestions that will thrive in the Perth area as you start considering what else you want to plant.

Whereabouts in Perth are you? I'm over near South Freo about 1km from the coast. I planted three multi-planted bangalows, all about 6 feet tall - at the beginning of winter. I have watered them probably about three times a week since the rains stopped, and one is virtually dead while the other two are just hanging on. They were all in the process of pumping out new fronds when the first bout of 40+ weather hit at Christmas and they fried. I agree with the others - you need to keep the alexandra flooded to have any hope. I've read that bangalows and alexendras don't like alkaline sand, although there are plenty of big ones round here. There are also lots of big old kentias which like alkaline soil (although they fry a bit in the heat of course), so, again, depending on where you are the sand you're on might not be helping either.

Hey Michael, sorry to hear about yours. Im in Alfred Cove and yes the soil here sucks. Its like beach sand. I did pop in a lot of landscape mix soil before putting the palms in but as i dont live there yet struggle to get there often enough to water them. Ill try get more water on them from now on. This hot weather hasnt helped.

Good luck with yours!