Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

PalmTalk

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

WELCOME GUEST

It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

guest Renda04.jpg

Old Man Palm growing leaves but not height

Featured Replies

I have ab Old Man Palm that was planted about 2 years ago and was about two feet tall. The first year it grew big leaves and gained in height to about four feet tall. This past winter in Florida we had a cold spell with about five days bellow 40f. degrees. Since then the leaves that have come in have a few yellow spots close to the folds and the leaves keep coming. The problem is the crown is getting so crowded because the Palm is just not gaining in height and they are forming a cone a the top and starting to disfigure because they can’t open all the way or are growing into other leaves. What’s going on with this Palm? 

@PalmGuyPSL a couple of photos would help!  Usually a couple of nights in the 30s won't damage an Old Man Palm, but some Coccothrinax are pretty sensitive.  I have a couple of Coccothrinax here in the NW Orlando area.  Both Argentea and Barbadensis survived frost and 27F, but both of them got a crown infection that was causing stunted and brown/yellow spotted leaves.  I gave them a squirt of Daconil mixed with Hydrogen Peroxide into the crown, and by April they were growing normal leaves. 

Another possibility is a root fungus or a boron deficiency.  If there's a root rot problem (too wet or too mucky soil) then the new leaves might grow out smaller than normal.  A boron deficiency can cause "accordion leaf" or stunted leaves.  See the below info sheet on boron:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP264

  • Author

Here are some photos of what is going on with the crown and how crowded it is because it’s not gaining any height.  Leaves are normal size up until the last four which are all crowded together.

7A7CCE67-3E14-46DA-9E82-3C54A21F07CF.jpeg

BCD17031-C60C-43D7-9293-B277C3C9E9E5.jpeg

293B95F4-C065-430E-91DD-975B62D2EA0B.jpeg

FF86B267-1FD4-4189-AADF-D8DBF87E0502.jpeg

Looks like cold damage. I wouldn't worry since its pushing new leaves.

If you are getting miniature leaves, this can be a sigh of manganese deficiency, often with some leaf necrosis too.  Not sure what your soil is like there, but in the sandy, alkaline soil here, it’s pretty common.   I’ve had it on a couple of different palms.  Usually respond to a couple of generous hits of Mn.   

  • Author

The leaves are the right size.   The problem is they are overcrowding the crown and the palm is not gaining any height.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

….

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

Account

Navigation

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.