Sun burn

[Las Palmas Norte]

I'm getting some good growth from my Magesty palm. Looks like the sun is yellowing the leaflets, which is evident under the shaded sections. I thought that these palms where full sun tolerant? I treated it for mites earlier in the summer and have been successful in no reoccurances. 

[JohnAndSancho]

Mine's smaller than yours, but it hates full sun. It's vibing on my covered patio. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

The best I can give it is morning sun and afternoon shade. There's many images on the search engines showing them in full sun, and exhibiting the same yellowing leaflets.  They'll eventually find the sun when grown large / tall enough.

[JohnAndSancho]

4 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

The best I can give it is morning sun and afternoon shade. There's many images on the search engines showing them in full sun, and exhibiting the same yellowing leaflets.  They'll eventually find the sun when grown large / tall enough.

That's more or less what mine gets. I honestly can't tell you how big they need to get before they get full sun, mine is somewhere between a 5-7 gal size at this point. But I don't blame it for not wanting to be in the full sun right now. 

[Merlyn]

I tried full sun here in Floriduh and they definitely did not like it, regardless of watering.  PM shade worked very well, and dappled all-day sun seemed the best.  They did not like full shade, and basically just sat there being green.  That's ok I guess, but I kind of wanted them to grow...    Some palms are like that when young, and get more sun-tolerant when older.  Archontophoenix are a notable one that will burn badly when less than a few feet tall, and transition to being sun-capable sometime around when they start trunking.

I have to admit that I gave up on Majesties before figuring them out.  I just liked other species better, and didn't want to spend the time, space, and mental effort to figure out how to get them to stop yellowing...

[JohnAndSancho]

21 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

 Archontophoenix are a notable one that will burn badly when less than a few feet tall, and transition to being sun-capable sometime around when they start trunking

Palms are crazy and I'm starting to think each individual plant has its own personality.

I've got 5 or 6 tuckerii seedlings, most are under my patio but I put one in full sun a few months ago. They're all maybe a foot tall or so now, but my full sun one is the fattest so far, it's already rootbound again, and isn't burning. I put another one in mostly full sun and it's cooking. 

[Tracy]

10 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

The best I can give it is morning sun and afternoon shade. There's many images on the search engines showing them in full sun, and exhibiting the same yellowing leaflets.  They'll eventually find the sun when grown large / tall enough.

Since you are in British Columbia (BC down her often refers to Baja California, our North American neighbors to the south), I have to wonder if you are moving your palm indoors or into a greenhouse during the winter?  If yours is transitioning from the inside or some protected area during winter to the outside, then it would be continually acclimating, making it difficult to ever adapt to a sunny spot.  They seem to adapt to full sun here in Southern California, as I have neighbors in Carlsbad that grow them in full sun.

[ZPalms]

I've been letting my majesty just endure the sun with no shade because I know eventually it will learn to love the sun and vibe out 

[spike]

Most of them around here, including my own, are somewhat yellow. I doubt it harms them long term, there's quite a few large ones. 

[ZPalms]

I wonder why majesty’s get yellow, when you see them in their native habitat they seem mostly green

If I can remember I think @Looking Glass majesty’s seems pretty green being in pots and constant water dish under them at least more green than normal being in full sun 

[Looking Glass]

1 hour ago, ZPalms said:

I wonder why majesty’s get yellow, when you see them in their native habitat they seem mostly green

If I can remember I think @Looking Glass majesty’s seems pretty green being in pots and constant water dish under them at least more green than normal being in full sun 

I’ve had them a couple of years now, in pots.   From three small plants to big ones quickly.   I move them around a bit depending on what’s going on out back, and what I want to shade.  I got them as more of an annual for by the pool..

 I’ve noticed over those 2 years, they are a bit more yellowish in full, all-day sun, and get darker green with maybe half-day direct sun, then a break.   I think half-day direct sun is probably ideal for these here.   

I used to empty the saucers below the pots after rains, then I got lazy and started leaving water in there….  They did a lot better outdoors in sun that way, less yellow.  So I started keeping them with full saucers all the time with watering….  They looked even better.  I water them every few days, filling the saucers to the top, so they basically sit in a couple inches of water 2/3 days at least.  They seem to love it.   But it’s very hot and sunny out back.   

Indoors these seem to rot with minimal excess moisture.  Outdoors, not.   
They still are a lighter green in full sun, than in part sun, but excess water, along with generous fertilizer and a heavy potting mix, seems to help a lot.   I’ll post an updated pics tomorrow when it’s light out.  

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Looking Glass

[ZPalms]

4 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

I’ve had them a couple of years now, in pots.   From three small plants to big ones quickly.   I move them around a bit depending on what’s going on out back, and what I want to shade.  I got them as more of an annual for by the pool..

 I’ve noticed over those 2 years, they are a bit more yellowish in full, all-day sun, and get darker green with maybe half-day direct sun, then a break.   I think half-day direct sun is probably ideal for these here.   

I used to empty the saucers below the pots after rains, then I got lazy and started leaving water in there….  They did a lot better outdoors in sun that way, less yellow.  So I started keeping them with full saucers all the time with watering….  They looked even better.  I water them every few days, filling the saucers to the top, so they basically sit in a couple inches of water 2/3 days at least.  They seem to love it.   But it’s very hot and sunny out back.   

Indoors these seem to rot with minimal excess moisture.  Outdoors, not.   
They still are a lighter green in full sun, than in part sun, but excess water, along with generous fertilizer and a heavy potting mix, seems to help a lot.   I’ll post an updated pics tomorrow when it’s light out.  

 

I wonder if more a higher dose of iron would make them greener in full sun, I don't know if iron has the same effect on palms as it does on normal plants or would the palm even use that excess of iron?

I started leaving a saucer of water under my majesty to make sure it has a constant source of water and I still go out and water the top soil as well and occasionally dump the saucer to make sure mosquitos don't have a place to call home 

[Las Palmas Norte]

6 hours ago, ZPalms said:

I started leaving a saucer of water under my majesty to make sure it has a constant source of water and I still go out and water the top soil as well and occasionally dump the saucer to make sure mosquitos don't have a place to call home

I give this one (in a 15 gal. pot) 2 gallons of water every second day. I spray or mist the fronds, undersides included, every day to discourage mites. 

[PalmatierMeg]

Majesties are major water and fertilizer hogs and prone to nutrient deficiencies if not kept well fed and hydrated.

[Looking Glass]

Mine get 12+ hours of unfiltered full sun in the corner spot.   They look kind of beat up lately again.  I neglected the fertilizer and the soil in the pots is spent after a year since taking them out and refreshing it.  They are due to be moved out, as they’ve gotten too big at this point to keep, so I’ve been a bit neglectful about their care lately.  They move so fast, so they need a lot of fertilizer and water to keep up with their growth.   I noticed today they are drinking a full saucer in just a day now.  Too fast.  

With fresh soil and tons of water, they’d green up more, or when I put them on the side of the house in half day sun they get dark green.   

This might be the final photos of these guys.   There are three in posts there.  It’s been a good run.   
 

June 2020…

Sept 2021….

Today…

[ZPalms]

48 minutes ago, Looking Glass said:

Mine get 12+ hours of unfiltered full sun in the corner spot.   They look kind of beat up lately again.  I neglected the fertilizer and the soil in the pots is spent after a year since taking them out and refreshing it.  They are due to be moved out, as they’ve gotten too big at this point to keep, so I’ve been a bit neglectful about their care lately.  They move so fast, so they need a lot of fertilizer and water to keep up with their growth.   I noticed today they are drinking a full saucer in just a day now.  Too fast.  

With fresh soil and tons of water, they’d green up more, or when I put them on the side of the house in half day sun they get dark green.   

This might be the final photos of these guys.   There are three in posts there.  It’s been a good run.   
 

June 2020…

Sept 2021….

Today…

They look amazing, What's going to happen to them?!?!

I wish my majesty would stop burning in full sun, even the new leaves seem to just burn when they should be the newest and freshest and used to the sun

Edited August 11, 2022 by ZPalms

[Merlyn]

5 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

Mine get 12+ hours of unfiltered full sun in the corner spot.   They look kind of beat up lately again.  I neglected the fertilizer and the soil in the pots is spent after a year since taking them out and refreshing it.  They are due to be moved out, as they’ve gotten too big at this point to keep, so I’ve been a bit neglectful about their care lately.  They move so fast, so they need a lot of fertilizer and water to keep up with their growth.   I noticed today they are drinking a full saucer in just a day now.  Too fast. 

What kind of fertilizer are you giving them, and how much?  When I finally get a patio I was thinking about adding a couple in pots like that.  They are cheap around here so if the cats decide to eat one it's not a huge loss... 

[Looking Glass]

On 8/11/2022 at 9:13 AM, Merlyn said:

What kind of fertilizer are you giving them, and how much?  When I finally get a patio I was thinking about adding a couple in pots like that.  They are cheap around here so if the cats decide to eat one it's not a huge loss... 

Whatever I’ve got on hand.  A handful of palmgain or Treesaver here and there, and langbeinite once in a while.  Extra iron helps too.   But what helped the most, was pulling them out of the pot, knocking the soil off, and repotting them in heavy manure and wood chip mulch mix.   They seemed to like that a lot outdoors…. With tons of water.  
 

On 8/11/2022 at 4:12 AM, ZPalms said:

They look amazing, What's going to happen to them?!?!

I wish my majesty would stop burning in full sun, even the new leaves seem to just burn when they should be the newest and freshest and used to the sun

I got them as a cheap annual for by the pool, from Lowes I think.  They are now 8-9 feet tall in the pots, too big, too hungry, and too thirsty now.    If I had clay soil, I’d plant them.  They look great in the ground.  But they will look terrible and barely hang on in my sand here….  If I flood them daily.   

I’ll pull them out of the pots.  Out to bulk pick-up they will go.   Someone driving by might grab them up.  If anyone wants them, they can have them.  

[ZPalms]

8 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

Whatever I’ve got on hand.  A handful of palmgain or Treesaver here and there, and langbeinite once in a while.  Extra iron helps too.   But what helped the most, was pulling them out of the pot, knocking the soil off, and repotting them in heavy manure and wood chip mulch mix.   They seemed to like that a lot outdoors…. With tons of water.  
 

I got them as a cheap annual for by the pool, from Lowes I think.  They are now 8-9 feet tall in the pots, too big, too hungry, and too thirsty now.    If I had clay soil, I’d plant them.  They look great in the ground.  But they will look terrible and barely hang on in my sand here….  If I flood them daily.   

I’ll pull them out of the pots.  Out to bulk pick-up they will go.   Someone driving by might grab them up.  If anyone wants them, they can have them.  

If I lived in florida, I'd snatch them up! So sad! I hope somebody in your area grabs them and plants them!

Edited August 15, 2022 by ZPalms

[Johnny Palmseed]

I think these have become very popular due to the rapid growth rate. A grower can get them to a sellable size quicker and that equates to $$$. The problem is that the growth rate does not slow after purchase and these rarely look as good as when purchased. They are usually in a shade house in the nursery keeping them nice and green. Most people do not make sure these get the water and fertilizer that they need and they are not very forgiving. Case in point, my neighbors next door bought 3 in pots and left them outside in full sun with little attention. They lasted a few weeks before they were yellow and drying up. I’m pretty sure they are goners now. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

7 hours ago, ZPalms said:

If I lived in florida, I'd snatch them up!

Road trip? 

[ZPalms]

1 minute ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Road trip? 

I wish but I don’t drive and I’m chained to my responsibilities 

[Looking Glass]

On 8/15/2022 at 3:38 AM, ZPalms said:

If I lived in florida, I'd snatch them up! So sad! I hope somebody in your area grabs them and plants them!

I pried them out of the pots today and wheeled them out for bulk pickup in the morning.  Over 10 feet tall for sure at this point.   A solid brick of roots in those pots.   They didn’t last long.   Before I could snap a pic, someone came by and said, “These are nice trees!”.  Then drove off with all three in the back of their pickup.  

[JohnAndSancho]

19 minutes ago, Looking Glass said:

I pried them out of the pots today and wheeled them out for bulk pickup in the morning.  Over 10 feet tall for sure at this point.   A solid brick of roots in those pots.   They didn’t last long.   Before I could snap a pic, someone came by and said, “These are nice trees!”.  Then drove off with all three in the back of their pickup.  

Jealous. Mine's been in part shade for 2 years and looks nowhere near as good as these that got yeeted into the trash pile. 

[Looking Glass]

24 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Jealous. Mine's been in part shade for 2 years and looks nowhere near as good as these that got yeeted into the trash pile. 

They enjoy the heat and humidity here.  I normally am not the best with potted stuff.  I eventually overdo something.   But these guys seem to suck up as much as you’ll lay down, here.  They just got way too big, too fast.   There was no soil in the pots anymore.  Just a concrete mass of roots pushing them up out of the pots.  

It was a good run.   I can make more, from the Lowe’s clearance rack, but I won’t.  Wish I had the right soil for these.  

[ZPalms]

17 hours ago, Looking Glass said:

I pried them out of the pots today and wheeled them out for bulk pickup in the morning.  Over 10 feet tall for sure at this point.   A solid brick of roots in those pots.   They didn’t last long.   Before I could snap a pic, someone came by and said, “These are nice trees!”.  Then drove off with all three in the back of their pickup.  

Awesome! I'm glad they got to a new home! 🥳 A strike of luck