Help!! Pindo Palm spear pull… is it gone :((

[ThePalmGuy101]

Hey everyone! New to the forum, been a collector of palms since I was a little kid, now I’m 21 and collect for myself. One of my jelly palms in my front yard has suffered a spear pull, and the leaves have begun to sag, but not turn brown. Any chance of survival? Not too harsh of a winter in terms of snow, but I know what really gets them is the temps and frost/wind chills. I’m in Zone 8A, on the coast of Virginia in VA beach. 

[ThePalmGuy101]

[Las Palmas Norte]

I'd hate to make predictions without knowing your specific climate. Where I am, any Butia I've had spear pull, has died. Hopefully someone in your area can comment. Pics sometimes help with a diagnosis.

[ThePalmGuy101]

[Xerarch]

Do the surgery, cut everything back until you expose the rotten area down in the growing point and cut back until there is no more rot to be seen.  What is the lowest temp you experienced this winter?

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

I agree with Xerarch. To save some cuts put a stick down the hole that is left from the spear pull and measure how deep the hole is. Then use that stick to find out where to start cutting the trunk off.  After getting close with the stick measure you may want to cut the trunk off just an inch or so for each cut till you find solid flesh. When you see solid whiteish flesh you do not cut anymore. You could also pour Hydrogen peroxide down the hole to help stop the rot till you can cut the trunk off.  Hydrogen peroxide can be used to treat the cut too. Do not wait long, though as the rot will work fast and if it gets to a certain point there is no saving the palm. Cutting that trunk off is hard with just a small handsaw. I recommend a chainsaw or saws all.

[Fusca]

3 hours ago, ThePalmGuy101 said:

Any chance of survival?

Absolutely.  It depends on what kind of cold temperatures it experienced for the next steps, but yes you might need to cut it back as @Xerarch suggested.  I had 3 Butia odorata in my yard experience 9°F back in February 2021 and 2 of them spear pulled.  Here's what the smallest one looked like about a week after surgery (late April 2021):

And here's the same palm  weeks later:

And finally at the end of the summer:

Once the trunk is cut spray with copper fungicide and keep the exposed area dry.  If you get rain, cover it with a nursery pot or bucket to keep rain off.

Edited March 23, 2023 by Fusca

[Merlyn]

I've had one about that size eventually grow back from a spear death but not a pull.  I treated mine with squirts of 4tsp Daconil mixed with regular hydrogen peroxide.  I have not tried surgery on any, but have read good results on this forum for Butia and other species.

[PoquosonTerry]

On 3/22/2023 at 5:32 PM, ThePalmGuy101 said:

Hey everyone! New to the forum, been a collector of palms since I was a little kid, now I’m 21 and collect for myself. One of my jelly palms in my front yard has suffered a spear pull, and the leaves have begun to sag, but not turn brown. Any chance of survival? Not too harsh of a winter in terms of snow, but I know what really gets them is the temps and frost/wind chills. I’m in Zone 8A, on the coast of Virginia in VA beach. 

I live in Poquoson and I recently pulled the spear of my Pindo palm as well. There’s nothing in the center. I’ll provide pics. Good luck on your Pindo!

[ThePalmGuy101]

Thank you guys for the replies! I decided to let nature take its course and see what happens… and a new spear appeared a few days ago, and now it’s even pushing through! I’m so relieved! 

[ThePalmGuy101]

Over a year update!