W. Robusta & Needle Palm not looking well lately

[PashkaTLT]

Hello guys,

About 1.5 months ago my Washingtonia Robust started going yellow, but it wasn't too bad. It was in a pot at the time.

A few weeks ago I planted it (I had to break circular roots) and now it looks very bad:

Also my needle palm is not looking very well either (planted a month ago):

Any advice?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Never a good idea to disturb palm roots particularly on young ones like yours. The Washingtonia looks like a goner. Why did you feel the need to break the circular roots? The Needle Palm looks likely to survive. I would pour some hydrogen peroxide down the top center of the palm where the brown frond is emanating. If it froths, there’s bacterial rot going on and the peroxide will kill it. Repeat applications will be necessary. In your 6a zone, the Washingtonia wouldn’t have a chance of survival anyway without a great deal of heated protection. 

Edited September 27, 2023 by Jim in Los Altos

[PashkaTLT]

Thanks.

I will protect it with a box method of course.

[PalmatierMeg]

Agree. The Washy is toast. Why did you wait until fall to plant it? In your climate spring planting is essential so the palm has a full growing season to establish itself. Don’t abuse palm roots.

[byuind]

[PashkaTLT]

5 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Agree. The Washy is toast. Why did you wait until fall to plant it? In your climate spring planting is essential so the palm has a full growing season to establish itself. Don’t abuse palm roots.

There was insane amount of work to prepare the territory for planting (removing existing bushes & trees from there), took me until August.

[PashkaTLT]

21 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Never a good idea to disturb palm roots particularly on young ones like yours. The Washingtonia looks like a goner. Why did you feel the need to break the circular roots?

My limited previous experience with breaking circular roots was positive. It's the first plant which looks that bad. Usually after a month all my plants recovered... Maybe this time it was combined shock of planting + breaking roots + it was not looking good even before planting, for some reason...

As the name circular roots implies, the roots were growing inside the clump and AFAIK it's one of the worst things that can happen to roots...

[SeanK]

2 hours ago, PashkaTLT said:

My limited previous experience with breaking circular roots was positive. It's the first plant which looks that bad. Usually after a month all my plants recovered... Maybe this time it was combined shock of planting + breaking roots + it was not looking good even before planting, for some reason...

As the name circular roots implies, the roots were growing inside the clump and AFAIK it's one of the worst things that can happen to roots...

The rules of dicots oft apply not to monocots. Were those plants in the pots outside last winter?

[PashkaTLT]

42 minutes ago, SeanK said:

The rules of dicots oft apply not to monocots. Were those plants in the pots outside last winter?

I believe they were in pots in a greenhouse in Ohio.

[Jim in Los Altos]

3 hours ago, PashkaTLT said:

My limited previous experience with breaking circular roots was positive. It's the first plant which looks that bad. Usually after a month all my plants recovered... Maybe this time it was combined shock of planting + breaking roots + it was not looking good even before planting, for some reason...

As the name circular roots implies, the roots were growing inside the clump and AFAIK it's one of the worst things that can happen to roots...

Palms are very different from other plants. Most species absolutely hate root disturbance. If you ever plant another palm out of a container, keep the root ball as intact as possible. The less disturbance the quicker the palm will settle in and resume growth. 

[PashkaTLT]

On 9/27/2023 at 9:23 PM, Jim in Los Altos said:

Palms are very different from other plants. Most species absolutely hate root disturbance. If you ever plant another palm out of a container, keep the root ball as intact as possible. The less disturbance the quicker the palm will settle in and resume growth. 

Thanks, will keep this in mind.

[PashkaTLT]

Guys, my needle is not looking well (see attached image). The central frond is not growing anymore..

I plan to box it, as it's been planted just a couple of months ago and not established yet.

Should I do anything else?

I've got this advice from the seller of this Needle Palm:

"I've seen this before with needle palms, the central trunk dies but the secondary shoots stay alive.

What I do in this situation is cut off the central main trunk that is dead. I use a sawzall tool and cut it off at the ground. Be careful not to damage the healthy side shoots. Mulch before winter if you're not going to cover it and don't give any more fertilizer until next spring. 

I've had really good luck with this and I think the secondary shoots will really take off next year."

 

What do you guys think?

Edited November 1, 2023 by PashkaTLT

[Goodepalms]

Yea the washy died from having its roots disturbed, palms don’t like it and actually don’t need it. As they age their roots explore outward from themselves and the ones closer to the trunk become more structural and actually cease most absorption functioning. so literally when you disturb the root hall, you’re killing the part of the roots which are active.
 If you like big leaves like the washies sport, maybe consider sabal minor, it’s cold hardy as fuck, but doesn’t grow tall; if it’s height you seek maybe a California fan palm, they’re cold hardier than their Mexican cousins. 

Edited November 2, 2023 by Goodepalms

[PashkaTLT]

Yeah, I have Sabal Minor planted. 12 different palm species overall