Bismark trees not happy, need help

[Mark S.]

I have three Bismarks in my yard (I live in Phoenix, AZ).  Occasionally each one will kick out a dead frond even though the petiole keeps growing.  Each year it seems to get progressively worse.  Now, for the first time, one of them is kicking out two dead ones at the same time.  Any ideas or diagnosis would be appreciated.

[D Palm]

My guess would be a nutrient deficiency or PH imbalance in the soil. Do you have pictures of all 3 palms? With the whole palm? The only time mine does that is from cold damage, but the other fronds would be fried also.

[PalmatierMeg]

Question: Do you have a species of palm weevil in AZ? We do in FL. It normally attacks native Sabals but I've learned the hard way these weevils really love Bismarckia. In 2015 my largest Bismarckia's new foliage started to come in yellow or beige. I really didn't catch on to palm weevils until I came outdoors one morning to find the crown totally collapsed. Palm weevils had laid their eggs in the meristem after drilling holes for access. The huge, gross larvae ate the center of the palm from inside out - yes I have a phobia about larvae, grubs, ticks etc. We cut up the palm, bagged it and sent it out to be incinerated.

I'm not telling you that your palms have palm weevils. If no palm weevil exists in AZ you may be just fine. I hope it's just a nutritional issue you can treat. I suggest you give the trunks a close inspection to look for weevil bore holes that could fit a 1" x 2" adult weevil. Also, keep an eye on new fronds for continued color changes and post photos here. Below are photos I took when we dismembered and sent out the remains of our Bizzie.

Bismiarckia nobilis destroyed by FL palms weevil larvae, Cape Coral, FL 2015

Weevil larvae, ugh!

 

[Thorty212]

I live in Phoenix as well, Palm weevils just took out my sabal. It happened pretty quickly. If you can pull the dead growth out with little to no effort and it has rotten smell at the base, the bugs could be your issue. 

[Silas_Sancona]

 

37 minutes ago, Thorty212 said:

I live in Phoenix as well, Palm weevils just took out my sabal. It happened pretty quickly. If you can pull the dead growth out with little to no effort and it has rotten smell at the base, the bugs could be your issue. 

Pictures of them / damage they caused to your palm? ( the Beetles )

Weevil damage is very obvious..  We have several large, black Weevil sps here ( Cacti, Yucca, and Agave < Sisal > Weevil ) but  No  confirmed  observations of either of the weevils that can damage / kill palms here that are close enough to turn up here ..that have been documented.

As far as has been documented, above mentioned larger  -native- Weevil sps don't bug palms / are plant genera specific.

Have lost Sabal i'd been growing via the " rando spear pull /  basal rot / whatever it was " issues in the past.. No buggers, other than they usual invertebrate decomposers moving in to do their job  noted when doing  " Palm- topsies "  after they died. 




As far as the O.P.'s concern, have noticed more  Bismarckia in yards/ commercial plantings suffering the same issue ?(s)?

Nice ones that had been growing next to the In and Out up the road from me since i moved here  ..8 years ago..  started off w/ a dead center spear. They're now pretty much gone.. Big kids too..  I'll have to get shots next time i'm over there but, be warned,  they' ugly..

Noticing the same pattern among some other Bizzys, of different sizes,  in yards nearby too, esp after the horrible summers of 19 / 20 ..and last year (esp ). Seems odd since these are supposed to laugh at heat / most seem to..  Then again, heat like last year is killing Saguaro right and left so .....🤷‍♂️.

Thinking something else, not directly bug related,  is effecting them.  Could be not enough water,   nutri. issues  -as someone else mentioned-  or something fungal. Time will tell.

[Mark S.]

Here are photos of all three Bismarcks in my yard.  No visible signs of beetles or boring holes but will still put down a preventative insecticide.  We did have a particularly hot summer (most prolonged and hottest in our state's recorded history).

IMG_5744.HEIC IMG_5743.HEIC IMG_5742.HEIC

[96720]

My Bismarckia palms do that a lot I think it might be a water issue my bizy by my pond has never had one and I imagine my pond leaks it is a curious problem for bizy’s at least in Phoenix!!!

[Bkue]

Not that this helps but they are fairly adapt to poor soil. I live in central Florida in pure shit sand. It may have more to do with water. 

[Phoenikakias]

 

Better read carefully all above topics. Imho current issue is phytophthora bud rot. Imho regular wetting of Bismarckia's trunk should be avoided at all cost! This plant can be still saved (since I had managed to save mine in a cooler and moister climate, than the one in Az). As an additional preventive measure, as long as soil is alkaline, I would start with slow acidifying procedure and an occasional apply of chelate iron.

[Phoenikakias]

And this old topic reg the weevil attack on Bismarckia

 

[Phoenikakias]

It is imperative that you create a direct way to the meristem. Try first spear pulling and then decapitation. On Bismarckia of this size base of meristem lies deeply inside the trunk. From the apex to the bottom end of the cavity I could stick inside entire hand to the elbow.

[D Palm]

I had some type of weevil in a Pindo Palm. When I moved the fronds around you could audibly hear them. The last few fronds were severely deformed, followed by 3-4 dead brown, then death. Reminds me I need to systemic drench my palms.

Palm Nutrional Spray will be a shot to the heart, with chelated nutrients. Never water the trunk of a Bizz or the fronds. The spray is fine though. Copper fungicide in the crown one time is good also.

[96720]

I don’t think we have any of the bad bugs in Phoenix there might be grubs in the heart but that would only be after the palm was already toast!!!

[Silas_Sancona]

14 minutes ago, 96720 said:

I don’t think we have any of the bad bugs in Phoenix there might be grubs in the heart but that would only be after the palm was already toast!!!

   Yep, -for the time being at least-   No S. American Palm Weevil, Red Palm Weevil, or Palmetto Weevil documented anywhere  in Phoenix ..or anywhere in AZ for that matter..  Resultant Fungal issue,  brought on by something else is the more likely cause of damage

.. That or lack of water,  which ...looking at the set of the pictures Mark had posted,  yard looks well cared for, aside from the affected Bismarckia(s) so -imo- don't think the issue started w/ that, but no worries if wrong.

 

Edited March 29, 2024 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[Thorty212]

On 3/26/2024 at 10:13 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

 

Pictures of them / damage they caused to your palm? ( the Beetles )

Weevil damage is very obvious..  We have several large, black Weevil sps here ( Cacti, Yucca, and Agave < Sisal > Weevil ) but  No  confirmed  observations of either of the weevils that can damage / kill palms here that are close enough to turn up here ..that have been documented.

As far as has been documented, above mentioned larger  -native- Weevil sps don't bug palms / are plant genera specific.

Have lost Sabal i'd been growing via the " rando spear pull /  basal rot / whatever it was " issues in the past.. No buggers, other than they usual invertebrate decomposers moving in to do their job  noted when doing  " Palm- topsies "  after they died. 




As far as the O.P.'s concern, have noticed more  Bismarckia in yards/ commercial plantings suffering the same issue ?(s)?

Nice ones that had been growing next to the In and Out up the road from me since i moved here  ..8 years ago..  started off w/ a dead center spear. They're now pretty much gone.. Big kids too..  I'll have to get shots next time i'm over there but, be warned,  they' ugly..

Noticing the same pattern among some other Bizzys, of different sizes,  in yards nearby too, esp after the horrible summers of 19 / 20 ..and last year (esp ). Seems odd since these are supposed to laugh at heat / most seem to..  Then again, heat like last year is killing Saguaro right and left so .....🤷‍♂️.

Thinking something else, not directly bug related,  is effecting them.  Could be not enough water,   nutri. issues  -as someone else mentioned-  or something fungal. Time will tell.

Sorry,  no pictures and the palm is long gone. It was a younger sabal, and while I’m not certain they were weevils, the palm experienced the exact symptoms of a weevil issue (smell, new growth browning, brown liquid dripping off the removed fronds, eventual death of old growth). I had also read that palms that experienced transplant shock were more prone to bugs, which my palm initially did, but was back to being fully green and having new growth before the pretty rapid death. Once the palm was removed their were definitely larvae around the root ball and there were some type of flying bugs that were in and out of the center (again this could be because of the rotting smell). So yeah sorry if I jumped the gun saying they were weevils, but there were definitely signs of bugs. This tree wasn’t under watered or under fertilized. I was actually excited because the tree was showing the most signs of new growth since being planted before this happened. 

[Silas_Sancona]

17 minutes ago, Thorty212 said:

Sorry,  no pictures and the palm is long gone. It was a younger sabal, and while I’m not certain they were weevils, the palm experienced the exact symptoms of a weevil issue (smell, new growth browning, brown liquid dripping off the removed fronds, eventual death of old growth). I had also read that palms that experienced transplant shock were more prone to bugs, which my palm initially did, but was back to being fully green and having new growth before the pretty rapid death. Once the palm was removed their were definitely larvae around the root ball and there were some type of flying bugs that were in and out of the center (again this could be because of the rotting smell). So yeah sorry if I jumped the gun saying they were weevils, but there were definitely signs of bugs. This tree wasn’t under watered or under fertilized. I was actually excited because the tree was showing the most signs of new growth since being planted before this happened. 

Anything that rots and dies = blaring " we're Hiring " sign / ...like sitting on your porch some evening, thinking about what to make for dinner and catching the scent of someone BBQ'ing something mouth watering  for those insects whose jobs it is to decompose the dead..  I get various roaches and crickets hanging out around / under potted stuff.  Sand Roaches are quite common " job applicants " seen when i pull up something / something out of a pot that had croaked.. They don't cause the dead plant, but work to get rid of the remains..  Odd i've yet to see Rove Beetles when culling dead stuff, though i'm sure they're around..

Other than that, just the usual decomposers /  flies attracted to rotting stuff  and their " kids " squirming around in dead plant ooze ..and  grubs of other harmless beetles like Fig Eaters / Fiery Searchers / or other local Ground Beetle sps. 

Our Gi -normus  Palo Verde Borers? ..don't bug palms  ..so if you've seen them buzzing around in summer, don't worry about them chewing on palm parts.

Transplanting anything is stressful but ..unless it is already sick / " bad " bugs present already /  not cared for properly afterwards, while it settles in,  most plants won't attract too much added attention from bugs.

We do supposedly have Ox Beetles here, but have yet to come across a single specimen here at the house, or out in the desert up this way, or down in Tucson / far S. AZ.. 

Ox Beetles can go after smaller palms / plants, likely stressed specimens vs. those that are healthy,  but ..as far as i'm aware, they aren't all that much of an issue here ..Not one plant person i talk / have talked  with here or in Tucson has ever mentioned them..

More than likely, something else got your Sabal ..possibly the same unknown that killed some i had that experienced similar trouble before croaking ..No bug holes noted when i pulled up the plants / cut em' up for a closer look ..just to be sure..

Plants are weird sometimes i guess..