White spots on European Fan Palm…and a question about my Sabal.

[0REDSOX7]

Good day all. 

Long time reader, first time poster. I’ve got two questions for you experts, with the first dealing with my European Fan Palm. 

Noticed around October last year my palm covered in these white dots. I’ve assumed (probably wrong) that it was a fungus and have tried two palm safe items…

1) copper fungicide

2) neem oil 

I'm beginning to think it’s more insect related then fungus since the above mentioned product appeared safe for palms, but, wanted to get your ideas on where to go next.  The spots are on all parts of the tree, as indicated in the photos  

The palm is growing well and plenty of new growth but would like to see these spots gone ASAP.

In regard to my sabal, I neglected to fertilize before the end of the season last year and noticed my tree has yellowed (especially as new growth is coming in) early on this spring.   Tree has been in ground for two years in my house and has done well except for my bonehead move in September. I’ve gone ahead and fertilized it with my local palm tree store blend that has served me well,  but, I’ve read that once they turn yellow, they don’t turn back green as the tree used the nutrients from these fronds since I had insufficient fertilizer (which has since been corrected).
 

Would you cut off the front on the left that his hanging low or wait until it fully dies off?

Thank you.  

Daniel

 

[SeanK]

The Mediterranean Fan has scale. Find an insecticide and spray 3 to 4 times this summer. I didn't realize that the buggers ate Chamaerhops humilis. Scale is very aggressive on Sabal minor.

The palmetto is in rough shape. It should have 6 or 7 leaves by now. Best to do now is lots of water. Was this in-ground back in December, 2022? How cold did it get at your place?

[Harry’s Palms]

Yes , definitely insect related. Get something from a local nursery , maybe take a sample of what you have sealed in a zip lock baggie. They will most certainly have something that will work. Harry

[0REDSOX7]

42 minutes ago, SeanK said:

The Mediterranean Fan has scale. Find an insecticide and spray 3 to 4 times this summer. I didn't realize that the buggers ate Chamaerhops humilis. Scale is very aggressive on Sabal minor.

The palmetto is in rough shape. It should have 6 or 7 leaves by now. Best to do now is lots of water. Was this in-ground back in December, 2022? How cold did it get at your place?

Thank you for replying. 
 

I will get some insecticide this weekend and work with the Mediterranean palm. 
 

Regarding the sabal, the attached photo shows what it looked like when it was installed.  As you can see, it’s had quite a bit of growth since then and has done well until I forgot to fertilize it (hey, life happens, right?). 
 

you can’t tell, but, there is active new growth coming from the top of the palm, and new fronds growing, which I believe caused the yellowing of my palm due to lack of fertilizer, not to mention ton of wind here. 
 

im watering it twice a week now, but may be best served going up to every other day. 
 

regarding the yellowed fronds, would I be best to cut them off or is it better to leave them be?  I assume they’re not hurting anything aside from looks but want to make sure I get it back on track as soon as possible.  The coldest it got where I live was 18F one night.

[JLM]

New growth on the sabal is good. As for cutting off fronds, don’t do that until the frond is completely brown and dead. Palms “eat” older fronds by pulling all the nutrients out of that frond and putting into new growth. Like recycling I guess you could say. If you cut it off while still green, it interrupts that process and takes away from the palm, and with a palm in that state (becoming established), it’s best to wait.