Droopy Pygme Palms in Chandler AZ

[Alexpalms]

Hello, I have these pygme date palms that haven’t looked great since I moved into this home 4 years ago. What am I doing wrong?

[aztropic]

🤔 That's EXACTLY what most pygmy palms growing in Arizona look like. Don't know what you are expecting,and don't see anything wrong with them. You are apparently already doing everything right...🤷‍♂️ 

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[AZ_Palm_Guy]

These actually look very good compared to most pygmy dates that are posted on here. Nothing wrong with them. They look pretty good, just keep doing what your doing!

[Merlyn]

Yep, looks great to me too!  Keep doing whatever it is you are doing!

[bubba]

Could it be the extreme heat? These palms are indigenous to southeast Asia.

[Kenc]

It is native to northern Vietnam, where there is really high humidity. So, in your desert area, I think it looks great.

[Alexpalms]

Great news thank you everyone for the responses and feedback!

[Johnny Palmseed]

I agree with everyone in that they look fine, albeit over pruned. Try not to take off green or even yellow fronds. The plant uses the energy remaining in the leaf until it is brown and dry. And don’t be stingy with the water. They will probably drink as much as you will put down into the soil. Use a palm fertilizer or a generic with a good amount of potassium. 

[PindoPalm]

That’s great for AZ standards. Whatever you’re doing it works so keep doing that. Their native habitat is very tropical and that is near impossible to replicate in Arizona and those are some of the best looking pygmys I’ve seen in a while.

[Silas_Sancona]

If i started counting property by property, there are likely hundreds of Pygmys planted within just a 3 mile radius of the house here in this part of Chandler.  98% of them look great and barely flinch in our heat ...As long as they receive  a little water when it is that hot.  While some afternoon shade helps, Last shot, which is about a block away demonstrates shade isn't necessary.  That shot was taken a couple days after the big heatwave last summer. Planted where it receives sun dawn to dusk..

A few -of the dozens-  of the pictures i've taken of neighborhood Pygmy Date specimens:

[SM458]

They look fine.

[ahosey01]

On 5/4/2024 at 6:40 PM, Alexpalms said:

Hello, I have these pygme date palms that haven’t looked great since I moved into this home 4 years ago. What am I doing wrong?

I agree they look really good for Arizona.  They take on a fairly distinct appearance in dry vs. humid locales but are still tough and adaptable.

You could always give more water.  I believe some of these actually grow in streams where they are native.  You probably can’t reasonably over water them.