Worried my King Palms aren't getting enough water

[Kari L.]

Hi everyone!  Glad we found this site.

We bought two healthy 10-12 year old King Palms from a reputable nursery and had them planted in our front yard in December. The picture of them in the boxes is from last October when they were still in the nursery.  They were grown outdoors in mostly full sun in Southern California, about 30 miles east of LA. 

They are now in brick planters that are about 5 feet across with plenty of sunlight and room for deep roots to establish (hopefully).

The advice we received after planting in December was to construct berms around the trunks and fill the berms with water about once every ten days while the weather was still at or below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. We did that, and the trees seemed to do fine through the cool and rainy months.

Now that the rains are over and the weather is heating up (we’re inland Southern California), the lower fronds are turning brown, and some of the upper fronds are browning as well. I tried to show as much of this as possible and you can compare to photo of the trees still at the nursery.

There are new spears coming in at the top, and they look green and healthy, but I’m worried that the trees are not getting enough water. 

There is an irrigation system in place, but it’s not working yet (contractor issue), so we’ve been watering by hand. Reading on this site, I’ve learned that these palms need a lot more water, so I’ve been giving them much more than in the winter, but I’m still concerned about these brown fronds.

Could I get a little advice on how much/how often to water? Should I fertilize or put mulch around the base? . I really don’t want these trees to die.  Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!  I want them to become established, get through the long, hot months to come and eventually learn enough to make them the beauties I know they can be.

[peachy]

They definitely need more water than they are getting, Archontophoenix alexandrae are from rainforest areas and need water but can tolerate dry spells, although they never look their best. A cunninghamia grow on the edge of wetlands and creeks and need constant water or they die quickly.  Unless there is heavy rain, I let the hose trickle on the cunninghamia all night, every second night. It can't be overwatered.   Mulch the bases of both species and fertilise in the warmer months. Mine respond well to foliar feeding but food is food and all living things need it. 

Hope this helps a bit.

Peachy 

[Harry’s Palms]

I agree! As Peachy says these are water lovers and you are in a very arid climate being inland. I am also inland Southern California and my palms are established , not fresh planted, I keep the soil around my King palm and my Bungalow palms damp during any warm weather. The only thing I would add is that they are still getting used to their new home so a bit of down turn can be expected. The good news is that they can rebound quickly and are fairly fast growers. They are beauties! Harry

[Jim in Los Altos]

One thing to remember is that it is impossible to over water an Archontophoenix (King Palm) but VERY easy to underwater one. They do exceptionally well in the shade so, when in full sun, with hot drying winds, they will be a bit more of a challenge. I have over fifty of them in my Bay Area landscape and they all are kept well watered. Three are actually growing IN stagnant water 365 days per year and they love it. 
 

I’d put a wood mulch around them and all surrounding soil areas 2-3” in depth. Water well beyond the drip line of the palms too because dry soil will act like a sponge and suck waster away from the palm’s root ball. Also, their roots travel as much as 40 feet away in time so those roots will benefit from irrigation to companion plants that eventually are planted nearby if they are well irrigated. 

[Billeb]

Nowhere near enough water. Once a week is not enough for an acclimated Archontophoenix, let alone a newly planted, in an essentially raised bed, in your climate and in the summertime. 
 

As many have said, these things have  been found literally living in bodies of water. You can’t water enough. You will have acclimation issues for 3-4 fronds or so, don’t worry about it. 
 

Up your watering by 2-3 times the amount and see what they look like in 3 months. Good luck. 
 

-dale 

[Tyrone]

I agree with everything said already. Water until you think you’ve over watered them, then water some more. In an open dry hot arid environment they just want to be virtually sitting in water. 

[James B]

Welcome to Palmtalk!

You’re in Ontario so about 8-10 miles south of me as I’m in Alta Loma. Also in our area is Gabriel who lives in Upland.

So we probably have the closest climate to yours however with some slight differences.

Im at 2100 ft elevation so your high temps are always hotter and your lows are more mild.

As all have mentioned watering every day for 3 months to start then you can go every other day is a recipe for success. But as we enter our hottest months you will reach way more 100 degree plus days than I do. If it’s 95 here you are probably 100 and if it’s 100 here you’re probably 105. So when it gets triple digits daily watering is best for growth rate as well as avoiding crispy fronds. Keep in mind these are self cleaning palms so your lower fronds turning brown is part of the natural process.

[Kari L.]

On 5/30/2024 at 2:37 PM, peachy said:

They definitely need more water than they are getting, Archontophoenix alexandrae are from rainforest areas and need water but can tolerate dry spells, although they never look their best. A cunninghamia grow on the edge of wetlands and creeks and need constant water or they die quickly.  Unless there is heavy rain, I let the hose trickle on the cunninghamia all night, every second night. It can't be overwatered.   Mulch the bases of both species and fertilise in the warmer months. Mine respond well to foliar feeding but food is food and all living things need it. 

Hope this helps a bit.

Peachy 

Thanks much for the advice.  I will mulch a bunch and am watering every day, copiously.  Any fertilizing advice?  A product name, and how to use and when?  I want to get this right.  thanks again!

 

[Kari L.]

22 hours ago, Billeb said:

Nowhere near enough water. Once a week is not enough for an acclimated Archontophoenix, let alone a newly planted, in an essentially raised bed, in your climate and in the summertime. 
 

As many have said, these things have  been found literally living in bodies of water. You can’t water enough. You will have acclimation issues for 3-4 fronds or so, don’t worry about it. 
 

Up your watering by 2-3 times the amount and see what they look like in 3 months. Good luck. 
 

-dale 

Thank you!

 

[Kari L.]

22 hours ago, James B said:

Welcome to Palmtalk!

You’re in Ontario so about 8-10 miles south of me as I’m in Alta Loma. Also in our area is Gabriel who lives in Upland.

So we probably have the closest climate to yours however with some slight differences.

Im at 2100 ft elevation so your high temps are always hotter and your lows are more mild.

As all have mentioned watering every day for 3 months to start then you can go every other day is a recipe for success. But as we enter our hottest months you will reach way more 100 degree plus days than I do. If it’s 95 here you are probably 100 and if it’s 100 here you’re probably 105. So when it gets triple digits daily watering is best for growth rate as well as avoiding crispy fronds. Keep in mind these are self cleaning palms so your lower fronds turning brown is part of the natural process.

HI James,

I, too, am in Upland at about 1450 ft.  I will keep the watering advice in mind and mulch to help retain moisture. 

[Billeb]

32 minutes ago, Kari L. said:

Thanks much for the advice.  I will mulch a bunch and am watering every day, copiously.  Any fertilizing advice?  A product name, and how to use and when?  I want to get this right.  thanks again!

 

A lot of people use PalmGain on these boards but it’s not readily available at the big box stores. You could go snag any type of palm tree slow release fertilizer at HD and apply it liberally.  your kings will enjoy it and you watering over the top with frequency will allow it to leach into the ground very well. 
 

-dale 
 

[happypalms]

Your palms are sulking it is quite common for newly planted palms to sulk plus maybe a little more water will help but otherwise you’re palms will get through the stressful time of being transplanted water them with seaweed extract it will help with vitamin B relieving the stress they will be fine and in a couple of years you will not even know they were transplanted 

[SeanK]

The planting scheme looks bizarre to me. Definitely need much more water.

[James B]

Palmgain is my favorite fertilizer. Usually available on Amazon. 

[peachy]

I don't use any of the special palm fertilizers as they cost a fortune and there is always something I have to add in anyway. The list of ingredients I use sounds daunting but buy the cheaper brands and be regular with the feeding regime and it is a lot simpler than it sounds. Also some of the stuff I use might not suit your soil but it covers the full spectrum of their needs.  As happypalms mentioned, use a seaweed liquid extract regularly.  I get a liquid fish based feed to put with the seaweed extract and a small amount of sulphate of potash (the cheap brands are fine)  You can just pour a standard size plastic bucket (9 litres) on the soil every couple of weeks in the growing season. Every 3 months (except in winter) a bucket full of pelletized chicken manure around the outer edges of the planting spot.  At the beginning of spring a little bit of Boron and a scoop of Trace Elements gets thrown into the mix also. For mulch I use Lucerne Hay or Sugar Cane as mulch for preference, but any kind of hay or straw will do, as long as it breaks down eventually. Drown the palm in water every couple of days and the results will be begin to happen pretty quickly. It's nowhere near as complicated as it sounds and your palms will love you for it.

Peachy