Struggling Pigmy Palms

[Ang PHX Pigmy Palms]

I have three pigmy palms in my front yard, one is doing well and the other two are struggling. They look thin or spindly. They have some brown on the leaves and the one that has been in the ground since last April or May has one stalk that is brown and no new limbs are growing. I think that stalk needs to be cut off as I don’t believe the stalk can be recovered. I did read something about trying a fungicide using hydrogen peroxide (3% potency I think) and just pour some down the top of the plant, at the crown. My question is, how much? Also it is 108 degrees today and 107 the next two day and hotter this weekend. Will that affect the application? My plan was to wait until the sun goes down, right before dark and apply it. Any suggestions? 

Edited June 13, 2024 by Ang PHX Pigmy Palms
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[Silas_Sancona]

10 minutes ago, Ang PHX Pigmy Palms said:

I have three pigmy palms in my front yard, one is doing well and the other two are struggling. They look thin or spindly. They have some brown on the leaves and the one that has been in the ground since last April or May has one stalk that is brown and no new limbs are growing. I think that stalk needs to be cut off as I don’t believe the stalk can be recovered. I did read something about trying a fungicide using hydrogen peroxide (3% potency I think) and just pour some down the top of the plant, at the crown. My question is, how much? Also it is 108 degrees today and 107 the next two day and hotter this weekend. Will that affect the application? My plan was to wait until the sun goes down, right before dark and apply it. Any suggestions? 

If the sickly stalk of the 3 has stopped pushing new growth / dead growth pulls out easily when you give it a tug, i myself might just cut that one off.. Seem this happen with Pygmy specimens in yards here in Chandler from time to time..

If it has some green growth that doesn't easily pull out of the crown when you give it a gentle, yet firm tug,  then you could apply some Peroxide to try and save it.

Doing so, you want to pour it directly down the crown where the new fronds emerge and look for fizzing..  After that, you can rinse  the area to allow it to dry out. Don't want any moisture to sit deep inside the crown if you can avoid it.  How much?  Enough to see it flow over the sides of the stalk.

Definitely do it after sunset, lol Wayy too hot out there right now..

Overall, the pictured specimen looks a bit on the dry side, imo. Depending on your watering schedule, you might give it a deep soak 2X's a week rather than shorter duration sprinkling that doesn't penetrate deeply into the soil / properly saturate the entire rootball..

While pretty tough, these do appreciate regular water to look their best here.

Welcome to the forum

[Ang PHX Pigmy Palms]

Thank you! Will try. I am guessing it’s too late for fertilizer as well. 

[Silas_Sancona]

26 minutes ago, Ang PHX Pigmy Palms said:

Thank you! Will try. I am guessing it’s too late for fertilizer as well. 

  Would hold off on fertilizing until after we start getting some rain. ( or more clouds/ humidity comes up a little more )

W/ the heat, a lot of stuff is kind of taking a nap right now growth - wise.. Don't want to do anything that might add on any more stress.

Depending on what you're fertilizing them with, highly recommend seeking out a product called Sul-Po-Mag ..or Langbeinite, which is the same product, but marketed under a different name. 

Is a natural source of high K ( Potassium ) that these / other palms and tropical stuff use lots of nutrient- wise. Important nutrient for toughening up plants to environmental stressors like heat / cold and drought.

Majority of " basic " fertilizers don't contain enough K in their N-P-K formulas.