Potted Bismarck palm suddenly looks sick: Too much water? Too dry? Too much fertilizer?

[Palmy Portlander]

Last summer I bought a small Bismarckia Nobilis.  I put it into a pot and kept it outside until the winter weather began dropping below freezing.  Outside in Portland it got a fair amount of rain in the fall and early winter.

I brought it into shelter and with some heat and grow lights and I watered it sparingly. 

 About a week ago I gave it some dry palm fertilizer - about two tablespoons on top.

I was away for several days and decided to give a solid soaking- there is now saucer at the bottom so the water can drain out.  I checked the moisture meter today and the soil is pretty dry at about three inches.

Now the weather is milder, but rainy, I am putting it outside to get some sun.

Until recently the palm seemed to be thriving.  But now  the fronds seem to be shriveling as though they are dry and turning brown at the tip although there is a new spear. 

What am I doing wrong? Can I save it - it is a favorite.

Below are some photos.

Palmy Portlander

 

IMG_7734.HEIC IMG_7735.HEIC IMG_7736.HEIC

[happypalms]

Looks like it’s too wet. Phytophera could be the cause. What temperatures in the way of cold weather has it had. 

[Palmy Portlander]

Thanks for the reply.

It was sheltered aduring the coldest weather, kept at 40 to 60 degrees and dry until I watered it heavily before I left.

If I let it dry out, can it recover or do I need to do something more?

Robert

[Palmy Portlander]

I decided not to put it out because I am going to let it dry out.  

The soil down about three inches is damp but not soggy.   There is drainage hole in the pot so there was no standing water.

I read that I can buy a fungicide for a drench treatment: Should I try that?

 

[happypalms]

On 2/26/2025 at 11:36 AM, Palmy Portlander said:

I decided not to put it out because I am going to let it dry out.  

The soil down about three inches is damp but not soggy.   There is drainage hole in the pot so there was no standing water.

I read that I can buy a fungicide for a drench treatment: Should I try that?

 

There is foliar spray called agrifos for phytophera. Just try to dry it out that’s the best thing to do and try adding some perlite to your soil mix on potting up next time. If it’s that bad your soil you can remove the palm from the container and hose out all the sour soil and repot with some quality potting mix and be sure to tap the pot on the bench well to get all the soil in between the roots.