Sylvester Palm

[Susannah]

My newly planted Sylvester palm is not looking good the new spears are all a whitish color.  They were field plants and it’s going on two months now. I’m in southern Florida.

Edited April 26, 2025 by Susannah
Adding

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Maybe there’s rot going on. If you can put some hydrogen peroxide in the crown (the area where all the spears come out) and see if it bubbles.

[SeanK]

Is there a warranty on it ?

[Susannah]

The person I bought from said there was but is nowhere to be found.

[Susannah]

On 4/26/2025 at 2:09 PM, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Maybe there’s rot going on. If you can put some hydrogen peroxide in the crown (the area where all the spears come out) and see if it bubbles.

I don’t think I can get close enough safely with all the sharp edges to do that even on a ladder. I did do a fungicide soak that was recommended by a local Extention. Hope that helps.

[Susannah]

All the lower branches are hanging low and turning brown. Was wondering if it is just a shock reaction from the transplant. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

3 minutes ago, Susannah said:

 

All the lower branches are hanging low and turning brown. Was wondering if it is just a shock reaction from the transplant. 

 

depends, it would make sense if you haven’t been watering enough. But at the same time it might be helpful to take a picture so make sure, god forbid your palm is diseased.

[Susannah]

[Susannah]

On 4/27/2025 at 2:34 PM, TropicsEnjoyer said:

depends, it would make sense if you haven’t been watering enough. But at the same time it might be helpful to take a picture so make sure, god forbid your palm is diseased.

I cut two of the white spears off the new one is a little whitish/green hoping that’s a good sign. I treated it with a drench fungicide don’t want to overwater it’s hard because the signs are the same if you water too much or too little. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

It looks alright.

[JD in the OC]

Palm looks normal 

[Merlyn]

@Susannah the new spears come out with a kind of odd white or tan papery outer lining.  That usually opens up and falls away when the new spear finally opens.  New spears also grow kind of pale green and then turn darker bluegreen as they grow.  Older fronds die off after transplant, that's normal.  Let them totally dessicate before cutting off old fronds.  The palm is "eating" them to power new root growth.