Please help me save my sylvester palm

[timgwen]

It's green inside but turns brown in a few days. What can I do?

[Las Palmas Norte]

Winter cold damage? Is this a recent (within a year) planting?

[timgwen]

It's 2 years old. Could be winter cold damage but it's always had brown fronds on the outer crown. 

[timgwen]

Last month the middle was much more green. It's been declining that last 2-3 weeks. I've spayed the middle with copper fungicide.  Should I keep at it? Fertilize?

Gwen

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Have you tried putting peroxide in the crown and listening for fizzing?

[timgwen]

I have not. What does it mean if it fizzes?

I'll try it tomorrow. 

 

Gwen

[SeanK]

I will repeat from the other thread. Start cutting across. Measure down 2 inches and cut off the top. Look for live tissue. With the first cut you can pour in the peroxide.

If you don't see anything live, slip a finger in to see how deep the cavity is.

[timgwen]

Thank you! So once I cut, and there is live Tissue, the trunk can be saved?

Gwen

[SeanK]

H2O2, and watch it over the next few weeks.

[timgwen]

So it CAN be saved?

Gwen

[timgwen]

Please advise.

I poured peroxide into the heart (middle) of tree. I saw no bubbling. But am I to completely cut 2 inches from the topof the tree first? Like cut off all fronds and then 2 inches of trunk?

Gwen

[timgwen]

Anyone? 

[SeanK]

Everything on top is dead. Go ahead and cut just to the top of the green.

[timgwen]

Gotcha.  Thank you.

If I then cut 2 inches down the trunk, I will be cutting off the new green growth. 

Do I continue to cut the 2 inches?

 

Gwen

[TropicsEnjoyer]

cut until there is only green, no brown or dead left. don’t go too far down that you accidentally cut out the growth point, but from this point on just keep applying peroxide until you see some decent growth pushing up.

[floridaPalmMan]

On 4/30/2025 at 4:21 PM, timgwen said:

I poured peroxide into the heart (middle) of tree. I saw no bubbling. 

But did you hear a fizzing sound? Something is attacking the heart of that palm and I'm willing to bet the peroxide is fighting a massive battle down in that heart if you listen for it.

Cut it down to the green and then apply a healthy dose of peroxide directly in the heart every few days for a week or so, then slow down the applications.

I like to then get a permanent marker and mark the new fronds against the trunk or another frond to see how much or if any growth is happening.

You can't make it look worse at this point so I'd cut all of that dead tissue off.

Good luck! Please keep us posted

[timgwen]

Update.

Cut down to green, poured peroxide in heart. Heard fizzing. This was 3 days ago.

Today,  the green is dying. 😞

Here are today's pics. 

What am I doing wrong?

Gwen

 

 

Gwen

[JLM]

Probably a bad case of crown rot, and could already be too late. Start cutting the trunk (yes even cut the green stuff out) every 2 inches of so until there is no rot in the middle, basically until the middle is all white/light brown. Once that's done, do another dose of H2O2 and then protect from rain. If the palm is still alive and pushing new growth, you'll see the middle of the trunk start to push upward probably in a week or so. 

If the palm survives, it'll look weird for a while, but this needs to be done to try to save it. You could call this the last ditch effort. Good luck!

[timgwen]

Is this enough white showing. Pic is before peroxide. 

[timgwen]

After peroxide application

[JLM]

Keep dry and do once or twice weekly H2O2 applications, making sure to dry out once it turns to water. Should see movement soon if it's alive, probably within a week or two. It looks bad now, but that middle part will start to grow upward. 

 

If the palm survives, make sure you get it on a watering schedule of at least twice a week during summer and a quality fertilizer only once the palm has fresh growth on top. Right now you could probably give it a little boost with Superthrive, which can be found in any big box store garden center. Follow directions on container.

[timgwen]

So to clarify, I'm not to water at all until I see growth?

Just the peroxide treatments?

 

Gwen

[JLM]

10 minutes ago, timgwen said:

So to clarify, I'm not to water at all until I see growth?

Just the peroxide treatments?

 

Gwen

You can still water the soil around the palm just make sure the cut area stays dry aside from H2O2 treatments. If rain is coming put a bucket over the top of the trunk to keep that cut dry.

[timgwen]

Oh. Gotcha. Thank you, again!!

Gwen

[JLM]

On 5/5/2025 at 5:55 AM, timgwen said:

Oh. Gotcha. Thank you, again!!

Gwen

Checking in, how is it looking? 

[timgwen]

I discovered this today.  Heart came out and is mushy. Is it a goner? 😭😭😭

[Las Palmas Norte]

3 hours ago, timgwen said:

I discovered this today.  Heart came out and is mushy. Is it a goner?

Yup. Sad to say.

[JLM]

4 hours ago, timgwen said:

I discovered this today.  Heart came out and is mushy. Is it a goner? 😭😭😭

Ouch. Yeah that looks pretty dead. Dig out and replace.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Rip, not everything is meant to be saved it seems. Good luck with the replacement

[SeanK]

Is this palm one of a kind for you or one of a set?

[timgwen]

One of a kind. I'm so upset.  He was very expensive.  I'm scared to replace because I don't want it to happen again. I don't have a clue what I did wrong, so chances of it happening again are probably high. 😢

[Las Palmas Norte]

14 hours ago, timgwen said:

One of a kind. I'm so upset.  He was very expensive.  I'm scared to replace because I don't want it to happen again. I don't have a clue what I did wrong, so chances of it happening again are probably high. 😢

I'd seek out a replacement palm that has a high probability of success for your region. We all have had losses in the palm world.

[timgwen]

That's why I bought the sylvester. 🥴

[SeanK]

13 minutes ago, timgwen said:

That's why I bought the sylvester. 🥴

I asked b/c maybe a Butiagrus cross is a safer bet.

I know the Sylvesters are very attractive, but I think CIDP is more cold hardy.

[timgwen]

I'll look into it. Thank you!!

Gwen

[JLM]

Mule Palms (Butiagrus) will look quite nice and almost has a coconut-like appearance. CIDP is a fatter version of what you had previously. Depends on what you're going for, both quite cold hardy.

[Las Palmas Norte]

4 hours ago, timgwen said:

I'll look into it. Thank you!!

Gwen

This thread is worth a look before you buy again. advice-needed-for-struggling-mule-palms

[SeanK]

49 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

This thread is worth a look before you buy again. advice-needed-for-struggling-mule-palms

I'm not sure the mule palm problem in that thread is specific to Butiagrus. If there's a fungal infection in the soil, it could affect a lot of different plants.

[Las Palmas Norte]

5 hours ago, SeanK said:

I'm not sure the mule palm problem in that thread is specific to Butiagrus. If there's a fungal infection in the soil, it could affect a lot of different plants.

Correct. What I got from any thread like this, and there are many, even palms suited to a region aren't an assurance.

[Chester B]

I'd replace with a Sabal species, they are so rugged in our climate.  Or you could a few smaller palms that are inexpensive, that you can get some experience growing.  Lowes and HomeDepot right now have nice smaller Butia (Pindo Palms), Sereneoa repens (Silver saw palmetto), Washingtonia robusta (Mexican fan palms) and Chamaerops humilis (Mediterranean Fan Palm) in stock.    Plus you get a one year warranty.   Avoid the Queen palms and Pygmy dates they won't survive long term.