Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
PalmTalk

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
SUPER IMPORTANT - MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PALMTALK - PLEASE READ

WELCOME GUEST

It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

guest Renda04.jpg

Rhopalostylis Sapida

Tropical Toni
Tropical Toni
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

Featured Replies

Just planted this Rhopalostylis Sapida palm (15 g) in ground today. 
 

yellowing on fronds - is this an indicator of nutritional deficiency ? What can I do to fix ? Sulpomag ? 
 

also not sure what this dark area is - I can scratch it off. Is this normal for this species ?

IMG_4576.jpeg

IMG_4577.jpeg

Had it been living indoors until you planted it out? I could be wrong, but it looks like a bad case of Red Spider Mite.

mites love this thing

  • Author
8 hours ago, Josh76 said:

Had it been living indoors until you planted it out? I could be wrong, but it looks like a bad case of Red Spider Mite.

nope it's been outdoor.

The yellow splotches in the first image are severe potassium (K) deficiency.   This is the most common nutrient deficiency, as K is water soluble and is leached out by irrigation.  Use a broad spectrum fertilizer, ideally with the macronutrient ratio of 3-1-3 for the N-P-K.  You can also apply an organic called greensand (gluaconite) for slow release.  This has the advantage of being very safe, with no risk of overdose.  The affected foliage will not recover, but the new growth will eventually be free of this problem.

San Francisco, California

    •
    • Like 4
    • Upvote 2

    Darold's suggestion of greensand is what fixed it for me. I haven't had this on a Rhopie, but a Howea belmoreana and a Chambeyronia hookeri were badly affected and both look much better a year later. Buy a good sized bag, it goes pretty fast. You will have better results if you can work it into the topsoil (I have heavy mulch and it worked eventually).

    SF, CA

    USDA zone 10a / Sunset zone 17

    Summer avg. high 67°F / 20°C (SF record high 106°F / 41°C)

    Winter avg. low 43°F / 7°C (SF record low 27°F / -3°C)

    480’ / 146m elevation, 2.8 miles / 4.5km from ocean

    • Like 2
    • Upvote 1
    • Author
    3 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

    The yellow splotches in the first image are severe potassium (K) deficiency.   This is the most common nutrient deficiency, as K is water soluble and is leached out by irrigation.  Use a broad spectrum fertilizer, ideally with the macronutrient ratio of 3-1-3 for the N-P-K.  You can also apply an organic called greensand (gluaconite) for slow release.  This has the advantage of being very safe, with no risk of overdose.  The affected foliage will not recover, but the new growth will eventually be free of this problem.

    Would palmgain also work ? I have a bag of that, but I just planted this palm about 3 days ago. I read to wait until the palm is more established on fertilizing. 

    Palmgain is an excellent product.  Frequent light applications of fertilizer are better than infrequent, heavy doses.

    https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP273

     

    San Francisco, California

    •
    • Like 3
    On 10/11/2025 at 6:25 AM, Darold Petty said:

    Palmgain is an excellent product.  Frequent light applications of fertilizer are better than infrequent, heavy doses.

    https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP273

     

    Great article Darold, thanks for posting.

    South Arm, Tasmania, Australia - 42° South

    Mild oceanic climate, with coastal exposure.

     

    Summer: 12°C (53°F) average min, to 21°C (70°F) average daily max. Up to 40°C (104°F max) rarely.

     

    Winter: 6°C (43°F) average min, to 13°C (55°F) average daily max. Down to 0°C (32°F) occasionally, some light frost.

    • Like 1

    Create an account or sign in to comment
    Go to topic listing

    Account

    Navigation

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.