Why does this keep happening?

[MrTropical]

Hey everyone. I've had this Windmill since March, and over the past few days...this palm has taken a turn for the worst. The temperatures are not an issue (low 70s °F during the day, low 50s °F at night). Also, we have not received meaningful rainfall in nearly two weeks. I have provided supplemental water once during this time. This is the third Windmill in my collection this year to show signs of decline. All of my other palms are totally fine. What could be the issue? I'm located in coastal North Carolina. Any and all input is appreciated. 

[NC_Palms]

These palms are so susceptible to root/crown rot and dying at random. Make sure the spear hasn’t pulled yet. If it has, i would honestly trunk cut. Seems to be the best method in my experience with saving them. If it’s a root issue, I would repot and cut off any dead roots. And water sparingly. But typically when this happens the spear will pull and it seems to be more of an internal issue than a root issue.

Just my experience though. These palms can be a pain. I’ll see one that’s doing really well in my city and then the week later it’s dead after being in the ground for a decade.

 

 

[MrTropical]

28 minutes ago, NC_Palms said:

These palms are so susceptible to root/crown rot and dying at random. Make sure the spear hasn’t pulled yet. If it has, i would honestly trunk cut. Seems to be the best method in my experience with saving them. If it’s a root issue, I would repot and cut off any dead roots. And water sparingly. But typically when this happens the spear will pull and it seems to be more of an internal issue than a root issue.

Just my experience though. These palms can be a pain. I’ll see one that’s doing really well in my city and then the week later it’s dead after being in the ground for a decade.

 

 

For real. 

The spear hasn't pulled yet. Is it safe to trunk cut in late October? 

Also, I'll take a good look at the roots tomorrow. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Desiccation due to under watering most likely. Watering only once in a two week period isn’t enough for a potted Windmill palm. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Agree , it needs more water than just once in that amount of time , it is nowhere near enough. Even this time of year my palms get watered at least twice a week . Potted palms are checked , if the potting soil is dry more than an inch or so below the surface , they get a good watering. Trachycarpus F. are really easy palms to grow , even in pots . I gave my brother in law one and he kept it in a pot in Humboldt , California ( cold climate ) and it thrived for years . I think my sister still has it . In potted palms I am a bit more vigilant about watering and drainage . Water should flow out the bottom hole(s) of the pot when you water it . Small stones in the bottom of the pot before adding soil is a plus. Hopefully that palm will come back . Harry

[Jim in Los Altos]

42 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Agree , it needs more water than just once in that amount of time , it is nowhere near enough. Even this time of year my palms get watered at least twice a week . Potted palms are checked , if the potting soil is dry more than an inch or so below the surface , they get a good watering. Trachycarpus F. are really easy palms to grow , even in pots . I gave my brother in law one and he kept it in a pot in Humboldt , California ( cold climate ) and it thrived for years . I think my sister still has it . In potted palms I am a bit more vigilant about watering and drainage . Water should flow out the bottom hole(s) of the pot when you water it . Small stones in the bottom of the pot before adding soil is a plus. Hopefully that palm will come back . Harry

Humboldt, CA is an amazing mix of climates! Zones 7b all the way to zone 10b within the county depending on elevation and proximity to the coast. Either way, Trachycarpus should thrive. Any reason your brother doesn’t put the palm in the ground? 

[Mazat]

I agree with Jim, Harry, and NC_Palms, and I would also advise your brother to plant the palm tree in the ground or in a much larger pot and to water it more. The climate is good, and it should thrive with more water. 

Often seen here at the lake, but still a wonderful species. Best of luck to your brother.

[Harry’s Palms]

@Jim in Los Altos My brother in law has passed away . I told him , when I gave it to him , it would be fine in the ground  up there but he liked it in a pot ( about a 5 gallon size)on his deck overlooking a Redwood forest. It was his little slice of tropical I guess. It sat right next to his lounge chair in a clay pot . It always looked very healthy in the cool environment. Once he sent me a pic of it with snow all around . My sister now lives close to Santa Maria , an avid gardener and I’m pretty sure that little Trachy is doing fine. Harry

edit , they were in Fortuna , California , so a bit inland .

[MrTropical]

13 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Desiccation due to under watering most likely. Watering only once in a two week period isn’t enough for a potted Windmill palm. 

I’m not entirely convinced that underwatering is the culprit here. This happened to two of my smaller Windmills over the summer, and water was not a factor in either of their eventual deaths. And the rest of my potted palms are totally fine (Butia, Washingtonia, Sabal, Needle Palm, etc.) It is an odd situation. 

[Jonathan]

15 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Desiccation due to under watering most likely. Watering only once in a two week period isn’t enough for a potted Windmill palm. 

Agreed. Nowhere near enough while the plant is in active growth, in winter no probs, but otherwise a couple of times a week. 

Also, I've found that unless a rainfall event is reasonably heavy or prolonged the effect on potted plants is minimal, ie it's remarkable how little water makes its way into the pot in light rain.

Hopefully she can still recover.

[MrTropical]

3 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Agreed. Nowhere near enough while the plant is in active growth, in winter no probs, but otherwise a couple of times a week. 

Also, I've found that unless a rainfall event is reasonably heavy or prolonged the effect on potted plants is minimal, ie it's remarkable how little water makes its way into the pot in light rain.

Hopefully she can still recover.

Interesting. I watered 3x a week during the summer months, but thought it was safe to back off the water now that we're nearing November. I reckon I will step up the watering schedule during this transitional season.

Hoping for a recovery as well. It got a deep watering this morning. I'll be sure to water twice weekly during this dry period. 

I'm also hoping for a mild winter. We deserve one after last winter, lol. 

[Jonathan]

2 hours ago, MrTropical said:

Interesting. I watered 3x a week during the summer months, but thought it was safe to back off the water now that we're nearing November. I reckon I will step up the watering schedule during this transitional season.

Hoping for a recovery as well. It got a deep watering this morning. I'll be sure to water twice weekly during this dry period. 

I'm also hoping for a mild winter. We deserve one after last winter, lol. 

Yeah, I've made that mistake a few times, in autumn or early spring...think I'm a slow learner! 

Fingers crossed for the little Trachy.

[Mazat]

16 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

@Jim in Los Altos My brother in law has passed away . I told him , when I gave it to him , it would be fine in the ground  up there but he liked it in a pot ( about a 5 gallon size)on his deck overlooking a Redwood forest. It was his little slice of tropical I guess. It sat right next to his lounge chair in a clay pot . It always looked very healthy in the cool environment. Once he sent me a pic of it with snow all around . My sister now lives close to Santa Maria , an avid gardener and I’m pretty sure that little Trachy is doing fine. Harry

edit , they were in Fortuna , California , so a bit inland .

My condolences, Harry 🌻

[Hu Palmeras]

Mazat🌴🌴

[Mazat]

5 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Yeah, I've made that mistake a few times, in autumn or early spring...think I'm a slow learner! 

Fingers crossed for the little Trachy.

Perhaps you're being a little too hard on yourself, Jonathan. We would trust someone like you, who loves animals so much, with our plants anytime.

We spent three hours on Wednesday walking my brother-in-law's sheepdogs and thought of you 😃