Bangalow - dying or just sunburnt? (Qld, Aus)

[lafifille]

Hi all! N00b question, but I'm worried about my new bangalow. Planted it 4 weeks ago and it's not looking good. It was grown in a nursery near here (Central Qld) so I wouldn't expect it to be too shocked, although it's been a little warmer and sunnier than usual so could be sunburnt? Grass/clover/weeds keep cropping up around it quite prolifically so I don't think the soil quality is the issue...

I've been hitting it with a bit more seasol and powerfeed than I usually would in a panic but worried that's making it worse? Would be very grateful for any advice - sorry in advance for so many photos!

 

[Harry’s Palms]

It is definitely not happy . Nurseries sell shade grown examples sometimes so they look larger than sun grown palms . If that’s the case , this would be a normal reaction to being planted out at that size . If you could provide a bit of shade for it , that would help. It can come around with lots of water . They really seem to like a drink . I wouldn’t fertilize it much right now . I have never fertilized mine . It takes a while for them to acclimate to their position in the garden . If any roots were disturbed too much , it can take months.  Harry

[Tyrone]

It’s a shade grown plant that’s received too much sun. Not a problem. Keep it wet and watch it get used to the sun and in a few years it will look so healthy and robust it will be unrecognisable. Water and food is what it needs. Mostly water. They can’t get enough of the stuff in your climate. 

[Merlyn]

@lafifille welcome to PalmTalk!  As mentioned above, it's probably shade grown and getting sunburnt.  The leaflets in the browned photo look like they are a lot further apart than normal.  That happens when the fronds stretch out due to low light.  When you take a palm from shade to sun it'll burn while it acclimates.  A reddish-brown color on the leaflets is a sure sign of sunburn, though color can vary.  

[lafifille]

Thank you everyone for the advice and warm welcome! This is quite reassuring - it's in partial shade from a much larger tree above, but it still gets several hours a day where more than 50% of its surface area is in sunlight. I'll give it a bit more cover until it stops deteriorating. 

Luckily going into wet season it should be ok for water - it's taken a few bucketings recently - but I'll make sure to keep up supplemental watering on days it doesn't rain. I was a bit worried I was overwatering it because of the white ring on its base. I'm also a bit concerned about the small black dots - I know Arecas often have them, but I think this may be something different and my Foxtail and Cascade (both thriving in their south-facing front garden spots) don't have them even though they're from the same nursery 🤔

[peachy]

Qld weather has been so off kilter lately. It got hot way too early, no humidity either.  Just give your little palm a good drink every day, remember they live on creek banks and swampy ground in nature.  A weak mix of seaweed and power feed, with  a touch of potash every couple of weeks until it gets bigger and can take the full dosage. They can sulk for a while but eventually come good.  Mine have just been bashed around by 2 lots of big hail but they are such a tough species I know they will come back quickly.

Peachy

[Merlyn]

@lafifille the small black dots look like "tomentum," which is a normal part of the palm.  It's basically small waxy hairs that keep the new spear from getting stuck while it is growing.  Most palms have them, some are more obvious than others.  

In zooming in on the photos I see some small translucent dots and a couple of splotchy white areas.  It could be an insect biting it...or did bite it.  I'd check for spider mites or mealybugs.  If they are present, killing them off will definitely help it grow in better.

[happypalms]

Your palm is sulking. Often a palm will sulk when planted in the ground, after having a nice greenhouse and plenty of water in the container, it hits the ground and basically sulks missing the good old days. Then it realises life isn’t so bad after all being cooped up in the container, it has freedom to grow and flower!