Striped Butia Leaflets

[JLM]

I've been noticing these yellow stripes appearing on the more recent fronds put out by my Butia. Nutrient deficiency? Possibly even a little variegation? I'm curious to know, so that way if its nutrient I can try to correct it. If its variegation, then that's pretty darn cool!

(I am aware of a mild magnesium deficiency affecting the oldest fronds, but the new growth up to this point has looked quite healthy.)

[happypalms]

Potassium deficiency magnesium your on the money, give your palm a good dose of chicken poo, mulch and feed it with a palm specific NPK fertiliser. And give it some extra water. 

[JLM]

19 hours ago, happypalms said:

Potassium deficiency magnesium your on the money, give your palm a good dose of chicken poo, mulch and feed it with a palm specific NPK fertiliser. And give it some extra water. 

If this palm has a potassium deficiency (quite possible in combination with magnesium), it would not look like this. Potassium deficiency starts at the tips of the oldest fronds and works its way inward. What is present here is random skinny yellow stripes in some leaflets of the newest fronds.

The palm has been fertilized this year, and is due for another dose which I will try to do on Sunday. I gave the palms Dr Earth organic palm fertilizer towards the end of last summer, which has a lower NPK than what I normally use, and I believe it has completely thrown everything off balance. Will never do that again haha

Heres some better pics of these leaflets:

[Merlyn]

I'd go with variegation, it doesn't look like a nutrient deficiency to me.  

[JLM]

4 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

I'd go with variegation, it doesn't look like a nutrient deficiency to me.  

What would cause this to show up so randomly? Random genetic mutation?

I cant imagine this will last forever, probably reverting back to fully green/silver fronds sooner rather than later. Unless it doesnt...