i’ve had this palm in the ground for around a year. it’s been fine up until last night when noticed the top 5 fronds were folded. i tested the ph and it read 7, the spear is intact fully, and the trunk is solid all around. we’ve had quite a bit of rain here but nothing we haven’t seen before. it’s still quite warm so it’s not like it’s staying wet (to my knowledge). i planted it on a mound too because this area has issues with drainage sometimes. it’s on a southeast facing wall. i just want to know what the problem could be and what i can do to fix it.

Dig down in the soil six inches deep or so, about 12 inches away from the trunk and see if the soil is chronically wet or dry. Observe whether the roots look a healthy, white solid color or if they’re mushy and darker black or dark gray, which is bad. Also check and make sure you didn’t create a bathtub effect by putting in potting soil or some sort of loose soil when you dug the hole initially.

Trachycarpus fortunei

Windmill Palm Tree MEGA Guide!

https://youtu.be/cOOhgmWnqRA

1 hour ago, Allen said:

Dig down in the soil about 12 inches away from the trunk and see if the soil is chronically wet or dry. Observe whether the roots look a healthy, white solid color or if they’re mushy and darker black or dark gray, which is bad. Also check and make sure you didn’t create a bathtub effect by putting in potting soil or some sort of loose soil when you dug the hole initially.

Trachycarpus fortunei

Windmill Palm Tree MEGA Guide!

https://youtu.be/cOOhgmWnqRA

what’s the plan if that is the case and is it a death sentence? however, to my knowledge i didn’t use any other soil besides the native soil

No I think it will be ok if you just used mainly native soil, check whether it is staying too dry

i’d be shocked if it’s too dry. we’ve had so much rain! i’ll check when im home and ill lyk

44 minutes ago, Allen said:

No I think it will be ok if you just used mainly native soil, check whether it is staying too dry

i checked and its wet but not soaking wet. it did just rain about half an inch 2 days ago

23 hours ago, Allen said:

No I think it will be ok if you just used mainly native soil, check whether it is staying too dry

Just a question out of curiosity but what is the problem with palm, cactus, citrus soil ? All my palms were planted half with loamy native soil, half with palm, cactus , citrus soil and I can say I have excellent drainage.

3 hours ago, MarcusH said:

Just a question out of curiosity but what is the problem with palm, cactus, citrus soil ? All my palms were planted half with loamy native soil, half with palm, cactus , citrus soil and I can say I have excellent drainage.

Palms planted where you dig a hole and put in any type of potting soil creates two different densities of soil, especially if you have a clay it will result in the hole staying wet with the water staying in the looser soil, creating a area around the palm that can cause rotted roots or problems. Non amended holes will drain equally. This mainly applies in soil like clay. This effect is called the bathtub effect and is a problem for weaker newly planted plants that can’t take sitting in water

Trachys seem to close up their fronds for too reasons; 1) Drought - it doesn't sound like this is your culprit, you usually get a lot of yellowing on older fronds in advance of the newer ones closing up. 2) Something going on with the roots. Established Trachys can take clay and seasonal flooding, but a newer palm my struggle.

Here in Houston, if I see a Trachy in summer do this, its usually results in death. But I have pretty extreme heat and humidity which they really don't like. Whether they are in a pot or in the ground I have had this issue. One day they're fine, the next they look weird and usually within a week they're gone. I have to think its fungal.

1 hour ago, Chester B said:

Trachys seem to close up their fronds for too reasons; 1) Drought - it doesn't sound like this is your culprit, you usually get a lot of yellowing on older fronds in advance of the newer ones closing up. 2) Something going on with the roots. Established Trachys can take clay and seasonal flooding, but a newer palm my struggle.

Here in Houston, if I see a Trachy in summer do this, its usually results in death. But I have pretty extreme heat and humidity which they really don't like. Whether they are in a pot or in the ground I have had this issue. One day they're fine, the next they look weird and usually within a week they're gone. I have to think its fungal.

i realized two days ago i overfertilized it (or got the granules too close to the trunk). it hasn’t gotten any worse since i posted this. the fronds open somewhat at night then close in the day. i think this bc i fertilized around a week and a half ago and its only the newer tender fronds folding. this leads me to believe it’s that. i’ve soaked it two days so far for like ~30 mins on a slow trickle. i’m hoping that will work. but i think it not getting any worse is a good sign

On 8/29/2026 at 5:22 PM, Allen said:

No I think it will be ok if you just used mainly native soil, check whether it is staying too dry

i realized i overfertilized it. it hasn’t gotten any worse since i posted this luckily. i’ve been soaking it the past two days for around 30 mins on a slow trickle. i’m hoping it pulls thru