Majestic Palms - How to encorage new fronds to open

[Ken A]

How can we help otherwise heathy palm fronds open? Mine seem to get long but take forever to open - perhaps 3-4 months after maximum length obtained. Temperature 80-90+ degrees F, good sunlight with western exposure.

[osideterry]

My Kentias are taking forever to open, with some spears "glued" together. I've been spraying the spears weekly with Neem Oil, and they seem to be opening as a result.

For the most part, I don't think your supposed to force the issue with them. The first fronds after winter are always goofy... pushing out open, spear doesn't want to open, etc. Mine are still affected by last year's freeze, and each trunk is one ugly leaf and a spear.

[Ken A]

How can we help otherwise heathy palm fronds open? Mine seem to get long but take forever to open - perhaps 3-4 months after maximum length obtained. Temperature 80-90+ degrees F, good sunlight with western exposure.

[Ken A]

Thanks for the information and suggestion... I will search & find our what "neem oil" is. Typically, I only get over winter spears like you described & they take until winter to open leaving an ugly trunk with just one or two pretty fronds until Sept-Oct. so they can look good in the garage over winter!

I am hoping to get some more feedback in addition to what you have offered as well!

Ken A

[osideterry]

I'm not sure where I got the idea to try a horticultural oil... possibly from this forum. Volk or any horticultural oil would work just as well. I'm positive my kentia spears opening is from the oil.

I'm sure others will share advice and experience. I wouldn't try manually opening the spears by hand.

[_Keith]

Neem oil is traditionally used as an insecticide/fungicide for which it works incredilble well. It should be available at any big box like Lowe's. That is where I got mine. But, I have to think that the main ingredient needed here is plain old water.

[bubba]

Terry,Off-topic but great new Avatar.You should copyright it.

[osideterry]

Bubba - I can't because it's an actual gas station sign. I drove by it one day and thought "hey, that's my new avatar!."

[epicure3]

I think you just let them open on their own.

[galveston1602]

Anytime I get a spear that wont open, I attribute it to "growing a larger ring" in the ringed trunk species. It seems like sometimes my palms will get a wild hair and grow a really long spear, and it just wont open, then when that same frond gets removed, the ring it forms is usually a little wider. (yes ive spent the time to test this, bored i suppose)