Copernicia alba twisting

[Rob Pittman]

Can someone please help.  I have Copernicia albas that are healthy but the new tops are twisting sideways at a 45 degree angle.  Is there a way to prevent/treat this?  Has anyone else run into this before.

Thanks

Rob

[BS Man about Palms]

Hmmm, one of Ralph Velezs palms was doing the same thing...

[Ken Johnson]

Mine do that too. Can't figure it out. I did read abot a virus that may cause this. Anyone else?

[Norm]

One of mine developed that same appearance after being damaged during a storm.  

It was some time before the strange growth pattern vanished, but it did, and that's the good news.  Any strong storms come your way in recent past?

[Rob Pittman]

No storms to speak of.

It must be nutritional.

I have heard that it could be caused by too much fertilization.

I have heard that Boran defficiency can cause it too.

Rob

[Alan_Tampa]

I laid off the heavy handed fertilizing (not completetly but stopped using it to kill the grass in a 2ft radius around my C. alba) It has straightened out a good deal after 2 months of kinder and gentler fertilization.  

It did grow like it stole something with all that overfeeding and since the leaning alba of Tampa did finally aim up once again, I think I may knock it sideways again, but a little less heavy handed this time, maybe three feet of dead grass with the same amount of fert but spread a little wider.  It was swimming for about a week recently but it does seem indifferent to the Sheck Exley it received.

Alan

[Rob Pittman]

One more bump to the top...anyone have a success story with eliminating this occurrence?

Thanks

Rob

[MattyB]

Rob, Dypsisdean has had some experience with fixing the leaning Howeas and more recently a Cyphosperma balanse that was starting to flop over on it's side.  He cuts off the emerging spears and takes the weight off of the growing point.  I'm sure it's a little more involved than that.  You should ask him though.

[Dypsisdean]

I have heard many theories as to why some palms do this. However, despite what the initial cause is, I have observed that once a palm gets to a certain point (configuration), it may be unable to straighten itself up.

I have used different "surgical" means, some drastic and some not so, with success. However, the palm looks like a freak for years until all the old fronds have been replaced.

I have seen a Howea grow sideways for 15 years until the guy that showed me his technique fixed it. I might also add that I have only tried this on pinnate palms.