Dypsis mahajanga

[Davidl]

Is this palm variegated or does it just have a nutritional problem ?

[Walter John]

I'm not sure, but whatever you do, don't fertilise it.

[ariscott]

Looking at the variegation, I think it is a variegated D. mahajanga. Nice one!!

Regards, Ari

[JD in the OC]

probably a deficiency. the top of the leaf rachis are pale yellow..

are the petioles striped at all on the adaxial surface?

[Davidl]

"Are the petioles striped at all on the adaxial surface?" It is how you see it on the whole palm. The brownish ones are from the cold weather we had a few weeks ago. Thanks

[BS Man about Palms]

Too close to call, but I think it could be.

[amazon exotics]

fertilize it, if it is a deficiency the fert will fix it, if it doesnt help it is probaly variegated. wal says don't fert, i disagree. i have never lost variegation from fert but it will let you know if the variegation is true.

[Davidl]

Amazon exotics thanks I will again soon. I fertilized it about a month ago and a few months before that. You are right of course I was thinking Wal was joking around.

[amazon exotics]

David, try milorganite. It's only 4% nitrogen.

[Davidl]

Sounds good thanks.

[Tala]

I don't know if your palm is var. or not, if it is the discoloration seems to be very uniformed, kinda like a high priced Rhapis. But I can tell you w/ 100% certainty do not put milorganite on your palm, or any other palm. It is made from sewage sludge and very often ties up certain micronutrients like manganese that very important to a healthy palm. I've witnessed mature palms pencil point and die out in a few yrs from this. Milorganite does not burn no matter hw heavy you apply it so its basic use is for plants that easily burn from any type of fert. (mondo grass, some bromeliads, etc.).

[amazon exotics]

tala, been using milorganite for years with no problem. I dont use it as a fert only a quick green up product. You still need to use fert. but mil helps green it up quickly. If your using it for fert its pointless because it has no elements except nitrogen. Do you have photos of palms it hurt. Did you only use mil & no fert on them?

[Tala]

Derek you can search UF ext. site for this, Dr. B published this back in early '90s, also seen it elsewhere. We've taken it for gospel since. I use milorganite, only on mondo or shady turf as a quick N feed, but rarely as the green up is negligible compared to using chelated iron or Mn. I never use it as a fert. for anything else ever. Plus sludge products contain some heavy metals that you do want building up in your soil. I guess for potted stuff you can always change out the mix but in ground palms the decline does not become apparent for several yrs; some palm families more prone to this than others but all Cocosoids can be effected. Once this happens you cannot correct it, affected palms die a slow death and none can be replanted there.

[Davidl]

Thanks to all that replied. Happy new year

[amazon exotics]

tala, even though I have never had a problem, UF knows more than I do and I'll take their word for it. I was turned on to it by some old farmers who used it on fruits and veggies because of no elements and only a little nitrogen.

[Tala]

old farmers often have sage advice, I've learned a few tricks from them meself, however in this instance time has passed them by. In my above comment I noticed a mistake: "Plus sludge products contain some heavy metals that you do want building up in your soil."

That should have read "do NOT want to build up" - criminies who wants soil laden w/ heavy metals?!? And thats what locks up the Mn., its just not correctable, obviously a development no one would wish for.