What causes trunk cracks/splitting?

[OverGrown]

What causes this? The tree is doing fine. Trunk has looked good until the last couple months. It is possible it was getting more frequent watering b/c of nearby potted plants.

[Tyrone]

That's the cause. More frequent waterings. Nothing to be concerned about.

Best regards

Tyrone

[peachy]

I have a few palms here with enormous, deep cracks in them. I was told that rapid growth is the cause, they get a spurt on due to something and grow too quickly and split. It might not look all that nice but it doesnt seem to harm them in any way. One of mine has had big splits for at least 7 years with no ill effects.

Peachy

[DoomsDave]

Sometimes splits can be very disconcerting, but they're usually nothing to worry about.

They are particulary comon where a palm is grown in a more spartan environment, i.e., one in which the palm has limited access to resources, particularly where a palm is kept in a pot long after it should have been planted in the ground.

Many times, splits, divots and cracks will fill in over time.

[Miccles]

I have two palms that exhibit this cracking in the trunks.... both are Archontophoenix.

The first is a triple Bangalow, where it has occured fin one of the trunks - and I agree, from too much sudden watering.

[Miccles]

But the 2nd one (on an "AlBang" - Bangalow/Alex cross) happened after our February heatwave, and hopefully the picture shows the effect is much more dramatic that just cracking in the trunk.

The heat deformed the palm so much that it created a flat "face" along the trunk, as well as cracking. It is sort of like the palm semi caved in.

The other trunk on this double is fine, and both are back to producing normal leaves. Yet I worry that this damaged palm will have future problems, and besides that - it looks ugly. I am thinking of cutting the damaged one off and planting a Syagrus Sancona there instead !

Regards

Michael.

[Tyrone]

Plant a bromeliad in the hole.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Zeeth]

Weird

I agree, if you don't like the looks, an orchid or bromeliad in the hole will patch things up.

[Edgar Bodero]

HELP!   I live in a close community in Ecuador, there are 7 giant Royal Palm trees growing tall, over 80 feet, they are green, beautiful, majestic and planted on a common park area, away from nearby homes, now, the administration has observed some vertical cracks in them, no more than an inch wide, and the president of the association has decided to cut them down, citing concern about their structural integrity.   I’m arguing that those cracks are insignificant and do not pose any danger of falling, it would be an environmental disaster to cut perfectly healthy, beautiful trees for something that’s natural in that type of tree.   Who is correct?   Please advice and give me some data in order for me to try and save these trees.  I thank you!

Edited June 29, 2022 by Edgar Bodero

[Tracy]

4 hours ago, Edgar Bodero said:

I’m arguing that those cracks are insignificant and do not pose any danger of falling, it would be an environmental disaster to cut perfectly healthy, beautiful trees for something that’s natural in that type of tree.   Who is correct?   Please advice and give me some data in order for me to try and save these trees.  I thank you!

 

You are correct, that the cracks are almost certainly just cosmetic blemishes and will cause no structural deficiency in the palms posted.  Unfortunately, I know of no "studies" of this, it is more just anecdotal experience from growing palms for decades.  I too have some large Archontophoenix cunninghamiana which are approaching 30 years old now that have had cracks in them for the last two decades with no signs of weakness.  I also have smaller younger ones like the one below that is about 14 years from planting, that started cracking several years ago, with no ill effects.  My Cattelya granulosa orchid appreciates the cracks as it provides a little added protection for it's roots.  It is a symbiotic relationship between the two plants as opposed to a parasitic relationship.

Anyone else have anything more scientific that they can share on these types of cracks in palms and their survival/structural integrity and not just anecdotal information like I shared?

[James B]

All I can speak to is what I’ve seen in my yard. Two different causes I’ve seen: one is when a sprinkler directly hits a palms trunk it causes multiple fissure like cracks. The other is when a palm suddenly receives a large uptick in water and has no choice but to expand too quickly and cracks as a result. This happened to me with some of my Archontophoenix after heavy winter rains. The palm just gets overloaded.

[Billeb]

38 minutes ago, James B said:

All I can speak to is what I’ve seen in my yard. Two different causes I’ve seen: one is when a sprinkler directly hits a palms trunk it causes multiple fissure like cracks. The other is when a palm suddenly receives a large uptick in water and has no choice but to expand too quickly and cracks as a result. This happened to me with some of my Archontophoenix after heavy winter rains. The palm just gets overloaded.

This is what I’ve heard. I have questioned owners multiple times and the stories are very similar. Bought the tree as a trunking specimen and threw it in the ground with subsequent frequent watering. After a few years…..vertical cracking. They also confirmed what @Tracy stated, no I’ll effects your the tree or detriment noted. 

Unfortunately @Edgar Bodero, the people making the decisions likely know very little about the trees, are only concerned with litigious reprocussions and often make their decisions solely on “what if” fears. I hope they keep them but fear they will not. 
 

-dale

[Linton]

On 6/29/2022 at 12:28 PM, Edgar Bodero said:

HELP!   I live in a close community in Ecuador, there are 7 giant Royal Palm trees growing tall, over 80 feet, they are green, beautiful, majestic and planted on a common park area, away from nearby homes, now, the administration has observed some vertical cracks in them, no more than an inch wide, and the president of the association has decided to cut them down, citing concern about their structural integrity.   I’m arguing that those cracks are insignificant and do not pose any danger of falling, it would be an environmental disaster to cut perfectly healthy, beautiful trees for something that’s natural in that type of tree.   Who is correct?   Please advice and give me some data in order for me to try and save these trees.  I thank you!

I have been working with arborescent palms over a decade now and this is quite common; most times not posing a threat.