Nannorrhops Ritchiana discoloration on leaves?

[smithgn]

I have a young Nannorhops that I bought from someone local that was grown from seed. When I bought it, it was nearly flawless and was uncharacteristically growing at a rapid pace. Ever since I've had it and of course left it outside in some upper 20's nights while also getting rainfall in the late summer. Since all this, it has formed some kind of brown discoloration of the fronds. Also, since I've had it, it has pushed out one new frond and of course the smaller spear which has this brown stuff on it that you can see below:

Closeup:

A picture of the 3 leaves shedding. Despite this being a rather fast nannorrhops, it's odd that a palm that grows this slow in a general sense is shedding this many leaves in such a short span of time.

Overall, it seems to be doing okay for the time being. But I'm wondering whether or not I should spray something on it? Copper fungicide, perhaps? Thank you all in advance!

[Bigfish]

Sure looks like a rust or a fungus. Dispose of the dead leaves and try to cut as many spots off the living ones, then spray with a copper fungicide. You'll probably have to treat that spear again when it opens up fully to make sure you get good coverage. You'll probably want to repot it also. Could have some contamination in the media as well. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will pipe up.

[Rafael]

Need to be planted as soon as possible.

[Phoenikakias]

Typical symptoms of damage due to cold and damp on DESERT PALMS (like Hyphaena or Medemia). It can be caused even by just overwatering the medium. Have you ever considered whether this plant is not a ritchiana but arabica? Latter is considerably more cold sensitive, grows considerably faster and behaves totally like a desert palm.

[Alicehunter2000]

Agree, N. richiana 'arabica' .... a nice one.....it doesn't want to be in a pot ..... they develop very long roots. Would treat as suggested above ........plant treat and protect in the ground. Don't overwater especially in cold weather....maybe how problem started.

Where did you get that nice specimen?

[Pete in Paradise Hills]

Agree, N. richiana 'arabica' .... a nice one.....it doesn't want to be in a pot ..... they develop very long roots. Would treat as suggested above ........plant treat and protect in the ground. Don't overwater especially in cold weather....maybe how problem started.

Where did you get that nice specimen?

definitely looks like an Arabica. I put my 1 gallon in the ground right away 3 months ago and it's thriving...

[NorthFlpalmguy]

fungus or rust, might be a little of both. It probably doesn't like the humid cold.

[Bigfish]

I think a common misconception with some people about cold hardy palms is that if you expose them to some freezing temps, you somehow will get them used to it. Palms don't acclimate, like a dicot will. Since your palm is still potted, there is zero reason to ever expose it to freezing temperatures, IMHO.

[smithgn]

Rafael- I plan on doing this once spring arrives.

Phoenikakias- I was told this was a Ritchiana. The guy I bought it from was very organized and labeled his palms (can't see it in the pictures), but I'm pretty sure it's a Ritchiana- but you never know. When I did first receive it in late summer, I did water it more than I probably should have. Since then, I've largely left it alone except for the occasional rain we've had. Lately, I've brought it in during the cold rains we've had.

Alice- Thank you. It could very well be an Arabica. I'm still learning about this species so thanks for the valuable information- I'll definitely plant it this spring.

I got it from a guy near Orangeburg, South Carolina. It's interesting because he was in the process of moving overseas and couldn't bring any of his palms with him. Fortunately for me, I was able to buy a bunch of palms for some really good prices and this was one of them. It was actually one of his favorites and he only sold it to me under the stipulation that I take care of it- Lol. So far, I'm failing in that department... I need to e-mail him and ask him for sure what this was.

Frank- It indeed is a common misconception... The only thing is, I'm all about my palms growing in natural, unfiltered sunlight and I like to leave them out to get a taste for not only the cold, but the change in seasons so it isn't a "shock" when I put them in ground and they experience their first winter. I don't know if this is a plausible practice I'm following through on, but it sort of makes sense to me. But, depending on the species, usually 25 degrees and under is when I bring in most, if not all of my potted palms from my backyard into my garage.

I'll definitely be spraying some copper fungicide on it.

Edited December 11, 2014 by smithgn

[Phoenikakias]

smithgn, have please no illusions, your plant IS AN ARABICA. A common nannorrhops is bulletproof that early in a winter like yours! Mine survived in pot totally unprotected without any hint of stress two consecutive days with strong, constant snowfall and temps raging from -2 to -3 C to 0.5 C only. The other nanno I was also keeping in pot and was arabica and identical to yours GOT FRIED.

[smithgn]

Wow! It's interesting how two variances of the same species can have drastic temperature tolerances. I really don't know what to do with this plant because surely it wouldn't survive a winter out on it's own.

[Phoenikakias]

Wow! It's interesting how two variances of the same species can have drastic temperature tolerances. I really don't know what to do with this plant because surely it wouldn't survive a winter out on it's own.

Bring it over to me next time you visit Greece. It will find itself in very good and caring hands

[smithgn]

Ha! That might be an option! I'd hate to see how it'd fare during the journey, but it'd do much better over in Hellas than here- that's for sure.

[Josh-O]

Its easy to tell them apart, ritchiana is green and arabica is silvery blue. Regardless, treat it with fungicide and get it in the ground ASAP.

[Phoenikakias]

Its easy to tell them apart, ritchiana is green and arabica is silvery blue. Regardless, treat it with fungicide and get it in the ground ASAP.

I wish it were that simple! Yet there are pretty siilvery forms of ritciana like the kashmir, let aside the climatic and soil conditions which contribute also to silvery color. Mine for example (the one which survived the above mentioned cold spell) started as glaucous and now suddenly is becoming silvery!

Maybe I am wrong, but I would not rely exclusively on color, moreover growth-speed and cold hardiness are far more crucial features.

[Moose]

Agree, N. richiana 'arabica' .... a nice one.....it doesn't want to be in a pot ..... they develop very long roots. Would treat as suggested above ........plant treat and protect in the ground. Don't overwater especially in cold weather....maybe how problem started.

Where did you get that nice specimen?

Agreed - long roots because of arid habitat conditions.

[PAPalmGrower]

On 12/12/2014, 1:56:37, Phoenikakias said:

I wish it were that simple! Yet there are pretty siilvery forms of ritciana like the kashmir, let aside the climatic and soil conditions which contribute also to silvery color. Mine for example (the one which survived the above mentioned cold spell) started as glaucous and now suddenly is becoming silvery!

Maybe I am wrong, but I would not rely exclusively on color, moreover growth-speed and cold hardiness are far more crucial features.

I know this is an old post @smithgn, but @Phoenikakias is completely right.  I have nine (9) Nannorrhops / Mazari palms of three varieties - Nannorrhops ritchieana (green leaf form from Pakistan and Afghanistan), Nannorrhops ritchieana var. 'Kashmir' (a silvery grey form from Kashmir that is more compact but also more cold and moisture tolerant), and a silver leaf variant of the green leaf ritchieana from Pakistan and Afghanistan, known as Nannorrhops ritchieana sp. 'Silver' (it's the one in my profile picture).

As they've mentioned above, there is also the faster growing Nannorrhops arabica / Nannorrhops ritchieana var. 'Arabica' (whichever way you're used to seeing it) that comes from Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.  The arabica form hates wet conditions in the winter months and cannot tolerate much cold, especially when young (I lost one at 26 F).  It is a powdery, silver/white blue when young, maturing to more of an olive green when older.  To confuse things further, there is a form of the Nannorrhops arabica called 'Iran Silver' which comes from the mountains much further inland in Iran.  This form of arabica is more cold tolerant than the forms growing nearer the coast, but still detests winter moisture.