Worried/ticked off about new Everglades palm

[Yunder Wækraus]

I bought a nice-sized Everglades palm clump earlier in the month. To be honest, I didn't inspect it too carefully. I was so excited to be getting some palms that I just assumed that the plant was sold to me in good faith as a healthy plant. I'm not so sure that's the case, but I was hoping for some second opinions from some of you before I assume that the nurseryman sold me a dud.

Ok, so here's the issue: when the plant was delivered, I noticed that a large number of its trunks had been cut (without obvious skill) close to the base of the plant. I just assumed that they had been cut off in order to keep the plant a manageable size for future sale. The plant as it was sold to me had only two larger trunks, both about 6' tall, and they framed by front door nicely. I inspected one of these two trunks yesterday, and I found that the central spear, which had begun to open, was completely dead. Dry, brown, dead :-( I pulled on it, and it just came out like dry paper. I suppose that it could have died after being moved to my home, but I suspect that it was already dead when I bought the plant (and it is my fault that I didn't check more closely).

My questions: (1) What should I do with the trunk with a dead spear? The existing fronds are still green. I'm familiar with cold damage in palms (I had to cut down pretty far on a king palm in CA once to get past the rotted spear from a freeze), but there's no way that this is the result of cold damage. (2) Should I assume that the large number of stumps on the clump are from similar problems in the past? In other words, did this guy sell me a sickly clump of Everglades palms, one which he's been cutting back each time a trunk begins to die of whatever awful malady afflicts the thing?

I've attached photos. If you think I've been given a raw deal, do let me know. I don't want to assume the worst, though.

[quaman58]

It's hard to get a good idea of the overall plant based on the pictures. Having said that, I had a couple of the stems on mine die off shortly after planting it. But as long as there is no disease/ pest hiding in the base of the palm, it will come back nicely. Out here they take a while to become established, I don't think there's enough heat. Anyway, other than the palm ending up a bit less "full" than you were hoping for, it should be fine.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Ok. So you don't think it's weird that half of the trunks were cut off in the past? I just wonder whether there's some sort of well-known disease or fungus that attacks this species. Thanks for the reply.

[DoomsDave]

Alex:

As long as the palm is well-rooted and firm in the ground, you should be all right.

Sometimes trunks get removed in multi trunkers for a number of reasons, especially when the plant's been in the pot for a long time.

Acelleraphe are pretty tough. Make sure it gets plenty of water. I killed one by not watering it enough.

Keep us apprized of your progress!

[quaman58]

Alex,

I agree with Dave.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Thanks. I guess I'll try not to worry. Do you think the trunk with dead spear is dead? Should I cut into it?

[Pal Meir]

Water it and water it and let it never dry! And wait with cutting …

[NatureGirl]

It looks like you need the expert opinion/advise of Ken Johnson!

[_Keith]

Talk to your vendor about it and put them on notice now, not later. Photograph and document in detail. Give them a chance to do something about now. The longer you go, the less willing anyone will be to do anything about it.

[DoomsDave]

Kieth's advise is sound from the legal perspective!

[Alicehunter2000]

Sounds like past cold damage regarding the old cut trunks.....maybe a bit of thinning as well from the grower. Could be the problem with the spear pull as well. I would Daconil or peroxide down the hole. Inspect for pests....my feeling is once its in the ground it will do fine....they are native for a reason. Soon you will have more trunks than you want.

If you dont notice new spear in a couple of months....you can always operate then.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Thanks. I just checked the smaller trunks more closely and found another dead spear. It was in the ground (in a container in the ground) with thick canopy overhead. The tall royals in the nursery have no cold damage, so I really don't think this Everglades palm suffered cold damage.

[Dave-Vero]

Unless it was grown well to the north, there shouldn't be any signs of cold damage. Mine put up with 26º circa 2010, no problem.

It does look as though the clump was abused. Assuming it survives, it'll take longer to get a nice look than you would have expected.

I've very sparingly cut young stems from a huge clump to keep it off a restroom and a sidewalk--if the budge were better, it would make sense to move the sidewalk and building and let the clump expand.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Having experienced similar, i think the plant got too dry. They simply flounder in dry conditions. In situ, they can be inundated at times. Their drought tolerance is minimal at transplant. Keep it super wet while it gets re-established. Then be patient. If you are in sand, you will probably need irrigation...and keep it well mulched.

[NorthFlpalmguy]

Having experienced similar, i think the plant got too dry. They simply flounder in dry conditions. In situ, they can be inundated at times. Their drought tolerance is minimal at transplant. Keep it super wet while it gets re-established. Then be patient. If you are in sand, you will probably need irrigation...and keep it well mulched.

x2 They're use to being wet all the time. The fronds on them are more sensitive than on other palms as well from what I have seen.

[_Keith]

I don't want to sound like a broken drum, but if you intend on possibly asking for restitution if it dies, then I would involve the vendor in asking about what to do in helping this palm along. If you take a course of action without talking to them, that they do not agree with, they may very well come back and say it was you who killed it.

Now, if is a done deal regardless of outcome (death) and you are never going back for adjustment, full replacement or discount on replacement, then just do whatever you want. I learned this the hard way.

[Dave-Vero]

I think that, once established, Acoelorrhaphe isn't too fussy about water. Getting established would be a different matter.

Could you use a happy little clumping Ptychosperma elegans or Ptychosperma sp. with red fruit (grower isn't quite sure)? It was intended for a spot that went to a Lepidozamia cycad, and also got shoved aside by a Chuniophoenix.