Bismarckia new fronds issue

[Stelios]

I purchased 2 small Bismarckias from a local nursery around middle of April this year. I planted them in the ground very carefully not to damage the roots. First they opened a couple of normal new fronds. Now on one of them the last two fronds don't look the same. The previous frond has smaller leaves and now the last has even smaller. The second palm has also smaller leaves on the last frond and I am hoping the new spear will be more normal.

Anybody had seen this before? Will the palms be O.K?

Many thanks.

Below is the first palm

[Stelios]

Here is the photo of the second palm with some leaf burn in the middle of the last frond. Also with smaller leaves. I hope the new spear will be better.

[Kostas]

Are they watered plentifully and is the soil well draining? Do they get water in their crown or only the soil?

The last photo shows fungal damage or nutrient deficiency that occurred while this leaf was just a spear, it's not sunburn.

The photos overall show me not enough water or stress from root (or cold)damage. The last seems less likely judging by your location but potted plants may suffer cold damage to their roots as well, even before leaf damage occurs.

[Stelios]

The soil is very well draining and I water them every couple of days very good. They are planted in full sun and we had some days up to 40C this summer. I was very surprised that this happened in the summer especially when they opened normal fronds at the beginning. If it was in the winter I would understand is some kind of shock maybe from cold.

I remember when I bought them from the nursery the roots were not too exposed out of the pots but they were just grown a bit through the ground. The leaves were still a bit red color probably after growing outside in the winter. These were the best I could find there. Some other bigger ones had more roots growing in the ground and I didn't want to risk buying them.

Will they grow out of this or they are still in risk of drying?

[Kostas]

Keep watering well, keep water out of the crown and fertilize with a balanced, boron and micronutrient containing fertilizer. I think they will eventually be ok.

How deep is the root initiation zone? In this species, the normal depth would be around 20cm and this proves important in stability later on, but also helps with growth. If roots are exposed it might be stressing with the sun and heat

[Stelios]

Keep watering well, keep water out of the crown and fertilize with a balanced, boron and micronutrient containing fertilizer. I think they will eventually be ok.

How deep is the root initiation zone? In this species, the normal depth would be around 20cm and this proves important in stability later on, but also helps with growth. If roots are exposed it might be stressing with the sun and heat

They don't any water in the crown, only they in the soil but I will try to be more careful and give them some additional water and some fertilizer. I will have a look if there are any exposed roots. That might be too.

Many thanks Kostas! Hopefully I will update this post with some good news.

[Phoenikakias]

Rpw loves Bizzies, ok those plants are still small but the paysandisia is not picky at all when it comes to size of potential victims. I am not sure however whether it likes the Bizzie; but since it can attack the Brahea armata, why not also the Bismarckia...?

[Kostas]

You are welcome Stelios! I wish you success and fast recovery to your Bismarckias!!!

I don't think any of the damage seen is from borers thankfully. In Florida, Bismarckia are the second most vulnerable species to Rhynchophorus cruentatus after Phoenix canariensis. I was amazed to see photos of neglected Bismarckia doing well in Spain, let's hope R. ferruginous allows Bismarckia to grow here unprotected as well. That may eventually allow for more widespread planting(at some point in the not so near future....since they don't even know the existence of this species here...)

[Phoenikakias]

Alas, I have seen two days ago an rpw strolling pn my Bizzie, same aftetnoon I sprayed it with nems!

[Stelios]

I hope is not from a borer either. Bismarckia is one of my favorite palm genus. Lately I saw good size palms in different parts of the island and they seem to grow nice and easy here.

[Pal Meir]

I guess the roots were heavily damaged, dried out, or don’t accept the new soil/environment. I observed similar phenomena with other palms of mine after transplanting/repotting into a non-adequate soil.

[Stelios]

I guess the roots were heavily damaged, dried out, or don’t accept the new soil/environment. I observed similar phenomena with other palms of mine after transplanting/repotting into a non-adequate soil.

I also start to believe this possibility. The soil in my yard is very well draining mixed with sand, clay and small stones for at least 12 feet deep. Maybe really the transplanting in the ground, and planting it directly in the full when it was growing in the pot at the nursery for some time gave them this shock. Even though I am watering them good every couple of days, this August we had some strong heat wave with temps at 40C for a couple of days and a few days 36-39C.

I guess I just have to wait and see what happens. If they don't make it I will replace them with 2 more!!