Please help before I lose this Palm

[New to Palms]

My palm is going down hill in a hurry. If you have any suggestions please post them. I had an older thread going and need to see if I can get any additional ideas. I moved the palm to a large window that faces south. The Palm is not in direct sun light, but has light for the majority of the day. The leaves seem to dry out pretty quick. I have no idea how often and how much I should be watering.  I've attached updated pics. Please see my previous thread. Thank you in advance!

 

 

[Josh-O]

Bob, this species makes a pretty good indoor plant most of the times. Given your geographical location you have hot humid summers and cold dry winters. With this palm being indoors it can not take hot dry air.  Adonidia merrillii need to be kept in humid conditions and cant tolerate temps below 45 for extend periods of time.

 

On the other hand it could be a fungus issue as well? 

these are just my wild guesses  

[New to Palms]

It wasn't looking great, but seems to be getting worse after I repotted. Our house is around 68* during the winter months. I've tried to keep it away from HVAC vents. Someone recommended using a plastic bag to keep it moist. I have yet to determine how to do that. 

[Pando]

How much light is it getting?

[Hammer]

When you repotted it, did you just pot it up or did you shake away all the soil from the roots?  If the latter, did the roots look healthy? 

Do you use tap water for watering?  If so, try switching to RO or distilled. That may help...or at least help rule out a sensitivity to something in your water system.

In general you are likely to experience some transplant shock after messing with the roots. 

If not already, try to get a humidifier for the room it is in.  

At the end of the day, it is difficult to say exactly what is happening.  But if you can start to eliminate some potential problem sources perhaps you can get it narrowed down and solved. 

[Hammer]

21 minutes ago, New to Palms said:

It wasn't looking great, but seems to be getting worse after I repotted. Our house is around 68* during the winter months. I've tried to keep it away from HVAC vents. Someone recommended using a plastic bag to keep it moist. I have yet to determine how to do that. 

Re. The plastic bag...if you can create a tent of some kind with clear plastic.  That is the idea, creating a mini-greenhouse.  But be careful not to seal it all up and eliminate air flow. That will create other problems you don't want.

[New to Palms]

51 minutes ago, Pando said:

How much light is it getting?

It is getting light most of the day, but not in direct sun.

41 minutes ago, Hammer said:

When you repotted it, did you just pot it up or did you shake away all the soil from the roots?  If the latter, did the roots look healthy? 

Do you use tap water for watering?  If so, try switching to RO or distilled. That may help...or at least help rule out a sensitivity to something in your water system.

In general you are likely to experience some transplant shock after messing with the roots. 

If not already, try to get a humidifier for the room it is in.  

At the end of the day, it is difficult to say exactly what is happening.  But if you can start to eliminate some potential problem sources perhaps you can get it narrowed down and solved. 

It didn't take much for the dirt to fall off of the roots when I repotted. I have been using distilled water for quite a while. I hadn't thought of the humidifier. I'm concerned I didn't water enough after reporting or not currently watering enough. I have no idea how much/often I should be watering.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2015 by New to Palms

[Phoenikakias]

Have you checked it of a possible infection through scales or red spider mites? If an infection is present you should feel sticky the abaxial side (the underside) of the still green leaflets  

[edric]

Hi Bob, your bulb is shot, by a n EYE Hortilux  super HPS, it wins the reviews hands down, bulbs last 8-10 months, and then must be discarded, Ed

[New to Palms]

5 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Have you checked it of a possible infection through scales or red spider mites? If an infection is present you should feel sticky the abaxial side (the underside) of the still green leaflets  

I checked this morning, no sticky feel. I did see some type of spider web just above the surface. Is there a way to see if spider mites are present?

3 hours ago, edric said:

Hi Bob, your bulb is shot, by a n EYE Hortilux  super HPS, it wins the reviews hands down, bulbs last 8-10 months, and then must be discarded, Ed

I'm only using natural sunlight. I have been wondering if I should consider an alternative, maybe a grow tent.

[Phoenikakias]

Get a MAGNIFYING lens and look for tiny red spiders. Also scales are very sneaky, under certain circumstances they can be almost invisible, while they are there. They stick  so tightly on leaf's surface, that you may not observe them initially, especially if you are longsighted.

[The Silent Seed]

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving - I grow everything inside in winter including about 45 species of palms, so I can probably offer some more insight that might be more directly related to your growing conditions (although my plants are in a plant house, not in a dry house.) The dry air definitely is hurting it, but I am interested to hear about your watering habits. I have the best success keeping them moist but not wet at all times. When the soil gets drier, the leaves start to brown from the edges inwards. When a palm gets too much water, it basically turns to mush and flops over dead. I'm thinking it's not getting enough water, along with a lack of humidity, but here's another possible cause: 

What kind of soil are you using? If you are using MiracleGro, I have read so many cases where there are "bugs" (to put it in simplest terms) in that stuff that munches away on plants' roots. (I use Pro Mix.) 

The lower light conditions may be a factor, but isn't going to cause the palm to look this bad.

[Hammer]

I tend to agree with Santoury.  More water, humidity and light.  And perhaps take a cloth soaked with soapy warm water, wring it out and wipe both sides of each leaf.  Will help fight spider mites if you have them.

Although I can't speak to the Miracle-Gro soil concern.  First I have heard of it.  Never use it myself.

 

[quaman58]

l'm not sure it's terribly relavant, but i think what you have there is a Veitchia sp., possibly joannis as opposed to Adonidia. Vietchias seem a bit trickier indoors for what it's worth.

[New to Palms]

8 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

 

 

6 hours ago, edric said:

 

Sorry, I hit something and getting multiple quotes.

I planted the seed I found in Florida about 5 years ago in Miracle Grow Palm/Cactus mix. I have repotted a couple of times using the same type of Miracle Grow mix. This last time I mixed it with Perilite. I added a few more drain holes as I found that the water was not able to drain. I have no idea how much water I should be giving it. I typically give it about 10 oz every 10 days. I do try to spray it every couple of days trying not to let it drip down into the crown. 

I'll check for spider mites. I know I've seen them on a couple of large rocks that is on the other side of the window where I have been keeping the palm. 

Let me know what you think?

[_Keith]

Pesticide, root stimulater, bottom heat, and pray.  

[Hammer]

1 minute ago, _Keith said:

Pesticide, root stimulater, bottom heat, and pray.  

Quaman is right.  Not an Adonidia.  I think that got covered in the original thread.

Keith, wouldn't you think upping the water?  Every 10 days seems pretty infrequent.  Especially if it is in soil that drains very well.

 

[_Keith]

1 minute ago, Hammer said:

Quaman is right.  Not an Adonidia.  I think that got covered in the original thread.

Keith, wouldn't you think upping the water?  Every 10 days seems pretty infrequent.  Especially if it is in soil that drains very well.

 

At first, I would have guessed too much water, but after seeing that dry potting soil, I believe more.   But having seen  far more plants die from too much rather than too little water, I was hesitant on that one.    Got to run for Thanksgiving Dinner.  More later.

[New to Palms]

40 minutes ago, _Keith said:

Pesticide, root stimulater, bottom heat, and pray.  

Just tell me what brand and where is a good source

[Pal Meir]

11 hours ago, New to Palms said:

It is getting light most of the day, but not in direct sun.

It didn't take much for the dirt to fall off of the roots when I repotted. I have been using distilled water for quite a while. I hadn't thought of the humidifier. I'm concerned I didn't water enough after reporting or not currently watering enough. I have no idea how much/often I should be watering.

I have grown hundreds of palms indoors (i.e. in "normal" living rooms) since almost 60 years, but I have never seen a (living) palm with roots dry as these.

[PalmatierMeg]

My first thoughts: your house is too dry and temp too low: 68F or lower (at night) for months on end will cause a tropical palm like this to decline and ultimately die. Veitchias need daytime temps above 80F and nights above 50F. Even though my average Jan. temps are 55/75, those don't last but a few weeks and bounce up and down so my tropical palms aren't subjected to months of mediocre temps that grind them down. And they are outdoors so they receive the benefit of warmth from the sun. While you don't want your potting mix soggy you don't want it dry as dust. Also, get a large tray, fill it with rocks, then water. Set your pot on the rocks but not in the water. Try to set up a loose "tent" around the palm to hold in humidity but don't seal the palm up. Or set up a humidifier to help raise humidity. Also, you need to give it a bit more heat during the day - to  80+ for at least a few hours. I'm thinking one of those portable oil heaters might work and will be safer. Or maybe a heat lamp. Grow lights wouldn't hurt either. Spider mites are a distinct possibility. I just had a ferocious attack by them on one of my dwarf A. catechus. A generous and helpful palm friend (Palmaceae) came by to treat my container palms with the miticide Avid and probably saved them. Avid is toxic and quite expensive so I don't advocate buying it for one palm. So gently sponge its leaves with soapy (not detergent) water. I've started using castile soap (made from coconut oil), water and a soft cloth. This method also works with mealy bugs and scale. Check leaves every few days for re-infestation.

[Pal Meir]

You wrote: "If you have any suggestions please post them.“ Here are mine. I don’t know if the palm is already dead. But what I would do if I would be you is this: Repot the palm into a plastic pot which should be as small as possible. The pot must have many holes for fast drainage. Use as potting soil something like pine bark (if possible 2 to 8 mm fine). Give the palm a lot of water and control the fast drainage. Don’t leave any water in the saucer (no wet feet!). Repeat the watering regularly and control the drainage. Use as additional light source a normal reading lamp if you think that the sunlight might not be enough. The temperature should be a normal living room temp of 20°C ± 4°C. If you detect spider mites or scale insects spray the leaves repeatedly with diluted second brew of coffee. But even all this is not a guarantee for survival if you don’t develop a feeling for plants (or a green thumb).

[New to Palms]

I looked over the leaves and did not see any spider mites. However, I did see a couple of black bugs, looked like gnats. I went ahead and wiped down the leaves with a soapy water. Not sure if it is risidual from spider mites, but I definatley had quite a bit of dark debris on the soaked towel.

[New to Palms]

On November 26, 2015 at 1:05:38 PM, Pal Meir said:

You wrote: "If you have any suggestions please post them.“ Here are mine. I don’t know if the palm is already dead. But what I would do if I would be you is this: Repot the palm into a plastic pot which should be as small as possible. The pot must have many holes for fast drainage. Use as potting soil something like pine bark (if possible 2 to 8 mm fine). Give the palm a lot of water and control the fast drainage. Don’t leave any water in the saucer (no wet feet!). Repeat the watering regularly and control the drainage. Use as additional light source a normal reading lamp if you think that the sunlight might not be enough. The temperature should be a normal living room temp of 20°C ± 4°C. If you detect spider mites or scale insects spray the leaves repeatedly with diluted second brew of coffee. But even all this is not a guarantee for survival if you don’t develop a feeling for plants (or a green thumb).

I took your advice. I searched for a few products locally and finally took the palm to a local nursery. The looked over the roots and said it was still alive. They thought they soil was too damp. They repotted with a MUCH smaller pot using their own mix (looks to have a lot of bark in it), trimmed off a few of the fronds, sprayed it with some sort of pesticide aresol and added systemic fertilizer. 

They said to not look at it for at least three weeks in reference to watering as she gave it a good soaking. They thought it would be 5-6 weeks before our sunlight would be in position for the Palm to show any signs of recovery.

 

thank you to all for the help!

 

 

[Pal Meir]

Good luck!

[New to Palms]

The person that helped me at the nursery pointed out these tan bumps that are on the base of the fronds. She said she didn't know what it was nor if they could cause any issues. 

Thoughts?

[Hammer]

2 hours ago, New to Palms said:

The person that helped me at the nursery pointed out these tan bumps that are on the base of the fronds. She said she didn't know what it was nor if they could cause any issues. 

Thoughts?

Looks like your run of the mill tomentum to me.  Just part of the plant's anatomy. 

[New to Palms]

8 hours ago, Hammer said:

Looks like your run of the mill tomentum to me.  Just part of the plant's anatomy. 

Thank you, I'll let them know

[Palm Tree Jim]

14 hours ago, New to Palms said:

I took your advice. I searched for a few products locally and finally took the palm to a local nursery. The looked over the roots and said it was still alive. They thought they soil was too damp. They repotted with a MUCH smaller pot using their own mix (looks to have a lot of bark in it), trimmed off a few of the fronds, sprayed it with some sort of pesticide aresol and added systemic fertilizer. 

They said to not look at it for at least three weeks in reference to watering as she gave it a good soaking. They thought it would be 5-6 weeks before our sunlight would be in position for the Palm to show any signs of recovery.

 

thank you to all for the help!

 

 

Good luck with the plant going forward.

[New to Palms]

Thank you, I'm crossing fingers it will survive.