Sylvester Palm Splitting

[mleko]

Hey gang, planted this tree about a year ago, has put on about 18" of trunks since then but I've noticed that its splitting at the bottom, is this normal? Am I giving too much water? Not enough?

 

 

Edited April 19, 2016 by mleko
Picture

[Las Palmas Norte]

Thinking it could be the expanding girth of the trunk, Top growth is fine I assume?

Cheers, Barrie.

[knell]

I remember reading that it happens from long periods of root saturation, but not sure if it was a scientific source.

My old canary palm had a giant split in it and was still trucking along with no care whatsoever, you should be okay with a smaller split. I was always worried about fungus/insects but I was either lucky or they are as tough as the legends have foretold...

[Collectorpalms]

It is most Likely expanding its base. If it's humid enough you will get roots busting out. some Phoenix seem to do this. I'd put more soil around the base.

[Kris]

Yes its very healthy and its splitting to make way for roots to come out.Our palm has about 3 feet of roots..

if possible i will upload stills of it...

love,

Kris.

 

[mleko]

Thanks for the responses. The growth is good, put up 18" in the last year, has a head full of frawns. There is a big root coming out of the side of it at the bottom as you can see in the picture... I wish there was a way to stop this, might have to plant some shrubs around it to hide it if it gets too high. 

[Tampa Scott]

The roots add a little character to the base...

 

[Kris]

Okay here's stills of our Phoenix sylvestris ( silver date palm, sugar date palm or wild date palm )

Btw most of the Phoenix Palms which grow tall and ones having big crown of fronds do exhibit this tendency. This is done to help the palm to handle the weight of the crown especially in areas where there are constant heavy breeze,So that its foot does not snap.And also its a sign of robust health of the palm.i.e its sucking lot of water and nutrients from the soil.

Love,

Kris.

 

 

Edited April 28, 2016 by Kris

[Kris]

Now lets see the root ball of our Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm)

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