In need of expert help quick, please!!

[Chipdoo]

Hi all,

Got a major issue with my Windmills. Seems like they are giving up.

My little Takil was the 1st one. After I thought it survived this winter, it started to push up a new branch. That new branch got to a certain height, stalled and instead of the leaves fanning out, they kind of "coiled up" or "twisted" and turned brown.

The branch actually crumbled when I went to go tug on it. Like it was totally dried out. The rest of it pulled out of the center!  

Now My bigger Fortuneis....

The bigger one has pushed out a new branch and fanned out very nicely. It didnt get as long as the others but it opened nice and wasn't real nervous.

Then a new center branch started to emerge. It got up to a certain point and seems to have stopped! The leaves on the center branch have split into 2 groups but aren't fanning out like I'm used to, almost like its giving me the peace symbol. lol  The center where the branch is coming out seems to be turning yellow color.

My other Fortunei I just planted in the front is doing the SAME exact thing! Except the leaves are starting to coil or shrivel or what ever you want to call it. Its still green, but what gives here!

Is this a disease? Could it be from the cold?

Any help or suggestions will be really appreciated....

Not looking good in LI, NY,

-Rob

[Chipdoo]

Here are pics of my larger fortunei:  ( I had my neighbor watch my son and went to the store to buy copper fungicide. I did apply it though I dont know if thats whats needed here...)

[Chipdoo]

Here are pics of the smaller Fortunei in the front, seems to be doing a littlw worse as the cetner leaves are twisitng!

[Matt in SD]

I must be missing something.  The palms in the photos look totally fine to me.  Looks like the leaves are in the process of opening.  

Your description of the takil sound like it's probably a goner.  But it's worth putting fungicide down the center and hope for the best.  I've pulled a spear before on a mature palm and had it grow out of it just fine with some fungicide.

Matt

[Chipdoo]

Well, Im hoping for the best here and crossing my fingers.

The smaller one pictured is doing exactly what the Takil did. It was pushing up a new branch and then stopped, then the branches divided in 2 sections.

Im used to the center branches equally opening up like a fan. But this divided into 2 and now the leaves are starting to get all twisted and out of shape. Not sure if the picture shows that.

I let the Takil go as I thought maybe it was a strange grower, but then shortly after, the entire branch turned to brown and pulled right out.

The bigger Fortunei still looks healthier but the branch stopped pushing up and divided into 2 like the others. There is no coiling or twisting of the leaves yet, but I guess Ill keep my fingers crossed.....

[paulgila]

doesn't look so much like its "dividing",but rather pushing 2 spears at once that are simply separating normally as they emerge(IMO).i tend to agree with mattinsd--they look fine.

[Joe palma]

I agree w/ Matt and Paul, they look fine and in the process of opening the new fronds.

If you think the plant has stopped growing, you can mark the new spear, at it's lowest emergent spot and see if the mark moves up. Movement means life, which I'm pretty sure you will find is the case.

[Chipdoo]

Thanks for your replies!

I really hope that is the case. Though I had these plants for a about a year now and they never twisted the leaves or divided in 2 or stopped growing. They always pushed up a branch higher than the others then opened up nice and even

You have a good point to mark it, did think of that. I will place a small mark at the lowest point and check it to see if its growing.

I'm hoping that I'm just panicking and all is well, but will let all know of any changes for the good or bad.

Any other suggestions are appreciated!

Thank you all,

-Rob

[Dypsisdean]

I agree with the others that your pictured palm looks fine. However, I notice water droplets in the center near the emerging leaves. I hope you are not watering the crown area when you water. That's a no-no with these palms

Check out #5 in Ten Best Ways to Kill a Palm.

http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboar...t=ST;f=1;t=5354

[RadPalms]

Good eye Dypsisdean on the water in the crown area......My girl killed our first palm by watering into the crown...she said her sister told her that was the way to make them grow faster....lol

[Kris]

(Dypsisdean @ May 15 2007,15:39)

QUOTE

I notice water droplets in the center near the emerging leaves. I hope you are not watering the crown area when you water. That's a no-no with these palms

Check out #5 in Ten Best Ways to Kill a Palm.

http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboar...t=ST;f=1;t=5354

Dear Chipdoo  

If you have the habit of watering the palms on the top like

making them feel as though its raining.then sooner than

later what you feared will indeed happen.since rain water

cannot be substituted by artificial watering the crown section.

i used to do this and lost lots of palms due to fungus infestion

and Mealy bug menace.to the best of my knowledge goes

they all seem to be gooding fine for the moment.

and kindly put your name & location with refrence to distance from sea shore_Please !

Love,

Kris  

[Chipdoo]

Thanks for all your replies and input!!!

You may have found the culprit! I thought about it and realized that this all started to happen when I turned on my IG Sprinklers! And yes, when they are on, they spray across the entire tree and does get into the center.

I never thought of this as I used my IG sprinklers last year and had no issues. Though the IG sprinklers weren't installed until the temps were 85 and over on a daily basis. Temps these days are only in the 70s or so and I guess it cant dry out the center fast enough.

That leads me to this: Should I do anything? To be honest, I mixed copper fungicide with water and sprayed it in the center yesterday.

Should I just let them be and hopefully they'll fix up or should I do anything? I obviously wont water them from the top and will adjust my sprinklers but its supposed to rain all tonight and tomorrow.

Does rain water affect them the same way?

Thank you all a million!

-Rob

P.S. Kris, I'm from LI, NY zone 7. The ocean is about 6 miles from me.