Phoenix Roebellinis dying

[freddyuk]

We bought this pigmy date palm from a local supplier as it was really cheap and looked healthy. It is around 15 years old. I have repotted into a suitable narrow palm pot and it resides in our conservatory with shaded sun (Ireland so not a lot of sun). I soon noticed the growing spikes were not moving at all. After a year the bigger lower fronds have browned off and the trunk is losing any signs of green turning brown too. The growing spikes have still not moved so I guess it was dying from day one. It has been watered sparingly to stop it drying out.

Is it time to give up as I know they can take a long time to die.  I have another palm which I grew from seed and this was doing well until I took it outside for a summer break on the patio and it immediately turned brown and stopped growing.I believe it didn't like the bright light so suddenly.  This palm has just started to move again after a year of dormancy so who knows?

[PalmatierMeg]

Photos?

[freddyuk]

[Ben in Norcal]

Put it outside in filtered sun, and ensure it can drain freely, i.e. does not sit in any water.  My guess is it recovers.

[Rickybobby]

Roebellinis are very tough and hardy they have survived well for me up north and indoors.  Get the soil well draining and just becareful when putting it outdoors. This year mine got some sun burn 

[Allen]

I second putting it outside in shade then gradually moving to full sun.  

[PalmatierMeg]

I agree with the above. Let it spend the warmer months outdoors in nature. You will never fully replicate ideal growing conditions in your dark, dry, heated house. Good luck

[Rickybobby]

Here’s what happened when I put my perfectly healthy roebellinis in full sun to early even at 43 degrees latitude 

[Pal Meir]

… and this happened at 51°26’ N latitude:

[freddyuk]

OK out it will go - many thanks and I will report any movement

[HtownPalms]

That's crazy that those Pygmy Date Palms are burning at such high latitudes! I have Pygmy Date Palms seedlings in the full sun in the Texas heat of 100F right now and they are growing very happily. I always found it was best to expose my plants to unprotected summer heat and sun as soon as possible to acclimate them before they get too sensitive to the outdoor elements. I have lost a few plants to this aggressive approach, but most come out fine after struggling a bit at first. Good luck! 

[Rickybobby]

11 hours ago, HtownPalms said:

That's crazy that those Pygmy Date Palms are burning at such high latitudes! I have Pygmy Date Palms seedlings in the full sun in the Texas heat of 100F right now and they are growing very happily. I always found it was best to expose my plants to unprotected summer heat and sun as soon as possible to acclimate them before they get too sensitive to the outdoor elements. I have lost a few plants to this aggressive approach, but most come out fine after struggling a bit at first. Good luck! 

Just remember say at 43 degrees at peak sun times. The palms here get 16 hours of sunlight. So even though not as close as the equator. It’s alot of sun it stays above for a long time here and people don’t realize that  and if the palm is has been in shade it will burn 

[HtownPalms]

Rickybobby, I didn't think about duration in the sun. I could see where that could certainly come into play. The longest day of the year here is 14 hrs 3 min on the summer solstice, so that's the absolute max my plants would see. 

[freddyuk]

Should I be feeding a palm. which is in "suspension" ? I am giving the the Phoenix regular water spray outside now but not sure of I should feed or not until some movement is apparent.

It is under the wisteria covered pergola so gets dappled sun (when it appears) and is well drained.

[Ben in Norcal]

8 hours ago, freddyuk said:

Should I be feeding a palm. which is in "suspension" ? I am giving the the Phoenix regular water spray outside now but not sure of I should feed or not until some movement is apparent.

It is under the wisteria covered pergola so gets dappled sun (when it appears) and is well drained.

What do you mean by "spray?"  You should not be applying water to anything but the soil.

[NOT A TA]

The commercial growers here in S FL use pots with NO holes in the bottom and the side holes are up several inches indicating to me that young Roebellinis like wet feet or at a minimum tolerate it. I bought a few clumps at a big box store to separate and pic below is what I found, note the dense root mass below where the holes in the side of the pots are located.

I get 13 hours 50 minutes of very bright sun on our longest day. When I re-potted the ones in the pic I kept them in partial shade a couple weeks then full sun which they've been in since. No burn or browning.

[Allen]

Mine large one seems to like wet as well.  

[Rickybobby]

18 hours ago, NOT A TA said:

The commercial growers here in S FL use pots with NO holes in the bottom and the side holes are up several inches indicating to me that young Roebellinis like wet feet or at a minimum tolerate it. I bought a few clumps at a big box store to separate and pic below is what I found, note the dense root mass below where the holes in the side of the pots are located.

I get 13 hours 50 minutes of very bright sun on our longest day. When I re-potted the ones in the pic I kept them in partial shade a couple weeks then full sun which they've been in since. No burn or browning.

I agree. They tolerate wetter soils. Very bulletproof up here in Canada because when there indoors in the winter o can’t give them enough heat to dry the soil out fast. I know there a dime a dozen. But there such a nice palm and great for beginners 

[ExoticPalms]

Looking at those photo's I'm assuming it's dead at this point. If I had to guess, I would assume it's a drainage issue. 

[freddyuk]

Well its nearly a year later and the palm has not moved at all! It was outside in dappled shade all summer and brought into the conservatory for the winter. The same sprouted green fronds at the top and the other leaves a little browner but its not dead?? I have not watered too much but maybe it want more? I feed it now and again.

I have marked a frond to check any movement but not 1mm yet.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

If it hasn't grown in a year, even outdoors, I would say it is dead and doesn't know it. Watering may be keeping the leaves fresh and green but the meristem is dead. I had a Pseudophoenix sargentii spear-pull so I treated it with hydrogen peroxide over and over. The leaves stayed fresh and green for 18 months. I lost patience and started to dig the palm up and the whole thing collapsed - nothing left inside. I also had a large Hydriastele beguinii damaged in the record freeze of Jan. 2010. It stayed green but did not grow (I marked the spear) for 9 months when it also collapsed into mush.

Consider looking for a replacement. My condolences

[freddyuk]

Amazing plants. I learned never to give up on a palm but this looks pretty negative. 2 years to die is mad? I will pull the roots just to see what has been going on.

I will give it a month outside once the frost danger is over and then use the pot for something else. I have Robellinis seeds so will try for a good one although I am too old to see it mature.