Hyophorbe lagenicalus

[Adam Halford]

Hi I’m after some advice. I’m pretty new to palm care and have taken an interest since I have moved house. I bought a bottle palm seedling from an eBay seller as being in the uk you don’t find these palms very easily. It came in a 4in pot in 50/50 perlite and I’m guessing cactus mix. Roots were sticking out the bottom so I repotted in a mix of fine seed compost, vermiculite and cacti mix. Plant is situated in a sunny window sill and room temp is never below 20 c. Problem is over the last few weeks the leaves are browning and dying off. I only ever water when soil is dry and have fertilised once with palm focus this summer, had the plant around 2 months. I really don’t want it to die off can anyone please point me in the right direction. Thanks. 

[Rickybobby]

It’s possible your mix is staying too soggy and over watered. I lost 5 little bottle seedlings using cactus mix (peat moss and perlite) it stayed too wet and suffocated them. Your pot size is ok. One thing I recommend and pretty much bullet proof is coco coir and perlite mix. How much fertilizer did you give. With small seedlings. I either give a small sprinkle of 3:2:3 or 3:1:3 or just fish emulsion which is 5:1:1 fertilizer 

[Adam Halford]

With the fertiliser I mixed as instructions and fed various palms as I have a few, I think the ratio was 5ml in 1 litre of water.  The numbers are 2.1:0.9:3.6. I only fed till it runs out the drain holes. With the coco coir do u mean the blocks? I’ve heard coco coir doesn’t provide much nutrients, do u mix it with any soil? Would best thing to do be re-pot ASAP? I love bottle palms I wanna catch it quick the leaves only started turning about a week ago

[Adam Halford]

I’ve just got this. 

[John in Andalucia]

I would not have put it in a sunny window sill having re-potted into a mix that by it's nature is clingier, hence wetter than the previous mix. That's not saying you over-watered it, just that I think there's some moisture/ re-potting shock going on there. My advice would be to let the soil dry on top then put it in a sealed plastic bag away from strong light but with good bottom heat - at least 26C. Let the dying leaves do what they need to, but you'll expedite root growth and see a new spear sooner rather than later. From my own experiences, I have seen seedlings stop and restart growth with the use of heat and humidity.

[Adam Halford]

Thanks John, funnily enough I’ve placed it on an old router to warm it up already I’ve also changed the mix adding more perlite it drained instantly so hopefully it will start to adjust better

[John in Andalucia]

Besides settling the roots in place, I'm a believer that palms 'react' better to Mother Nature's watering regime. I'd leave it outside during the daytime for the next downpour (of which we've plenty at present!) then straight back indoors on its 'heat mat'. Best of luck, and keep us all updated.