What’s up with my Old man (palm)

[Bill G]

This Old Man palm is quickly losing the lower fans. It’s down from ~8-9 to maybe 4 and browning more. Growth has slowed significantly. I figure it will be a goner in 2-3 wks at the rate it’s going. It’s over 5 yrs old. 3 yrs in the ground.  Since noticing the issue I applied Bayer systemic and some liquid fertilizer this am.  It’s getting regular water with summer rains and overhead irrigation. What else can I do?  I’m in St Pete FL

[redant]

After loosing several myself, I was looking at a new one from a vendor at a palm sale. She told me keep the crown as dry as possible,  no sprinklers to hit the crown. I planted the new one under the eves of my home by the driveway (smoking hot) and only gets drip irrigation, it's doing great.  Just my 2 cents.

[Tracy]

2 minutes ago, redant said:

After loosing several myself, I was looking at a new one from a vendor at a palm sale. She told me keep the crown as dry as possible,  no sprinklers to hit the crown. I planted the new one under the eves of my home by the driveway (smoking hot) and only gets drip irrigation, it's doing great.  Just my 2 cents.

No answers here, but I saw you posted this in another thread about C. crinita and ever since then have been very careful when doing any hand watering around mine to avoid hitting the crown.  So when I read the problem before reading your post, my first thought was the overhead sprinklers and crown rot.  Again, no personal experience on my part, but your previous advice has stuck with me.

[Bill G]

Good point. I’ve also heard many coccothrinax varieties don’t like water in the crown.  I will change up my irrigation to eliminate any water hitting the crown. So maybe a fungicide of some sort for now?

[redant]

1 hour ago, Bill G said:

Good point. I’ve also heard many coccothrinax varieties don’t like water in the crown.  I will change up my irrigation to eliminate any water hitting the crown. So maybe a fungicide of some sort for now?

would not hurt

 

[redant]

Mine roasting in the hot driveway and loving it

[PJP]

As already said, keep the water off of crown.  They don't like their feet wet and prefer full sun.  I have several that thrive in the heat with little watering.  Overtime they can adapt to shade and grow well.  I would pull that bark back and let the soil dry out.  Looks like lots of moisture getting trapped there.  Pictures of 2 that I have. Excuse the mess in my pictures as I'm constantly planting.

[akamu]

I would definitely apply some fungicide even some hydrogen peroxide  for now but try and get some Heavy Hitters stuff like Cleary's or subdue or even Daconil 

[palmsOrl]

Wish I could the same re the rain Bill.  I would definitely treat with a stiff dose of systemic fungicide on the regular and erect a tent over it or cover it to prevent water from getting on the crown and trunk as much as possible.

My chemical of choice would be the expensive systemic copper fungicide Phyton 27.

The sad reality is, it is most likely a goner.  I would suspect that by the time you notice symptoms in C. crinita it is almost always too late for treatment, but you can try.  I learned my lesson the hard way in 1997.  As a kid, I recieved a $250 trunking old man palm as my one and only Christmas gift (needless to say).  I was so excited that I made sure to water it every single day and as you can imagine, particularly being "winter", it was dead within 2 weeks.

Now that I think about it, I can't think of a single palm I ever actually managed to save with a symptomatic fungal infection.

[Bill G]

Hi everyone,

I appreciate all of your feedback!  Love the photos of the massive old man. I think you’re bragging ;-).  Here’s what I did:

1. Cleared the pine bark mulch back to keep “his feet” from being so wet

2. I put down Subdue granular. Kind like heavy salting. I.e. maybe a Tablespoon total around base 

3. I had some Phyton 35 in my cabinet. So I took my 16 oz spray bottle, donned up in my PPE and sprayed the remaining healthy 4 fans with that. And put a little down the emerging spear (Mixed per directions.)
4. I plan to adjust the irrigation to eliminate overhead spray. It’s off for now anyway as it’s raining these days. 

I’ll post again in a few weeks with the results. I’m hopeful it’s not too late!  We’ll see. Thanks again. 

[Lparks]

What happened bill? Did it live? Just bought two and they don't seem to be doing well. They are in pots still as the nursery said they don't like to be too wet but one appears to have fungus and the palm fronds is already brown that isn't fully grown out the top yet. Seems to just have stopped doing anything. I wished with an anti fungus and bug spray. Is it a goner??

[Bill G]

Hi everyone .  Should have posted a follow up sooner. As expected once it started showing signs like it did, nothing I did was able to save it. It was dead a few weeks later. However, I have 2 more doing great 2 1/2 yrs later in nearly the same spot. As everyone posted: No overhead water and They don’t like wet feet. So make sure your irrigation isn’t overwatering them even if not hitting the crown. And they prefer full sun.  Once they start to decline like that I haven’t been able to save any of them. Other coccothrinax varieties seem to be the same. c. Borhidiana, c. Argentata. Similar experience with 2 argentatas. Live and learn. Good luck.