Bismarck Palm Shock

[Bismarck]

I just planted a Bismarck palm in west Florida south of the Tampa Bay Area. Doing some research I probably should have not planted it in winter and been more careful with the planting. I was using an excavator and had to drag it off the trailer then tilt it up because the strap was too long. 
 

A little less than two weeks later the leaves are turning brown and drying out, the outside leaves seem to be ok for the time being. Is there any steps to hopefully save this tree? 
 

I’ll try to upload a picture once I find an image host 

[Merlyn]

On 1/6/2021 at 2:25 PM, Bismarck said:

I just planted a Bismarck palm in west Florida south of the Tampa Bay Area. Doing some research I probably should have not planted it in winter and been more careful with the planting. I was using an excavator and had to drag it off the trailer then tilt it up because the strap was too long. 
 

A little less than two weeks later the leaves are turning brown and drying out, the outside leaves seem to be ok for the time being. Is there any steps to hopefully save this tree? 
 

I’ll try to upload a picture once I find an image host 

Bismarcks are pretty cold hardy if they are the silver-blue type, but it's generally not a great idea to plant anything in December/January here in Florida. 

If the outer leaves are okay but the center leaves are brown and dying, it sounds like you may have damaged the growing point in the middle.  Some palms will grow out from "spear" leaf damage, but it may take a while.  I'm not sure about Bismarck, the only thing I know that they don't like is root damage.

You can upload photos here, just drag and drop.  There are limits on file size, but I don't know what they are.  I crop/compress to around 1MB maximum.

[GoatLockerGuns]

57 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

Bismarcks are pretty cold hardy if they are the silver-blue type, but it's generally not a great idea to plant anything in December/January here in Florida. 

If the outer leaves are okay but the center leaves are brown and dying, it sounds like you may have damaged the growing point in the middle.  Some palms will grow out from "spear" leaf damage, but it may take a while.  I'm not sure about Bismarck, the only thing I know that they don't like is root damage.

You can upload photos here, just drag and drop.  There are limits on file size, but I don't know what they are.  I crop/compress to around 1MB maximum.

I believe the file upload size limit is 20M per file.  I have uploaded SDR photos at up to 19.9M, but get an error with any photo over 20M.

[Bismarck]

Here are pictures, about a week apart

After researching on here there was a few things I'd do differently. I've been watering pretty heavy every other day, the soil drains very fast where I'm at

the one with the torn up grass close to the house is about a week after the other one. 

Edited January 12, 2021 by Bismarck

[Merlyn]

It looks like the outer fronds are all okay, but the center 3 or 4 fronds are dying.  My guess is that there was some "mechanical damage" to the newer fronds during install.  If the palm "bounced" or the center was torqued, or if it was hit against something while you were pulling it off the trailer or setting it upright, you may have cracked the rachis (stem) of the center spear or fronds.  I had a similar thing happen with a Butia (Pindo) double.  I was having trees taken down and the guy dropped a big branch across the crown of one of them.  About a week later the center fronds browned and died, and then the new spear pulled out.  Some palms recover, some don't.  The damaged left one eventually died, but it was a pretty small palm.  The right side one survived the damage and is still growing well today:

I'd mark all the fronds horizontally with a black sharpie, so you can tell if the center fronds are still growing out or static.  If the new spear is moving then it's got a good chance of recovery.  A systemic fungicide (I use Banrot) may help prevent a fungal infection in the crown, since you probably have dead or dying material in there. 

Hopefully some others can chime in here with suggestions!

[Fusca]

2 hours ago, Merlyn said:

The damaged left one eventually died, but it was a pretty small palm

Bummer - it had nice color!  It was a pretty pretty small palm!

[Bismarck]

Seems like the outside fronds look about the same.
 

I've been watering everyday, the soil is super sandy so I just fill up the berm slowly for an hour so and it soaks right in once I turn it off. I ordered some superthrive to see if that would help at all

 

Is it worth cutting out the center dead fronds or is that a wasted effort? I marked the center new frond coming it, it seems like theres some movement but cant 100% confirm yet.

[ahosey01]

20 hours ago, Bismarck said:

Seems like the outside fronds look about the same.
 

I've been watering everyday, the soil is super sandy so I just fill up the berm slowly for an hour so and it soaks right in once I turn it off. I ordered some superthrive to see if that would help at all

 

Is it worth cutting out the center dead fronds or is that a wasted effort? I marked the center new frond coming it, it seems like theres some movement but cant 100% confirm yet.

These also prefer drier winters.  I can’t speak for your soil but that seems like a lot of water.  I’ve watered mine twice since temps started getting into the 40s at night - which, where I live, started in November.

I also wouldn’t remove anything.  Just give it time.

Edited January 23, 2021 by ahosey01

[Merlyn]

If the outer fronds are about the same ~10 days later then it seems like you may have just damaged the inner "spears."  I've never used Superthrive, so I have no idea if that would help or hurt. 

I agree with ahosey, don't cut anything at this point.  Disturbing the center more might just damage the growing point further.  I'd just keep monitoring the new spear with your sharpie marks, if it is slowly but steadily moving then it'll probably recover. 

I haven't stopped watering on my Bismarcks (or any palm) over the winter.  I had 1/3 of my dripline stop working in December due to a plugged pressure regulator, and I only noticed it because a few palms on that side were starting to yellow.

Bismarcks do slow down a lot in the winter.  I did notice that new fronds are about the same fan diameter, but half the overall petiole length in winter.  This happened on all 3 of my smaller Bismarcks, here's the largest.  The fan in the center is new, it started opening around the middle of December and has just been very slow to mature.  Growth rate starts picking up when the days get reliably into the 80s.