Pindo Problem

[Drumslayer]

Hello all I need advise on what’s affecting this Pindo palm. In the last 3 months the fronds start hanging straight down and turn brown rapidly. The new growth is still emerging but turns off color and start drooping also. I have drenched the crown with copper fungicide and fertilize with Harrells 13-3-13 and pruned dead fronds only after they completely turn brown.  We are in coastal NC and did not have any cold issues this year and my Sabals and other Pindo palms nearby are thriving.

Any advice appreciated Thanks, Mike

[SEPalm]

If you can check the growing point where the new leaves emerge. Look for weevils and their grubs. I’m thinking palm weevils.

[Merlyn]

An insecticide wouldn't hurt, something surface like Malathion or systemic like Imadicloprid.  Also look for Ganoderma conks on the lower trunk, generally near the ground.  A big 8' trunk Butia near me suddenly died, and it had 5 or 6 big conks on the N side of the trunk.

[aegean]

With the collapsed crown lit looks similar to all the CIDP around here, that have been killed by the red palm weevil. I thought you don't have these weevils in the US.

Have you noticed anything like this in your neighbourhood / region ?

Check for any feeding traces on the petioles and the center and dead/alive insects

Another possibility could a fungal infection.

Whatever it is, quick action is required. you don't want to loose such a tall palm tree. If weevils are the cause it's in the last stage, where the palm maybe can still be saved by applying an insecticide on/into the center. Imidacloprid /  Lamda-Cyhalothrin / Emamectin are good choices.

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/22/2021 at 8:26 PM, Drumslayer said:

 

Hello all I need advise on what’s affecting this Pindo palm. In the last 3 months the fronds start hanging straight down and turn brown rapidly. The new growth is still emerging but turns off color and start drooping also. I have drenched the crown with copper fungicide and fertilize with Harrells 13-3-13 and pruned dead fronds only after they completely turn brown.  We are in coastal NC and did not have any cold issues this year and my Sabals and other Pindo palms nearby are thriving.

Any advice appreciated Thanks, Mike

Are there other Pindos in the 5-10 miles radius with this issue? All of ours in our neighborhood died the same way over a few years.

the meristem is several inches or a foot down. My Advise would be to trunk cut it Back to the meristem so It can be properly treated and examined.

Edited May 24, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[Drumslayer]

Thanks for all the great advice and help. So I inspected the crown closely and did not see any weevils or grubs or any other insects. The crown tissue is not soft or mushy and don’t see any fungus or borer holes on trunk. 
Some of the fronds are snapping at base in crown as shown in this picture. I applied systemic insecticide and drenched crown with hydrogen peroxide and will drench roots with Fosetyl-Al next weekend fo phytopthora

There are many Pindo and Sabal palms nearby and they are all thriving just as this one was up to now. Really nice specimen and hate to lose it.

Hope it turns the corner and starts getting better. Thanks for all the help. Mike

 

[aegean]

On the first picture the ground around the palm looks little bit suspicious to me.

Looks like there was grass and it has been treated with Round Up or some other weed killer. Or is this some kind of mulch ?

Edited May 24, 2021 by aegean

[Drumslayer]

Aegean that is a mulch of pinestraw that we use in the Southeast US. I had pulled it back at one spot on the base of palm to inspect for any  rot and soil moisture.

 

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/24/2021 at 8:52 AM, Drumslayer said:

Thanks for all the great advice and help. So I inspected the crown closely and did not see any weevils or grubs or any other insects. The crown tissue is not soft or mushy and don’t see any fungus or borer holes on trunk. 
Some of the fronds are snapping at base in crown as shown in this picture. I applied systemic insecticide and drenched crown with hydrogen peroxide and will drench roots with Fosetyl-Al next weekend fo phytopthora

There are many Pindo and Sabal palms nearby and they are all thriving just as this one was up to now. Really nice specimen and hate to lose it.

Hope it turns the corner and starts getting better. Thanks for all the help. Mike

 

Any update? I assume dead.