Got a problem with my Indian Coconut palm...

[palmfriend]

Hi there,

I had just posted an Okinawian garden update a few weeks ago and among the palms I showed was my Indian

Cocos nucifera I have grown from a dehusked coconut sold at an Indian vegetable store in Tokyo.

It had a spear pull caused by a rhinoceros beetle attack last fall but since I have seen worse I did not really mind.

Then the next sign of trouble occured...

The leaf that came out before the spear pull had happened started to turn brown. Well, I was still not really concerned 

because we are facing now spring and a long summer - enough time to recover. 

But then, inspired by another thread I checked my youngsters for the first sign of a ring or trunk more carefully and found this...

...and another image

A new spear has developed already but came out through hole the beetle has made on its way into the palm. The spear is as hard as 

a nail, no way to move/bend it into another direction. It looks almost like a new root pushing itself into the soil with force. Then, giving 

the remaining leaves a closer look...

...another crippled spear comes out but away from the (original) growing point, between the brown turning (first pic) and a much

older (but still healthy looking) leaf. 

Question: Since the palm shows a strong will to survive - and I would love to keep it - should I cut off some of the leaves to make

way for the (hopefully) new spears to come or leave it as it is?

 

What do you think?

Thanks in advance -

Lars

 

[Merlyn]

I had this happen with a "Truly Tiny" banana that I bought online.  The new frond had gotten twisted in the pseudostem and was bending back on itself inside and making a big bulge.  In that one I did some careful surgery with a box knife, opening up the pseudostem just enough for the new frond to grow out straight.  In a few weeks that one opened up okay, and future ones also opened up okay.

In your case I'd think that chopping off the sideways into-the-dirt-growing spear is a good choice.  If the new spear is growing out straight then maybe it doesn't need any additional surgical help?  I have some Dypsis that are "doinking" with trunks growing out of the side, and they seem to grow just fine despite the weird appearance.  It's hard to judge whether your palm may get a temporary constriction, or just keep on growing in the new direction without problems. 

[palmfriend]

Thank you very much for your advice!

I had the same thoughts but was hoping for at least one comment sharing my idea. I will get into action soon, results will be posted with my next garden update. 

 

Thanks again - 

Lars

[palmfriend]

Hi,

here is an update on my Indian Cocos nucifera...

After my last entry end of May I cut off the crippled fond and the leaves on top that forced all the new spears into that strange (downward) direction.

Now (in October) we might have a silver lining. With some gentle pulling and pushing over the last months it seems that the actual fond gets probably "back on track"...

...

The most encouraging sign - at least in my eyes - is the strong (healthy) green of the leaflets. It seems to be on its way to recover - I keep my fingers crossed!

Update will follow.

 

Thank you for your time -

Lars

 

[Merlyn]

@palmfriendthat's a good sign!  Did you end up cutting off the one trying to grow into the ground, or just leave it alone?

[palmfriend]

On 10/5/2022 at 3:26 AM, Merlyn said:

@palmfriendthat's a good sign!  Did you end up cutting off the one trying to grow into the ground, or just leave it alone?

I was afraid of an infection when that fond was pushing itself into the ground and not sure if the palm could deal with it - 

so, I cut it off and deluted some peroxide from time to time into the crown and it seemed to help - at least until now. 

 

Update will follow - 

 

Lars

 

 

[palmfriend]

Hi,

it seems that we have some good news -

...

The new already opened leaf is finally pointing again into the 'right' direction - skywards...as it should be... 

It is impressive how this palm fought its way back after the beetle's attack, followed by a row of deformed/crippled new spears.

However, I am still keeping a close eye on it but I somehow get the feeling that this one is going to recover completely.

 

Thank you for your time -

Lars