Kentia palm- boron deficiency or not?

[Patrick]

Hello all,

 

I thought I would ask the group since I don't have much experience with Howeas here in the central valley- I'm told it's too hot and windy here in my area and I never planned one of these as the "bones" of my yard. This is simply a side project that I thought I'd try and it has worked out well so far, until now. This one is an experiment for me. It's been in the ground probably 3 or 4 years. I bought it as a 3 leaf seedling on ebay. It was too good of a price to pass up. It's sibling, sadly, died several years ago- it never got past the seedling stage. Please take a look at the picture and give your thoughts on whether this is a boron deficiency starting or not? It could just be that the palm is stretching towards the sun, but it's the twisting roll of the newest leaf and the arcing of the spear is concerning to me. That newest leaf on the left does a full 180 degree twist. I had always thought that Howea leaves stayed on 1 plane and didn't twist. I've been conservative on fertilizer so lack of boron could be the issue; of course I may just be panicking/ paranoid since I know this is a real issue for these.

Is a boron deficiency correctable in these palms? I know Darold has a lot of experience with these- hopefully he sees this. I have a boron treatment he recommended on another thread saved on my work computer and intend to go that route if possible. I can't remember what it was at this point. 

I'm holding off on remediation or fertilizer until I have some feedback. Thank you for taking a look and sharing your thoughts. It's hard to get a good image in all of the jungle, but hopefully this image conveys what I'm talking about.  I can venture out for more specific images if need be. Palm seems healthy otherwise.

Edited June 26, 2022 by Patrick

[Darold Petty]

 Patrick,  I don't feel that I have any special knowledge about Boron deficiency.    I do have plenty of experience with palms dying in my garden !   

I can't really see that which you describe, but It doesn't sound too alarming.   Don't be so stingy with a broad spectrum fertilizer and apply some now !

Invite yourself over for a visit, I have several fat 1-gallon Howea forsteriana that I grew from seed,    just to give away !  

[Patrick]

Thanks Darold! I've read you talk about your preventative boron treatments- something where you get borax or something and then mix it in water and dump that on the soil. I agree I think that we all eventually get to the point where it's "oops, I killed another one..."

In the photo, it's that leaf going to the left how it comes up and out and then twists. It's on the upper left-center of the image,,, the leaflets have twisted and are vertical going up and down instead of that nice horizontal plane typical of kentias. The older leaves are all horizontal and this new one has the twist, and the emerging spear is getting an arc to it as well. 

 

I'll have to try to figure out a way to the Sunset and stop by sometime, of course I'll get a hold of you first! With those fat Howeas I guess the Oakley wind/ heat/ Howea experiment could continue and even expand. Thanks again. 

 

Here's a few more images. the first is an older leaf with that nice flat leaflet layout. The 2nd is me holding the problem frond and you can see the twist to it. The third is a reverse angle with the frond in question going away from the camera, with the twist. It's kind of jumbled with a mule palm frond so it's a little difficult to make out. The 4th is the emerging spear and the arcing in question- arcing into the same direction as the newest frond.

 

Edited June 26, 2022 by Patrick
thread cleanup

[Darold Petty]

I still don't see anything alarming, especially since it is growing in such close quarters with other plants.     

[96720]

I have a chambyronia that came out with a goofy frond but since then they have been fine!! Probably nothing to worry about!!!

[BS Man about Palms]

Twisty fronds not overly a concern here. I would be more concerned with the petiole end, not the tip. True curving borax issues on a kentia don't seem to present themselves until trunking or nearly so.