Mold on my L. Chinensis trunk

[Keys6505]

Can anyone tell me what this is?  I can't really see the trunk from the main part of my yard so I didn't notice this until today when I climbed into the bed to clean up.  We had about 3 months of 100 degree temps and no rain followed by rain almost daily for the last 3-4 weeks.  Is this just some kind of surface mold or something worse?  Is hitting it with a copper fungicide a good idea?  Tree has been relatively healthy other than defoliation after Palmageddon and the older fronds yellowing.

[Allen]

Haven't seen mold on one before like this.  Not sure it will hurt the tree but ... I believe copper fungicide covers mold.  I would douse in copper fungicide after clearing away the tropical plants within 2 feet of it and make sure sprinklers don't spray it.  Feel around trunk and make sure there is not trunk softness or damage left over from palmageddon. 

Edited September 3, 2022 by Allen

[Las Palmas Norte]

I had that on a Trachycarpus fortueni and only caught it at an advanced state (similar to above). Dead in six months, after trying in vein to combat it. I'm not in convinced that will happen in this case, but do not wait.

[DAVEinMB]

13 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I had that on a Trachycarpus fortueni and only caught it at an advanced state (similar to above). Dead in six months, after trying in vein to combat it. I'm not in convinced that will happen in this case, but do not wait.

I have something very, very similar on a large sabal. Been there over 2 years and at this point it doesn't seem to be affecting the tree but it definitely is a concern

Edited September 3, 2022 by DAVEinMB

[DAVEinMB]

3 hours ago, Keys6505 said:

Can anyone tell me what this is?  I can't really see the trunk from the main part of my yard so I didn't notice this until today when I climbed into the bed to clean up.  We had about 3 months of 100 degree temps and no rain followed by rain almost daily for the last 3-4 weeks.  Is this just some kind of surface mold or something worse?  Is hitting it with a copper fungicide a good idea?  Tree has been relatively healthy other than defoliation after Palmageddon and the older fronds yellowing.

I spot treated my sabal with peroxide and after a few applications it seemed to take care of it. Unfortunately it's not localized and has started making its way up the trunk in old frond bases like your pictures show. Not sure if it's the same thing you got going on but definitely looks similar. 

 

 

[Keys6505]

35 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

I spot treated my sabal with peroxide and after a few applications it seemed to take care of it. Unfortunately it's not localized and has started making its way up the trunk in old frond bases like your pictures show. Not sure if it's the same thing you got going on but definitely looks similar. 

 

 

I'm gonna give the fungicide a shot and see what happens.  I just need it to stop raining long enough that I can apply.  I have a pile of lawn/garden chemicals that I haven't been able to apply with all of this rain.  Is the trunk of your Sabal in sun or shaded?  I was wondering if I trimmed the tree up higher so the trunk was more exposed to the sun if that would help dry it out.

[Allen]

28 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

I'm gonna give the fungicide a shot and see what happens.  I just need it to stop raining long enough that I can apply.  I have a pile of lawn/garden chemicals that I haven't been able to apply with all of this rain.  Is the trunk of your Sabal in sun or shaded?  I was wondering if I trimmed the tree up higher so the trunk was more exposed to the sun if that would help dry it out.

You could also take a razor knife (Boxcutter style) and cut the fibers out where the mold has taken hold.  I would remove any loose rotten old boots (Fungus grows on dead organic material).  In between rains you could put Hydrogen peroxide in a sprayer and spray those areas to spot kill any fungus/mold as that's a contact type treatment.  Then when dry you can still put on copper as it's more to prevent further growth.  The sun on it would be a great plus.  Keep all lawn sprinkler activity off it.  The trunk splitting (Pic 3) is possible sign of too much water uptake by the palm.  You may be watering too much to keep the elephant ears happy and it may be encouraging rot??? 

Edited September 3, 2022 by Allen

[DAVEinMB]

1 hour ago, Keys6505 said:

I'm gonna give the fungicide a shot and see what happens.  I just need it to stop raining long enough that I can apply.  I have a pile of lawn/garden chemicals that I haven't been able to apply with all of this rain.  Is the trunk of your Sabal in sun or shaded?  I was wondering if I trimmed the tree up higher so the trunk was more exposed to the sun if that would help dry it out.

Not one bit of the trunk gets direct sun and I imagine some portions are always in shade. I'll post a few pics of what it looks like currently tomorrow or Monday

[D Palm]

I second hitting it with some peroxide.

[Collectorpalms]

I bet its the fungus Ceriporia sp, a fungus from freeze damage on the trunk under those boots. My largest one survived, but then suddenly died this summer. The trunk of mine debooted and was spongy feeling, so I knew there was going to be rot in the palm trunk down the road, but it died before that happened. There is a similar rot that happens in Phoenix Dactylifera and it pretty much got most of them, after they tried to come back.

Not saying yours is going to die, I have three others that are still alive.

Suggestion, Remove it and old boots and apply Copper fungicide which gets mold.

[Allen]

8 hours ago, Collectorpalms said:

I bet its the fungus Ceriporia sp, a fungus from freeze damage on the trunk under those boots. My largest one survived, but then suddenly died this summer. The trunk of mine debooted and was spongy feeling, so I knew there was going to be rot in the palm trunk down the road, but it died before that happened. There is a similar rot that happens in Phoenix Dactylifera and it pretty much got most of them, after they tried to come back.

Not saying yours is going to die, I have three others that are still alive.

Suggestion, Remove it and old boots and apply Copper fungicide which gets mold.

I think after relooking at this thread and this comment this morning I would suggest you try a systemic fungicide as well here to be safe rather than sorry.  If this fungus is from the 2021 Freeze as I had asked about in the first post and @Collectorpalms mentioned and fungus is INSIDE the trunk it would be in places where copper/peroxide won't reach.  You can look on Amazon and they are about $20 or go to your local turf professional landscape supplier and ask.  Make sure if you do this you get a systemic which is absorbed thru the roots.  

https://www.domyown.com/heritage-sc-fungicide-p-23707.html

Edited September 4, 2022 by Allen

[Keys6505]

Looks like we're getting a break from the rain tomorrow.  Is there any harm I'm hitting it with the copper fungicide spray tomorrow (which I already have) and then again whenever I can get the systemic in the next week or so?  Oris that overkill?

[Allen]

1 minute ago, Keys6505 said:

Looks like we're getting a break from the rain tomorrow.  Is there any harm I'm hitting it with the copper fungicide spray tomorrow (which I already have) and then again whenever I can get the systemic in the next week or so?  Oris that overkill?

No the copper won't hurt to combine.  But it would be better though to spray it with hydrogen peroxide first because of the immediate fungus kill.  Then you can still spray with copper to protect longer.  

For Hydrogen peroxide spray undiluted on the affected area.  https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-hydrogen-peroxide-3/ID=prod6373232-product

I am just concerned it is in the trunk is the reason I am suggesting the systemic.  What could have happened is the cold damaged the trunk part way and the fungus has gotten in there.  Normally fungus only attacks dead organic matter BUT left unchecked TOO MUCH fungus can start to kill healthy tissue and further damage the palm in that case.   The fungus in pic 3 is concerning as @Collectorpalms noted

It's up to you on the systemic.  Hydrogen peroxide and copper fungicide have no risk to the palm.   The systemic fungicides usually do not list palms on the label.  The broad spectrum systemic fungicide takes about 1-2 weeks to get in the palm thru the roots or foliage.  Use directions for bushes or small trees.    But already damaged tissue won't magically heal.  

Here is another systemic fungicide you can buy at Lowes/HD

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bonide-16-oz-Infuse-Systemic-Disease-Control-Concentrate-148/305716446

 

[Keys6505]

2 hours ago, Allen said:

No the copper won't hurt to combine.  But it would be better though to spray it with hydrogen peroxide first because of the immediate fungus kill.  Then you can still spray with copper to protect longer.  

For Hydrogen peroxide spray undiluted on the affected area.  https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-hydrogen-peroxide-3/ID=prod6373232-product

I am just concerned it is in the trunk is the reason I am suggesting the systemic.  What could have happened is the cold damaged the trunk part way and the fungus has gotten in there.  Normally fungus only attacks dead organic matter BUT left unchecked TOO MUCH fungus can start to kill healthy tissue and further damage the palm in that case.   The fungus in pic 3 is concerning as @Collectorpalms noted

It's up to you on the systemic.  Hydrogen peroxide and copper fungicide have no risk to the palm.   The systemic fungicides usually do not list palms on the label.  The broad spectrum systemic fungicide takes about 1-2 weeks to get in the palm thru the roots or foliage.  Use directions for bushes or small trees.    But already damaged tissue won't magically heal.  

Here is another systemic fungicide you can buy at Lowes/HD

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bonide-16-oz-Infuse-Systemic-Disease-Control-Concentrate-148/305716446

 

I appreciate the help, man.  I'll get at it tomorrow and let you know how I make out.

[Tropicdoc]

I doubt too much rain would split a trunk.

im here in south Louisiana and I have a livistona chinensis Also.

it has rained probably about 30 inches over the past 60 days and mine did not split fwiw 

Sorry to see you dealing with fungus like that 

I agree with everyone else…. No holds barred systemic, peroxide, copper, daconil 

don’t lose that palm! It looks like a nice one

[Keys6505]

Please go easy,this was my first time de-booting a trunk and I was a little squeamish.  I know I probably could have done it cleaner but I was more worried about exposing everything rather than the appearance.  I figured mature will do the rest.  Luckily, the mold seemed to be only in the areas where visible in my original photos.  There was none on the backside of the boots or on the trunk. The trunk seemed solid to me with no obvious soft spots.  I drenched it with Southern Ag copper fungicide.  I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

Unrelated, but I also found this hole at the base of the tree.  I really don't believe it was there the day prior when I was cleaning out the bed.  Is this one of those beetles?  If so, I know it is deadly to smaller trees but can it kill a palm of  this size and what are my options to kill it?

 

 

[Allen]

50 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

Please go easy,this was my first time de-booting a trunk and I was a little squeamish.  I know I probably could have done it cleaner but I was more worried about exposing everything rather than the appearance.  I figured mature will do the rest.  Luckily, the mold seemed to be only in the areas where visible in my original photos.  There was none on the backside of the boots or on the trunk. The trunk seemed solid to me with no obvious soft spots.  I drenched it with Southern Ag copper fungicide.  I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

Unrelated, but I also found this hole at the base of the tree.  I really don't believe it was there the day prior when I was cleaning out the bed.  Is this one of those beetles?  If so, I know it is deadly to smaller trees but can it kill a palm of  this size and what are my options to kill it?

Don't know what the hole is.  From your photos you could have a borrowing critter making runs under your grass where it is dead looking?  I'm not sure.    Hard to tell in the photos.  Mole, vole??

SUPER awesome the fungus is not in the trunk.  We don't need to lose any more palms!   Looks like you don't need the systemic.  Fungus is scary though and kills more plants than about anything.  The copper fungicide is safe and I spray 2 gallons on all my palm crowns in spring.