Coconut Palm Problem

[spockvr6]

Does anyone have any ideas about what might be wrong with this Coconut?  As each leaf comes out, it breaks about halfway down the petiole.  And, the leaves also get burned/browned looking areas.   As you can see, the crown is slowly declining and there are only 3-4 leaves.

Here is a closeup of the newest leaf which broke off halfway down the petiole.

[epicure3]

I had the same problem with a howea triple....new fronds would break in half and it turned out to be pink rot. Poke around near the crown and see if you can see anything. I don't have any idea if pink rot is a problem in Florida.

[epicure3]

By the way, nice fiddleleaf fig. I love those.

[spockvr6]

(epicure3 @ Sep. 11 2007,16:01)

QUOTE

By the way, nice fiddleleaf fig. I love those.

I too like these plants, but wish I did not plant this one where I did (too close to the entryway) as I have to cut it back 3-4 times a year.  If allowed to become a tree, these are really good looking plants when they become large.  I have a second one I am letting grow up in this way.

[spockvr6]

(epicure3 @ Sep. 11 2007,16:00)

QUOTE

I had the same problem with a howea triple....new fronds would break in half and it turned out to be pink rot. Poke around near the crown and see if you can see anything. I don't have any idea if pink rot is a problem in Florida.

Thanks for the tip.....I will check that out.

[Ken Johnson]

Pink Rot? Oh no!! What is that????/

There is an interesting hue of purple in the up close leaf shot.

Trunk looks bad. Are roots ok?

[Davidl]

The trunk reminds me of pink rot too. Have you seen any nasty looking ooze at the point where the frond connects to the trunk ? If so the rot might be under the old leaf fronds that are still on the palm. I cut mine off and spray with mancozeb. Dont pull them off but try to cut them off without ripping from the trunk. Not positive if thats it but its possible.

[gavilan1]

I don't know what's affecting your coconut in these images, but I would strongly suggest that you remove any roots from the African fig/ficus/whatchamacallit to the right, that might be heading toward your coconut, before they damage the roots of your coconut (maybe too late).  Those darn plants have a root system that is extremely invasive, and the roots spread all the way to the surface, breaking planters, and strangling other root systems.  I had a triple growing in my back yard for a few years, until it got nearly as tall as a queen next to it, and I noticed the roots were affecting nearby plantings in my planters, along with a nearby cherimoya tree.  The fig was truly beautiful, but did lots of damage to the lawn area and adjacent plantings.  It's been gone a couple of years now, but the remaining roots still try to throw up a new leaf in the lawn every so often.  I would only have this fig today imprisoned in a pot.  Good luck with your coconut.

[epicure3]

My fiddlefeaf is now about a 15' tall in tree . The trunk is a beautiful chocolate brown.

[gavilan1]

Imagine three of those, in stalk trunk form (mine never went fat trunk - they were always stalky, but never fruited), about 20' tall right next to a 35 to 40' tall queen.  It was nice to look at, but I never expected the root issue at all.  It was a shame to remove it, but it was beginning to threaten some of my palms...

[epicure3]

(gavilan1 @ Sep. 11 2007,17:46)

QUOTE

Imagine three of those, in stalk trunk form (mine never went fat trunk - they were always stalky, but never fruited), about 20' tall right next to a 35 to 40' tall queen.  It was nice to look at, but I never expected the root issue at all.  It was a shame to remove it, but it was beginning to threaten some of my palms...

That's interesting since the ficus lyrata is supposed to have among the least invasive roots of all the common ficus varieties. Sorry for this post getting way off topic, btw.

[epicure3]

Back on topic, I found this info online. I assume, then, that your issue wouldn't be pink rot, but something else.

This fungal disease is a serious problem on Chamaedorea species and areca palms in Florida, and queen, date and Washingtonia palms in California. The causal agent is not active at temperatures above 85? F, thus it is primarily a winter disease in Florida, while remaining active most of the year in coastal California

[TikiRick]

Larry,

I had EXACTLY the identical problem with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Neoveitchia storkii. In addition, at the same time, I had a Syagrus amara planted not far away. It developed the same problem. Just as you described, the frond would push out, with some dark spots on it, and then snap over like it could not support its own weight. I fought and fought. I thought it was nutritional and many palm folks here offered suggestions. I tried everything. Then I was told it was a fungus. I sprayed with heavy duty fungicides as well as systemic fungicides. I continued to wait for the next frond, and it continued. All five palms were now affected with something I had no idea of what it was or how to care for it. Frustrated, I took a sample of the frond to the agricultural lab here. They ran all kind of tests (totaling about $100) and basically told me that since both were relatively unusual palms, they could not compare it to anything else since neither was "in the books." They attempted to compare the Neoveitchia to Veitchia and the Syagrus amara to romanzoffiana. Close but no cigar.

Unfotunately, they all suffered until the point I was so disgusted that I ripped all five out. I have one Neoveitchia left on the opposite side of the garden and it appears to be doing well.

Was it that these palms were growing in a pit of construction debris way down? A virus or fungus spreading in the soil or air? I still am baffled. Sorry that this doesn't give you a solution, but I share your frustration.