Foxtail - growth stoppage

[byuind]

Interestingly enough, after the cold snap my backyard foxtail (southern exposed) showed plenty of new spear growth. Shot up about 2 inches each week. Then on the last (approximately) 2 weeks I noticed it slowed to a halt.

 

I marked it to validate my concern last week and it hasn’t moved. 
 

I also noticed that the leaves are starting to bronze, which I had read could be an indication of delayed cold damage. He was protected during the freeze with heat and wrap but I am just looking for some people with experience on this.

 

I supposed it’s entirely possible it’s just stopped because that’s as long as the spear is gonna get and it just doesn’t want to open. I’ve tried to get some copper and H2O2 down into the heart, but it’s tough when the spear is packed in that cavity pretty tight. Spear is also nice an tight.

heat appears to be back, so hopefully that helps?

[Merlyn]

I had a Monday morning frost a few weeks back, it's possible the bronzing was from that.  Stopping growth during a February heatwave isn't a good sign, though.  Several of my Foxtails about that size were defoliated last January but had a new spear that looked promising...for a while.  But the trunk had rotted away inside and eventually it was clear the spear wasn't growing and the trunk diameter started to shrink in random indents.  Eventually I had 100% mortality out in the open (8 smaller palms) and 0% mortality protected by oak and Queen canopy (3 larger palms). 

I'm not sure what to suggest beyond copper/H202.  It might have stalled due to the repeated cold fronts and cool overnight temps, and it'll start growing again next week with consistent 80s and even 90s.

[PalmatierMeg]

Has the spear moved at all? How low did your temps go? Palms fatally damaged by cold may not collapse until weeks or months later. I had a Hydriastele beguinii keel over 9 months after the record cold of Jan. 2010.

[PalmatierMeg]

I can also verify that palms fatally damaged by major hurricanes sometimes appear to come back only to die months later. I am still losing casualties of Ian 5 months post-storm. I lost my stellar Sabal Lisa to an opportunistic weevil infection 18 months after Irma. In that 18 months it ceased growing, never flowered or set seeds, finally collapsing into mush.

[byuind]

2 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Has the spear moved at all? How low did your temps go? Palms fatally damaged by cold may not collapse until weeks or months later. I had a Hydriastele beguinii keel over 9 months after the record cold of Jan. 2010.

it was most definitely growing post cold event. In actually I had no concerns at all until I realized it had stopped growing. I wish I had marked after the cold front left. I marked a bunch of trees that looked worse for wear and they all showed growth. The funny part is that both my juvenile foxtails seem to have stopped dead in their tracks. Same with the neighbors across the street.

 

I would say that spear grew well over a foot since the event

Edited February 23, 2023 by byuind

[byuind]

Ok so late day update: got home from work and decided to give the spear a tug just to make sure it wasn’t rotting.

 

with a little bit of force the spear actually rose up a few inches. I didn’t give it a ridiculous amount of pull, just a firm one handed tug. It came up kind of smooth with a little resistance.

 

I gotta think this scenario isn’t great either. I don’t want to over pull and hurt it. But if it is able to come up a bit, what does that mean

[Jim in Los Altos]

1 hour ago, byuind said:

Ok so late day update: got home from work and decided to give the spear a tug just to make sure it wasn’t rotting.

 

with a little bit of force the spear actually rose up a few inches. I didn’t give it a ridiculous amount of pull, just a firm one handed tug. It came up kind of smooth with a little resistance.

 

I gotta think this scenario isn’t great either. I don’t want to over pull and hurt it. But if it is able to come up a bit, what does that mean

The spear is no longer attached to the growing point if you were able to “slide” it up like that. Id pull it out and begin disinfectant procedures such as hydrogen peroxide poured down the open shaft. If it bubbles and froths, rotting was occurring. Spear pull doesn’t always mean death. It’s possible for a new spear to form but the fungal or bacterial infections needs to be addressed. 

[byuind]

another update: I tried to pull the spear this morning - that sucker is pretty dead set on staying there. I don't want to hurt the tree further. I gave it a two hand pull to double check and it is not looking to move any further.

 

Any advice?