Licuala disease

[Rooneyunit]

Hi, new to the forum, haven’t been down to the shadehouse in a while and need help identifying what is wrong with this licuala grandis and is it treatable? There are a couple kerriodoxa elegans close by exhibiting similar symptoms.  Licualas are in 7 gal. pots for about 6 years now. Kerriodoxa’s are in 25 gal. About 6 years also.

[Harry’s Palms]

My first impression is something got to the root or maybe it dried out somehow ,not getting water to the palm. It looks like it started on the lower fronds first. This is a guess , of course , based on what I can see from the photos. These were very nice , happy palms at one time , supporting a nice array of fronds. Harry

[Rooneyunit]

Thanks Harry, they’re on overhead irrigation, it comes on every other day for 6 minutes, other plants around them getting water and healthy.

[PalmatierMeg]

They look dead to me. It looks like they could have died from lack of water or conversely overwatering. They are just so brown I'm having trouble deciding. Sounds like you haven't checked on them in quite a while. Are you sure your irrigation is functioning correctly, although I can't imagine 6 minutes worth of water every 48 hours offers many benefits. I have had limited success with the Licuala genus. Grandis  is not one of those species I've had excessive trouble with. But I lost several potted smaller species over the winter. For me, Licualas have been known to go into a swivet at a moment's notice: lush and green one day, dead and crispy brown a week later. They aren't palms that thrive on neglect. Kerriodoxa do well for me and are tougher and less cold sensitive than Licualas. Palms from two different genera in close proximity dying en masse at once leads me to suspect they were put under environmental stress as opposed to pest damage. But when you checked on them they were dead. I'd advise you replace them if you wish but really mull over what may have happened and if you need to change your setup and move it to a location you can't miss when you walk out the door. You need to pay regular attention to the new palms.

[Harry’s Palms]

At my old house I had a greenhouse and watered mine almost daily . I never had trouble with them but they liked water and warm , humid conditions. In my area , it is strictly a greenhouse palm. Harry