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trying to rescue a pygmie date palm


Question
QUESTION: This  plant  was  purchased  to  decorate  an  employees  small office.  She  gave  it  a  splash  of  water  now  and  then,  then  went  on  vacation  kept  the  office  dark  noone  attended  to  it.  the  plant  wilted  I  saw  it  when  she  was  discarding  it.  she  told  me  she  had  it  4 weeks  and  went  away  for  1 week  so take it: my  honey  and  I cant  yet  rescue animals  but  we  rescue plants! I imediatly  waterd  this  plant  .  on  a  sad  note  I am used  to  a  plant  "revitalising" once  waterd.  this  poor  soul  did  nothing.   Another  forum  instructed  me  to  cut  the  dead  branches  off  keep  it  waterd  it  SHOULD  regrow.  3  weeks  later  well I'll keep  at  it  but I'm getting  discouraged  and  sad!  are  these  a  slow  growing  plant?? The  "other" forum annoys  me  recommending  I  discard it  and  buy  a  new  one.if  at  all  by  no means  YET!   Sir  or  mam  how  long  how many  weeks  can  this  pygmie  require  to  regrow  please???  SO GRATEFUL,  thank you!!!

ANSWER: Hi B..an image would really help, but tug at the center frond...if it holds then there could still be hope,,,but if it pulls out then the heart of the Palm is dead,,,hence the Palm itself. If the center frond holds,,,then spray it down with a Copper Fungicide..and then keep it damp, but not wet and the its simply a waiting game...keep it in an area that gets morning Sun and afternoon shade. Nick

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QUESTION: I'm  quite  embarased  to  send  the  image  of  it  I  have,  also  I  definetly  need  to  be  taught  "terminology" please.  I  am  familiar  with  branches,  leaves.....I'ma  bit  lost  with  "fronds"   which  or  what  exactly  is  the  "frond"  of  the  palm  plant  please??  Uhm  what  IS  encouraging  is   what  is  left  of  this  "pygmie  palm"  is  quite  supple,  I  imagine  if  it  was  DEAD  and  dry  it  would  snap  and  break.  I  can  grab  whats  left  and  give  a  judicious  pull  or  shake  and  it  remains  together.  this  being  sunday  eveninr  well  yesterday  i  took  to  some  desicion  making.  I  lifted  the  palm  OUT  of  its  pot  WHOOOH  what  maze  of roots   and  in  my  judgement  a  bit  out  grown  not  a  lot  of  dirt  left  I  gave  the  palm  a  LARGER  "bucket  like"  pot  I  drilled  drainage  holes  in  the  bottom

ANSWER: Ok, the fronds on a palm are the actual stems branching off from the main trunk....the center one is the one I wanted you to tug on,,,and by what you said...you tugged several, and they held, so that is good news!..the other good news is that you lifted it from its existing pot..and found it root bound...then repotted it with new soil....good going!..now spray the crown,,,(the entire leaf system) with a Copper fungicide....and then (as I previously stated..) give it morning Sun and keep the soil on the damp side. Watch the center for new frond growth and keep your fingers crossed. The area below where the fronds emerge from is called the Heart of the Palm...and it is here that will make or break this little fella. Nick

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QUESTION: so  far  you  have  been  wonderously  patient  I  beg  you  remain  that  way  we  might  be  nearly  done, YES  in  the  new  pot  I  did  add  an  extra  amount  OF  dirt  I  am  quite  happy  with  it.  what  I  know  I havent  mentioned.... I  just  thought  to  mention  it here and now....is  that  "the  other  forum"  ultimatly  suggested  I  cut  those  ICHY  sickly  wilted  fronds  off   so  the  plant  will  recuperate  from  the  truama  its  in  faster.  SO  the  3  hearts  merely  stick out  of  the  dirt within a  foot,  the  old  wilted  fronds  are  all  gone and  I  watch  all  the  time  for  NEW  GROWTH

Answer
Thats fine....if the old fronds had any green in them at all...they should have been left on..if totally brown then indeed removed; that said...you have effectively done all you can to help this little guy...so now its time to sit back and hope for the best....Nick

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