One Trunk of Triple King Palm Producing Dead Fronds: Fungal Check and Decision Time

3-trunk king palm, 4 years in ground. Largest trunk pushing brown dead fronds; other two lush. Watered, fed, no constriction.

Diagnosis

• Palms in groups are individuals sharing space, not a single organism.
• Tug center spear of declining trunk. Pulls out = dead heart = remove trunk at base.
• Holds = alive. Spray all three crowns with copper fungicide monthly.

If One Fails

Cut at ground level. Remaining two thrive—no competition release needed. King palms don't share vascular tissue.

Likely Cause

Fungal bud rot (Thielaviopsis or Phytophthora) often hits one trunk in a group. Copper spray protects survivors.