QuestionQUESTION: Hi, I just purchased a 4 1/2 ft tall double Robellini (Pygmy Date Palm) and planted it about 4 weeks ago in my pool screen enclosure. It was planted using a soil recommended for palm trees but was also mixed with some sand and regular potting soil. The palms are exposed to diffused full sun and I was told to water it daily for about a 1/2 hr with a slow drip for 1 month to get it established. Now, the tips of one of the palms are turning an ugly brown on some if its center fronds. It does however have several new shoots just beginning to form. Am I watering it too much? I have also heard that it is good to spray the fronds lightly with water. Do I need a fertilizer? And, if so....what type or brand do you recommend. I searched all over central FL to find just the right tree and I am determined to keep it healthy. I am also in the process of putting in a drip line irrigation system that will water it twice a week.
ANSWER: Hi Laurie, I am assuming it was planted in a container...if so,,you are probably stressing the roots with standing water; the amount of water you are giving it would be fine for a Palm in the ground but the container could not possibly drain off that much water before the roots began to become damaged with standing water. (Let me know on this if it is in fact in the ground). No fertilizer yet,,,it needs to set itself and establish before an nutrients would be beneficial, "except" a weekly spray of a Palm nutritional spray on the fronds. Check the drainage holes (again, if it is in a container..) and see if they are soaking wet...and if so , repot it with half of the existing soil and half new dry soil. Nick
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QUESTION: Hi..to answer your question it is not in a container but planted in the ground. Since then I have cut back on the water dramatically and the soaker irrigation is now in place allowing for watering 2 times a week for about 14 mins. I was wondering if using palm fertilizer stakes (maybe 3)about 2 1/2-3 ft away from the palm would be OK since it is very slow releasing and hopefully provide for a lush healthy palm. Again, I am seeing a lot of new shoots however I was just concerned about what was causing the browning of some of the center fronds. Also, can you recommend a particular palm nutritional spray since I am the novice!
Answer....the palm nutritional spray is put out by a company called "Southern Agriculture Insecticides"...its in concentrate.....Home Depot,,,Lowes etc. carry it, now the fertilizer stakes are no good,,,they only supply nutrients to a small part of the root system,,,where a granular will hit the entire system, because it sprinkled evenly around the root ball beneath the palm. I think the route to take (with this new information) is to spread about a pound of palm granular around the palm, from the drip line in, evenly, (like feeding chickens). water it in well and then in the morning ,(early) when the dew is on the fronds,,,,spray the nutritional over the crown, both top and bottom of fronds. The reason you do this when the dew is on the fronds is, the Stomata (pores) are open, taken in the dew,,,and the nutritional spray will be taken in also. Give it time after you do this,,for it could be Months before you begin to see results.
