QuestionQUESTION: I moved into my house 4 years ago and there's a full-size travelers palm in the backyard. For the last few years the outermost fronds have been dying slowly (oldest fronds 1st) with new ones sprouting from the center. As the fronds brown and drop, I cut them near the trunk with my pole saw (so there are many layers of the collar around the trunk that remain on the trunk). Lately fronds have been dying off in the middle in no particular order. Anything I'm doing wrong? Or what might you suggest going forward? Thanks.
ANSWER: Paul, its normal for the lower fronds to brown out, but the middle ones drying out is sign of trouble. You didn't mention where you were located (what State), so it could be lack of water , another reason could be lack of nutrients. Have you fertilized it? Has anything leached into the soil around it?..Nick
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QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply. I'm in South Florida (West Palm). It gets water, and nothing has leached into the soil. But I definitely haven't fertilized lately (until a few days ago when I used a Palm/Tropicals fertilizer). How often should it be fertilized and with what? Thanks.
Answer......at least 3 times a year for optimum growth; when its in need of fertilizing, it will draw nutrients from its lower fronds, and they begin to brown out; when you notice the middle fronds doing the same, then it is in desperate need of nutrients.
