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Palm Collapse from Root Rot and Larvae

Why a Large Palm Snapped at the Base

A 20-30 ft palm leaned, then broke. Inside: white worms eating mushy wood. Owner fears for 11 others.

Diagnosis

Nick says root rot from excess moisture killed the palm; larvae are secondary, feeding on dead tissue. Protect others by ensuring roots aren't waterlogged.

Tropical Plants: Palm Tree with Curling Leaves and Crown Rot: Freeze Damage Likely Fatal—Monitor for Pests, Consider Removal; Saving a Dying Palm Tree: Identifying and Treating Trunk Rot; Weeping Cherry Sudden Collapse: Blight or Old Age?; Yucca Plant Misidentified as Palm: Correcting Care; Assessing Freeze Damage in Robellini Palms: Signs of Life or Death; Assessing Palm Survival After Extreme Cold: A Case Study from Ireland; Selecting the Best Palm for Largo, Florida: Foxtail vs. Queen; Bottle Palm Trunk Damage from Vehicle Impact; Indoor Palm for Low-Light Atrium: Lady Palm Is the Answer; Diagnosing Trunk Rot on Cold-Hardy Palms: When to Call Extension Services

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