Newly Planted Royal Palms Browning: Ants, Overwatering, Transplant Shock

20–25 ft Royal Palms Declining After 3 Weeks: Multiple Issues

Six royal palms (Roystonea regia) with browning lower fronds, 20–25 gal/day watering, ants carrying white fragments, fertilizer + manganese applied: overwatering + transplant shock + ant evacuation.

Ants = Water Problem

Ants carrying eggs/larvae up trunk = colony flooded by excessive irrigation. They're evacuating, not attacking palm.

Watering Correction

• 20–25 gal/day is extreme. Royal palms from wet farm need hardening off.
• Reduce to deep soak 3×/week, then weekly
• Water must drain—check percolation

Other Issues

• No fertilizer at planting—wait 6–8 weeks
• Manganese unnecessary unless deficiency confirmed
• Ant poison not needed—fix water, ants leave

Action

Contact installer/nursery. They warrant establishment. Transplant shock on this size palm is serious—professional assessment needed.