Ethiopian Red Banana: Flowering Means the End for That Stem

Natural Life Cycle Abyssinian/red bananas grow 20+ ft, then flower (giant bulb from center), then the stem dies. Owner prunes to delay flowering—asks if flowered stems can be saved. Cannot Be Saved Flowering is the term

New Foxtail Palms Losing Fronds: Nursery Guarantee Needed

Post-Planting Decline 4 triple 14-ft foxtails planted mid-June. Within weeks, existing fronds bent/broke 1 ft from trunk—23 fronds lost on 2 trees, 4 on others. New growth emerging. Nursery calls it normal. Owner fears c

Queen Palms in Baton Rouge: No Spears by September—Alive or Dead?

The Waiting Game Two queen palms, no new spears by 9/17/10. Fronds browned in April, cut carefully. No rot, fungus, or smell. Trunk green. Watered in drought, fertilized regularly. Owner saw a report of a cut queen palm

Transplanting Large Pygmy Date Palms Near Foundation

The Concern 3 pygmy palms (10 ft tall) 10 ft from foundation. Water seeping into bedroom. Gardener thinks he can move them. Owner asks about root depth, survival if roots cut, and Vitamin B-12. Root Reality Palm roots f

Moving a Ponytail Palm: Sun and Water Considerations

The Move 5-ft ponytail palm near foundation and A/C unit. Proposed new spot: middle of yard, full sun, irrigated 2×/day for 10 min. Water Warning Ponytail palms store water in their caudex—they need very little irrigati

Foxtail Palms Collapsing: Crown Rot or Stress?

Symptoms 1 year ago, never looked good. Expert Assessment Not Ganoderma—that shows mushroom-like conks at base. Likely planting stress: too deep, poor soil, or root damage at install. Not contagious. Others should be f

Fixing a Newly Transplanted Palm: Soil Mix and Watering Corrected

The Mistake Palm planted in 2× hole with Miracle-Gro mix, heavy watering, B-1 vitamin. Day 6: fronds drooped, yellowed, dried. Nursery said: wrong soil, overwatered, cut dead. Owner replaced ¼ soil with palm/cactus mix,

Pygmy Date Palm Transplant Shock: Drainage Is Key

Common Transplant Mistake 9 pygmy palms transplanted 9 days ago. 4 have dry, brittle centers; 3 have yellow/brown lower tips. Watered daily, used palm soil, no fertilizer. The Real Issue: Standing Water Amending the pla

Palms in Philadelphia: A Grower's Success and Florida Career Tips

Impressive Achievement Gary in Philadelphia grows a healthy bottle palm and large foxtail palm—pushing the envelope in Zone 6/7. He shares photos and asks about palm careers in Florida. Florida Palm Career Path Palm tr

Ice Cream Banana Fruit Maturation: The 3-Month Rule

The Problem Ice Cream banana in Tampa produced a bloom pod. First hand of fruit set; subsequent hands dropped. Owner fertilized with super phosphate and Epsom salts months ago—nothing since. Complete Care Regimen for Fu

Queen Palm Decline in Planter Box: Root Barrier Stress

The Situation Queen palm in New Orleans survived last winter, put out new growth, then declined over 6–8 weeks. New spear died; existing fronds dying. Planted in sidewalk planter with sun. Trunk green, no fungus. Fertili

Pygmy Date Palm in Nursery Pot: Root Bound and Declining

The Problem 3-plant pygmy date palm, 6 months in original nursery pot. Leaves browning, crisp; even new growth tips brown. Watered daily. Diagnosis: Pot-Bound, Poor Drainage Nursery pots are for transport only. Roots ha

Where to Buy Specialty Banana Fertilizer (0-0-28, 9-0-24)

Local Source: Lesco Located in the industrial park off Enterprise Ave (off 776), ~¼ mile from US-41. Turn right on Enterprise, 200 yards on left—Quonset hut. Theyll load your vehicle. What to Ask For 0-0-28 (high potas

Banana Plant Selection and Pup Transplanting

Seminar Follow-Up Attendee asks about smaller banana varieties (like Raja Puri) and transplanting pups from an overgrown 15-ft mat. Pup Handling Contain pups until spring—protect from frost. Plant out in spring (your y

Overwintering Bananas and Hibiscus in North Texas

Banana Strategy: Let Them Freeze Back If the ground doesnt freeze solid, allow tops to freeze to ground level, then mulch heavily over the corm. Do not cut back before a freeze—that stimulates tender new growth that will

Newly Planted Foxtail Palm Browning: Sunburn, Fungus, or Transplant Shock?

The Scenario Two foxtail palms planted in Tampa (marginal zone). One—B&B triple—looks fine. The 25-gal single browns heavily within a week. Nights only in upper 40s. Tree faces southwest; watered every other day. Expert

Pruning Mature Bougainvillea Without Losing Blooms

The Timing Dilemma Bougainvillea blooms twice a year. Owner wants to trim but fears cutting off flower buds. Expert Strategy: Early Spring Hard Prune Prune severely in early spring—remove top 1/3 of the plant, leaving m

Periwinkle (Vinca) Yellowing: It's Not Dying, It's Cycling

The Symptom Periwinkle leaves turning severely yellow despite daily morning watering. No pests found. The Natural Cycle Periwinkle (Vinca) runs its course—it becomes leggy and yellowed when past its prime. This is norma

Tibouchina Grandiflora in Pots: Winter Watering Adjustments

The Problem In Houston, tibouchina in pots by the pool turned brown after a few nights in the 40s°F. Owner waters with rainwater/sprinkler, asks if overwatering or cold is the cause. Seasonal Watering Shift As nights co

Protecting Queen Anne Palms in Severe Cold

Cold Hardiness Queen Anne palms tolerate upper 20s°F. Below that, take action. Pre-Freeze Prep Water the base deeply the afternoon before the freeze—moist soil holds heat better. Wrap the heart (just below the lowest f