Am I doing things right

20 years ago

My wife and I are new at palm growing although we both have green thumbs (so we are told).

I recently purchased the following: (all came bare root)

-1 Sabal Palmetto Birmingham, 3 fans approx. 18" in length

-1 T. Takil (Kumaon Palm), 5 leaves, approx. 12" in length

-2 T. Takil (WIndmill Palm), 3 leaves, approx. 8" in length

-5 R. hystric (Florida Needle), 3 leaves each, approx. 8" in length

-5 Sabal Palmetto Louisiana, 3 leaves each, approx. 8" in length.

They were each planted in potting soil (Quick grow w/fertilizer) and premixed for air and water drainage. They were in the house for about 5 days and seemed to be doing well. I recently moved them outside to a table along the south fence and covered it with some extra black vinyl window screening to create some shade. I sprinkled them all with some granulated potash and then watered them with some root started. They were outdoors about 2 days and then it rained for about a day and a half. All pots are draining nicely and the plants are not standing in water. I just noticed this morning that the palm tips, about 1/4" to 1/2 on most plants are turning brown, almost burnt looking.

As newbies, what should we be checking? Was the potting soil a bad choice? Should we repot and if so, what is BEST to use? To much in the potash AND root starter combo? Window screen is not good sun shade material and they are getting burnt? (None of the tips are in direct sunlight and of my local nurseries could tell me where to get the sun shades they use on their outdoor displays.) Should we be worried about ph level (getting tester on monday afternoon) as I learn what the levels should be for each type of palm. Anything else we should be checking for or doing?

As we are in zone 6b and these are all youngen's, we will be bringing them in this winter, once the nights start dipping into the upper 30's but not frosts, and keeping them under growing lights. Next spring, they will be planted outside and remain there, unless I need to give them another season/year or two before planting.

Thanks for all your help and guidance. We are so looking forward to doing this, and doing this right in our Detroit suburb backyard.

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Comments (11)

galveston1602
20 years ago
It sounds like your doing ok but pics would really help, were these plant bare rooted to you or purchased from your local nusery?
pyratejim
Original Author
20 years ago
I will post pics as soon as I get home tonight. All the palms were sent bare root and were planted within a few hours of receiving them.
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catkim
20 years ago
I suspect fertilizer burn. I personally wouldn't fertilize new bareroot plants until they show active growth.

If the shadecloth is insufficient, you could have sunburn.
pyratejim
Original Author
20 years ago
Never fails, you learn something new as soon as you do the wrong thing.
I am thinking fetilizer burn as well. Besides the soil I planted them in, I placed the potash granuals around the palm adn against it (verses slightly away from the plant as I have now learned). We also watered them shorlty thereafter with the mix of liquid root start and water.

If this is the cause, what is the best remedy? Replant without all the additives?

Thanks again.
unautre
20 years ago
expect that all of them will lose their oldest leaves, and be stunted for a while, weeks or months, until they get past the transplant shock. btw, never buy one seedling or plant of anything! :)
pyratejim
Original Author
20 years ago
Working on trying to figure out how to post a few pictures here. Thanks for being patient with a newbie.
pyratejim
Original Author
20 years ago
Gave up on the picture posting and just added them to a web page. Please take a look at http://www.hrd1715.com/palms.html and let me know what you think.

Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Palms in Michigan
galveston1602
20 years ago
I think its probably best to just leave em alone. Ive never had real good luck with bareroot.. I generally buy 2-5 just to make sure i get 1 lively when going bare root.

They will probably be fine if you dont mistakenly keep em too wet trying to make them grow out of the brown tips.
cfkingfish
20 years ago
Those palms are not too particular about soil, but faster draining is always better for tropicals. You can always add perlite to add drainage.

The brown tips look like general shock, most likely from transplanting. Unless mature, Sabals just dont transplant well, especially bareroot. Neither does Rhapidophyllum, it does not like the root disturbance.
catkim
20 years ago
I would remove the saucers from under the pots to discourage overly wet roots. I might drop the shadecloth down in front of the shelf as well, these are such tiny seedlings, they may need more shade than they are getting.
pyratejim
Original Author
20 years ago
I was thiinking of trhe same thing with the saucer pots. Good for when they are indoors this winter, but not right now.

As for the shade, at no time does ANY sun light come from that direction. By the time the sun moves to that part of the sky, the garage (unseen in the pics)to the right casts its shadow over the entire set up.

Thanks