Whichever you want to call it this week, it's turning yellow. It started 2 summers ago when the temps were very high and it had some scorched leaves, it held up ok and pushed out a few more normal leaves in the fall. Last summer it did the same thing. Now fast forward to right now and almost the whole crown is yellow. I am familiar with nutrient needs of palms. This one has been growing in the same spot for about 14 years without a hitch and only in the last few growing seasons has it gotten more yellow in color. I have applied a fertilizer specific to palms around it, and also a generous helping of manganese sulfate which is supposed to help palms remain green. It's only been a week or so since application and this week has been very cold and wet so I don't expect to see any results for at least another month or so when the weather really warms up.
Question for those who have experienced this firsthand, will the yellow leaves return to a green color or will they remain yellow and only new leaves be green again?
Sorry I don't have a photo at the moment. This tree is good sized with 5' of clear trunk under the crown. All of the other palms on the property are normal.
Watcha got?
Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
The new fronds should hopefully turn back to green, the old will stay yellow. There is a Butia nearby that has yellow fronds and seemed to be stressed I’m some way, maybe nutrients. They were yellow before the February 2021 freeze, the palm survived probably 3°F and came back. The new fronds were still yellow. I would figure if the palm were in decline or unhealthy it wouldn’t have survived that event. I would just fertilize and give it extra water.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
Yeah that's kind of what I figured. I was going to create a basin around it to deliver more water 4 or 5 feet around the trunk. Palm fertilizer is not very potent either, I was going to dig 6 or 8 holes within the basin and pour a cup into each hole then bury and water in good. I have found surface application just lets it wash away.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
Here’s the tree I’m referring to. I’m growing quite concerned with it. I dont want to lose it I’ve had it for a long time.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
The new growth seems like it’s a little greener, a complete new leaf will dictate that in a few more weeks.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
Still pushing out some semi green leaves.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
All of mine are in containers and roasted. I should have put shade cloth over my palms, I lost a number of them this summer despite regularly watering.
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Re: Butia capitata or odorata turning yellow
Looking better every week. I’m pleased with the progress. I may have been giving it too much water in the hopes that’s what it wanted, in fact it may be just the opposite and wanted it’s soil to dry out. I haven’t watered the area for several weeks now and it seems to be responding well.
The severe summer we had in 20 may have cooked the leaves still forming deep within the trunk and that’s what was coming out yellow for 2 years now, they’re just now growing out green again. Only time will tell.
The severe summer we had in 20 may have cooked the leaves still forming deep within the trunk and that’s what was coming out yellow for 2 years now, they’re just now growing out green again. Only time will tell.
Don't California my Arizona!