Lots of Palm Questions from a Newbie

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BLazeD

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#306893 1-Sep-2023 09:58

Hi all, I have some questions about my palms. Please reply using the same numbers. Thank you!

1. What type of palm is this?

2. Is this yellow leaf one dead?

3. Are these things weeds? They seem to pop out where the gray old "skin" is

4. After removing the old "skin" there is this thin white layer left sometimes. Do I need to remove this too, and what is the best tool for removing it?

5. After I removed the dead "skin" sometimes there is these fat trunk parts too. Do I need to do anything?

tehgerbil

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#3122558 1-Sep-2023 10:24

Hey,

That Palm is perfectly happy and healthy.

Yes - They are the flower/seed stalks which will eventually fruit/flower.

No, don't remove the sheath as it protects the growing buds underneath.

If you do it's introducing a vector for diseases and bugs to ingress into the plant.

Some people do remove the sheaths for cosmetic reasons, just be wary of the above.

The plant will naturally shed its older leaves, the lowest leaf you've identified as yellowing/browning is the plant shutting down production in this leaf, eventually it will turn brown and fall off.

You may preemptively remove this leaf (carefully with very very sharp clean scissors or knife.) as it's an otherwise healthy plant which won't stunt its growth but may scar if not removed cleanly.

In image 4 I note there's a lot of white fluff, while some palms do produce this naturally it's also possible to be a mealybug infestation.

I'd recommend you take a close up picture or remove a leaf with fluff attached and take it into your local garden store for further identification.

Hope this helps. :)

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek
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#3122638 1-Sep-2023 12:09

Hi, and thanks, very helpful! Some follow up questions/comments below. I had to make them in 2 posts because the system wouldn't let me quote you 4 times at once :)

That Palm is perfectly happy and healthy.

Awesome. I use irrigation on it during summer and also spray that seaweed plant food stuff on in every 6 weeks.

No, don't remove the sheath as it protects the growing buds underneath.

If you do it's introducing a vector for diseases and bugs to ingress into the plant.

The sheath is the brown skin I was referring to right? If so, bugger, because I went and removed it all this morning, because I thought it was "bad" because the flower things were sprouting out of it

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

#3122640 1-Sep-2023 12:09

The plant will naturally shed its older leaves, the lowest leaf you've identified as yellowing/browning is the plant shutting down production in this leaf, eventually it will turn brown and fall off.

You may preemptively remove this leaf (carefully with very very sharp clean scissors or knife.) as it's an otherwise healthy plant which won't stunt its growth but may scar if not removed cleanly.

Cool, thanks! I will just leave them in that case.

In image 4 I note there's a lot of white fluff, while some palms do produce this naturally it's also possible to be a mealybug infestation.

The white stuff is definitely from the palm. It's just another layer of skin/left over sheath. I can scrap it off with my fingernail. Am I guessing you would advise I just leave it alone?

Thanks again

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

#3122643 1-Sep-2023 12:12

Yes - They are the flower/seed stalks which will eventually fruit/flower.

Just to confirm - so removing these is fine? I figured doing so would give the power more energy towards growing palms.

Thanks again

eracode

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#3122707 1-Sep-2023 15:15

Given the underlying tech overtones on GZ, from the thread title I wondered whether your query was along these lines:

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

tehgerbil

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#3122715 1-Sep-2023 15:47

1 - It looks to be a Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Costaricana) too, sorry missed that question!

2 - The sheath is the brown skin I was referring to right? If so, bugger, because I went and removed it all this morning, because I thought it was "bad" because the flower things were sprouting out of it. - Not bad, some may call them unsightly so not unusual to remove them, and you're totally good with doing so just ensuring the wound/exposed immature wood it was protecting is adequately hardening over time.

3 - Just to confirm - so removing these is fine? I figured doing so would give the power more energy towards growing palms. - Indeed, cut the flowering petiole just an inch or so away from the stem with a sharp clean knife, ensuring the cut is at 45deg to prevent moisture pooling on the open wound. Then wait for the remainder of the petiole to die and it should easily pull away from the stem of the plant.

E.g.

It's a really beautiful specimen, I love you feed it, and you really can tell it receives a lot of TLC! Whatever you're doing, keep it up. :)

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qwertee

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#3122752 1-Sep-2023 18:54

eracode:

Given the underlying tech overtones on GZ, from the thread title I wondered whether your query was along these lines:

Me too Ha ha I was once the owner of the more blocky palm device.