When to know if it's fully dead?

skutch · Post by **skutch** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:26 pm

So I had posted in another topic that both my trachy's spear pulled after the horrendous winter here in NJ. I cut off all the dead fronds, pulled the spears and sprayed copper fungicide in the middle. Also cut the trunk to get most of the black rot gone as best I could, but that meant cut to the ground. But below the ground it seemed there was some live tissue which was yellowish green in the center and alive, but surrounded by the black mush. I cleaned as much out as I could, and again treated with copper fungicide. One palm seems to be pushing the center area upwards, but very very slowly and the other one is still just a stub of what looks like a former petiole that never made it from last fall in the middle. If I scrape it with a fingernail, it seems very whitish, firm and alive. But overall, there's not much happening after 2 months now. Should I continue to wait and monitor this? And even if both palms recover and send up new fronds, what are the chances these palms will survive this coming winter? I'd obviously give them better protection, but I've heard once the spear pulls, the strength of the plant is very diminished... Is this true?

On another note, I had a $7.99 majesty palm from Home Depot I planted in the ground last summer and obviously just let die. When I went to pull it out, the fronds were mush, but the center was white and alive and the roots were all perfectly growing. It hasn't shot up any fronds, but I found it odd that one of the most tropical of tropical palms still has living roots after this winter and 2 fairly protected very hardy palms are going through hell... oh well... Any advice is appreciated!

Brooklands · Post by **Brooklands** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:53 pm

It really doesn't sound too likely that the sadder trachy will live, but the one pushing in the middle could possibly have a chance. It really depends on how prime the spot is in your garden. If you aren't in desperate need to have something nice there, then why not give it a chance. Unfortunately, you are correct about next winter. With it being mid June, if you aren't already seeing robust recovery, next winter's prospects are more challenging.

The Majesty is a now a zombie palm. The growth bud is gone, so he plant has no heart. Some of the bigger palms can keep some leaves and roots for years after the bud has frozen out, but they never grow again. It's a bit wierd. The leaves feed the roots, and the roots look great, but the palm really is dead, and just doesn't look it. Your Majesty should be removed.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:32 pm

the center was white and alive

Sounds like an oxymoron

Dead as a doornail.

skutch · Post by **skutch** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:03 pm

I meant white as in new tissue... I assume that means alive and not dead as a doornail since it's brand new growth..

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:16 pm

Just joshing with you.

When my palms' spears go white, they're generally cooked.
Glad yours is fine.

Barb

skutch · Post by **skutch** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:02 am

I wouldn't say it's fine by any means. I guess instead of white, I should've said it just seemed like live tissue growth. Who knows. But with every passing day I'm losing hope for them... Not to mention because of the extremely harsh winter we just had, most of the nurseries around here that carried Windmills are not getting them this year