Is this normal?

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:33 pm

I brought my potted trachy inside for the winter about two weeks ago. It's really been growing like a weed inside. It has one new frond now and another growing fast behind it. I noticed that the older fronds toward the bottom of the trunk have been slowly turning black. Is it normal for older fronds to die off on the trachy to allow more nutrients for the newly emerged growth? I attached a couple pictures below.

-Ryan

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:00 pm

Hey Ryan. Some of my older leaves near the bottom are a bit brow/black at the tips similar to your's. I think it's just the older ones dying off.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:33 pm

I am wondering if the air is super dry in your house or if it's the tap water.
It does have a lot of closely packed leaves on it so maybe it try to find it's equilibrium.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:49 pm

Ryan, look really closely at the leaves for spider mites, there a pain in the ass and could be on there. If not just cut the black unsightly parts off with scissors. As for the tap water I leave mine out in the air for 2-3 days to get rid of the crap chlorine.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:01 pm

We would need a close up pic of the leaves to see if they are spider mites,if they are I'm sure wxman will take it off your hands for you!

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:11 pm

Looks like Bill is right. Seems the plant has mites!! Atleast that's what it appears to be. There is very small white looking bugs crawling around on the fronds. I've never dealt with these buggers before so im guessing that is what's causing the fronds to brown? What's the method of getting rid of these?

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:16 pm

BTW, my personal weather station gives me inside hum / temp. The humidity levels average between 20 and 30%. Temps average between 70-76F.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:19 pm

It's ok Ryan, cut the fronds off that are damaged looking and throw them outside in the trash. Then you need to make a soap and water solution in a spray bottle, dish soap or what ever you got. Jim prefers the lemon kind

! I'd say about a table spoon or two, depending on the size of the bottle. Bring it to the shower and spray the crap out of it top and bottom of the leaves. Then get some neem concentrate at lowes and spray it with that every 5 day for 3 applications or so. That will do the trick for cheap.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:23 pm

And if that doesn't work,I know wxman will take it

Tablespoon per gallon(lemon)bugs hate it and it smells nice!

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:33 pm

Thanks! I'll give that a try. Should I cover the soil with something to prevent the soap from getting in it?

Okanagan desert-palms · Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:38 pm

To me it looks very typical of bringing a Trachy from relatively cold outside transition to a dry and warm inside. I have seen this many times and it happened again this fall with one of my 3 gal T. fortunei nainital. The ones in my garage look great while the one in the house older fronds turned black instead of a natural brown. I would suggest keeping the heat down closing registers ect.
http://okanaganpalms.multiply.com/photo ... 0#photo=74

John

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 3:58 pm

If your just using dish soap it won't hurt the soil,it actually helps open it up.
Are you sure they are spider mites?
Do you see little webs?
I recommend spraying plants every other day with the lemon scented dish soap 2 weeks before you bring them in.
It can be very difficult to get rid of them inside as most people do not take the time to spray often enough-
Good luck

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:26 pm

Thanks. I'm guessing they are. These were really small white things. I only saw maybe 6 on the palm. Didn't see any webs. I just sprayed the whole plant down in the shower with water and soap. They are gone now whatever they were. I'll check back on it in a few days and see if any more appear.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:42 pm

Your headed in the right direction for sure Ryan, get the neem concentrate for 10 bucks and you'll never have this problem again. At least until you run out of neem, I keep pitching the neem because it's better then the soap. Take it from someone that has over 100 nanas inside my roof, trust me soap is fine if you want to spend all winter spraying it. If you want to do it every 3-4 weeks neems for you.

Bill

rp4111 · Post by **rp4111** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:32 pm

I will definitely pick some of that up Bill. Thanks.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:52 pm

Hi Ryan,
When you spray the palm, spray up into it 'coz the little beggars are always UNDER the leaves, hardly ever sitting on top.
Adjust the spray nozzle so it's droplets (not Mist) and spray really hard all the way around.

No webs at all? probably not spider mite.

Let us know how it does.
Barb

Okanagan desert-palms · Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:21 pm

It`s a bug thing yes!
John