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Year after year I keep getting these huge black tips on my Trachy, I fertilized in spring with palm food and water once a week maybe more. The only thing I can think of is when I water it's to much at once or to much fertilizer. It's about 4 foot tall and is in a very large pot it has proper dranage, used a triple mix soil.

Windmill Palm guy wrote:Year after year I keep getting these huge black tips on my Trachy, I fertilized in spring with palm food and water once a week maybe more. The only thing I can think of is when I water it's to much at once or to much fertilizer. It's about 4 foot tall and is in a very large pot it has proper dranage, used a triple mix soil.

Can we see a pic???

I'll have to use my other computer to post the pictures but I will have a few up tommorow.

Hey Windmill Guy,
Black tips sound like a moisture issue to me. If the tips where burnt and yellow I would say fertilizer.

If it's been in the pot long enough and you thinks the roots are strong you could pull it out of the pot with help and check to see if the roots are ok. I guess this will depend how big the pot is though, if the roots break getting it out that won't be very helpful for it. You'll know the answer to that one.

What kind of pot is it?

Bill

Read somewhere that too much water vs. not enough water looks the same on plants.

Chlorinated water?
I let my watering buckets sit for a day (to warm up and hopefully some of the chlorine will dissipate too).

Interested in your pictures.
Barb

Ok so here are some pictures, I'm on a well system my water tests out perfect. I think its my lack of drainage in my pot. I'm going to put a few more holes in it tonight, by the way how does it look other than the frustrating black tips. It's over 4 ft now...

Any ideas guys?

There's NO pot drainage?
Gotta be water then.

I water my (drainage) pots until water runs out the bottom, then let palms heat up again for a couple of days in hot weather before watering again.
But during really hot weather Trachies can use water every day.

Nice-looking palm by the way.
Barb

Yes, very nice looking Trachy.
I have the same issue on some of mine and just assumed it was a normal Trachycarpus thing.
Guess I need to examine my watering regime. --Erik

Thanks for the comments on my trachy, I guess it's in food shape other than the drainage issue wich I have just fixed ( hopefully). I try and keep it well fertilized with palm food along with other micro elements.

In case roots are still soggy, applying fungicide as a soil drench will prevent root problems.

Your first pic shows a bit of soil under the pot edge, so there must be SOME drainage?

Tough to drill holes in ceramic pots without cracking them.
Even tougher to drill holes in the bottom of ceramic pots when they're full of soil and a gorgeous palm.


Barb

It looks like flash release from excessive fertilizer. Does the dieback(black tips) get worse after you water heavily? If so, use 1/3 to 1/4 of your current fertilizer application.

Matter of fact yes it does get worse with the more I water. I will cut back on the fertilizer, thank you all for the help.

Ps I drilled close to ten new drainage holes in the pot.

Any chance to store rain water and water with that?

Sometimes city water with all it's chemicals is rough on palms and other sensitive plants like
spider plants and ferns.

Good info, I'm actually on a well system my water tests out perfect. I'm cutting back on the fertilizer and water. I'll see how it goes. The holes I drilled seem to be spitting out water like crazy!