Our queen palm was looking sad, the fronds were wilting ,then the whole crown drooped over, needless to say I had to chop it down. The trunk was moist ( even though we are in a severe drought) and mushy, and there was a dark spot on one side. Could we have saved it by watering it heavily? Is it butt rot or insect damage?
other palm trees are showing signs of this disease(?) I am worried it is contagious and will effect some of the coconut palms and christmas palms, and that will pose a danger to the people living here, i.e. crowns falling on people or their property. Please someone help!
Did you check in the crown for damage when it fell?
the insides are black and mushy, and there is mold. There was dirt from termites and ants were crawling on it.
Some termites do like palms. Once they tunnel right through water gets in and starts the rot. Ants like termites, so as the plant started to break up it would have exposed the termites and the ants would have moved in for their meal.
Here is a site that should help you.
Edis.ifas.ufl.com
Sounds like Ganoderma Butt Rot.
Hope you find out
Another problem is if palms don't do well fr turf fertilizer they need a Palm fertilizer of 8-2-12-4Mg
Jan
