Iron deficiency in palm trees is primarily a cosmetic problem. Palm trees usually survive, but will exhibit green veins surrounded by yellow tissue, and this is usually seen on newest leaves first.
As the iron deficiency becomes more severe, new leaves will show extensive tip necrosis, and there will be a reduction in leaf size. Iron deficiency in palm trees is usually induced in palms growing on poorly aerated soils (compacted or over-watered) or in palms planted too deeply. Iron deficiency may occur in palms with a damaged or inadequate root system which leaves the plant unable to take up sufficient nutrients from the soil. This deficiency is much less often caused by a lack of iron in the soil, or by high pH soils.
Prevention and Treatment of Iron Deficiency
In alkaline soils, iron-deficient palms can be treated with chelated iron fertilizers. In some cases, iron deficiency symptoms can be temporarily alleviated by regular foliar applications of chelated iron or iron sulfate, but long term corrections will only occur when the poor soil aeration or proper planting depth is corrected. The rate of iron sulfate to use for foliar application is ½ teaspoon per gallon of water. Spray the foliage to runoff.
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Filed under: Palm Tree Care by
Susan Brian
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Manganese deficiency can be fatal to palm trees. This is a common problem in high pH soils (above pH 6.5) because manganese is insoluble at high pH levels. Additional causes can be high water tables or poor drainage, and excessive amounts of soil phosphorus, as it will tie up certain micronutrients, particularly manganese.
Early symptoms of manganese deficiency are yellowing between the veins accompanied by interveinal necrotic streaking on the newest leaves. If the deficiency is advanced, leaves emerge completely frizzled, withered, scorched and reduced in size.
Prevention and Treatment of Manganese Deficiency
Have a soil test performed to determine the soil pH and if necessary, adjust downward to increase the availability of manganese. Manganese sulfate applications to the soil or foliage can be used to avoid the problem. Apply 1 teaspoon manganese sulfate per gallon water to soil around the palm two or three times per year.
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Palm Trees need potassium in large amounts. Potassium deficiency is perhaps the most widespread and serious of all disorders of palms. Usually you potassium affects older leaves on the palm tree and than progresses to the newer leaves as the problem becomes more severe. You will notice translucent yellow to orange spots. There also can be black or necrotic spotting.
Leaflets will usually have areas of necrosis (dead tissue) along their margins and tips. Symptoms are worse at leaf tips and margins and less severe at the base of the leaves. As symptoms progress, tips of leaves will appear withered, burnt and frizzled. The midrib typically stays greenish-yellow for a period of time.
Potassium deficiency result can be fatal to the palm tree. Potassium tends to leach rapidly from sandy soils, and it is in these soils that potassium deficiency is more apt to occur. In heavier clay soils, the rate of potassium leaching is reduced. Deficiencies in clay soils may be more due to insufficient potassium fertilizer applied. Palm trees that are in lawns may become potassium deficient as many turf grass fertilizers are high in nitrogen, but low in potassium. Palm trees need fertilizers that contain potassium as high as or higher than the nitrogen content. Fertilize all palm trees separately from the lawn.
Prevention and Treatment of potassium deficiency
Potassium deficiency can be prevented and/or treated with applications of sulfur-coated (slow-release) potassium sulfate, but slow-release magnesium should also be applied simultaneously to prevent potassium to magnesium imbalance. If treated, necrotic leaves will not recover, but new growth should become healthy and will eventually replace the injured leaves.
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Palm Trees frequently suffer from improper mineral nutrition in the landscape. Some of the nutritional deficiencies of palm trees are nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn).
Other essential nutrients such as boron (B), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are occasionally found to be deficient if they are not present in the fertilizers applied, but these deficiencies are not very common in the landscape.
Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by insufficient nutrients in the soil, a nutrient imbalance, poor soil aeration, a high soil pH and an excessive planting depth. Here are related articles that go into more details:
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Susan Brian
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This disease can be caused by various fungal pathogens, Phytophthora species and Thielaviopsis species, as well as by bacterial pathogens. While bud rot tends to occur after a tropical storm or periods of excessive rain, bacterial bud rot tends to occur after the bud has been damaged by cold weather.
Regardless of the pathogen, disease symptoms are similar. Buds and young palm tree fronds show black lesions, and young leaves wilt. A firm rot of the bud occurs. Over time, this area may become slimy later due to secondary invaders. Older palm tree fronds may remain green for several months and are the last to die. Eventually, only the trunk remains.
Palm Trees Treatment
Avoid overhead irrigation when possible. Once infection occurs, plant recovery is unlikely. In general, infected palms should be removed and destroyed promptly to reduce disease spread.
Preventative fungicides such as copper hydroxide or copper salts of fatty acids can be used on plants exposed to the disease. I use Bonide Products Liquid Copper Fungicide.
It is very effective against Bud Rot. Make sure to apply at intervals sufficient to protect new developing tissue. Make sure to apply all fungicides at rates and spray intervals according to directions on the label.
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A lot of palm trees die from fertilizer root burn and nutritional deficiencies. To avoid these problems, use fertilizer that has continues release formula, which feeds your palm tree for few months, rather than using a cheap fertilizer that will wash away after 2-3 rains.
I personally use 
It is time to protect your palm trees from cold! To avoid the cold damage, I spray my palms with 