Why Are Pygmy Date Palm Fronds Turning Brown?
Question: I have 3 Pygmy Palms in containers near my pool (west Texas) and for the last two years I have had a problem with the tips of the fronds turning a rusty brown, then yellow before the green area of the frond. Some of the leaves have what appears to be small lesions, same rusty brown. This seems very similar to the red spot that attacked my Red tips (photinia) about three years ago. I have used the same fungicide on the palms as I used on the red tips, which are now free of fungus(after two years treatment).
I have seen a suggestion that this could be a magnesium and potassium sulfate deficiency? I use Super Bloom in all of my patio containers about every three weeks and I water daily or every two days as days are cooling and soil is not drying as fast. One tree has 3 trunks and is about 5 ft tall, the other two have not grown as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You.
Answer: Palms are very sensitive plants. Sometimes it is very hard to figure out what’s wrong. This problem could be a nutrient deficiency. Use a good quality fertilizer that has a slow release formula and see if this helps. After applying fertilizer, wait for a few months and see how new growth is developing. If new fronds don’t have the same problem, then just keep using that fertilizer. ~Susan Brian
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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 
I recently bought a date palm with 3 trunks. Winter came. We covered them when it got below freezing. 2 smallest trunks have no green and the big trunk has brown leaves hanging but green coming from the center and on the top of the brown leaves. Help…This is the 2nd palm and hubby says no more. Christmas palm did noto make it the winter before. Live in south Ga by Fl border