Question
Foxtail palm
We planted 6 ten foot foxtail palm trees in our yard 7 months ago. Three of them didn't make it. But the other three don't seem to improve much. The leaves are kind of brownish and there no new branches. Is there anything could be done to make them better?
AnswerHi Pablo, I have a feeling that your loss may have been from frost damage this year. First, remove the portions of the fronds that are completely brown. About mid-May, prune the remaining portions only after new growth becomes vigorous.
If you remove too many fronds too soon, you will be placing additional stress. Not only will a vital nutrient source be lost, but growth capacity will be diminished by reducing photosynthesis. All plants including palms make their food through photosynthesis in the green plant parts. The more green leaves, or even partially green leaves, you remove, the less food the palm can produce.
Despite what the labels say, fertilizer is not plant food. Fertilizer is a combination of nutrients. The actual 揻ood?needed for growth comes from photosynthesis in the form of sugars. If you remove too many leaves just because they are ugly, then you are removing the limited food production needed for new leaves.
Then I would get some Atomic Grow which raises the brix in the plant (sugar is brix) the higher the sugar content the healthier your plant. And it is also organic made from food and can be used on all your plants so bugs and disease go somewhere else. kathy
