Question
I have numerous potted Majasty Palms.  The ones on the front porch healthy...the one on the screened in back porch has recently developed lumps and bumps on several of it's stems and has lost at least one complete fond with others beginning to yellow and die.  I overwinter all of these plants together in a well light room off the garage....I am concerned that the unhealthy plant will infest/infect the healthy ones....can you please advise what might be the cause of the lumps and is there something that I can treat it with now prior to "garaging" all of them together.  I will not bring them all together for at least another month.

Answer
Hi Lisa,

I thought I had answered your question, but perhaps not.  I am sorry if you have not received an answer yet.

First, it would be a great help to have any photos that you can provide.  If you have any close-up (the closer, the better)photos to show these malformations, it would really help.  

There are so many different types of pathogens or pests that affect the normal development of a plant.

You are very right to be concerned about exposing your healthy plants to the "diseased" one, even though there is no confirmed diagnosis.

If your climate allows, keep the diseased plants outdoors until the night temperatures drop to near-freezing (4 C or 40F).  These night temperatures will not kill the palm, but you may be able to find out what the problem might be.

What are the sizes of these "lumps and bumps"?  Where exactly do they appear?  Where do they NOT appear?  For example, are these always located on the fronds, or are there some also on the trunk?  

Oftentimes, small "bumps" are really a small insect: a scale insect.  Scale insects are small (1/8" ~ 3 mm), are oftentimes brown in color, and the adult females attach firmly to the plant parts and establish feeding sites. They are sap sucking insects that drain the sap from the plants parts, thus depriving the fronds or leaves little energy from photosynthesis, thus leading to yellowing and leaf drop.  Scale insect infestations are often accompanied by a sticky residue called honeydew which attracts ants.  

The juvenile insects are mobile and are often found at the parts of the plants where the fronds join the stems.  Examine your plant very, very carefully for the juveniles.  The mature scales can be removed from the frond with a little bit of effort, and the plant tissue under the scale will have a definite yellow to light green appearance.

Send any photos to me at:

[email protected]