Question
Have a 3' lady finger palm which we had outside in an enclosed hot tub gazebo.  Weather got cold and it seems to be suffering from frostbite.  Brought it in (which was not easy as it is in a heavy ceramic pot - which is why we left it out).  Thought it would be ok, but a number of the leaves (fronds?) are brittle and I have removed some of them up to the stem.  A few leaves on top are still seemingly ok.  Do you think it will recover in the house?  I am misting it twice daily. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Irene,

Rhapis Palms are tropical in origin and are easily damaged by freezing temps. Any discolored leaves (they usually turn dark brown or black when exposed to cold) should be trimmed off because they will not recover. This includes the leaf stem that attaches the frond to the main stem.

Older growth will not be replaced. All new growth comes in at the top, so you should not expect any growth on lower stems. New top growth is the Palm's future so healthy new growth is an important indicator of how healthy the plant remains. If new growth comes in damaged, it probably means that that the roots have also been seriously damaged by the cold and the plant will not recover.

Misting will not help. All you can do is to keep your Palm warm and in a bright location and be careful not to overwater. Do NOT repot or fertilize your cold damaged plant. Do be patient and allow the plant to recover at its own pace.

I have written an article on Palm care and another on cold damage that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC