Question
Hi,

I have a indoor palm that is has been doing well, i water it once a week and plant feed every two weeks. There is a drainage hole and water does come out when i water. The plant has already sprouted two new fans.

As winter is now moving in i have started to notice yellow spots and some of the leaves are covered in them to a point the the leaf looks yellowish. I am not sure if this is a cold problem or a feeding issue.


Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer
Ashley,

Your problem could be a fungal infection but it could also be a simple pottasium deficiency. Potassium and magnesium deficiencies are two common problems.   Potassium leaches quickly from potting soils and deficiencies can be fatal to palms.  Symptoms begin as translucent yellow-orange or brown spots, marginal burn, or frizzling of the oldest leaves.  Problems show up first at the leaf tips and are less obvious at the leaf base.  Eventually entire leaves appear burnt and withered in appearance.  To prevent, use a fertilizer with sulfur-coated potassium sulfate but be sure to include magnesium in the application to avoid an imbalance.

Magnesium deficiency is common on Canary Island date palms, Phoenix canariensis, is rarely fatal but is unsightly.  Classic symptoms are a broad, lemon-yellow band along the margin of older leaves with a distinct green center along the midrib of the leaf.  To prevent, make sure magnesium is part of the fertilizer program.  Affected leaves will not resume the green color once fertilizer is applied but new leaves will be fine.

Several insect and disease problems affect palms.  One that we are seeing a lot of due to wet weather is pestalotiopsis leaf spot.  This leaf spot affects a number of palms but is more of a problem on date palms.  Control with sprays of copper based fungicides and keep irrigation water from hitting leaves. In the home you can try spraying with Lysol spray daily for a week then twice a week for another month to get rid of the fungal infections.

A website that includes pictures ofr these problems that you may want to check out is:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp142

If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene