Question
I need help with my majestic palm :(
Yes, I fell prey to the mass produced/department store scheme and bought a majestic palm for indoors. I've had mine for a year and it now has multiple problems. Not such a big surprise now that i've been researching a bit. It's 4 ft, in a 12" pot. I admit to not watering properly, no drainage system, and I'm pretty sure it has spider mites. I try to give it as much light as possible, but the reality is it gets very little. I frankly don't deserve this plant. I also have these tiny yellow shrooms/fungi coming up from the soil now. I know I should probably hose it down, wash it, repot it and start all over if it is still possible to save it and start giving it palm food. I recently found this stuff called 'Efficient Microbes' which is super concentrated bacteria you can put in water and it basically competes with the bad guys for their food source leaving (healthier?) more acidic soil. I gave my plant a healthy dose of this stuff and the next morning the newest frond had bloomed almost miraculously. There is also a new baby one coming up from among the older diseased ones. Some of the larger fronds still have dried brown tips to them from the harsher days of neglect and are yellowing. Can I still rescue my poor plant particularly from the mites and fungus? I live in Missouri where the soil is very clay. How bad would the clay-like soil be for this plant, and how often should it be repotted (if given the right soil type)? I love a challenge!

Thanks!

Grace H.

Answer
Hi Grace,

You really are asking for a miracle here! Majesty palms are the one plant I flat out do not recommend to anyone as a houseplant. They need too much light, water and fertilizer and they are magnets for spider mites. They rarely survive longer than a year indoors.

The fact that your watering is erratic and the light is inadequate, there is no drainage, and spider mites have already taken hold means there is almost no long term hope for this plant.

"Efficient microbes" did not cause the emergence of the new frond overnight. The frond was in formation for weeks earlier. The timing was coincidental.

A heavy clay soil is not good for this plant. It needs a porous potting mix such as it is potted in by the growers. You cannot improve on that. There is no reason to repot at all.

Treat the spider mites by thoroughly drenching all of the leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet with a solution of soapy water. Repeat this in a week.

Frankly, my advice is to get rid of this plant before the mites spread to other plants.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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