Question

Pygmy Date Palm  
Browning leaves on PDP   QUESTION: Hi Nick,

I bought a good sized Pygmy Date Palm from Home Depot nearly a month ago.  I am a newby when it comes to plant care.  Just bought a condo and bought a few other plants as well to decorate.  This palm sits outside on my landing area in Chula Vista, CA.  The temperature has been in the low 70s during the day and in the mid-50s at night.  The plant sits in partial shade (facing west I think).  I have been watering it about once a week - - probably just under two cups or so of water and added some all purpose plant food to the water on it's first watering a few weeks ago.  Some of the outside leaves are turning brown around the edges (probably about 4 or so branchings) and the new leaves coming in (not yet spread out) look white around them.  If I stick my finger in the soil, the soil feels somewhat moist around the second nuckle.  The palm seems to lean somewhat.  I've attached two pictures.  Can you offer some suggestions as to what may be going on with my plant and what I can do to remedy the issue?  I hope to hear from you soon.  I hope it doesn't die.  This post only allows me to attach two pics.  I can send a pic of the new leaves coming in that have white around them if you want, if you can provide a way for me to send it.

ANSWER: Hi Ceil, unfortunetly your images won't materialize, but I need more info to properly help you, is it in the original container or a new one? what type of soil if you did repot it; but by what you have told me, it sounds like it needs more Sun and less water, it should have gotten an initial good watering and then left until the drainage holes become  just damp and then watered well again, most people make the mistake of watering too frequently and not enough (quantity wise) and the roots become stressed , when watered, do so until the water laks out the drainage holes. Initially you really don't need to fertilize until the roots establish themselves in their "new" container; the container it came in is merely a transit container and the plant needs to be changed out with a good quality potting mix, and if put in the ground, no augmenting of the soil is required, for it needs to adapt to the new soil. Let me know the planting it is in now so I can help you further.Nick     

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Nick,

Darn.  Wonder why the pics won't show up.  The palm is in the original pot it came in when I bought it almost a month ago...  :( Not sure what kind of soil it is in. I got it at Home Depot.  I had no clue how much water to put in the pot.  I have only been watering the soil with less than two cups!

So, sounds like I should transplant the palm, move it to my balcony where there is a little more sun and run enough water through the pot, maybe straight from the faucet on my balcony until the water comes through the holes? And then fertilize it after a few weeks or so?  Can you recommend a good potting mix?  I recently bought a bag and not sure what I have (I'm not at home).  

Also, how often would you say it would need to be watered, if watered the way you suggest?  Ewe.... I hope it survives.

Answer
Hi again, I just happened on my site to check some back answers and saw your followup, it never came through so sorry for he late response; yes, transplant it into a larger pot with about 2 inches  of pebbles lining the bottom and a good potting mix would be "Miracle-grow potting mix" for it has a light fertilizer in it, which for now will be fine for your Palm. Palms need a balanced Palm fertilizer , but your Palm is in need of establishing itself first, once it is growing new fronds then you can address a regular program of once every 3 Months, giving it a granular, but don't worry about that now. Go to Home Depot and get "Palm nutritional Spray" it comes in a small bottle and can be sprayed onto the fronds to help get nutrients into the Palms system quicker, this will give it a boost, do it once a week, you mix it per the instructions, like about a teaspoon per gallon, if my memory serves me correctly. Good luck Ceil and let me know how you make out, hopefully your question will get through this time. Nick