QuestionQUESTION: Hi,
I have several palms that I believe are Robellini palms. They are doing fine. But the trunks are getting covered with a greenish almost powdery looking substance (fungus? Mold?). It doesn't come off on your hands when you touch it, but it does look almost powdery. Anyway I was wondering what is safe to use to treat the trunks of these palms before it damages them?
Also I have a queen palm that currently is pushing up a new green frond. However it looks a little sparse overall and the current green fronds are starting to fall over like they were dying. I have fertilized this palm abour 3-4 months ago. Is there anything I can do to help this palm in case it is dying?
Thank you very much.
Scott
ANSWER: Hi Scott, I wouldn't be concerned about the powdery like substance, it is probably "Lichen" (no image here to go on..) which is an innocuous fungus that is just using your Palms trunk as a host; the Queen however is cause for concern, it could be a disease called Ganoderma But rot, which is an incurable disease that afflicts many varieties of Palms, especially Queens. Check the bottom of the Palm at soil level, if you see a mushroom type growth protruding from it, then your Palm is indeed doomed and there is nothing you can do about it; if however, this is not seen, then it would be indication of nutrient deficiency. Nick
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QUESTION: Hi Nick,
Thanks for the response. I am glad I don't need to worry about the Lichen on the palm.
On the queen palm I do not see the mushroom growth yet. However about 6 feet away was a robellini that died. I assumed it was from lack of any sun as it was totally shaded by lots of other trees. I cut it down a year ago. Now that I am looking at the remnants of the stump at ground level it has mushroom growth on it. I assume with the Queen so close that it could have spread to the Queen.
So my next question is that I have one more Queen palm that looks totally healthy, but is also about 6 feet from that mushroom growth. Aside from removing that mushroom growth is there anything I can do while the other Queen looks totally healthy to protect it? It is a very tall Queen and I would hate to lose it.
Thanks again.
Answer...Pray Scott,,,,thats about all that can help with this disease,,,it is spread by spores, and usually proximity Palms eventually get afflicted if one is in close proximity. It is a slow death, taking upwards of 6 months to a year to cause total collapse of the crown, but there is yet hope if you don't see the telltale sign, the dreaded mushroom. Nick
