Question
Our 2 Royal Palms (40')were transplanted Oct. 19.  We have been watering them slowly for a few hours every other day and have applied transplanting solution to them a week apart.  They are showing some signs of stress - some fronds have begun to turn brown on the ends.  How soon can we apply palm tree fertilizer and at what point do we stop watering every other day?  We live in Bonita and have had no rain.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Connie, continue to water them for another week, the stress is normal, especially for such a large Palm; it is the newly emerging fronds that will tell the tale of the tape. The existing fronds will brown at the tips and the lower ones may very well brown out completely; what is happening, is the roots are undergoing a transition from the nursery wrap they came in, to a developing  and expanding root system, and this takes time. You won't be fertilizing them until well into the Spring, for the roots system needs to take hold before it will uptake any nutrients;  It may well be 6 months before you finally will see a healthy palm with new and green fronds, especially given the fact that it is getting into Winter. Be patient, and don't fret about the existing condition; check back with me in a month or so, and let me know how they are looking. Nick