Question
QUESTION: Hello! I live in Cyprus (hence, Mediterranean weather) and had to replant 2 large fan palms (approx. 20 years old each about a year ago. I asked for advise from experts for how to replant them and followed all the instructions. The one is fine, has new fresh leaves. The other does not look well, its leaves have dried. How can I tell if the whole palm has dried? I keep watering it as usual hoping that it was just shocked by the move and may leaf again. Is there anything I can do to help it?

ANSWER: Hi Elena, by what you have said, it sounds like the one that is failing may be experiencing a stress from the planting, and whenever fronds begin to brown out you can usually point a finger at the roots, either too much water (usually) or too little (seldom); Fan Palms also tend to become sunburned more easily then other palms, hence the tendency to use them in locations where they are exposed to a more shadier condition. Watch the center (emerging) frond, if this too is browning, then back off the watering and see if it turns around for you. Only you know how much water has been placed on those roots, so judge accordingly and don't be afraid to dig down aside of them and see if its extraordinarily wet there. Nick

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QUESTION: Thanks for the advice Nick! I greatly appreciate it! I feel very sad each time I look at the palm and see its dried up leaves. Its a shame! It's nice and big. If all its leaves dry out, do you think it still has chances of growing new ones? Is it just a matter of getting the watering right again? Also, its winter here and of course the palm is watered by the rain, do you think it will help to cover it? Is there any supplement that I could water it with so as to help? Once again, thanks Nick!

Answer
....the fact that one is fine and the other one is declining leads again to the roots and I am thinking that when it was lifted from its original location the roots may have been compromised and the damage is now manifesting itself. Wait and watch, and try to be patient, but do investigate the roots if you can by digging down around them , you will be amazed at what you can see, like no expansion of the original root system, or just a small spreading, or rotted areas, where the root system has died away in sections, etc. Nick