Looks like a water issue to me (i.e. not enough...). Is the soil dry to the touch? Is the spear still green and firm? If the spear is okay, then I wouldn't worry too much, the new growth will replace the damage once the palm is moved back outside!

Who carries Trachycarpus in Calgary?

Cheers,
Paul

P.S. You're not in trouble until your tachy goes into decline and starts to look like this:
That's what a completely defoliated 3-4 year old Trachy looks like in Spring afer a zone 5 winter!

Doesn't look like over watering....BTW I am the local expert on the subject of over watering...............I must say I have never seen leaves turn black like that on a trachy before.

Looks like a water issue to me (i.e. not enough...). Is the soil dry to the touch? Is the spear still green and firm? If the spear is okay, then I wouldn't worry too much, the new growth will replace the damage once the palm is moved back outside!

Who carries Trachycarpus in Calgary?

Thanks Paul,

My watering regimen has been pretty much once a week (thoroughly, with residual water coming out the bottom). I thought this might even be too much. The spear is firm and green though.

One of our "Goldenacres" stores had some trachys. They were just mixed in with the indoor tropicals. I was pretty pumped to see it though last June. Thanks for advice...its just the black discoloration that's got me concerned.

Cheers!

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WOW, I think once a week while indoors in the Winter is WAY TO MUCH!!!

Hey Cowtown;

Welcome to the forum. Now there are 3 of us from Alberta.

Is the Trachy near a forced air heat vent? Does the water pour out the bottom of the pot immediately and does the dish the pot is sitting in have standing water in it?

IF hot dry air is flowing over the pot you could be overheating the roots. Or the top inch of soil will dry out while the rest is wet. If the water is pouring out the bottom quickly, you may only be watering a small section of the soil. If peat moss dries out it will not easily absorb water. You would need to leave the pot submerged in standing water for several hours to saturate the soil before letting the water completely drain out of the pot. I would use room temperature tap water that has been left out 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate.

I have seen black plants before and it is usually from overwatering. But usually most of the plant is black or turning black.

Allen

Yeah, once a week is a lot for indoor palms. I was watering mine once every two weeks and still got some water damage.

Welcome Cowtown. I think the problem with the Trachy is two fold.First you transplanted during winter in which the palm is going dormant.Transplant only in the spring or summer.Those roots might be rotting because they are not expanding in the new soil. Lack of light will make the lower fronds age prematurely. That is anything under 10 hours strong sunlght or 600 to 1000 watts of artificial overhead lighting. Spring should bring it around. You might want to try some epsom salts to green it up this April or May. Mix 1 tbs of epsom salts to 1 gal water. Apply once more in July. Hope this helps.

John

Are you fertilizing the palm? It looks like it might be burning from too much.

Thanks so much everybody for the warm welcome and advice!

Allen, lately, when I do thoroughly water, the water has been running through awfully fast. Not too close to forced air however, and I do let chlorine evaporate before watering. Pot is raised in dish, so it doesn't sit in water.

John, I think the transplant was mis-timed...I over estimated the amount of sunlight from this window (which has been less than 2 hours direct at darkest times of winter). I'll do that with the salts..hurry up spring! 11c (52f) today...which means absolutely nothing in Calgary where these temps are normal all year (so is -10 in April and May though)!

Other variables: no fertilizing since re-potting, maybe too much water?

Hopefully, my trachy will respond favorably to the outside in the spring...I'd sure like to see signs of growth before I push him in a Calgary spring though.

Anyways, thanks all...look forward to picking everyone's brains on these things!

Duncan

I would try some fungicide/bactericide. The indoor climate with moist soil favors fungus/bacteria. Your palm looks very healthy so it shouldn't have much trouble recovering if it is being attacked.

I would try some fungicide/bactericide. The indoor climate with moist soil favors fungus/bacteria. Your palm looks very healthy so it shouldn't have much trouble recovering if it is being attacked.

Sounds good turtile. Are there palm specific fungicides that I should use?

Thanks!

PS How did you fit that Weather Underground "banner" or "sticker" into your signature without exceeding the character limit?

I use Physan 20 mainly but I also use a type of Systemic fungicide (not sure of the exact chemical) and Copper Sulfate.

I only linked the image file for the weather banner.

Hi Duncan, welcome aboard!

Yup, once a week watering is too often in winter, even in a warm house.
BTW, if you have a cooler room, i.e. one that has a colder floor/over a garage, sunny, your Trachy would be happier.

It's often not as simple as looking at one or two fronds.
Maybe you could post a pic of the entire plant, including pot.
Barb

ps--Calgary has Spring? 😆 😆

EDIT: Duh! saw the first pic. Looks pretty darn good.
2nd EDIT: Jeez, too much coffee (bzzzzzt). Is the pot glazed or unglazed inside? Do you know where the pot was made?

Hi Lucky1!

Thanks for the reply!

I don't know where the pot was made. It's not glazed though.

You think it looks okay, despite the lower black fronds?

I wish I did have such a room. My set up is not ideal for my hobby.

Thanks!