Duncan,
The reason I asked about the pot is because your troubles started right after transplanting.

I got a set of pots years ago...from Vietnam I think (or maybe China).

Within 2 years of placing a 30+ year old Ficus benjamina into one of these beautiful pots, the tree was dying.
It took fully another year to die, while I frantically tried everything...gently!

I had that Ficus since it was a little stick.
It was again a stick, albeit a big one.

The only thing I didn't do was change the pot.

You've received some really good tips from the people on this forum...
Once spring hits (for sure) 😉 put it in a sheltered area on the patio where it only receives morning sun.

In the interim, you could phone the Alberta Agriculture to see if they can recommend a tissue analysis lab (for those purplish black fronds).

Or contact the Botany dept of UofA.

Or a Master Gardener? the Uof Arizona had a great online Master Gardener manual a few years ago.

Keep us informed how it's doing, please.
Barb

Hi Barb,

Thanks for the tips!

Lots of good things to try. I hope it's not the pot!

Since I first posted on this topic I've noticed some tiny orange spiders all over the plant. I can see them dangling on their webs if the light is right. I bought some 3 in 1 fungicide/ insecticide/ miticide that I will apply tomorrow.

Can't wait for spring...when it comes for real...wait that's not till July!? grrrr.

Thanks!

Duncan

Duncan, you've got good eyesight if you SAW spider mites! 😯
On the few occasions I've seen them, used thumb and forefinger...squish, gone.

Keep them away by misting with room temp water, twice a day.
If you have chlorine in your tap water, let water sit in a bucket before use both for watering and misting.
Spray up from bottom of plant 'coz the little beggars hide underneath.

Let's follow this palm's progress, please let us know how it's doing.

PS--the spider mites are not responsible for the blackish colour.
And as spring gets nearer, on mild days put the palm outside in morning sun against a house wall, then back in p.m.
Trachys love it cool, and hate a hot dry house.
Barb

Hi Barb,

I'll keep you posted and I'll increase the misting.

Can't wait to get him out of the hot/dry house!

Should I be waiting until we are past frost to put him outside, do you think? Most of the fun, for me, with these plants is pushing them in conditions that others won't sustain. I don't really want to lose them though either.

Thanks!

Duncan

Hi Duncan,
I'm retired so I have the luxury 😕 of dragging a few plants outside when it's +8 C, then back inside
a few hours later (not very long). But only with (Trachys / nanitals etc. )into an area that's sheltered from cold winds (never a north side) this time of year.

The best days to pick are those when your heating's off (sunny day), so not a huge variable between temps.

But if you're likely to get busy and forget they're outside, better wait until spring 😉
Barb

Hi Duncan,
I'm retired so I have the luxury 😕 of dragging a few plants outside when it's +8 C, then back inside
a few hours later (not very long). But only with (Trachys / nanitals etc. )into an area that's sheltered from cold winds (never a north side) this time of year.

The best days to pick are those when your heating's off (sunny day), so not a huge variable between temps.

But if you're likely to get busy and forget they're outside, better wait until spring 😉
Barb