I've never seen anything in my 40 years of growing them like that! My pindos have experienced the fringes of Hugo (80-90 mph) with no damage. I have had squirrels do some freaky things in my yard. Any evidence of chew marks?

Thanks for the experienced reply.
No signs of chew marks. Also, my dogs keep squirrels far away.
There is no distinct crease in the petiole base, which is what I usually find after animal damage to small palms (e.g., the small new Sabal minor has already lost a frond to dog damage).
I sprayed a bit of copper fungicide just in case it is disease. We have TS Hermine coming so I want to make a recovery plan before then.
--Erik

I am not sure I get what you are saying here.

Is it that your Butia fronds are bent one way now?

We had similar winds out of the south the past few days and it seems
like the bases of the leaves could have just been bent by having constant stress on them.

Nothing a strong North wind couldn't straighten out,ehh?-or are they sheltered on that side?

Jim,
the six new fronds are leaning to the left in the photo (north). I can lift them up, but then they just lay down again. So, I doubt a sustained north wind would "fix" them.
Is it possible they grew so fast that they didn't make enough lignin to hold themselves up? If so, I'll just let them lie and hope for slower growth next year.
On the bright side, my palm hut won't have to be as tall as I planned. Just wider. --Erik

Hmmm....interesting. My guess, and that's all it is, is that either a deer or some wayward drunk trampled it.

No deer--dogs keep them far away.
I'm the only wayward drunk and it wasn't me! 😆
Is there any "weak petiole disease" you know of?
They are not soft to the touch, like mushy plant tissue I am familiar with. It just seems like they got too heavy and lay down, but they did it all at once (well, in a 30 minute period when I was indoors watching the news). I'm really baffled. --Erik

OK, what about phytophora/bud rot? Could I have been over-watering and promoted fungal growth?

http://palm_doctor.homestead.com/palm5.html

--Erik

Any little buggies chewing away between the petiole and trunk?

Not that I can see, and I've been looking.
So, of my 3 original hypotheses--wind, animals and disease--I am thinking disease.
Wind? Well, it wasn't that bad. Musa wasn't tattered. The brand new Sabal who have never been outdoors could take it.
Animals? Big animals would have creased petioles. Little ones would have nibbled.
Also, I have been watching it like a hawk and it is steadily if slowly getting worse. I would have noticed animals. Plus there is not wind. Hence, disease. By default.
I had some left over copper fungicide from last Spring I had found to spray on that yellowing Sago, so I sprayed a bunch in the crown and petiole bases there this morning. Can't hurt, right?
Any more suggestions?
--Erik

Erik, I shouldn't even chime in here 'coz mine died this year but I know how much that palm means to you.

My butia's decline began in the house late winter, the color of fronds got lighter and they hung down as though too tired to stand up.
The collapse continued until all fronds except the central leader were touching the floor.

Root fungus, but too small an application of fungicide obviously wasn't enough and it died by spring.

I recall John mentioning that he thoroughly soaks the palm and soil with the fungicide, as it's possibly a root fungus.

I'm hoping it's just taking a break after all your heat.
That would be good. 😐

Barb,
thanks. What you are describing sounds similar to what mine is doing. 😥
Does the hydrogen peroxide trick work for in-ground palms?
It saved W's Washy....
--Erik

But Erik, only one side of yours are drooping, probably from wind.
Unless frond color is fading quickly, I wouldn't worry.

Fungicide never hurts (so people say), and copper seems to be the preferred choice.
But hydrogen peroxide, I believe, can be used more safely as a soil soak, as John had advised earlier.
I can't see why hydrogen peroxide wouldn't work as well on in-ground-as container-palms.

I hope you're worries are unfounded.
Barb

😉

Sorry for being so late on this. A soil issue has to be the problem, do you have fungus around the tops of any of your plants? I'm betting root rot is your problem. The soil must be holding water some how. Just a guess but most likely the cause. I'd treat the soil and stop watering or dig it up.

Sorry Erik, I hope you can fix this before winter.

Bill

Erik I am inclined to agree with Bill. You have an issue with your roots and possible rot. I don`t recall my 2 Butia.capitata`s with spear pull exibiting any twist in the petioles or fronds . The palm is telling you something bad is happening deep root level. Do something now IMO. "YES" you can treat your B.capitata roots with hydrogen peroxide now and wait for better results. "No guarantee". A large palm like yours will have roots reaching deep possibly 5 ft" or more by now and will need a dose of 3% diluted "hydrogen peroxide" to reach down to what could be ground water?It could be possible other ground contamination is the culprit. You are doing it a favor by giving it O2 for the lateral roots and deeper tap roots. I would suggest a treatment of "3%" H.P. 5 cups per 5 gal.Pour it slowly on the soil surface around Butia once per week and water the next day to force the H.P down to see any if the older petioles-fronds improve or new crown growth gets better! http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/gardening-with-hydrogen-peroxide.html

John