Robusta question, this is weird!

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Hey guys,

I got this robusta last fall for free from the local garden center because they had it just planted outside and they were gonna let it die. So I took it home and potted it up. It went into transplant shock and lost all but 1 frond, but regrew 3 over the winter in my basement lighted plant room. I planted it outside three days ago and it has been in the 70s during the day and 50s at night with partly sunny skies. The problem is, that it's starting to feel "rubbery" to me and the petioles are twisting funny. It's leaning all to one side (the direction the wind is blowing toward). The trunk feels rubbery near the base, the petioles feel rubbery and can be twisted easily, and the spear is even rubbery feeling. Also the end of the leaflets are curling inward on a few fronds. Any ideas? Here are some pics.

Leaning all to one side, even the fronds that are supposed to be on that side.

Twisted petiole. Why??

Curling leaflets.

All my other plants, including the 2 robustas that I brought outside, but left in pots are not doing this.

Soil temperature is 60F.

Posted : 02/04/2010 9:13 pm

Okanagan desert-palms

(@okanagan-desert-palms)

Posts: 1603

Noble Member

I have had many Washingtonias over the last few years doing what is happening to you. I`ve lost my fair share before I started using hydrogen peroxide to treat fungus pathogens in the soil last year. I`ve saved many that otherwise would be finished.Give it some and see what happens. Better sooner than later.Here is a website http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/gardening-with-hydrogen-peroxide.htmlHope this helps.

John

Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a

Posted : 03/04/2010 1:14 am

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

Posts: 2981

Famed Member

Wxman,
my wife's robusta is doing something similar, but not as severe. Here is a photo of it a few days after I moved it from the dining room to the "beach":

My wife thought it needed more water so I watered it again. After reading John's post, I sprayed it with copper fungicide yesterday.

Can you give follow-up on your treatment?
thanks, Erik

Posted : 04/04/2010 12:16 pm

wxman

(@wxman)

Posts: 574

Prominent Member

Topic starter

Everything sagged to the ground and the trunk was all squishy. Think somehow it rotted. Ripped it out and planted a phoenix sylvester. Wintering plants indoors is so impossible sometimes I think.

Posted : 04/04/2010 9:04 pm