No deficiency I know of. They will open normally over time. Young plants often do this, you can take your fingers & run them up through the leaves to separate them.

Laaz, I recall reading SOMEWHERE that the ladderlike structure was a deficiency symptom.
And presto, my newest palm popped up two ladders.

I know most palms' fronds unfurl in this manner.
It's only when they hang onto that shape for some time that it indicates a deficiency.

I'll have to dig around in what seems like thousands of Bookmarks... 😐

Barb

I gotta say, my largest PDP (which is what that leaf looks like, a PDP) has done this MANY MANY MANY times over the last 3-4 years. It seems to happen mostly after it got a lil too cold outside and then I brought in for the Winter and the next leaf does that.
But yea, it has happened many times over many years and the tree is still thriving.
I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I recall that it wasn't a serious sign.
Maybe it was a toxin.
Oh, this'll drive me crazy until I find that reference! 😥
Barb

FOUND IT!
Chlorine deficiency.

Source: Ornamental Palm Horticulture, (Broschat and Meerow)
Page 98

"In Caryota, the only visible symptom was a mild chlorosis of new leaves, but in Phoenix the chlorosis was more severe and was accompanied by incomplete separation of the leaflets of new leaves. Five or six such incompletely opened new leaves were typically present on Cl-deficient Phoenix. These leaves often had a ladderlike appearance, since the leaflets were separated at their bases, but fused at the tips. Although similar symptoms are routinely observed on container-grown P.roebelenii in Florida, there is no proof that these symptoms in cultivated palms are indeed those of Cl deficiency."

Great book, but too technical for this novice.
Barb

Here's an internet reference:

http://ipmnet.umd.edu/5-8art4.htm

Barb

there is no proof that these symptoms in cultivated palms are indeed those of Cl deficiency

Yes, I found that contradictory statement a little odd at the end of their "research" statement.

We have chlorinated water and I allow the water to sit for a day or two hoping chlorine will evaporate to some extent before using it on my plants.

I'll water straight from the tap for Phoenix from now on to see if the ladders finally detach without doing it by hand.
Barb

I can tell you this much. With my "ladder leafs", they usually show up after a COLD rain. Warm rain is fine. Then when I bring it in for te Winter, I use chlorined tap water and the new emerging spears are fine.
I just think it has more to do with cold rain than anything else.

You could be right, Wes.
Yet mine hasn't been out in a cold rain.
But the new fronds obviously initiated before I bought it from a greenhouse/nursery.
Barb