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Dying palm!

chloedurbridgechloedurbridge Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Any ideas how I can save this very sorry looking palm?  I have just been given it, it is potted in just compost. I’m a complete beginner so have no idea what to do!

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Welcome to the forum.
    IMHO it's been left to totally dry out at some point.
    It "should" recover given some sensible care.
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2021
    What’s the container like? Have you repotted it or did it arrive in that one?  
    If that container drains well I’d give the roots a thorough soaking then leave to drain thoroughly. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • chloedurbridgechloedurbridge Posts: 3
    It came just as it’s root ball in a bin bag! I have put it into that container, it has slats at the bottom so plenty of drainage. I have watered it everyday for the last week since planting it and it seems to be getting worse! I have no idea if I am over/under watering, if it needs some sort of fertiliser or if I need to change from just compost to something more dense?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I suspect the rootball is so dry that it won't absorb water ... have you got something you can fill with water and then dunk the rootball in for a few hours ... my guess is that you'll see bubbles of air coming to the surface for quite a while ... eventually the water will occupy the spaces in the compost and rootball where the air pockets were.  

    When the air bubbles stop bubbling up then you can re-pot it.  I think the drainage in that container is probably just a little too much ... slats won't let it hold any water at all ... but as I've not grown one of those for years I'll bow to others' more recent experience ... where's @Hostafan1 got to? 

    I think it needs to go into a slightly bigger pot (which can then go into a more attractive container). 

    And I think that John Innes No 2 or 3 with the addition of  some MPC and horticultural grit to aid drainage would be an appropriate potting medium ........ let's hope others will come along and correct me if I'm wrong ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • chloedurbridgechloedurbridge Posts: 3
    Thanks so much! I’m off to the garden centre! 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Be  aware that recover won't be overnight . It'll take some time before it looks better.
    I'd remove the lowest half dozen or so leaves as the plant will be struggling to cope with additional foliage.
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    But I think that it's going to be worth it ... it's a gorgeous shape and will look fabulous in that space when it's grown a whole new set of 'leaves'.  🏝

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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