The Canary Islands date palm (Phoenix canariensis) is considered an uncomplicated house and container plant that is less susceptible to diseases or pests when properly cared for. However, if many fronds die in a short period of time and the palm tree dries up, quick action is required.
Why is my Canary Island date palm drying up and how do I save it?
If a Canary Island date palm dries up, incorrect irrigation, such as watering too little or too often, is usually to blame. To save the palm tree, you should give it quick, sufficient water and ensure regular, needs-based watering in the future.
Why is my Canary Island date palm drying up?
The Canary Island date palm was oftenwatered too rarely or too often. All date palms want to be cared for according to this old Arabic saying:
The palm tree wants to bathe its feet in water and its head in the fire of heaven.
You can tell there is a lack of water when the substrate feels very dry and is detached from the edge of the planter. The Canary Islands date palm gets brown leaves that die.
How do I deal with dryness due to lack of water?
Since the Canary Islands date palm can handle short dry periods quite well, it can usually be saved byquick, sufficient watering:
- Fill a bucket with water.
- Completely submerge the pot of the palm tree.
- Wait until no more air bubbles appear.
In the future, water the Canary Island date palm regularly whenever the surface of the substrate feels dry (thumb test).
Is drying out an indication of date palm root rot?
As contradictory as it sounds: excessive watering, which leads to root rot,can certainly be responsible for thedrying out of the Canary Islands date palm. The storage organs of the palm tree begin to rot, are unable to transport water or nutrients and the plant subsequently dies.
What to do if the date palm dries up due to root rot?
In this case, the only thing that helps is to repot the Canary Island date palmas quickly as possibleand remove thediseased roots:
- Pot out the Canary Island date palm.
- You can usually smell an unpleasant smell and the roots feel mushy.
- Cut off the damaged root system with a clean, sharp knife and place the palm tree in fresh substrate.
- Pour less in the future and discard any excess liquid that collects in the coaster.
Why do the lower fronds of the Canary Island date palm dry up?
The fact that the lower fronds of Phoenix Canariensis dry out from the outside is anatural process,which is even responsible for thetypical appearance of the palm trunk is. New leaves keep growing from the palm heart in the center of the plant, the old ones die off and the palm rejuvenates.
If you have watered correctly and only the lower fronds of the date palm are turning brown, you can simply cut off the unsightly, completely dried leaves a few centimeters in front of the trunk.
Tip
Canary Island date palms are light hungry
Too little light can also cause the fronds of the Canary Island date palm to die. Therefore, place the plant in a location that is as bright but shady as possible. This is important because the plants also react sensitively to direct sunlight and the leaves turn brown or even die.
