Deficiencies in clay soils may be more due to insufficient potassium fertilizer applied. Photo by M. L. Elliott. The other side of the watering coin that can cause brown tips and leaves on your Areca Palm … Mature palms in the landscape should be fertilized with a complete granular fertilizer formulated for palms, often called a “palm special.”Three to four applications of a palm fertilizer are recommended to provide a constant supply of nutrients during the growing season. The initial size may be as small as a pin point. Figure 4. These diseases include diamond scale, Gliocladium blight, Graphiola leaf spot, and tar spot.Initial leaf spots are usually round to oval in shape and vary in color from yellow to brown to black. As the leaf spots expand in size, the shape and coloration may change (Fig. Apply all fungicides at rates and spray intervals according to directions on the label.Outer trunk tissues may seem solid, but affected palms have a hollow sound when tapped. The initial size may be as small as a pin point.

Not caring for a palm properly can cause it to form brown spots. It is difficult to differentiate among the leaf-spotting fungi by visual symptoms alone. More pathogens then the ones listed above may be associated with leaf spots and leaf blights.All palms are susceptible to at least one of the pathogens that cause leaf spots and leaf blights.Viewed as a group, these pathogens should be considered ubiquitous in their distribution.Despite the many pathogens that cause leaf spots and leaf blights, the initial symptoms are very similar.

The leaflet in the lower-left corner has large areas of necrotic tissue. Apply at intervals sufficient to protect new developing tissue. Apply all fungicides at rates and spray intervals according to directions on the label.Palms frequently suffer from improper mineral nutrition in the landscape. If palms are used for food purposes, copper fungicides are the only approved fungicides. This fertilizer should be a slow-release form and should contain the trace nutrients listed above. Photo by T. K. Broschat. This is the nutrient deficiency that is most common in container-grown palms, whereas potassium, manganese and magnesium deficiencies are more prevalent in landscape situations.Palm nutritional deficiencies are easily prevented by following a yearly fertilization program. Fertilize all palms separately from the lawn.Early symptoms of manganese deficiency are interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between the veins) accompanied by interveinal necrotic streaking on the newest leaves. Identification is based on observation of the pathogen spores, either directly on the leaf tissue (Fig. Tiny filaments may emerge from the black spots. Areas of dark brown tissue are evident when the trunk is dissected. As the spot expands, the center becomes gray with water-soaked edges As the lesions continue to expand, a yellow halo may be observed. 5). Be sure to fertilize only during the growing season.An example of a palm fertilizer is Atlantic Fertilizers New Improved Palm Special, which is an 12-4-12-4 sulfur-coated slow-release fertilizer with manganese, boron, copper, zinc and iron.In the absence of an available palm fertilizer, use the same rate of a 12-4-8 slow release fertilizer every two months during the growing season. In heavier clay soils, the rate of potassium leaching is reduced. Healthier trees are less likely to suffer from infection and are more prepared to fight for their health. Photo by M. L. Elliott. Note fungal growth is only associated with the leaf spot symptom and not with the healthy green leaf tissue. The result was growth of the fungus from some of the spots. All color combinations are possible. Some leaf spots initially appear as water-soaked lesions (Fig. 1). Other essential nutrients such as boron (B), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are occasionally found to be deficient if they are not present in the fertilizers applied, but these deficiencies are not very common in the landscape.Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by insufficient nutrients in the soil, a nutrient imbalance, poor soil aeration, a high soil pH and an excessive planting depth.Potassium tends to leach rapidly from sandy soils, and it is in these soils that potassium deficiency is more apt to occur. Coalescing of expanding lesions are observed until large areas of blighted tissue result. Spots are initially black with no halos.

Roots of larger palm trees may extend 30 to 50 feet from the trunk, and the entire area needs to be fertilized. Leaf spots can be circular to elongated, brown and possibly oily in appearance. A leaf spot symptomatic leaf segment of the leaf in Figure 1 was placed under high humidity. The leaf spot is superimposed on iron deficiency symptoms. Palm trees grown in the landscape appear carefree, but they are susceptible to many diseases, insects and nutritional problems. Be sure to only fertilize during the growing season (April through September).The latest research at the University of Florida recommends a fertilizer analysis of 12-4-12-4 (N-P-K-Mg) applied at the rate of 1.5 pounds per 100 square feet over the area beneath the palm canopy.

8 Ways To Fix An Areca Palm With Brown Tips And Leaves Overwatering. If the deficiency is advanced, leaves emerge completely frizzled, withered, scorched and reduced in size.Nitrogen deficiencies are more common on light or sandy soils. Figure 1. Figure 5.