Is my palm tree doomed?

by Iri3854223

Answered

I have a large potted palm tree. When I brought it indoors for the winter, I noticed small white spots. I am using rubbing alcohol to fight whatever it is but there are so many and it is a large plant. Is it hopeless? Should I be trying something else?

5 answers

Bryan's Workshop on Jan 17, 2016
Post a picture of the spots. Are they on the trunk or leaves? What kind of palm is it?

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- Iri3854223 on Jan 17, 2016
  Trying to send pics
  
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- Bryan's Workshop on Jan 18, 2016
  @Irishellen2 Hey, thank you for the pictures! It looks like scale bugs! You can buy a spray to take care of them at the garden center. I have a large potted tree garden and often run into scale bugs, especially the mealy! They should sell a spray that takes care of them all. I have an orange tree in particular that always seems get these bugs. Pretty tree by the way!
  
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- Iri3854223 on Jan 18, 2016
  Thank you so much!!!! I will give that a try!!!!!
  
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Janet Pizaro on Jan 17, 2016
Prior to bringing the plant inside did you spray for insects?You stated white spots but that could be a number of things.Do you see any webbing on the fawns?Is the palm browning out? I would recommend repotting the palm into a larger pot. Maybe changing out the soil will eliminate your problem. However without seeing a closeup picture it is hard to tell.

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- Iri3854223 on Jan 17, 2016
  No I didn't. I never thought of that:(
  
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- Janet Pizaro on Jan 17, 2016
  @Irishellen2 Ok from the photo it appears to be Mealy bug., I would repot the plant as I stated before making sure it is in the next size to accomodate the root structure.Once you repot it spray with an insecticidle soap. This may need repeated applications. Good Luck.
  
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- Iri3854223 on Jan 17, 2016
  Thank you!
  
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- Janet Pizaro on Jan 17, 2016
  @Irishellen2 Please let me know the outcome.
  
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Sheri L. Putnam-Cline on Jan 17, 2016
It could be mineral build up from fertilizers.

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Vicki Leak on Jan 17, 2016
It looks like mealy bugs, a piercing sucking insect common on house plants. Go to a local garden center and purchase a granular systemic insecticide, or spray with an insecticidal soap.

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Michelle Leslie on Aug 13, 2020

Hi there, this might sound crazy but add banana peels and a little beer around the palm tree. Dig a hole near or at the roots and drop in 2 banana peels and cover. The palm will absorb the nutrients from the peels and the beer and the condition of the plants will GREATLY improve. It also helps keep the bugs away.

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