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Titusville, FL on Sep 22, 2011

The last two winters in central Florida have been rough on my Areca palms.

Some of the trunks were dead and I was easily able to pull them out of the root ball. Other trunks are still alive, but do not have any fronds growing. I have fertilized and watered well and there are new trunks growing, but the tallest trunks do not have any new growth. What is the best way to handle the old trunks without any growth?

Thanks

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3 Comments

JL Spring & Associates Richmond, VA

STOP WATERING! They look like they've drowned...They naturally "prune" themselves but when over-hydrated, they act like a lot of palms and swell up die out and shrivel down...cut any decaying shoots down and wait for new growth...hope they make it through the winter. Best 2 U...JL

on Sep 22, 2011 · Like 0
Garden Rebel / Sims Lands... Orlando, FL

The heart or crowns of the bare trunks are dead. They will not grow any more from the top so those dead trunks should be removed at the base. The lower stalks will eventually grow up for your future height and thickness.

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 2
Hoffner Nursery & Landsca... Orlando, FL

Our last two winters played havoc on some of these subtropical palms in Central FL, unless you have a warm micro climate where they are, you will probably continue to have problems. Other than a Paurotis Palm we really don't have any replacements for that can handle the temperature we have been seeing that looks similar. Robert is correct about the prunning of the dead trunks allowing the new ones to replace them.

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 1