A dying coconut palm is most likely experiencing stress due to some environmental factor. In order to save the tree, you need to be able to correctly determine the cause of the stress so that treatment can be specific and quick.
The most common reasons your coconut palm may be dying are humidity, overwatering, pests and disease.
In this article, we will discuss the different reasons your coconut palm is dying and how to save it.
Why is my coconut palm tree dying?
Low humidity
If the tips of the leaves of your coconut palm are brown and have yellow halos, this is most likely due to low humidity. This may not actually kill your tree, but if the low humidity continues for a long time, even the plant’s new growth will have these symptoms.
You can correct this by increasing the humidity around the plant, either by misting the leaves with water every once in a while, placing a water dish close to the tree, or buying a humidifier to use when the air in your house is too dry.
Overwatering
If the leaves on your coconut palm are turning brown, it may be dying from overwatering.
Coconut palms like to be watered often because they can be quite thirsty, but that does not mean their soil can be wet all of the time.
One of the most common issues for coconut palms when allowed to sit in moist soil is root rot. Aside from turning brown, the leaves can also turn yellow and become droopy, the tree’s growth will become stunted, and the base of the plant will become rotten.
The rotten base is due to the roots drowning and dying in the waterlogged soil. When the roots die, they become susceptible to opportunistic pathogens which infect them and cause them to rot. If not dealt with as soon as possible, the rot will travel up the roots and into the rest of the tree, and it will eventually die.
You can save an overwatered tree by removing it from the pot and inspecting the roots. If there are brown or black portions of roots, remove them using a knife or scissors. Expose the healthy white roots and allow them to air dry for a couple of hours up to 24 hours.
Once the roots have dried out, replant the tree in well-draining soil, in a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom. This will help lessen the possibility of soaking the roots in boggy soil.
Pests
Mealybugs and scale insects are common pests that attack coconut palms. They feed on the sap in the plant cells of the tree while simultaneously excreting toxins from their salivary glands. One of the symptoms to watch out for if you suspect these pests is yellowing and dying leaves.
Coconut mites are microscopic organisms that will eventually give the tree a rough, cork-like texture. Even though they are so tiny, a large enough infestation can result in the deformation of the fruit.
Another pest that attacks coconut palms is the coconut black beetle. These will burrow into the leaf sheaths and feed on the soft tissue of the foliage.
You can try to control these insects by spraying the leaves with a strong jet of water from your garden hose. The water may be strong enough to dislodge them from the leaves. You can also kill these pests using an insecticide or neem oil. Soak a cotton swab with neem oil and wipe the leaves with it. Do this once a week for a month to make sure all of the insects have been killed.
While you are treating your tree, keep it quarantined away from other plants to keep the pests from spreading.
Disease
Fusarium wilt
This disease causes the coconut palm to wilt and eventually die. Usually, one side of the tree is affected first.
It is still unsure as to how this disease is spread, but experts theorize that it might be due to infection by unclean pruning tools. You can prevent this by making sure you always use sanitized tools when pruning your trees.
The pathogen that causes the disease can be found in the soil, so if your old palm has Fusarium wilt, it may be best not to plant any new palms in the same spot.
Lethal bole rot
This disease is also caused by a fungus and results in the wilting and yellowing of the tree’s oldest fronds. The longer the disease is allowed to continue, the more likely the tree’s root system will be destroyed.
The fungus that causes this disease can be hosted by Bermuda grass, so try to keep this type of grass away from your tree. If the tree is infested, you are better off cutting it down and destroying it and then treating the area it was planted in.
Ganoderma butt rot
This disease causes the mature fronds of the coconut tree to turn yellow, wilt and die. The pathogen enters the tree via trunk wounds caused by careless pruning or machinery that may have injured the trunk. One of the easiest ways to avoid wounding your coconut palms is to make sure there is enough space between them. If a palm is afflicted with this disease, it is best to cut it down and leave the area fallow for the next 12 months.
Leaf spot
Leaf infestations can be caused by either fungi or bacteria, and you will recognize leaf spot by the elongated or circular spots on the plant’s leaves. You can prevent the disease by ensuring that you do not wet the leaves when watering your palms.
These diseases may not all be lethal to coconut palms, but they can be an eyesore on the plants. It is best to eradicate them using a fungicidal spray, especially if the infection has become severe.
Conclusion
If a coconut palm is dying, it is usually due to the presence of an environmental factor that is causing the tree stress. In order to save the tree, you must be able to correctly identify the source of the tree’s stress so that it can be addressed head-on, and quickly.
The most common causes of a dying coconut palm are humidity, overwatering, pests and disease.
Coconut palms are quite low-maintenance compared to most other houseplants. They do not really need too much care as they are hardy and resilient. As long as you provide them with their basic needs, you should have no problem growing them and making them thrive.
Image: istockphoto.com / cherrybeans