Q. The bottom layer of my palm fronds turned an orange –
yellow color almost overnight. Is this from too much water or not enough water?
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| Palm fronds may turn orange before they become yellow or brown and then die. Its your signal to prune. |
A. Neither. The cause of these fronds turning orange or
yellow is natural. These orange and yellow colors are already there, masked by
the strong green color that the chlorophyll provides. We see the same color
changes with “Fall color”.
yellow is natural. These orange and yellow colors are already there, masked by
the strong green color that the chlorophyll provides. We see the same color
changes with “Fall color”.
 |
| Canary Island Date Palm with lower fronds dying naturally. |
The bottom
layer of fronds die naturally. As these lower fronds approach death due to old
age and shade, some of the minerals in the leaves are absorbed back into the
palm, first turning the lower fronds orange or yellow and eventually brown. Sometimes
these color changes occur quickly and other times more slowly. How fast depends
on how hot it is.
layer of fronds die naturally. As these lower fronds approach death due to old
age and shade, some of the minerals in the leaves are absorbed back into the
palm, first turning the lower fronds orange or yellow and eventually brown. Sometimes
these color changes occur quickly and other times more slowly. How fast depends
on how hot it is.
 |
| Fan palm with brown lower fronds in need of pruning and removal. |
The
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium move out of the frond first followed by
magnesium, chlorine, zinc and molybdenum. Lesser mobile nutrients are left
behind which include sulfur, iron, boron, and copper. These mineral “remainers”
dominate the content of palm fronds. This color change is your signal to cut
and remove palm fronds.
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium move out of the frond first followed by
magnesium, chlorine, zinc and molybdenum. Lesser mobile nutrients are left
behind which include sulfur, iron, boron, and copper. These mineral “remainers”
dominate the content of palm fronds. This color change is your signal to cut
and remove palm fronds.