How tall do pindo palms get? – Pindo Palm Care – Tips For Growing Pindo Palm Trees
Palm trees are the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Florida. Not all palm species are able to thrive in the colder areas of Florida, where temperatures can drop down to 5 degrees F (-15 C). Pindo palm trees (Butia capita) can tolerate colder temperatures. They are even found on the east coast, up to the Carolinas. Let’s learn how to care for a Pindo palm.
Pindo palms (also known as jelly palms) grow slowly to reach a mature height between 15 and 20 feet (4.5-6m). The trunk diameter is 1 to 1.5 feet (31 to 46 cm).
Red, yellow, and white flowers can all be found in groups that consist of one male flower and one female.
This graceful palm’s fruit is light orange to brownish-red and can be used for jelly. You can roast the seeds to make a substitute for coffee. Pindo palms are often used to attract wildlife and serve as specimen trees.
How to grow pindo palm?
Pindo palm trees can grow in any soil, as long as it’s moderately salt-tolerant and has good drainage. Pindo palms can fall fruit, which can cause a lot of damage.
It is best to plant them at least 10 feet (3m) away from patios, decks, and paved areas. These trees are slow growing so it is best to purchase at least three years old nursery stock trees unless you have patience.
How to Care for a Pindo Palm
Pindo palm care can be done easily. This tree is free from any insect or disease problems, except for the occasional micronutrient deficiency.
Regular fertilization is important to keep your pindo palm looking great. Pindo palms can withstand heat and wind, but it is best to keep the soil properly moist. To keep this Brazil native looking tidy, it needs to be pruned of any dead fronds.
What is wrong with my Pindo Palm? Common Problems With Pindo Palms
Do you think you can’t achieve that tropical look by planting palm trees in your cooler area? Try growing a pindo or pinta palm. Pindo palms are able to thrive in cooler climates and can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees F (-12 C).
Pindo palms can still be affected by the cold. Pindo palm problems can be caused by insects, diseases, or cultural factors. Let’s see the common problems with pindo palms and how to address them.
I. Environmental pindo palm problems and solutions
Pindo palms are remarkably resistant to almost all problems. However, you might encounter some issues with pindo trees – most often due to environmental factors or diseases.
- Butia capitata pindo palms are upright, slow-growing, cold-tolerant trees that have blue-green to silver-colored, palm-shaped leaves. They unfurl into an open-crown form when they mature. These evergreens can be found in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Brazil. In spring, the trees bear showy white blossoms before producing yellow/orange fleshy fruits.
- Pindo palms can tolerate cold and thrive in well-draining soils. However, they are not tolerant to “wet feet”, which can increase the chance of the trees contracting a disease. Salt spray is also a problem for pindo palms.
- Like most palms they are susceptible to potassium deficiency. Low potassium can cause gray and necrotic leaf tips. Because of the grayish leaves, these may be more difficult to identify in a pindo than in other palms. Significant leaf drop is a better way to identify them.
- A deficiency of manganese, which is less common in pindo palms, could also be an issue. Manganese deficiencies can be seen as necrotic tips on newly-emerged leaves, but also as basal leaflets.
- Apply a controlled-release fertilizer containing micronutrients three to four times per year to treat deficiencies in pindo palms
II. Pindo Palm Diseases
Pindo palms can also be affected by fungal diseases.
Phytophthora – Why is my pindo palm turning brown?
Phytophthora, which rots roots as well as palm buds, is an example of such a disease.
This fungus is soil-borne and encouraged by rainy weather. Wind and rain move fungal spores through the palm, entering it through cuts. The infection results in young fronds becoming droopy and smelling foul-smelling, and decimating buds.
As the disease progresses, mature leaves also become affected and begin to droop, fall, and turn brown. Remove infected trees and burn them to treat phytophthora. If the disease is not severe, fungicidal treatments can be used.
Diamond scale – How to get rid of scale on palm trees?
Diamond scale, despite its name, is a fungal disease that is most common along the California coast. Although the disease is not usually a problem for healthy pindo palms, it can cause stress and lead to severe illness.
The symptoms appear as water-soaked, darkened lesions which, with time, turn into black, diamond-shaped fungal bodies on the stalks and fronds.
Diamond scale can be prevented by using a fungicide. Avoid overwatering and ensure that the pindo palm is planted in a well-draining location. A regular, high-nutrition diet is important to keep your plant healthy. Using horticultural oil, or a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol with some bleach-free dish detergent is a common treatment for palm scale.
Pink rot – How to treat pink rot in palms?
Pink rot is another fungal disease that affects stressed and weakened palms. This disease is especially dangerous for trees with poor drainage and inadequately fertilized.
The symptoms are most noticeable in younger fronds. The palm fronds will develop spots and wilt as the disease progresses. Pink spore masses can also develop on the trunk, sometimes along with the fronds.
If left untreated, the tree will become stunted and die from the fronds. You can treat pink rot with a combination of pruning and fungicidal treatment. Look for fungicide treatments containing thiophanate methyl and mancozeb.