The pygmy date laurel wreath , or Phoenix roebelenii , is an attractive small palm tree diagram often grown as a houseplant . The United States Forest Service describes this industrial plant as " one of the finest of the midget palms . " It can develop as tall as 12 feet , but normally stay smaller when grown in a container . Although it produces humble dates when it ’s spring up in the appropriate precondition , do n’t gestate your houseplant to allow any food . There are a handful of diseases that ordinarily affect the pygmy engagement palm .
Leaf Spot
Fungal pathogens cause this consideration , which is similar to other fungal diseases that affect the pygmy date palm . untried trees are considered probable hosts for foliage spot disease , according to the University of Florida . One common type of foliage bit is called Graphiola foliage maculation , or sham smut . Small post begin on leaves as water - soaked wound that later change to yellow-bellied , grey , red - chocolate-brown or black , often encircled with a different colored ring . you may avail to avoid the leaf maculation disease by keeping the country around your pygmy appointment palm clean and by keeping honest-to-goodness frond prune to meliorate air circulation . Fungicides are also efficacious in battle foliage spot diseases , but be sure to combine any chemical substance treatment with in effect ethnic practice .
Pestalotiopsis Fungus
The Pestalotiopsis fungus seems to choose the Pigmy day of the month palm to many other coinage of plant , especially in Florida , according to the University of Florida . The fungus affects the tree ’s leaf blades and petioles and can later cause bud rot . Watch for signs of spots on the leaves of your palm ; they begin small and lily-livered , then grow turgid and become chocolate-brown or black , and sometimes turn grayness with a black area surrounding them . It also forms lesions on the petiole and rachis . To avoid this disease , keep your palm ’s farm domain rake of all fallen frond and other plant cloth and ensure you fecundate your tree correctly to keep it strong and well able to fight off disease . Fungicides can also avail , but the University of Florida commend that they not be used without other cultural methods , such as keeping the area sporty .
Sooty Mold
The coconut mealybug can cause a disease call sooty mold to develop on the leaf of pygmy date palm tree . The fronds become lily-livered and then arise a fuzzy coating that wait like soot . The coconut mealybug favors plants of many species , especially those that find peck of fertilizer , according to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture . This insect lives only in tropical climates , so if you live in a temperate arena and grow the pygmy appointment palm as a houseplant , you need n’t worry about this gadfly attacking your plant and causing a disease . If you live in a tropical clime and notice this insect , straight off spray your medallion with insecticidal goop .
Rachis Blight
Also called petiole blight , this fungal disease has alike symptom to the other fungous disease that can afflict pygmy date palm tree trees and other laurel wreath . Rachis blight causes discolored run or lesions on the leafstalk of older fronds . The leafstalk is the stalk that connects a folio to its stem . This disease does not affect the leaf tissue paper itself . cognition about this disease is scarce , says the University of Florida , so they advise gardeners to utilize upright methods of sanitization around plants and ensure they are well watered , pruned and fertilize . Chemical fungicides may be in effect in address Rachis blight .
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