Poor thing -- Can I identify and save it?

[brendaonline]

I have an iffy track record with plants. Usually my best option is to treat it very badly so it survives (don't ask me why it works) except with tropicals, which really seem to be iffy.

I got this two weeks ago. After hours of searching the net I think it might be in the Arenga family? It has black dots all over the stems that aren't visible in the shots.

Unfortunately for it, I repotted and it is NOT happy with me. Can it be saved by mortal means?

[PATH007FINDER]

I think your correct with your idenification. It looks almost like your palm got to much sun or to much water or combo of both. I Don't really have allot experience with sugar palms. when did you feed it last? Black spots indicate to much water or not good enough drainage "rust spots", can form. where did you buy your palm? Some times imported palms have proplems adjusting to new climate,

[brendaonline]

I mentioned the black spots only for potential help in identification. It appears that they are part of the tree, not any kind of insect or disease. It's like every inch of the plant was sprinkled with black pepper. One of the Arenga pictures I saw had black spikes/thorns growing from a thick trunk, so perhaps thorns come from the spots eventually. The dead and dying leaves are what really concern me.

I purchased it less than 2 weeks ago from Lowe's, just labeled as an "assorted tropical plant" needing full sun. I think it might have said it was grown in Florida.

At the time the dirt in the pot was bone dry, nothing but dust. I watered it in after I repotted (which was not a very gentle process; the roots were badly disturbed), and since then it's been in mostly sun but we've had LOTS of rain. The pot does drain. The only 'feeding' has been enriched potting soil.

It doesn't appear that rust spots are forming, just leaves browning and drying.

[PATH007FINDER]

If your in Cleveland and your palm came from Florida this is one of your major proplems. Home Depot, Lowe's along with others import palms in spring and summer but then most of them die in winter. Here in California coconut Palms are sold all over the place $20 a piece but yet you never see them growing any where. Mine lives because it's in a green house. Florida is an extreme enviroment with high humidity and heat that makes for rapid growth with palms. Your Black spots are from too much water, are your leaves yellowing as well? Hold off on the water and do some research on what type of soil ph levels sugar palms like. Good Luck

[gardengirl]

A Wodyetia X Veitchia. I don't think that is a sugar palm. It may be just a regular Foxtail palm...

[PATH007FINDER]

Frawn structure Looks more like a sugar palm though.

[brendaonline]

Since I have the most success with benign neglect, I left the palm alone except for generous watering (really, really not overwatered; it responded very nicely to lots to drink).

Then a few days ago I trimmed off dead fronds and stems. I think one of the original four stems is dead, or nearly so. I'm going to let the trimmed stem sit in the pot for a while to see if any new shoots appear.

Meanwhile, two newish shoots are starting to erupt and are looking good. A couple of the old ones are still sort of hanging in there, with just a few leaves left on the old stems but looking healthier than before. Don't you just love transplant shock?

So now another couple weeks of patient near-neglect and I'll see how it's doing. I'm optimistic so far.

[PATH007FINDER]

It's either going to make it or it's not I guess... New growth is a good sign though.

[brendaonline]

As if the poor thing didn't have enough problems -- now I've got Japanese beetles on it.