Search found 148 matches

by mnpalms
Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:44 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Long time no post! Seeking advice-trachy getting too big now
Replies: 5
Views: 5830

Thanks for the replies. I thought about extending the enclosure, but unfortunately it would be just a band-aid and maybe buy me one more season. This thing is growing like a weed! I originally intended on taking the palms with when we move to the Florida house permanently, but that is still at least...
by mnpalms
Thu Aug 18, 2016 12:47 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Long time no post! Seeking advice-trachy getting too big now
Replies: 5
Views: 5830

Long time no post! Seeking advice-trachy getting too big now

It's been a loooong time since I've posted here, though a few of you may still remember me (Jim?). I have a bit of a dilemma, and I hope to get it figured out before winter. I have two in-ground trachys (windmill palms) at my Minnesota home. One has been in the ground for about 7 years now, and it f...
by mnpalms
Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: 3-11-12
Replies: 11
Views: 4876

Looking great Jim! You put your bananas back in already?!? You have more guts than me... I'm thinking about putting in another needle palm (or two) this spring. Late April I am driving back down to Florida so I can tow the boat back up here to MN ahead of our fishing opener so I'll have the ability ...
by mnpalms
Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:33 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Trachy uncovered for almost a week - Insane forecast inside!
Replies: 13
Views: 5046

Isn't this just awesome Jim?!? Also funny how it is always colder at the airport.... (always that way here too). Officially (at the airport) this winter goes down as the 4th warmest of all time. I can remember a few nice ones in the early 1990s, but I don't think a can recall anything that beats thi...
by mnpalms
Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Trachy uncovered for almost a week - Insane forecast inside!
Replies: 13
Views: 5046

Awesome job Wxman! I also uncovered my trachies this past week and they look as good as the day they were covered late last fall. We are facing a similar 15-day forecast here (60s and 70s as far as the eye can see). I think our climates are very similar. What a luxury winter we had this year! I can ...
by mnpalms
Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:38 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Trachy's Tougher Than I Thought! ~ Watch Your C-9 Lights!
Replies: 17
Views: 7784

Precisely why I string my C-9s around the inside of the enclosure completely off the ground and with the bulbs touching NOTHING. If the enclosure is sealed/insulated well there is no reason to have any heat so close to the palms or the ground inside. The ground/roots will not come even remotely clos...
by mnpalms
Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:07 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

That's awesome Jim! Thanks for posting the pic. Good question, what should we call this new yucca? I think winter has finally arrived here. We had our first teens (lows) this past week and got a couple inches of snow. Got down to 14 here last night! I plugged in my palm hut a few days ago. Now if we...
by mnpalms
Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:46 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

MIne have started to sprout as well. With luck I'll have a few to plant out this spring! Paul- Glad to hear yours are sprouting also! I also heard from Scott in Omaha that his are sprouting too. I still have not had the chance to get mine going. Been so busy and out of town too much lately. I plan ...
by mnpalms
Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:04 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: A few pics of the garden- taken in the last few weeks.
Replies: 45
Views: 16046

Looking great Jim! It still astounds me how well the trunk cut trachies recovered. It's just sick that some A-hole would steal one of your plants. I bet you have plenty of jealous neighbors though... I put up my trachy enclosure but I will not be plugging it in for probably at least a couple weeks. ...
by mnpalms
Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:44 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Jim- I germinate my seeds the same way (sphagnum). I put them up in the ceiling at my office on top of a flourescent light fixture. I put a piece of cardboard down and place the ziplocks on it. Maintains a constant mid 90s temp up there 24/7. Works like a charm! My Xmas palm seeds from Cape Coral, F...
by mnpalms
Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:53 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Jim- That's awesome! Sprouting already! I figured I'd hold off on starting mine until I'm back from another upcoming trip. I have only a few days between trips here so I figured I'd wait until things settle down again. Back from our annual MN deer hunting trip, then I have some business to take care...
by mnpalms
Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:55 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Bad time of the year to buy another one, but I though it might be now or never since these seem to be pretty scarce. I hope you get one Jim, it would look awesome in your cactus bed!
by mnpalms
Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:12 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

UPDATE- New addition just arrived today (Monday 11/7/11). The source of the original yucca in this thread actually has some more so I had to get another! I bought the original directly from his site but it seems he is selling on Ebay now. This one is a bit smaller than the original was when I got it...
by mnpalms
Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:47 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Got my palm hut frames up!
Replies: 95
Views: 31162

Newly planted palms are usually very thirsty until well established. If you planted correctly (well draining) it is nearly impossible to over water them. Our city water has chlorine so I have a bunch of 5-gallon buckets that I fill and let sit out for a few days before using it. That gets all the ch...
by mnpalms
Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:57 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Got my palm hut frames up!
Replies: 95
Views: 31162

I recommend watering the hell out of them. As long as they are properly planted in a decently draining soil, it has been my experience that in-ground trachies love tons of water, good clean non-chlorinated water. Back when I changed my watering schedule as an experiment, my trachies immediately resp...
by mnpalms
Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:04 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Got my palm hut frames up!
Replies: 95
Views: 31162

I too just put my palm hut frame up. No walls or roof yet though. I wanted it to be ready in case I need to throw it all together quickly down the road. Our 2-week forecast looks fine but I'll be out of town for a week beginning tomorrow, back a few days, then down in Florida for another week. I fig...
by mnpalms
Mon Oct 31, 2011 8:51 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Got my palm hut frames up!
Replies: 95
Views: 31162

Erik's right, wheelman...those light strings sure are cheap. And like I said, BC government has a new law in place where it's now illegal to sell/buy incandescent bulbs/strings , although a few replacement bulbs can still be found on the back of a shelf here and there. How nice, huh? Stooooopid mor...
by mnpalms
Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:35 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Looks like our first frost is coming next week...
Replies: 10
Views: 4543

First official frons/freeze of the season here (my yard) Saturday morning 10/29, 31.4f. This came a couple weeks later than average! The roofs of houses in my neighborhood were actually WHITE! How low has it been so far this fall in all your yards? I'm just glad I don't live out east... We had somet...
by mnpalms
Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:49 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Tim-

Thanks for verifying the cross. This is going to be a cool yucca! Too bad yuccas take so damn long to get big though...
by mnpalms
Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Peat Moss?
Replies: 14
Views: 4728

Scott- If your heat tape already has a thermostat you should not need to plug it into the Thermocube as Jim noted. I would however try to find out what the on/off temp is for the heat tape so you are not keeping them too warm. Another thing to consider is that by keeping them (roots) warmer you will...
by mnpalms
Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:01 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Peat Moss?
Replies: 14
Views: 4728

Scott- A word of caution about the heat tape... I learned this the hard way, be very careful with heating the roots. There is such a thing as too much winter heat! If possible you should plug the heat tape into a Thermocube or something so it is not always on throughout the winter. A couple years ag...
by mnpalms
Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:39 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Peat Moss?
Replies: 14
Views: 4728

Scott- If your palm(s) will be enclosed, heated/kept above freezing within the enclosure, I wouldn't worry too much about the mulch. In my experience they do need some moisture during the winter. As long as they are above freezing you shouldn't have to worry about them being too moist and rotting. I...
by mnpalms
Sun Oct 23, 2011 1:52 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

I plan to use this guy's method to grow some of the seeds: http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/Y_grow_UK.htm#seeds That is unless anyone here has any better suggestions... I'm pretty new to yucca cultivation myself. I did get a good 100+ seeds from the 3 ripe pods. I will never use them all so don't hesitate...
by mnpalms
Sun Oct 23, 2011 1:41 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Looks like our first frost is coming next week...
Replies: 10
Views: 4543

Well after returning to town after 4 days away up north it seems I jumped the gun on pulling everything tender. No frost here yet afterall! Tomato and pepper plants are still green as can be even though I pulled all fruit ripe or not last Wednesday ahead of the forecast frost(s). Up north at the cab...
by mnpalms
Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:03 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Looks like our first frost is coming next week...
Replies: 10
Views: 4543

Jim- I just posted an update to the thread about my yucca thompsoniana. I know that section does not get a lot of action this time of year so I thought I'd mention it here also. I HAVE SEEDS! You are more than welcome to some!! The specimen it was crossed with was one of Tim's, but at the moment I f...
by mnpalms
Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:04 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

UPDATE 10/18/11

UPDATE: I got three fruits to fully mature. I just opened up one of them today and 90% of the seeds within were black (not white/yellowish). I understand that only the black seeds are viable. Two fruits remain on the plant and I will harvest them soon. If the other two are anything like the first on...
by mnpalms
Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:41 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Looks like our first frost is coming next week...
Replies: 10
Views: 4543

I really look forward to the season with just the palms and cactus out there........ It means most of the work is done and I can enjoy the cold hardy palms and cactus by themselves for a while before it gets cold-without all the clutter. Good point Jim. There's just something pleasing about being o...
by mnpalms
Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:21 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Looks like our first frost is coming next week...
Replies: 10
Views: 4543

Looks like our first frost is coming next week...

Well I think banana season is about over here at my place. They are forecasting low 30s next Wednesday night (10/19-10/20). And some more mid 30s following that. Being that I won't have the time mid-week, I'm undertaking the sad and depressing project of digging up all the bananas. I only have a few...
by mnpalms
Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:57 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Well it appears the seed pods may be ready soon. The little branches of the flower stalk that hold the seed pods have dried out and it seems that the pods themselves are now drying out. The main flower stalk is still green though. Should I wait to for the pods/fruits to fall off and/or completely dr...
by mnpalms
Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:29 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Jim- I might just try a cactus bed, just not here in MN as I don't have any more suitable full-sun spots. Certain cactus, agave, yucca, etc do well in Florida 10b's sandy soil in spite of all the rain. I'm thinking that will be one of my landscaping projects down there when we finally get a property...
by mnpalms
Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:17 pm
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Ok, here are some pictures. Sorry for the delay in posting! I needed to download them out of my cell phone. All the pictures except the first one (taken 8/28 ) were taken in mid September just before we closed and covered the pool. <img src=http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww298/mnpalms/DSC_0285.j...
by mnpalms
Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:44 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Tim- I responded to your PM also. Sorry for the delay... I will post updated pictures here asap for all to see. Seed pods are still green (as is the flower spike). They don't seem to be growing any larger though, at least not for what seems like a couple months now. They are 1.5 to 2" long and ...
by mnpalms
Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:04 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: First freeze next week?
Replies: 27
Views: 9401

Kory Can you pick me up a house too! 8) 8) Actually if someone wanted a place that didn't have to have a dock with ocean access, like across the street from the gulf access homes in the same neighborhood, there are 3/2/2 2000sqft houses for $65k that were built in the 2000s. Really nice ones with e...
by mnpalms
Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:51 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: First freeze next week?
Replies: 27
Views: 9401

Been a while since I checked in here... Wxman- Looks like you got/are getting what we had Wednesday night. Frost in outlying areas several weeks early. Record low here actually. We hit 36.9 briefly for the low at my place Wednesday night! Glad I don't live north of the twin cities where they saw upp...
by mnpalms
Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:01 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: 2 days growth.....Fresh Iowa Bananas????(-:
Replies: 46
Views: 15557

That's awesome Jim! I always seek out and fondle and inspect the flowering bananas when on tropical vacations. They are so cool when they flower. People must think I'm nuts... Did you say they are orinocos? They look like they probably are not the "dwarf" variety if orinocos though. How ol...
by mnpalms
Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:25 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Those look awesome Barb! My filamentosas don't seem to want to flower this year. Maybe it was the wierd spring? Winter was not that severe here from a temp standpoint, though we had tons of snow. It was near-record snowfall. Somewhere in the top 10 of all time. You should try to get seed from those ...
by mnpalms
Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:19 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Tim- Your yuccas are magnificent! I have spent plenty of time looking through your "yuccas are blooming" thread drooling over the diversity and sizes. Do you grow any palms too? I could swear those are palm leaves in the foreground of the first picture you posted... I bought the thompsonia...
by mnpalms
Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:16 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Woops! That last picture was the wrong one. Sorry.
by mnpalms
Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:15 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Yucca Thompsoniana Flowering in Minnesota 4b/5a
Replies: 93
Views: 51090

Tim- Thanks again for the pollen! Y. filamentosa does well in my area for sure. Several larger local garden centers stock them here in the spring. Also I sometimes see others available like red yucca (not really a yucca but cool) and small y. rostratas (Monrovia brand). I don't currently grow rostra...
by mnpalms
Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:45 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: 2 days growth.....Fresh Iowa Bananas????(-:
Replies: 46
Views: 15557

Jim- 83.1f was the overnight low last night here! We are supposed to hit 100+ today. I'm sure you will too... Here's a few pics I was able to snap ysterday before having to take refuge inside out of the upper 90s temp and 81 dewpoint, heat index of 120. Out of the 4 large bananas I wintered from las...