Sad Sad Sad Queen palms : -(

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

Moderators: lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van, Laaz

Post Reply
User avatar
Mark
Seedling
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:06 pm
Location: McHenry, IL / Zone 5a

Sad Sad Sad Queen palms : -(

Post by Mark » Sat May 15, 2010 6:34 am

Well after a long winter fighting spider mites in the house my large Queen palms went outside. The really didn't fare too well over the winter this year.

Here's what they looked like when I put them out.

Image
Image
Image

Then we've had freezing nights and nothing but wind, wind, wind. (I'm so sick of wind!) Since they were already stressed they got beat to hell. My shorter one that didn't look to bad when I brought it out has had all but 2 fronds broken.

Here's the sad pics of them today.

Image
Image
Image
Image

I've heard its best to not cut the fronds off so I have left them hanging there. I'm not sure if they will recover but I will see. Right now they're kind of ugly so I got some replacement queens. I'll move these off to side and see how they do and place my new Queens and Phoenix R by the pool.

Here's some pics of my new additions.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

If anyone has any suggestions for me for my battered large queens or anything else I welcome your thoughts.

Mark



User avatar
TerdalFarm
Palm Grove
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
Contact:

Post by TerdalFarm » Sat May 15, 2010 7:36 am

Thanks for the update on them.
I don't have queen palms myself, so hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.
To me, a novice, they look alright. My expectation is that they will recover.
I had trouble with mites on the palms I brought indoors for the winter but the sun killed them fast once they were outside.
The only big palm that had trouble moving outdoors was the Washy which got fungus in the soil. Tips I got here helped it recover.
Queen palms the size of yours go for US$120 around here. I can get smaller ones for $50 or even $10 for little ones. I think I'll buy some of the $10 size, plant them in the ground and pot them up in October. Thus, I'll follow your experiences to learn how to take care of them. --Erik

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Sat May 15, 2010 10:06 am

Oh Mark what a struggle with those beauties!
If only we all had large bathrooms with 12 foot ceilings and skylight (for humidity and light) to get palms through winter indoors.
But your spider mite damage didn't appear severe.

I don't think snapped fronds can recover, too much tissue damage to allow nutrients/water to travel.

I think it was gpenny who said a grove of palms would be able to resist the wind better than individual ones situated here and there.
Makes sense.
So you simply need more of 'em :wink:

Great new queens and p.roebellenii.
Thanks for the pics!
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
BILL MA
Large Palm
Posts: 1273
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:25 am
Location: Southern Mass.

Post by BILL MA » Sat May 15, 2010 4:10 pm

That's really unfortunate the fronds broke after all the work moving them around and dealing with those bastard mites.

Your new ones look really nice, and weigh a lot less too. Nice roebellenii too that should make you feel better.

Bill

JackLord
Seedling
Posts: 300
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:54 am
Location: Maryland- Zone 7A

Post by JackLord » Sat May 15, 2010 8:07 pm

All things considered, they do not look too bad. A summer outside will do them well.

I saw huge Queen Palms at HD the other night. I thought about it, but they would be too cumbersome to keep inside and outside would be a death sentence. I admire you for taking them on.

User avatar
TerdalFarm
Palm Grove
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
Contact:

Post by TerdalFarm » Mon May 24, 2010 7:03 pm

Looks great!
I'm sure those Queen palms will grow so much that soon you'll forget their winter damage.
Keep us updated. I want to trying growing queen palms and so am following your advice.
About the pool, I haven't swum yet but expect to by this weekend as it is warming up quickly.
Are you swimming yet? Do you heat your pool?
--Erik

User avatar
Mark
Seedling
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:06 pm
Location: McHenry, IL / Zone 5a

Post by Mark » Mon May 24, 2010 7:11 pm

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Its starting to look very tropical around the back yard again. Love my new palms. I moved my sad large Queens off to the side to let them try to recover. Despite looking sad they're both pushing new fronds. Maybe not so sad by the end of the season. Though they are almost unmanageable now in their 75 gal pots.

Here's a few more pics of my tropical setup. Finally Hot now!! Got to enjoy the pool.

Large Queens are in the back of the pic.
Image
Love it!
Image
Another Queen
Image
Image
Image
Image

The Neighbors!
Image

Mark

User avatar
TerdalFarm
Palm Grove
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
Contact:

Post by TerdalFarm » Mon May 24, 2010 7:17 pm

Nice neighbors!
I have chickens in my garden all day long. If the ducks do come up, you can be sure they will eat every bug off your plants.
--Erik

User avatar
sidpook
Clumping Palm
Posts: 1545
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:35 pm
Location: Zone 7b: Southern New Jersey (Philly region)

Post by sidpook » Tue May 25, 2010 4:48 pm

Looks great Mark. I just picked up some really tall Queen palms and wonder what I will do with them in the winter????? Can they be cut back and expected to grow new shoots in the spring??
Mike Trautner

<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... udubon.gif" alt="Click for Audubon, New Jersey Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

User avatar
sidpook
Clumping Palm
Posts: 1545
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:35 pm
Location: Zone 7b: Southern New Jersey (Philly region)

Post by sidpook » Tue May 25, 2010 4:51 pm

Looks great Mark. I just picked up some really tall Queen palms and wonder what I will do with them in the winter????? Can they be cut back and expected to grow new shoots in the spring??
Mike Trautner

<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... udubon.gif" alt="Click for Audubon, New Jersey Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

User avatar
Jova
Sprout
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:56 pm
Location: Terre Haute, IN (zone 6a)

Post by Jova » Tue May 25, 2010 11:10 pm

Looks very nice Mark... and I noticed the ducks in the background of one of the earlier pics you posted:) I think that you're working way too hard by storing those queen palms in your house all winter, and I'm not sure how it is where you're at, but around here, you can pick up queen palms that are around 6-8 feet tall at lowes for around $25 in their houseplant section all year long. I'd think it would make more sense to just replace them every year instead of spending all the time and money repotting them and hauling them inside each year, especially if you end up having to replace them in the spring anyways. Why not try some of the more cold-hardy palms that you could plant in-ground? And for the area around your pool that obviously can't be planted, I'd probably just hit up the big-box stores each year and plant new ones and let them go when winter hits, but then again, I'm lazy like that:)

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Wed May 26, 2010 3:45 pm

Mark what a lovely new landscape at your pool.
Looks fabulous.
I've still got the winter tarp in my pool with our cooler than normal spring.

When your other queens recover--and as Fall approaches again--have you considered offering all your big palms (for winter storage only) to, say, a car dealership?
High ceilings and bright big windows are a real benefit.
Someone else on PN suggested that; a win/win situation for both.

The 2 Queens on each side of the pool stairs...would they get chlorine splash as people exit?

Great pics! Thanks.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa » Mon May 31, 2010 6:14 pm

I'm sure that the palms will recover. They are fast growing palms. I just picked up my first Queen palm the other week. I really like the way they look. Reminds me of Florida.
Thanks
Phil

Image

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Mon May 31, 2010 6:18 pm

Let's see a pic, philmusa!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa » Mon May 31, 2010 6:29 pm

Okay, I will take some pics tomorrow.
Thanks
Phil

Image

User avatar
Mark
Seedling
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:06 pm
Location: McHenry, IL / Zone 5a

Post by Mark » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:04 pm

Sorry it took me so long to reply. Don't get on too much when its nice out...

Barb,
The 2 Queens on each side of the pool stairs...would they get chlorine splash as people exit?
They've never been affected before. My Older large ones went into the pool a couple of times and always came out ok. Pool clean up a bit more of a hassle.

Jova,

I've had those older Queens for 3 years now and they've been spectacular the last 3 years. Simply awsome! This is the first year they didn't fair so well. I've have got many replacements as you see but I will continue to overwinter and let them grow into monsters as well. I just love the look of a massive Queen palm. So tropical! I'm not lazy when it comes to my palms. I'll do what ever it takes. I'm stubborn like that.

Sidpook,

I don't think they can be cut back. Over pruning is bad for these palms. That's why I was so concerned with losing so many fronds. They are both now shooting new fronds but it will be a while before they look like they did last summer. :-(
Image
Suggest you find away to bring them in. You make due however possible. (My thinking)

Mark

User avatar
sidpook
Clumping Palm
Posts: 1545
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:35 pm
Location: Zone 7b: Southern New Jersey (Philly region)

Post by sidpook » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:09 pm

Thanks Mark...Yours look great. I got four of them for $6.99 a piece at Home depot: they were throwing them out soon they said. Totally potbound etc...I came home repotted them and fed them and now they are thriving. They are about 8 to 10 feet tall and have a lot fo new growth...I canbring them in but of course risk a divorce in November when I do so...LOL
Chat soon
M
Mike Trautner

<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... udubon.gif" alt="Click for Audubon, New Jersey Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:41 pm

$6.99 ???? :? :? :?
Holy cow!
We Canadians don't even get dead ones at that price!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 5 guests