Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!

Citrus, Ferns, Hostas, Discuss other plants that don't fit in any other category.

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

Post Reply
User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Lots of damage this year... Not sure why!

Post by Paul Ont » Mon May 06, 2013 8:10 am

Pics will follow later.

This winter saw a low of only ~ -26C or so, which is not bad for the Kingston area. However, I'm seeing more damage on my plants then in some colder years. Maybe it was the lack of snow or the late cold? As we all know plants peak in hardiness in late December/early January and I wonder if the prolonged cold into late March caused more damage?

The bamboo, despite snow cover, is nearly 100% top killed. The exceptions are F. rufa (complete leaf kill), and F. nitida (mostly leaf killed, but no stem kill even on seedlings).

My Southern magnolias have decided to drop all their leaves. There does not, however, seem to be any vascular tissue damage. Deciduous magnolias took a beating from drought last year so my M. tripetala are regrowing from secondary meristem tissue.

Hollies look ok. My I. aquipernyi which looked good earlier in the spring has some vascular tissue damage so despite having mostly green leaves through the winter it is now looking very dry and will have some stem kill. Ilex pendunculosa look 100% fine, they really are excellent BLEs for cold areas. I now have 1 remaining American holly. It's 1.5 feet tall and scraggly, but overwinter with 90% green leaves.

My Yucca which looked very good are mostly OK. Lots of seedlings came through OK. I lost my Y. pallida and the trunking Y. alofolia hybrid 'Southcoast Yucca" was top killed. Surprisingly, I had one larger seed grown Y. gloriosa that looks to have escaped with less damage than Y. filamentosa (which has leaf damage).

The cactus garden has been ravaged by rot. I did not fungicide in the fall nor the early spring. Mistake. Lesson learned. I've lost maybe 20% of the plants with ~25% having significant rot.

Other BLEs, including Rhodos and Kalmia seem fine. Should be an excellent year for blooms. Aucuba hymilaica had leaf kill and some stem kill but seems to recovering well. I wonder if this one might prove half-hardy? I also found another Aucuba that had overwintered inside one of my palm houses. I've moved it to a location beside the banana, might be able to get a few more winters... It's not ornamental, just interesting to get it through the winter in such a cold zone.

Musa basjoo overwintered 3 stems, the largest at about 1' tall. Not bad for zone 5!

Palms. I lost Sabal minor 'Brazoria' and S. 'Birmingham'. Just too cold for them I guess... Well that and I think a vole decided to hollow out the 'Brazoria' to make a 'nest'. Sabal minor seedlings in the same enclosure had leaf burn but are alive. I made another mistake with some of my other palms. I took the house covering my needle and another minor off in the middle of March. The temperature must have hit -10C at least some nights... Anyway the minor has some leaf damage, and the needle had 2-3 stems pull spears and lots of leaf burn. Whoops. I've treated with fungicide but in my experience needles do not tend to regrow when they pull a spear:(

Recently planted:
Yucca brevifolia (from Adam)
Yucca glauca 'turnking form' (from Adam)
Fargesia scabrida. Will it be tough enough?
Phyllostachys atrovaginata. hardy?
A huge Needle palm
Another S. minor. A 5 gallon plant this time...

Thanks, pics will follow later.



igor.glukhovtsev
Large Palm
Posts: 1181
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:33 am
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan, Zone 6a, 43°15′00″

Post by igor.glukhovtsev » Mon May 06, 2013 8:33 am

Complete report... Wish your damaged plants will be regrowing this summer. Take care!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Almaty, KZ" width="300" />

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 06, 2013 1:09 pm

That sucks, Paul.
So sad to hear of more damage than other years.
My y.filamentosa had a lot of leaf damage a couple of years ago when we had very little snow.

Maybe your yuccas will send out suckers from the mother plant.
I hope your desert garden's losses surprise you and come back...they just might with your unexpected and sudden heat?

I hear you about March...we get so hopeful that the worst is over that we open stuff up.
And then April knocks 'em down.

Look forward to 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.

canadianplant
Clumping Palm
Posts: 2399
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm

Post by canadianplant » Mon May 06, 2013 2:15 pm

It will be interesting to see what happens in a few weeks paul... I lost half my Rhodie helikkii buds, and a few on my northern lights azalea. I guess they tried to pop last fall when we went cold.

I would be really cautious with Scabrida. If you bend it down on the ground, or better yet, that and tarp it, it should be ok. I think the "proper" hardiness rating is around -18C... Too bad about the top kill.... Any bets that theyll reshoot?

We also just hot spring last week, then winter again for a few days.... You dont want to see my temps the last few months...... Im surprised anything of mine made it..
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

DesertZone
Palm Grove
Posts: 4416
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:40 pm
Location: South Central Idaho 5b
Contact:

Post by DesertZone » Mon May 06, 2013 5:04 pm

Never looked that cold on your weather sticker, man that sucks! let's hope the new plants do better. :wink:
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

User avatar
hardyjim
Palm Grove
Posts: 4703
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim » Mon May 06, 2013 7:22 pm

compliments of one of the coolest springs ever,right after the warmest.......... :?
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

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 06, 2013 8:29 pm

Thanks for the detailed report. And sorry.
I'm keen on Sabal, obviously, and will look forward to photos

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

Post by JackLord » Tue May 07, 2013 1:57 pm

Don't feel bad. I took my first major casualties this Winter. Lost a Med and two Saw Palmettos. Looked like they just dried out. My perfect record ends. :(

I also lost a Meyer Lemon I was overwintering in the basement.

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Tue May 07, 2013 2:57 pm

Some pics:

Rhodo brachycarpum tigerstedtii

Image


M. grandiflora 'Springgrove #19', leaf kill but little to no stem damage.


Image


'Kay Parris' leaf damage but little to no stem damage:
Image

Rot in the cactus bed was really bad this year:

Image

Image

Image


MOre layter.

canadianplant
Clumping Palm
Posts: 2399
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm

Post by canadianplant » Wed May 08, 2013 3:54 am

Your Rhodies look pretty good Paul. Mine look in the same shape, still a bit "droopy"... Those mags dont look too bad concidering either....

I had the same problem with my cacti, one rotted away during the winter, and the one that looked fine a few weeks ago is toast......
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Wed May 08, 2013 6:41 am

Newly planted needle and minor out front. The banana is on the left:
Image

First Rhody bloom of the season, Aneke Plazak:
Image

Pediocactus in bloom:

Image

Image

Image

Looking back at the woodlot:
Image

The cold really took a toll on the Phyllostachys:
Image

Some mixed cacti and Y. glauca:

Image

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Wed May 08, 2013 11:58 am

Couple more pedio blooms:

Image

Image

User avatar
TimMAz6
Palm Grove
Posts: 2789
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:15 am
Location: Massachusetts USDA 6b

Post by TimMAz6 » Wed May 08, 2013 1:41 pm

great shots. I'm glad to hear the Aucuba 'hima' appears to be a winner.....keep us updated on that one. Let us know how the Mags recover....it would be awesome if they get hardier with age and they survive in your area (long term). 8)
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Fri May 10, 2013 5:56 pm

More Pedios:
Image

Image

More of the Cactus bed:

Image

Yes, the leaves are that shiny and large:
Image

One of the few 'common' Rhodies that I grow, Wyndach pink, it is not very tough in zone 4/5:
Image

A hybrid made by my friend Dave:
Image

Another, more bloom this time:
Image

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 » Fri May 10, 2013 6:08 pm

Great to see the cactus and lovely rhodie blooms amid the carnage.

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.

DesertZone
Palm Grove
Posts: 4416
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:40 pm
Location: South Central Idaho 5b
Contact:

Post by DesertZone » Fri May 10, 2013 9:12 pm

Those pedios are awesome. 8)
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

User avatar
hardyjim
Palm Grove
Posts: 4703
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim » Sat May 11, 2013 8:15 am

Flowers are looking nice!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

User avatar
TimMAz6
Palm Grove
Posts: 2789
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:15 am
Location: Massachusetts USDA 6b

Post by TimMAz6 » Sat May 11, 2013 10:44 am

gotta love Rhodos!
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

Cameron_z6a_N.S.
Large Palm
Posts: 1269
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Post by Cameron_z6a_N.S. » Wed May 15, 2013 9:43 am

Paul, this is an interesting report. Halifax had an awful winter, and I also lost several plants (most likely including the S. minor "McCurtain" that you gave me). I've put this down to the fact that I just covered everything with hay this year rather than the usual mulch. The hay seems to have let more killing moisture reach the roots of plants. My P. bissetii was not protected, and was top-killed to maybe 6" tall.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests