Maybe we're not zone 7b after all....

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:43 pm

It's getting down to 15 degrees tonight in Charlotte N.C. All three of my queen palms have thus far survived 22 degree temps the past two nights. My two big Washys look great and my fox tail got fried. Of course all the needpalms, sabal minors, and European fan palms look great as well and I've not protected any of them up to this point. Tonight I covered my two big washys and put a drop light beside my biggest queen palm. Not sure if this is enough to save the Queen Palm with the 15 degree cold. What do you guys think? Should I trek back out and add additional protection. Hey, and I know my wrap looks a little cheesy but I waited until the last minute. ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... d005-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... d005-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... ped006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... ped006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... ped008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/ ... ped008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:12 pm

I'd throw something over the queen leaves,just to keep cold from settling in the crown,the light helps but something over her keep some heat inside next to the crown,probably will fry the leaves anyway,being that cold.

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:46 pm

My foxtail palm tapped out at around 28 degrees. I thought they were as hardy as the Queens but apparently no where close as all three of my queens still look great.

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:27 am

They say this second blast of cold air coming,will be colder than this cold blast!
17* here now,and we got about a inch of snow last night.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:29 am

A sheet between the the leaves and plastic will keep the leaves from being damaged by contact with the plastic.
This will also increase the efficiency of the heat source and possibly keep the temp
down if you don't remove the plastic before the sun gets to warming it up in there. \Good liuck

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:33 pm

If you don't want to take the plastic off, a sheet or even a blanket over the top will be better too.

Bill

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:52 pm

The two smaller queen palms I left totally unprotected seem to have survived just fine with us hitting a 15 degree low last night. I am really surprised how well all my palms have done in this cold. The Foxtail palm notwithstanding.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:13 pm

Plastic probably isn't enough, even with a light inside.

Sounds like your weather will stay cold for a while.

Have you got an old carpet, say 5x 8, that you could wrap around the palm, tied with bungee cords, then reapply the plastic over the top in case of more snow/freezing rain.

I'd be ripping the Christmas lights off the roof to put them around the plants

Good luck.
Barb

PS--I'm starting 50 Foxtail seeds. I could cry seeing your beauty shrivel in the cold.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:00 pm

The two smaller queen palms I left totally unprotected seem to have survived just fine with us hitting a 15 degree low last night

It will take a little while, but queens can not take that kind of cold. You will see the fronds start to turn almost white soon. Mine burn in the lower 20's.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:40 am

[quote="lucky1"]Plastic probably isn't enough, even with a light inside.

Sounds like your weather will stay cold for a while.

Have you got an old carpet, say 5x 8, that you could wrap around the palm, tied with bungee cords, then reapply the plastic over the top in case of more snow/freezing rain.

I'd be ripping the Christmas lights off the roof to put them around the plants

Good luck.
Barb

te]

Or building an outhouse around them/now that's palm love/dedication!
Got'cha Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:32 am

You're right, Jim.
Mine does resemble an outhouse (versus a phone booth)

The building inspector oughta be along any day now...

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:29 am

lucky1 wrote:You're right, Jim.
Mine does resemble an outhouse (versus a phone booth)
The building inspector oughta be along any day now...

Barb

I don't think he will bother you if you-ahem- are sitting down and talking on the phone

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:43 am

I'll add a magazine holder...

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:24 am

You were right Laaz. The unprotected Queens are turning white on the ends followed by brown then green closer to the trunk. Seem to be surviving but with pretty significant damage to the fronds.

Barb and others, I really don't understand the importance of adding sheets under the plastic. My little potted Washingtonias which I covered with plastic without a light look great. The plastic keeps the frost from building up on the fronds which seems to be all I need.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:52 am

Fronds touching plastic is protection only from frost sitting atop the frond.
Anything cloth, like a blanket, has air spaces which won't transfer as much cold as plastic alone.

But blankets get wet, so plastic should be on top of cloth to keep moisture out.
Just a suggestion.

Good luck.
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:50 am

lucky1 wrote:I'll add a magazine holder...

And Francko's "Palms won't grow here!

Rubtherock

Your right the plastic would protect your Washys from frost build up but...........
22(F) is about as cold as they are going to take with just plastic without leaf damage.
Any colder and you can expect leaf damage anywhere the leaves touch plastic.
Hopefully you won't see much colder and you warm up during the day!

serj · Post by **serj** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:35 am

Dear, Rubtherock! Your zone looks like zone 9a. You grow the syagrus palms without any protection! In my country even in Crimea (zone 8b) the syagrus don't grow! This winter is typically winter for zone 7b.

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:11 am

This weather is more typical of Zone 5. My zip code is 28012 which puts me barely in zone 8 according to Arbor Day and Zone 7B according to all others.

It has been down to 14 degrees here for three nights in a row.

I've never grown any syagrus palms. My palms are windmills and European Palms which seem fine without protection, Queen Palms which I've mostly fried, Pindos and Washingtonia which I've protected, and of course the very cold hard need and sabal minors which also require no protection.