Save this Tetrapanax Papyrifer Rex

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:56 am

I got a Tetrapanax Papyrifer Rex which is currently sitting in pot and kept indoor. I plan to plant it outside at spring in 2-3 months but im not sure if it will stay alive that long. It was infested by white spider mites but they should be gone now I think, its really hard to see clearly because of the powder-thingy these plants produce. My problem now is that the leaves are starting to look droopy and some have began to turn yellow.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:59 am

These things are pretty tough... This is how i get rid of the spider mites:

Bring it to the bath rub, and use the shower head (handheld), or a spray bottle with a decent adjustable stream. Set the sprayer in between "jet" and "mist". Spray the hell out of the leaves. Take a damp cloth, and wipe down the leaves that you can, on top and underneath, as well as the stems. THis is where it gets a bit personal. You can either use store bought insecticide (I use safers soap), or a few drops of dish washing liquid, in a spray bottle, with warm water. On the same setting as before, spray the plant all over. Spray, and let it dry off for 5 or 10 minutes and repeat a few times. Then rinse the plant off with water. If the pot is dry, flush the pot with water (this will also remove salt in the soil from fertilizer).

This should remove almost, if not all the bugs on this plant. I would also do this to the plants that surround the "rex", to limit reinfestation. Mist the plant once or twce a day, and put a fan on it for an hour a day. Those bastards are tough, and even if the plant tlooks dead, it may come back from the roots (jim will tell you, they do this quite well, even in his zone "5" area!).

You could also just put it outside, but i dont know how cold it gets there at night. The above mentioned way is the best way ive found.

Also, the plant may just be shedding last years growth. A few of the perennials that ive taken inside do this (passiflora is one of them). My fig did the same thing as well, also with a spider mite infestation. With in 2 days of "washing" it like I have mentioned, it put out 2 leaves, and is growing like a champ! (figs also have theose small hairs, which make wiping it a but tough too)

Good luck dude!

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:05 am

canadianplant wrote:These things are pretty tough... This is how i get rid of the spider mites:

Bring it to the bath rub, and use the shower head (handheld), or a spray bottle with a decent adjustable stream. Set the sprayer in between "jet" and "mist". Spray the hell out of the leaves. Take a damp cloth, and wipe down the leaves that you can, on top and underneath, as well as the stems. THis is where it gets a bit personal. You can either use store bought insecticide (I use safers soap), or a few drops of dish washing liquid, in a spray bottle, with warm water. On the same setting as before, spray the plant all over. Spray, and let it dry off for 5 or 10 minutes and repeat a few times. Then rinse the plant off with water. If the pot is dry, flush the pot with water (this will also remove salt in the soil from fertilizer).

This should remove almost, if not all the bugs on this plant. I would also do this to the plants that surround the "rex", to limit reinfestation. Mist the plant once or twce a day, and put a fan on it for an hour a day. Those bastards are tough, and even if the plant tlooks dead, it may come back from the roots (jim will tell you, they do this quite well, even in his zone "5" area!).

You could also just put it outside, but i dont know how cold it gets there at night. The above mentioned way is the best way ive found.

Also, the plant may just be shedding last years growth. A few of the perennials that ive taken inside do this (passiflora is one of them). My fig did the same thing as well, also with a spider mite infestation. With in 2 days of "washing" it like I have mentioned, it put out 2 leaves, and is growing like a champ! (figs also have theose small hairs, which make wiping it a but tough too)

Good luck dude!

Thanks for these detailed instructions. About the spider mites, I think I have gotten rid of them, but im gonna wash the plant a few more times as you suggested to make sure.
It's still too cold to bring outside in a pot, night temperatures still can get down to -10 celcisus (14F) so I have to wait a bit longer.

I dont think the plant is shedding last years growth because one of the newest leaves dried up and fell off. Anyway, this could all be a result of the spider mites so maybe things will be better now that they are gone (hopefully).

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:10 am

I think it has enough woody tissue to make it to spring.

The can take down to mid 20s but 30 is a safer bet.
You could start putting it outside on mild days and nights...
just don't let it get to much sun at first.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:12 am

Doug, was it from a nursery? or a box store?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:50 pm

I'm not sure what the problem is. Someone from New Jersey sent me this small offset in fall 2010 and I kept in inside my garage over winter and it did fine. I planted it out in 2011 as this:

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... pr1724.jpg>

and my the end of the season it looked like this.........so watch out!

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... t261-1.jpg>

Godfryd · Post by **Godfryd** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:17 pm

wow Tim, very nice progress in grow. I like Tetrapanax a lot.

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:31 am

TimMAz6 wrote:I'm not sure what the problem is. Someone from New Jersey sent me this small offset in fall 2010 and I kept in inside my garage over winter and it did fine. I planted it out in 2011 as this:

and my the end of the season it looked like this.........so watch out!

Wow, that is some nice growth there. I hope mine will do just as well if it survives.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:58 am

Itll be fine dude. You had a bad infestation, but I dont think enough to kill it, but definitely enough to set it back

I would keep wasing it every week or 2. ITs good for the plant anyways. Even if you plant it and it declines, (which i doubt), I bet the roots are fine, and itll shoot like crazy (it might do that anyways!) Have some faith in it, Im still surprised at what some plants can take!

Peace, and good luck

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:17 am

Try to give it as much sun as possible-like Castor bean plants these will grow inside
but generally lack the strength to hold their older leaves up!

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:31 pm

It looks a bit worse now than from the first picture, dark green areas are forming like on the second picture. Good news is that the temperatures seems to stay above freezing for a few days now, so im gonna take it outside for a bit. Maybe that will help.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:19 pm

Where can I get some of these this spring?

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 2:17 am

wxman wrote:Where can I get some of these this spring?

They seem to be quite hard to find, at least where I live, but I found mine on ebay.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:03 am

Ebay has them, and last i seen Plants Delight had some (a few months ago)

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:37 am

I can hook you up with some in spring Tim.

The one I have is Steroidal giant.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:38 am

Im still surprised at how well that thing comes back every year for you Jim. Just think of how many youll have this spring , considering your winter

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:02 pm

hardyjim wrote:I can hook you up with some in spring Tim.

The one I have is Steroidal giant.

Awesome! I was looking for the steroidal giant. How do you overwinter these?

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 2:07 am

Is there any noticeable difference between steroidal giant and the rex form?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:28 am

Wakeman wrote:Is there any noticeable difference between steroidal giant and the rex form?

I think Steroidal giant is bigger/bigger leaves.

Tim

I have not done anything to overwinter mine but if you want a large plant you have to protect the trunk.
I think a 35/45 Thermocube would work great.

One thing I like about these is that they can handle frost to the upper 20s at least with no damage
so they will be around for a while after other stuff is frosted.

Wakeman · Post by **Wakeman** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:56 am

Here is an update of the close to death TRex. I picked out a sheltered location and planted it out early spring and it has made a good recovery. First photo is from march, second from yesterday.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:29 am

Nice!