Mildow on Palms of my Windmill Palm

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

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Held4Ransom
Seed
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:45 pm

Mildow on Palms of my Windmill Palm

Post by Held4Ransom »

I am in Windsor Ontario and I reviewed the forecast temperature and the average temperature and there was nothing under 10 'c. So I decided to open my winter projection. I am so glad I did. There were six branches that were full of mildow. I cut all six off the tree and the rest of the palms look good. I used 2" styrofoam and build a 2' x 2' x 8' enclosure. I place two heat lamps in the bottom of the enclosure. The lights were control by a temperature controller. I set the controller a 40'F. The temperature in the enclosure was maintained between 40 and 45'F. Was this temperature of 40'F too high?? Is this what caused the moisture and the mildow?? What temperature is the proper temperature to keep the enclosure at??


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hardyjim
Palm Grove
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Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim »

Nothing wrong with the temps,were the fronds touching anything???
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wxman
Small Palm
Posts: 574
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:48 pm
Location: Saukville, WI

Re: Mildow on Palms of my Windmill Palm

Post by wxman »

Held4Ransom wrote:I am in Windsor Ontario and I reviewed the forecast temperature and the average temperature and there was nothing under 10 'c. So I decided to open my winter projection. I am so glad I did. There were six branches that were full of mildow. I cut all six off the tree and the rest of the palms look good. I used 2" styrofoam and build a 2' x 2' x 8' enclosure. I place two heat lamps in the bottom of the enclosure. The lights were control by a temperature controller. I set the controller a 40'F. The temperature in the enclosure was maintained between 40 and 45'F. Was this temperature of 40'F too high?? Is this what caused the moisture and the mildow?? What temperature is the proper temperature to keep the enclosure at??
Did the palm have natural sunlight? I still believe this is key.
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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 »

Welcome aboard!

Nothing wrong with the winter temps inside your enclosure.

Even a small gap/air space at the top would have allowed humidity out.

Barb
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Held4Ransom
Seed
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:45 pm

Answer

Post by Held4Ransom »

I had the palm tied all together in a bunch. I guess, I should leave them all loose. I also have a small window in the enclosure that gives the tree some sunlight daily. Does any one have a automated vent to allow air into the enclosure.
Beny
Seedling
Posts: 368
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:07 pm
Location: Mirabel,Quebec,Canada zone 5a
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Post by Beny »

Hi Ransom, i tied all the fronds too and i only have that problem one time, and i have 16 palms outside. You did ok with everything, i dont have any window in the box, cause the light go trough the styrofoam. I think the best way is to spray fongicide/bactericide on all leaves, that will prevent that problem. I will try that next winter. Dont forget something, during the growing season there is a lot of mushrom spore in the air and on the tree, bush, everywhere. So if we give a perfect environment to these spore to grow in mushrom, a enclosure box, heated and not ventilated is the place for. So if we spray before winter that will kill all these spore. Thats what i think...

Benoit
Expression tropicale
coconutmike
Seedling
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:17 pm
Location: montreal zone 5b

Windmill palm boxes

Post by coconutmike »

Hello Ransom -I have over 100 palms outside and all of my palms pulled through except a couple of new experiments that left 4-5 palms a little sad looking . I had 1 windmill palm that is planted in the shade have a major fungus problem so this does happen on occassion . 1 trick since I want you to keep it alive is to wrap the palm only with arbotex on the inside. No burlap or plastic wrap . Arbotex is like cotton and if you sweat in the summer a cotton t-shirt will dry easily. Same principal for palm, as it warms up outside and palm sweats it will absorb the moisture . The name ransom is familiar, did I sell you that palm last year.
good-luck
mike
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