Big Boy Trachy not doin' well

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:40 pm

Removed palm hut finally.
Door had been open for a couple of months.

It's leaning like mad.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/16236720873" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7585/162 ... c02984.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="008"></a>

3 new spears don't look good, crinkly/dry and beige color.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/16830844686" title="009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/168 ... 5cd810.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="009"></a>

The longest spear was touching the uninsulated plastic roof all winter.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/16669303640" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/166 ... d765f5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="010"></a>

What a shock when we tried plugging in a leaf blower into the exterior house power, and found it didn't work.
Probably off all winter.

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:28 pm

Going to hurricane cut it and hope for the best?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:04 pm

Is that trunk mushy at all???

Are the spears growing?

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:56 pm

Oh boy, I havent seen one bend like that. Definitely, watch for any growth. What has your temps been?

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:14 pm

Wasn't it milder for you this year? spear doesn't look bad...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:08 pm

Nope, not gonna hurricane cut it.
Watered the hell out of it...no water since last September.

Going to hold off checking whether trunk/spears are mushy...
I'll prolong the bad news.

Yup, this winter (and last) were mild compared to years ago.
We had a night of -21C in November, followed by one or two -17C in December.
Temps never got above freezing for almost 3 months but have had very warm weather all of February and so far in March.

Palm hut door has been open for about 2 months, even when we still had -8C (which it's seen before with no ill effects).

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:17 pm

Although not extreme in ultimate lows,it sounds like
duration may have been an issue- if that trunk was not
bending like that before you covered it...does it warm
up during the day?

One of the reasons I never went with a T-2(?) Thermocube
is because(on 20F/ off 30F) I was afraid a palm could potentally
be refridgerated all winter if the right conditions outside set up...

It may have worked over the innards of the trunks vascular
system enough to fatally damage it and yet because
the leaf hardiness number was not reached they did not die
but were preserved...worst case senario...hope for the best
I know shes been with you a good while.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 9:32 pm

Points well made, Jim.
I always thought a T-3 was way too warm...we were trying to get a Trachy more hardy after all.
Not keep it from ever seeing freezing temps.

The trunk was bent last year too, and I wondered if it was getting too dark there with adjacent trees shading it from even morning sun, which is the only sun it gets. An hour or two sun at best.

Your third paragraph makes a lot of sense Jim.
Thanks.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:13 pm

Well...hopefully the heat was on close to the time the weather
warmed up and the Trachy wasnt in prolonged refridgerater mode.

Besides the bend I really think it looks pretty good (considering
the heat being off at some point) in regards to its health.

Brooklands · Post by **Brooklands** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:45 pm

I think it will be fine Barb,

The spear doesn't look too bad, the top of the spear isn't great looking where it touched the roof, but it's the bottom of the spear that's critical. I have had many pull over the years with the palm surviving, and all looked far worse at the bottom than yours.

I would skip the light panel in the roof next year, Trachy's are fine with absolutely zero light for several semi-dormant months. Looks like yours might be stretching for the minimal light all winter leading to the bend over the past few years. Loads of folk stick em in dark frost free sheds or garages with no light and they usually come through fine.

But hey, curved palm trees look extra tropical!!!
........Phil

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 7:07 am

Thanks Jim and Phil.
Time will tell what's up with this guy.

No water during the 5-6 months was a mistake I know.
Just didn't get around to it.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:06 am

Keep us updated, Barb.