Trachy going nuts since planting in ground!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:09 pm

You folks were right...this guy couldn't wait to get out of his root-bound pot.
There are, it seems, always two spears coming up before the older frond is open.

I'm just hoping I can get it back out of the ground this Fall.

I had considered building a heated enclosure to push the zones...but I don't think I'd be able to sleep at night
worried that the power's going to go off when it's 25 below C.

Thanks again for the tip.
This 30+ year old baby (the plant...I'm older, ha ha) is happy.
Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:21 pm

I would try biulding an enclosure around it rather than every winter digging it up. It will get very heavy in no time. All of mine a spitting out fronds like crazy. With the warmer weather but not hot, trachies thrive.
And Barb if you are worried about your power, set up a transfer switch system to a generator.
I work for an electrical wholesaler and we have the equipment to do this. We have a branch in Kelowna.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:04 pm

You folks are going to drive me totally over the edge

...from being neurotic anyway...to trying to grow palms when it's forty below!

Wes, I'll mention it to my husband...see if he bites.
Otherwise, I'll dig the thing up just so I can rest.
Barb

nucci60 · Post by **nucci60** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:09 am

Did you say that trachy was thirty years old?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:40 am

Yup, it's 31 this year, and has been in successively larger pots all its life.
I think it's grateful to even SEE any soil...the roots just went round and round in the pot, with not a teaspoon of soil left.
Barb

macario · Post by **macario** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:52 pm

Wow now that amazing

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:28 am

Its almost like its "bonsai"ed.

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:29 pm

Barb, Nice shots... Is your trachy drinking lots of water?

What type(s) of fertilizer are you using?

What direction is it facing?

I can say I put 2 trachy's in the ground back in early April and they both have just taken off...(nice big broad leaves)..They are in raised beds/semi shade...and with the heat we've been having I need to water them 3 times a day...

They are truly meant for the ground...

I'll post as soon as I get my camera back...

PalmettomanZ6-Ajax, On

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:51 pm

Palmettoman, it is a thirsty devil, and water disappears as though going down a drain.
But it gets water only once every 3 weeks.

It's been really hot, and it's on the south wall of a building (also protected from east and west by building wings).
The area's a bruiser of a heat trap, but gets shade from about 4 pm on.
It's at the edge of a concrete patio (more heat), so I just let the hose trickle until the whole bed is flooded with an inch of water.

In spring when I planted it from pot to ground, I gave it some Thrive (I think), and then only once I gave
it MiracleGro All Purpose 24-8-26 with micronutrients.
Ingredients list is: (besides the NPK),
Boron .02%; Copper .07%; Chelated Iron .15%; Chelated Manganese .05%; Molybdenum .0005%; Zinc .06%;
EDTA 1.2%.

Wow, 3 times a day water! Probably because of the raised beds?
Got your camera back?

Barb

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:03 pm

thanks for the facts Barb..

its always interesting to know where other folks have these sited etc..and of course... what their using...

i have found that at least in our climate here (hot-humid summers), that it has been better to sit the trachy's in partial shade..

these palms are def. suited for your pacific nwest area..

my euro palms and butia capitata's on the other hand love the heat and sun..

as for my camera..it got left out of town so I hope to post some pics of my hardy palms and other spec. in a day or so..

Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:26 pm

Yup, I'm really pleased with that fertilizer, tho I used it sparingly.

Read here from you folks that trachys don't need a lot of heat to grow, that's probably
why they're doing so well in the Pacific Nwest.
But when our heat comes on, it's brutal, and virtually NO humidity.
Thought palms loved humidity (i.e. Hawaii, etc.)

Looking forward to seeing your pics.
Barb

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:31 pm

I finally got my Butia and my Chamerops into the ground last night. After watering them faithfully and applying Miracle Grow while I tried to get the stucco contractor to finish, I finally put them in the ground. I added about 6 cu ft of compost and 7.5 cu ft of peat moss to the soil in the 6' x 10' x 2' deep insulated flower bed.

They are on the south side of the house exposed to the sun and in front of an almost completely stuccoed wall.

I still need to install the front insulating foam and add the last half a foot of soil before I post pics.

Allen

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:34 pm

That's a lot of compost and peat moss...they'll really do well right away.
And the reflection off the stucco on a south wall will give them plenty of light.
Mine's up against a white stucco wall.
Even on a really cloudy day (darn few of those), it's still bright.

Look forward to seeing the pics, Allen.
Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:02 pm

Even in Vancouver I water my trachies at least twice a week.
Once every three weeks in your heat I would think is not enough.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:36 am

I agree with you Wes...should probably water it more.
This trachy is so happy

to be out of its pot(s) after 30+ years ... it's just happy to be in SOIL, instead
of the roots going round and round in circles in the pot.

Despite all the encouragement from folks to leave it in the ground, I am going to dig it up and repot to a
large pot with nice fresh soil in a couple of weeks. It'll go back inside the barely-heated but sunny building for winter.
I just don't want to be "practicing zone pushing" with this plant.

I just hope not too many roots have grown under the concrete patio

Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:27 pm

Trachy root systems are usually quite small. They are similiar to Rhodos.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:24 am

Whew...that's encouraging, Wes.
Thanks.
Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:30 am

That trachy is about to pop! Wooo that is nice.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:06 pm

Thanks Aaron, the bloody thing keeps putting out frond after frond, with no sign of slowdown

BTW how've things recovered around your place since the wildfire?
Thank God your place was spared, but how are the neighbors doing?
Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:46 pm

"Trachy root systems are usually quite small. They are similiar to Rhodos."

Trachycarpus root systems are much deeper than Rhododendron. It's quite likely (and almost enevitable) your palm will suffer a setback or shock from being unearthed. The newest exploritory roots will be damaged or severed during the process. Personally I'd opt for a framework enclosure or some such device to overwinter your palm.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:47 am

You make a good point about severing the roots Barrie.
AAAAARGH!

I know I won't sleep at night if it's not in a pot indoors!
Will again consider all those good suggestions.
Barb

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