Advice Needed for Recovering Trachy

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:08 pm

Well, I'm happy to report that my little Trachycarpus Fortunei appears to have begun its slow climb back up after losing all its fans as a result of underwatering during our late summer heatwave. We still aren't getting much rain at all, so I bought a moisture meter to take some of the guesswork out of when to water. A slow hose about twice a week seems to be plenty for right now. I also cleared the cedar mulch about six inches away from the trunk. It now has two new green spears, one about nine inches and the other about four inches, but even the longer one is still a ways from beginning to open. I'm hoping there's enough new growth for photosynthesis so that it will progress steadily until time to fertilize in the spring. Is there anything else I need to do? Also, assuming that it gets going good next season, how long before it should regain a full crown ? All advice and input is greatly appreciated.

Randy

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:40 pm

Randy, forgive me for being so, well, OBVIOUS, but...

Rather than risk losing a valuable palm (and I presume you love this palm), there must be a few minutes twice a week for you to take out from the house one 5 gallon bucket of water for the palm.
You could use "greywater" from the bathtub...
or freshwater from the tap...

We can't often rely on Rain for plants, or crops for that matter, and have to supplement with irrigation.
If you had a small well/berm around the palm, you could pour 5 gallons water into it, and know that the plant received it.
That's 10 gallons a week.
Probably a guarantee it wouldn't die from drought.

Sounds like it's finally settling in nicely. Glad it made it.
Barb

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:32 pm

Hi Barb,

I'm pretty much satisfied now that it is getting proper water, but my concern before seeing the new spears was whether it was "too little - too late", as they say. Right now I'm just trying to find out if there's anything other than keeping it moist that I could (or should) do to help it along since it doesn't have very much foiliage and obviously isn't very strong going into winter. I've about decided to just keep it moist and leave it alone otherwise until time to fertilize in the spring. Since this is my first palm of this type I'm also wondering how long it takes for them to regrow their full crown once they take off.

Randy

P.S. By the way, we had our first 'cold snap' one night last week! 'Dipped down to 30!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:25 pm

Hi Randy,
Glad it's doing better.
Check with others on the forum, but now that temps are quite a bit cooler (and palm was moist at the end of summer), I don't think you should water other than when it's bone dry and weather has warmed up in between cold spells.

In our cold Canadian winter, my palms are in a barely-heated building at south windows.
I water 2 times in 5 months.

Now that the palm seems settled into your location, you'll be amazed how fast it responds to warm weather next spring, assuming winter is not hard on it.

Barb

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:39 pm

Admittedly, I plan to give it a little extra TLC this first year such as a cover during below 20F stretches. I also read that it wouldn't hurt to shelter the crown during long rainy periods to help prevent any potential fungus problems. If the old addage "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" applies to windmill palms, this oughtta be one beefed-up little Trachy in a few years.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:09 am

Randy, yes, you're wise to protect the crown from moisture, many people on the forum have confirmed spear pull means almost certain death.
Trachy will return that TLC with nice photo opps next spring and summer.
Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:00 am

Glad to hear that your palm is going to be OK.
Trachycarpus fortunei love to have moist soil all the time however they do not like to sit in water so you need well draining soil.

On the weather front so far, knock on wood, we have not had any frost at all yet but that is not uncommon for here. Usually by the end of November is our first real frost.
Bananas, cannas, hedychiums and palms all look good so far.

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:06 pm

Thanks Wes. I feel fairly confident that the slope is about right for good drainage even with the somewhat clay soil. My main concern is keeping the crown from getting too much water inside it during this time of year when growth is so slow. When that first spear opens up I'll feel a little more confident that we're headed out of the woods. Knowing how those of us here in north Alabama shudder at the thoughts of our palms being subjected to the first cold snap each year I can only imagine what it would be like up there in your area. I always found it amusing how any in-ground palm tree with a trunk got so much attention here when starting about 100 miles south they're everywhere. You'd be surprised at the majority of people here in the south who believe that no palm tree can survive a night of below freezing temperatures. I have to admit that I still get concerned anytime I hear the weatherman predict those dreaded "upper teens". I know I'll rest much easier once my little trachy makes it through its first winter and I can see some nice big fans waving in the breeze. I've learned some very valuable lessons about water requirements of Trachycarpus Fortunei.

Randy