You think I'd learn?

[lucky1]

...to not put stuff outside too soon?

I'm so bloody mad at myself.

This guy saw -3C on the front porch.
The hastily-nailed up plastic sheeting didn't help, obviously.



Damn!
Barb

[ROBRETI]

Barb,

I am so sorry. Is there any live tissue by any chance in the middle?
Rob

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Barb that`s a shame. Pygmy date palms are really sensitive and finicky to temperature swings. I lost my last one a couple of years ago bringing it into the warm house to late in the fall. I should have gradually aclimatized it into the garage and then into the house.


John

[TerdalFarm]

I'm sorry too, Barb. I hope it can recover.
If its any consolation, I make similar mistakes every Spring. Hence my uncovering palms outdoors last month, then having a snow storm when I was in Belize. Thank goodness for a good house-sitter.
My wife, on the other hand, still has her potted Yucca rostrata in a pot indoors.
(We'll get down into the upper 30soF this week; I assume she is waiting for that to pass...)
--Erik

[Barrie]

You not a full fledged palmophile until you've killed one (or three).
There could be a chance for recovery and patience may be your best virtue in this case.

Cheers, Barrie.

[lucky1]

Thanks folks.
There's a hint of green around the spears...but I don't know if it's slowly dying, or slowly recovering.

(#$%^*(@%&)

[TerdalFarm]

Barrie,
thanks for the words of advice.
In past years, I've killed: Trachy fortunei x3 (I keep taking them for granted), Washy x2 (letting 'em rot in warm/wet springs with winter protection left on too long) and a Ch. humilis "cerifa" (suspected transplant shock from repeated planting/repotting). I have been on the verge of killing a Jubea chilensis for years; it just keeps showing a hint of green every time I threaten to send it to the compost pile.
I am happy to say I do not seem to have killed anything this year. Even the poor Trachy is putting on quite vigorous spear growth. I credit advice I got here.
--Erik

[lucky1]

It'll be good to see that poor Trachy recover, Erik.

[TerdalFarm]

It is loving the spring weather. I'll take and post a photo in a week or so when I can show how well that new spear is shooting up. --Erik

[lucky1]

Great, thanks...plus...maybe leave the chickens in charge of it this summer.

[TerdalFarm]

I just ran out to check. The hens have been leaving the Trachy alone after I removed that door placed in the winter for wind protection. As you said, it exaggerated wind buffering on the leaves, but it did create great shelter at ground level. The hens went there every morning all winter for warmth out of the wind.
The hens new favorite seems to be the large Butia, the one that had been the "dog house" when it was in the plastic hut. They scratch at the base. I like to think that chicken scratching aerates the soil, etc.
This is part of why I try to only plant large plants (5+ gallon pots) as when I plant little things the chickens dig them up. I like to assume the surface roots of a palm can deal with chickens digging around them and maybe benefit from the weeding, soil aeration & fertilization they do. --Erik

[lucky1]

And those hens hunkered down on the soil also warms the soil.
Agree that young plants' roots can be damaged by chickens, unlikely with larger-rooted specimens.
Chickens are wonderful for eating the larvae of all sorts of stuff that damages plants, including nematodes.
They'd likely kill for a cutworm!

Soon they'll roost in a 10-foot Butia...