We have now emerged into summer with summer-like weather the past week. Yesterday hit 90, last night only fell to 75 and today is once again up near 90. Damage does clearly come out more defined once warmer weather hits and is as follows:
Trachy #1: Pulled spear and newest frond on 12/31/2010. No further damage as of today (remaining fronds green), no sign of crown collapse, but so far NO growth. Worried about this one.
Trachy #2: No spear pull, fronds are still green. Newest spear has discoloration (brownish-yellow) where it emerges from the trunk. Will not pull and it is currently pushing up each day. This one should make it.
Trachy #3: Pulled two spears back in April. Newest frond that emerged late last year is still pushing up, however there is no sign of another spear. Fronds are still green and no sign of crown collapse. Slightly worried about this one.
Trachy #4: No spear pull, fronds are still green. Newest spear has discoloration (brownish-yellowish) where it is emerging from the trunk. Will not pull. Spear is moving up daily. This one should make it.
What has me worried is no signs of a new spear on two of the four trachys, however this spring has been cooler than normal -- hoping to see something by July 1st. Lowest temperature experienced in the enclosure was probably close to 10F and solar insolation brought the temperature above freezing each day. Ground did partially freeze in the entire enclosure by the end of January.
I'm thinking if they were dead, I should see further deterioration of the existing fronds and maybe a crown collapse, but they are holding on strong and green which lends me hope the bud is still alive. Since last year was their first year in the ground, if they do indeed make it, they should be almost bulletproof this winter under the same conditions by having a more established root system.
Lastly, the trachy I planted in July 2008 that I heat to 40F all winter with a space heater is pushing out 4 spears at once now.
Scared to see what it looks like by fall.
