In memory of plants we have LOST!

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:40 pm

Looking through picture from a few years ago, I see a few plants that have since succumbed to bugs, poor transplanting, poor siting, overwatering, or general neglect.
Maybe you too have pictures of favorite plants you have lost over the years. And maybe you too have learned a thing or two about what NOT to do wrong the next time around. Please share!
This is my 6 foot tall Traveller's palm in September 2011. A year later it was dead.
Cause: Primarily due to leaf burn from coming outside in the summer... really should have gone out in filtered light or partial shade. This slowed its growth. May also have become too dry once or twice over the summer, further stressing the palm. Never FULLY regained its initial vigour. Eventually it died of root rot. Sad since I had this grown from a corm back in 2006. I do however have four of its offset babies that I rooted three and two years ago... which upon second thought probably even further stressed the plant.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/8486826023/" title="Ravenala madagascariensis 2011 by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8486 ... 96fa_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Ravenala madagascariensis 2011"></a>

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:02 pm

very sad. I am posting a few pics of a beautiful Strellzia Nicolai i had for 11 years in a pot and finally one year it rotted and died, it was huge and beautiful too, don't know what got it in the end????? Probably snails/bugs I'm thinking at the root base.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:12 pm

Then there was the trouble I had to plant and site this Sabal minor last spring/ summer.
Saved it! It just wasn't growing.
Cause: When dug up after two months, the root ball had begun to rot in spots. We trimmed any decay and tousled the roots slightly. We had noticed soil had shrunk AWAY from the tight rootball, perhaps leading to cycles of humidity then drying out and spotty rot.
When replanting, we bashed the soil super tight against the root ball with soil that allows drainage around and below the roots. Also planted it a couple inches higher up in the soil of its bed. And created a sand/humus/mulch filled drainage "ditch" for runoff to avoid drowning roots in our clayey yard. Growth in the following three weeks was much more apparent than the previous two months.

http://palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... highlight=

The same spot two years previous, for the same reasons I am sure, we lost a 3 gallon Trachy. Which died after a winter fully exposed.
Cause: A 3 gallon Trachycarpus fortunei should have been protected the first couple of years in zone 7a. It spear pulled then spring rotted.
If I had allowed it to gain some trunk growth and to get its roots established, it may have had a chance. I know as stated above though, that the soil was not amended correctly. It likely would have died anyways due to how I planted it in our bowl-like hole in our clay. $25 plant. Lesson learned.

This year's trachy is larger, was planted first thing in the spring and has a built up bed of fully draining soil. The clay to ten inches below has been removed and replaced with a good organic soil mix. It has a insulated, but unheated box over it until the first week of March this year at least. Oh and sited in a much more wind-sheltered spot.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/8173590524/" title="Insulated glass box by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8173 ... 58f5_z.jpg" width="478" height="640" alt="Insulated glass box"></a>

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:15 pm

Mike that WAS a nice BOP. It's sad to see them go.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:22 pm

Yes, Adam. It was really a bummer...It got so huge and so healthy! Then poof, gone.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:26 pm

Yucca rigida. Rated for zone 8. Looks good here after being planted here in its new bed back in summer 2010. Died.
Cause: Separated an offset before planting stressed the plant. Sited on south wall with too much clay in a brand new bed.
Nail in the coffin: did not protect it in the winter, at all. We went down to -20c/-4f one morning that winter. D'oh!
But I have the offset planted out there now. Alive. Better soil. Protected under glass with thermocubed heat. Still not happy.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/8488046106/" title="Yucca rigida by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8488 ... d12e_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Yucca rigida"></a>

Oh and the most expensive Yucca I ever bought to date... it was I think 69 dollars. grr..

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:27 pm

I want to make a t-shirt that says "Clay Kills" we'd make millions in the gardening community

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:53 pm

I guess I killed a lot of plants in 2010.
Evergreen oak, Quercus chrysolepis hardy to 6a?? Grew from seed bought online at Sheffields seeds (five acorns, $22 including postage!), 3 of five grew. Killed one first winter ground planted. Killed the other two in their pots in the second winter. I had them sheltered in the hoop house. Defoliated. Never came back.
Cause: soil too loosely packed in their pots, roots got some cold air. Probably not hardy to 6a until more mature. Never got to see 2011.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/8488245824/" title="Quercus chrysolepis by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8488 ... 4be6_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Quercus chrysolepis"></a>

Needle palm. Was quite a nice specimen. Survived the first winter unprotected. Although lost 90% of its leaves in the winter. Dead by summer.
Cause: Wind/sun burn? First year should have been protected from the wind at least. Finally, rabbits ate the remaining leaves and ALL its new spring growth!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seedscanada/8488244164/" title="Rhapidophyllum hystrix by seedscanada, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8488 ... fb5d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Rhapidophyllum hystrix"></a>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:34 pm

Good topic, Adam.
So sad, guys...I've got a few to add myself.

Licuala grandis.
This VERY valuable little baby was doing OK for a year with my EXTREME (and I mean EXTREME) efforts to keep it in high humidity, including a "widened tent" of a dry cleaning bag, lots of very bright light, water at a certain temperature, twice daily misting...just couldn't keep it warm enough, I suppose.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/2040021467/" title="DSC00698 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2016/2040 ... 771306.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC00698"></a>

7-foot tall Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (bottle palm).
After 4 years it succumbed to rot. I kicked myself for having transplanted it into a sketchy FIBERGLASS pot but it was a tall pot so I thought it'd work.
Probably the fiberglass was a mistake because it had done so well until then. Maybe a chemical reaction? Here it is at left:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/4765314917/" title="DSC03785 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4116/4765 ... e5d4bd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC03785"></a>

It had gotten such a beautiful distinctive bottle shape:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6489828911/" title="DSC05179 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6489 ... 2c3b96.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05179"></a>

And a Butia capitata:
To this day, I still don't know what killed it. Maybe some kind of fungus, because the bottom fronds simply collapsed.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/4325193173/" title="DSC03352 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2751/4325 ... d92756.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC03352"></a>

And this $200+ y.rostrata:
Planted in ground, protected with a cover and C-9 lights, and then chickened out and dug it up again in November

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/2960410020/" title="DSC01705 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3251/2960 ... 3ff6ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC01705"></a>

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:56 am

Oh the humanity!!!!!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:44 am

I really dropped the ball last fall and wiped out 20 - 40 plants....

Including this seed grows CIDP

ALso died - D Tricolour, still waiting on my Pygmy date palm, Baucarnea stricta, Areca palm, money tree, 2 Ficus elastica, triangle palm...

All of them were left out too long, or lost in the mini jungle out back......

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:57 am

Now this is a topic I can get behind. These pics are from way back in 2005 or earlier!

Yucca thompsoniana, crapped out first winter despite being protected. Man it was nice:

My original needle palm after its third? Second? winter. It dies the following year:

Needle is in the middle, on the left is a T. fortunei annual, the basjoo on the left is still there:

Magnolia virginiana 'Henry Hicks' lasted 3 years:

Dead, dead, dead T. fortunei (this one recovered from 2003, then gave up in 2005. My longest lived outdoor fortunei):

Agave lopantha. Dead despite moisture protection:

Opuntia macrocentra dead despite overhead protection. I have one form now that is half-hardy:

Agave montana:

Poncirus looks ok. Was brown ~2 weeks later:

Cylindorpuntia kleinae. I have a half-hardy form of this now too:

My old cactus bed. The Agave you see here are either still in pots or dead. The Joshua tree in the center survived ~5 winters (including one with a low to -32C) before its death after I transplanted it:

A better pic of the J-tree:

This was a big screw up, Phy. aurea cultivar. It never had a chance:

The original needle again:

The first T. fortunei I ever planted out, it survived this winter (maybe 2003?) with complete defoliation and spear pull:

These are from ~2006 or 2007.
Yucca gloriosa variegata. Came back from the roots once then was never seen again:

The last efforts of my original needle palm:

Dasiliron texanum, directly in front of it is a Yucca kanabensis, which is the best blue Yucca that I've tried. Both lasted one season!

A recovering T. fortunei, I think that this guy died during the summer anyway...

A complete list of all the plants that have failed the zone 4/5 test would be much more extensive! Most of the things above have been killed in duplicate, often triplicate, to confirm their inability to cope with the climate.

Thanks for looking!

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:22 am

Eh-eh, Paul... You have been trying at least. Million of people - never!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:52 am

great reports............keep um coming!

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:20 am

Losing a seed grown palm is particularly gut-wrenching.

Paul, I am not the only one here to have only temporary success with needle palms. Or trachies. Loved that Dasylirion!

I think I am done with oaks, Barb. I liked the evergreen ones. But now I have loquat... Nicer. I just last week, accidentally left out my evergreen Quercus fusiformis in its giant pot. Let's see if it was alright with that -13c we just had.
P. S. This is a current pic of my Yucca rostrata. Tips turn white every year. Have a pane of glass horizontal across the top of it this year to prevent snow load. Any suggestions of what is going wrong here?
.
.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:34 am

Adam,

Almost all of my Yucca do that too. The exception is the Yucca filamentosa... I think it has to do with these plants not having a true dormancy period. That, combined with the low temps and lack of light, IMO, causes the leaves to turn white like that. In their native haunts they are able to get more light over the winter and, at least during the day, warmer temps. I'll have to double check that that happens to my Yucca now that I tie the leaves into spears to avoid rabbit damage. I miss that Dasylirion too, until I remember how it ripped my leg apart with those hooks...

I've found needles to be super hardy but so prone to spear pull and almost unable to recover from spear pull. They remain alive due to their suckering habit, but it can be difficult to keep the stem alive and healthy long enough for them to gain impressive size. Minors are hardy too, but are so SLOW to recover from damage. Plus, they demand absolute dry while cold or the leaves rot.

I tried fusiformis a few years back. It died its first winter. I think that Kevin (Southcoast gardens) has managed to keep the one that I gave him alive for a few years now. Last time I saw it it was about 10cm tall. I can't even begin to guess how far down it has sent its taproot! There are probably better evergreen (better meaning hardier, not prettier) oaks out there!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:31 pm

Adam, sheesh, I can't even GIVE away those Quercus rubra acorns.

Re your yucca, the area looks really wet.
Does it get overloaded with roof water?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:58 pm

I remember trying the Escobaria's back in 2005-2006. About 90% died the first winter.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:03 pm

Hi Adam,

yes your Y. rostrata has some cold damage..........it appears OK. I'm not sure of the exact cause......like Paul says it could be several factors. I'll uncover my rostratas shortly and we'll see what they look like.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 12:13 pm

Tim,

I've found with those 'ball' or 'barrell' types that they can survive several winters, then mysertiously rot one year. I can't make sense of it. Of those you list I have overwintered E. vivipara (many), E. missouriensis, E. organensis, E. leei (very hardy), E. sneedii (similar to leei), and had a zilziana survive one winter... I really should double check my cactus list, I think it was over 130 types last time I updated it... No idea if the tags are all still in place though!

Oh, and before I forget, has anyone had luck with the tall growing types of O. humifusa? I'm specifically asking about O. ammophilia, it's 'supposed' to be a zone 6 plant but I've not had luck with it.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:17 pm

cool looking upright humifusa Paul.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:37 pm

Yeah. Maybe the sad rostrata will be happier planted out of the wind and eight inches higher up in the bed. It is kinda in a gully.

andym · Post by **andym** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:49 pm

A very good thread this... a sort of "garden of remembrance"
Well my contribution is a beautiful cabbagepalm Cordyline Australis which grew in my garden for twenty two years

It was around 15ft tall and part of the garden structure and then one very cold winter it was gone. Had to chop it down as there was a terrible stench of decay. Young shoots have sprouted from the roots but my seed grown replacements have grown better.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:37 pm

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:46 pm

Andy, ooh, what a loss that was.

Aaron, that's the little Brevi right?
The big one is still alive, isn't it?

Barb

marceli · Post by **marceli** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:20 am

lucky1 wrote:Planted in ground, protected with a cover and C-9 lights, and then chickened out and dug it up again in November

Barb

Barb, you're the best

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:39 pm

Andy.........great specimen Cordyline! Too bad the cold got it.

Aaron.........you lost that beauty? Too bad.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:02 pm

lucky1 wrote: Aaron, that's the little Brevi right?
The big one is still alive, isn't it?

Barb

Yip, that was the smaller one, the big one is doing great!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:04 pm

TimMAz6 wrote: Aaron.........you lost that beauty? Too bad.

Yaaa, still a little bummed.

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In memory of plants we have LOST!

In memory of plants we have LOST!

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