Very dessicated Chamerops

[Alchris]

The temps finally stopped getting to -10 or lower overnight on the weekend and I uncovered the Chamerops to find the entire top dessicated.

It occurred from having the power cut off for up to 2 days last winter and/or the blazing sun with temps of -15*C late winter and spring.

If it recovers, I am going to have to move it. Where I don't know.

Allen

[hardyjim]

What did you cover it with and what were the minimum low temps for it?

[Alchris]

I have 3" styrofoam board 2' below the surface to protect the roots. Above ground protection is 3" styrofoam board with a double pane window.

It is heated by a 30' heat tape.

The low temperature this past winter was relatively warm at -31*C/-24*F. It had survived -39*C/-38*F the previous winter.

Allen

[hardyjim]

I don't know any palm that survives -38F (?)

[Barrie]

"The low temperature this past winter was relatively warm at -31*C/-24*F"

Humm ... I'm not sure that would qualify to any extent as "warm".

hardyjim ... I'd bet those temps where recorded outside the palm shelters. Like you said, no palm could manage nearly 40° below.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Sorry to hear about that Med fan palm Allen. Hope it recovers for you.

John

[Alchris]

Sorry Jim;

The heating cable was set to come on at 37*F and shut off at 43*F. Last winter the remote thermometer failed so I don't know what the low temp inside the enclosure was. The previous winter the low temp in the enclosure was -6*C/22*F.

Barrie;
For me it is relatively warm as my wisteria vines seem to have survived and they may finally bloom. Two of the three non hardy roses that I protected last fall also seem to have survived.

Thanks John.

Allen

[Barrie]

Hey Allen, I see what you're saying. I guess not as extreme would be the case.
Wisteria - I moved one the spring after we moved in. It was getting under the siding and was headed for the roof shingles next. It's now climbing a 45' Oregon Maple. There must've been a peice of root left behind from the original site because every year a new shoot emerges. I use Round-Up ™ and every year it pops up again. At this point I don't think dynamite would kill it.
Hope yours blooms for you this year! Cheers, Barrie.

[hardyjim]

John,what I have noticed is that palms have a hard time pulling water up when soil temps go below about 50F or so,if you had a clear cover,glass,etc,it tends to burn the leaves up when temps rise to 70F+.Everything I had covered with an opaque cover did much better,opaque plastic and especially styrofoam work very well.

[Alchris]

Thanks for the advice Jim. If it makes it, I will try moving the window to the North side or remove it altogether.

Allen

[Alchris]

Barrie, I killed off a horrible vine when we first bought this place. Don't know what it was called but it had been allowed to grow without any attempt at trimming it for at least 10 years and had reseeded itself. Roundup just stunted it and I sprayed 2 or 3 times a year to keep the regrowing to a minimum. In the end I had to dig them out going as deep as 5'. Last spring nothing came up; finally.

If the wisteria does bloom, I am in for a lot of fun trying to control it because it is already becoming a problem for the garages sofit and fascia in just 1 years growth from the roots.

I prefer warm over less extreme because it helps with the 'residence envy'.

Allen

[lucky1]

Allen, after all the work you've done, I hope it pulls through for you.
Barb