Trachy and Garden Winter Update
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Trachy and Garden Winter Update
Hello all, hope this finds everyone well! I've been popping in and out of this site for a few weeks to see everyone's updates, although I hadn't had any time to post anything because of such a busy New Year. I figured now it's about time to update you with my garden pics.
We haven't had any snow since beginning of December and since January here on the Canadian BC coast, Vancouver has seen consistent temperatures of at least 3 C above average. We are still enjoying unseasonably warm highs of 11 - 16C (52 F and higher) with overnight lows of 6 C. Needless to say my two 4 ft. Trachy's are loving it, pumping out a couple of spears. However, a few overnight frosts in Dec. seemed to have damaged the leaves a bit, hope it'll be okay? (see pics). for weeks now I've enjoyed watching my day lilies come up, everything sure has a head start to spring! As far as my 2 Musa Basjoo they were seriously hit with hard overnight freezes back in November so it was a little too late to protect them. since they have been brown mushy stumps at the soil. I'm hoping there wasn't any rot to the corm, so I'm anxious for the warmer weather to bring them back to life again (if they're not already gone). My Adam's Needle seems great, but the New Zealand Bronze Flax is flattened, again from the few overnight freezes. Seems that each year I'm getting more brave and learning so much, that I've got some plans to add a nice red Hibiscus bush this summer, as well as a Bird of Paradise...nice pops of color for the tropical landscape. Here's the link to my Picasa Web Album for the winter update.
So nice to be back into the Palms North groove and looking forward to reconnecting with everyone again - it's been long enough! - Heidi
http://picasaweb.google.ca/hilashes/Tra ... directlink
We haven't had any snow since beginning of December and since January here on the Canadian BC coast, Vancouver has seen consistent temperatures of at least 3 C above average. We are still enjoying unseasonably warm highs of 11 - 16C (52 F and higher) with overnight lows of 6 C. Needless to say my two 4 ft. Trachy's are loving it, pumping out a couple of spears. However, a few overnight frosts in Dec. seemed to have damaged the leaves a bit, hope it'll be okay? (see pics). for weeks now I've enjoyed watching my day lilies come up, everything sure has a head start to spring! As far as my 2 Musa Basjoo they were seriously hit with hard overnight freezes back in November so it was a little too late to protect them. since they have been brown mushy stumps at the soil. I'm hoping there wasn't any rot to the corm, so I'm anxious for the warmer weather to bring them back to life again (if they're not already gone). My Adam's Needle seems great, but the New Zealand Bronze Flax is flattened, again from the few overnight freezes. Seems that each year I'm getting more brave and learning so much, that I've got some plans to add a nice red Hibiscus bush this summer, as well as a Bird of Paradise...nice pops of color for the tropical landscape. Here's the link to my Picasa Web Album for the winter update.
So nice to be back into the Palms North groove and looking forward to reconnecting with everyone again - it's been long enough! - Heidi
http://picasaweb.google.ca/hilashes/Tra ... directlink
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
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- TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
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- Arctic Palm Plantation
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- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Hey Heidi, nice to "see" you again.
And what a mini-winter you have had.
About 3 billion people know how mild Vancouver's winter has been!
Thanks for posting your album.
My, how those trachies have filled out since I last saw a picture.
Look great!
That leaf damage is very minor (compared to some of us, LOL).
Soon be covered by more and more flushes.
I always chuckle when I see a slimy heap-stump called Musa this time of year.
I'll let others chime in as to its "health" as mine is indoors, and looks like "standing death".
My New Zealand Bronze Flax is dead too, and I didn't even have it planted!
It succumbed from the heat of summer in a big pot. Very disappointing.
Thought it would be able to stand the blast-furnace heat of the Okanagan summer, but obviously not.
Your yucca looks great, mine started flushing already too! Bizarre in February.
Ooooh, BoP. You'll love having a bird of paradise.
Hoping mine blooms this year, but it's white (hopefully the label was wrong)
Hibiscus will love Vancouver's weather!
Barb
And what a mini-winter you have had.
About 3 billion people know how mild Vancouver's winter has been!
Thanks for posting your album.
My, how those trachies have filled out since I last saw a picture.
Look great!
That leaf damage is very minor (compared to some of us, LOL).
Soon be covered by more and more flushes.
I always chuckle when I see a slimy heap-stump called Musa this time of year.
I'll let others chime in as to its "health" as mine is indoors, and looks like "standing death".
My New Zealand Bronze Flax is dead too, and I didn't even have it planted!
It succumbed from the heat of summer in a big pot. Very disappointing.
Thought it would be able to stand the blast-furnace heat of the Okanagan summer, but obviously not.
Your yucca looks great, mine started flushing already too! Bizarre in February.
Ooooh, BoP. You'll love having a bird of paradise.
Hoping mine blooms this year, but it's white (hopefully the label was wrong)
Hibiscus will love Vancouver's weather!
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Welcome Back Heidi,
Your Trachys are looking great! They sure did put on some nice size like Barb said. Don't worry about the basjoo
it will come back, worst case from pups. Your root system is getting stronger so it will grow much more vigorously
this year. Day lilies- Nice! Bring on some nice warm weather.
Look forward to seeing your new additions.
Nice hearing from you,
Bill
Your Trachys are looking great! They sure did put on some nice size like Barb said. Don't worry about the basjoo
it will come back, worst case from pups. Your root system is getting stronger so it will grow much more vigorously
this year. Day lilies- Nice! Bring on some nice warm weather.
Look forward to seeing your new additions.
Nice hearing from you,
Bill
Thanks Erik! I planted the Trachys last April so I figured this wonderful winter gave them a good head start and even more for this year!
Barb, many thanks! At least I still have another New Zealand Flax in the front yard that looks great, probably because it's south facing. Good to know about the Trachy leaves. Yes they did put out a lot of growth in the last year...I kept a log and with each entry I was amazed. I should go back and look at actual pics. As for the Basjoo(s) I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I can't wait to see your BoP pics and to have a couple of my own! Thanks for all your input, so good to hear from you Barb!
Hey thanks Bill, good to hear from you too! I'm really hoping the poor Basjoo comes back, I babied it so much last year. Thanks for the encouragement!
Heidi
Barb, many thanks! At least I still have another New Zealand Flax in the front yard that looks great, probably because it's south facing. Good to know about the Trachy leaves. Yes they did put out a lot of growth in the last year...I kept a log and with each entry I was amazed. I should go back and look at actual pics. As for the Basjoo(s) I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I can't wait to see your BoP pics and to have a couple of my own! Thanks for all your input, so good to hear from you Barb!
Hey thanks Bill, good to hear from you too! I'm really hoping the poor Basjoo comes back, I babied it so much last year. Thanks for the encouragement!
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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I would love to get my hands on that stuff, now that I know it's tried and true Bill, but I think shipping it to Canada would be way too much for my pocketbook. Has anyone tried the Blackstrap Molasses idea yet! Barb I think you mentioned you were going to? I might try that out by adding a bit to some similar ratio fertilizer (15-5-30 I believe I saw some at Rona or other big box stores).
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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Dont you guys over the sea use Palm booster which is so widely used in Europe? I´m getting my hands on one soon so I can hopefully tell about its "magical" qualities in the future At the moment I´m using 1 dollar russian fertiliser Skoraja pomoch which seem to have all the necessary ingredients for the growth but no difference imo compared to "expensive" german ones.
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- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Heidi, I completely forgot WHAT plant I used molasses on. Brain fart!
I'm convinced outdoor use would encourage ants. UGH.
My one Banana gets so shredded from summer winds it becomes unrecognizable.
All the non-windy sites are chock full of other plants, so I'll pass on your generous offer Bill.
Bill...CIA ? Maybe you could knock some sense into our border constabulary if you were!
But I did receive my Palm special fertilizer out of White Plains, New York...with 4 pages of accompanying paperwork. Sheesh!
Here's the label for it:
Corrosion...1 dollar fertilizer? That's a steal.
Barb
I'm convinced outdoor use would encourage ants. UGH.
My one Banana gets so shredded from summer winds it becomes unrecognizable.
All the non-windy sites are chock full of other plants, so I'll pass on your generous offer Bill.
Bill...CIA ? Maybe you could knock some sense into our border constabulary if you were!
But I did receive my Palm special fertilizer out of White Plains, New York...with 4 pages of accompanying paperwork. Sheesh!
Here's the label for it:
Corrosion...1 dollar fertilizer? That's a steal.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Here it is: http://www.butia.co.uk/Palmbooster.html
I know it may sound a bit commercial reading all of this but I´ve read from different forums about it and it seems to be worth its price.
I´ve seen it also on ebay but I guess the shipping to US would cost another fortune
I know it may sound a bit commercial reading all of this but I´ve read from different forums about it and it seems to be worth its price.
I´ve seen it also on ebay but I guess the shipping to US would cost another fortune
<img src="http://alturl.com/2y54" alt="Click for Tallinn, Eesti Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Thanks everyone for the fertilizer suggestions, great ideas!
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Everything looks awesome Heidi!!!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
thank you Jim! I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
hilashes wrote:thank you Jim! I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.
Heidi
Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
hilashes wrote:thank you Jim! I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.
Heidi
Ha ha...too funny Jim! I thought you had bananas tho, no? You should try one this year with everything else you've been so successful with!hardyjim wrote:
Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open!
I forgot to mention I love your Pindo Palm - maybe I should find one. I love my Trachys but I have a feeling the Pindo would be my new favorite... they're so beautiful!
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
hilashes wrote:hilashes wrote:thank you Jim! I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.
HeidiHa ha...too funny Jim! I thought you had bananas tho, no? You should try one this year with everything else you've been so successful with!hardyjim wrote:
Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open!
I forgot to mention I love your Pindo Palm - maybe I should find one. I love my Trachys but I have a feeling the Pindo would be my new favorite... they're so beautiful!
Heidi
They are cool aren't they
I can't wait until the end of summer(no really I can,it's just an expression ),
It should have a beautiful form!
I cut it back in spring because all the leaves were those wimpy kind from when they are grown under shade cloth in a
greenhouse.
It also got a little crispy on the edges from be in a plastic kitchen trash can all winter,so it was trimmed again.
This one is a B.eriospatha and is beginning to show some gorgeous blue color already!
It should really take of as the spear has generated some luxuriant growth over the winter!
Butias are really cool because they fall right dead (hopefully not dead)between Washys and Trachys
as far as cold hardiness!
So you kind of have to take good care of them and you have some margin for eror-
probably down to 10f if dry.
Oops-
Forgot to mention,I do have banana plants,not much to see last year but.....
this year I saved a nice corm/stalk about 5" tall that shouls produce a good sized tree
this year.
I also have about 5 varieties and plan to try Ventricosum and/or Saba for some serious yard bling-
I think they both can get up to 30' tall!
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Jim I can't wait to see pics this summer of the Butia and see the size of the banana tree! I'm really going to look into where I can find a Butia in Vancouver. I called my local nursery here in the 'burbs' and they haven't even heard of the variety! should be an interesting hunt!
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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- TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
- Posts: 2983
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
- Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
- Contact:
Butia
I'll chime to to attest for my love of Butia (my avatar photo). Both of mine came through an unusually tough winter in good shape. So, although hard to find, they are worth hunting down. My "avatar' Butia was from a nursery in Oregon, so they must be recognized as a "Cascadia" palm by at least some folks. --Erik
Awesome Erik, thanks for sharing that, it inspires me for my hunt!
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Heidi,
Agree that you'll love it.
One caution though...take a deep breath before you look at the Canadian nursery price tag on a Butia.
I just about had a heart attack when I found a little 2 gallon one...the nursery manager took pity based on my reaction and said "I'll let you have it for only $55.00...reg price was I think over $75.
Found mine at Art Knapp's last year.
There's probably a franchise near you, and their one or two palms (only) that they brought in are probably still sitting there at those prices.
Loves the heat, grows like mad, mine seemed to push spears for 11 out of 12 months! Mine responded nicely to heavy watering once a week in summer.
I love this palm.
Here it is in the middle.
Let us know if you find one.
Barb
[/i]
Agree that you'll love it.
One caution though...take a deep breath before you look at the Canadian nursery price tag on a Butia.
I just about had a heart attack when I found a little 2 gallon one...the nursery manager took pity based on my reaction and said "I'll let you have it for only $55.00...reg price was I think over $75.
Found mine at Art Knapp's last year.
There's probably a franchise near you, and their one or two palms (only) that they brought in are probably still sitting there at those prices.
Loves the heat, grows like mad, mine seemed to push spears for 11 out of 12 months! Mine responded nicely to heavy watering once a week in summer.
I love this palm.
Here it is in the middle.
Let us know if you find one.
Barb
[/i]
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Barb - thanks for your info! The price tag DID cross my mind since it seems to be a hard find, but I'll check out Art Knapp for sure. There are also a couple of nurseries in Langley I have in mind....oooooooh I can't wait! Beautiful pic by the way, the Butia is so stunning! I'll definitely let you know when I find one!
Heidi
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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Heidi ... Maple Leaf Garden Center in West Vancouver has been stocking Butia capitata for the past few years now.
It would be the first place I'd check if I lived on the mainland. They may not be in until April though.
After losing mine after 10 years I miss it and may buy another this year. A fungal attack killed it last spring.
Here it is (was) in it's glory days.
Cheers, Barrie.
It would be the first place I'd check if I lived on the mainland. They may not be in until April though.
After losing mine after 10 years I miss it and may buy another this year. A fungal attack killed it last spring.
Here it is (was) in it's glory days.
Cheers, Barrie.
- TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
- Posts: 2983
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
- Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
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Fungus
Barrie,
that was spectacular!
Any hind-sight on how to avoid fungal attack?
Since this thread is on Trachy, when I unwrapped my Trachy yesterday I saw fungal growth on the trunk. I sprayed lots of copper soap and prayed.
--Erik
that was spectacular!
Any hind-sight on how to avoid fungal attack?
Since this thread is on Trachy, when I unwrapped my Trachy yesterday I saw fungal growth on the trunk. I sprayed lots of copper soap and prayed.
--Erik
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
I'd be interested in Barrie's reply on Butia fungal attack too.
Particularly wet weather?
Maybe post a new topic (so we can find it again...)
That was a beauty, Barrie, what a loss.
Barb
Particularly wet weather?
Maybe post a new topic (so we can find it again...)
That was a beauty, Barrie, what a loss.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
That's a beauty Barb!
Barrie
That's a shame,such a nice looking palm
Barrie
That's a shame,such a nice looking palm
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Hello Barrie, good to hear from you! Oh my goodness, that was such a gorgeous palm, what a terrible loss! So sorry!!
I came across the Maple Leaf Garden website yesterday in my Google search and will have to drop in sometime. Thanks for the suggestion!
Heidi
I came across the Maple Leaf Garden website yesterday in my Google search and will have to drop in sometime. Thanks for the suggestion!
Heidi
~ palms on the Canadian west coast
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... er01"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71775.gif" alt="Click for Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
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