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I put some pictures of one of my trachys side by side. It was planted in July 2008.

First pic is March 2009, second is March 2010 and third is Nov 2010.

Looks like it doubled number of fronds in 8 months!

Looks like you got a nice one there Tim-

I like the stiffer leaved Trachys!

Tim,

Nice growth this year, you can tell it's really happy in it's location when they grow like that.

Bill

Love the old new pics.

Tim that Trachy looks happy there.Pic#1 Are you still using the infrared heat lamps to warm them? I`ve been using them for four years now. I shine them directly on the trunk.

John

Thanks for the comments. Okanagan desert-palms, I now use a space heater set at 40F in the enclosure. Uses less energy overall than the infrared and I don't have to worry about burning the trunk.

Barb, I think it did double the fronds this year. In September I cut off about 6 to expose more of the trunk.

I like the stiffer-leaved trachys too. I can't wait until my waggies get bigger. I might plant them out. Right now they are in pots in my west window.

And yes, I think that is almost the perfect siting for a trachy. The black stone sucks in a lot of heat in the winter and spring before my deciduous maple leafs out. Frost in the ground is gone by end of Feb within 5 feet of the house.

Tim maybe I`ll try a space heater. The lights have worked well for me so far on all my Trachy`s.I definitely think that is what saved them two years ago when it got down to -17c in the palm huts. 1000 watts total power for five lights.What is the wattage output you are using for your space heater?

John

Okanagan desert-palms wrote:Tim maybe I`ll try a space heater. The lights have worked well for me so far on all my Trachy`s.I definitely think that is what saved them two years ago when it got down to -17c in the palm huts. 1000 watts total power for five lights.What is the wattage output you are using for your space heater?

John

750 watts. It runs for 2 mins, then off for about 15, then runs 2 mins, off 15, etc.

Tim, John: thanks for the heat source discussion. I have both a 250 watt bulb and also a 750 watt heater with fan in my new, large palm hut; they are on the same thermocube. I guess I wasn't sure what to use and so used both.
Tim, very impressive growth. I have never had Trachies grow like that, but then again, I have never heated them in winter and so they are generally defoliated by winter cold.
--Erik

you can clearly see that Trachy is taking off! Watch out for next year!!

Tim that's some beautiful growth! I too cut a few fronds away to show more trunk. it's exciting watching how it shapes in stages. Our weather here has been 9 C for the last couple of weeks, no snow, but our typical rainfall. The palm hut has been unwrapped and it's doing well keeping the palm dry until the next cold spell then the vapor barrier goes around it again.

Hope all is well!

Heidi