Christmas update 2013

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 3:49 pm

Chad, wow, very nice.
Only an agave could downplay that blue.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 4:17 pm

Thanks Barb, I never imagined that agave growing to nearly 4' in only 3 years. Now I need to move it first thing this spring. I would expect it to be over 6' by next yr and pushing over the poor palm.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:09 pm

And that palm will get much wider too.

Great focal points!

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:28 pm

The smaller trunks on the palm have not shown great hardiness, actually pulling last yr. Hopefully with size they grow out of it. As they do recover ever yr. would love to see that palm with atleast 6 trunks 5' tall

The agave ovatifolia will go were I had my agave montana and CIDP planted. The montana is still alive, I just dug it up due to poor placement.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:33 am

poor placement

We all do that.
Probably because we don't expect them to survive and get large.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:33 pm

It dried out some so I managed to take a few pics. I also screwed up my laptop and cant upload to photos directly, sorry.

my princep through the window.

http://s1209.photobucket.com/user/chade ... sort=3&o=2

Windmills with no protection.

http://s1209.photobucket.com/user/chade ... ort=3&o=13

Sabal minor Savannah Ga. from yucca do 2nd yr no protection for 3 yr old palm.

http://s1209.photobucket.com/user/chade ... sort=3&o=1

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:44 am

That c. cerifera is the one you got in the blue pot? If not where did that one come from it does have fantastic color. Id like to have one myself.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:28 am

Mike, thats the blue pot. I would love to find some more, but havent seen them for sell in blue pots for a couple yrs.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:34 am

Do most people have problems with the "cold hardy" blue pot palms surviving?

For some odd reason I found two needle palms at a local nursery here in Omaha. Bought one mid season at fill price of $50 and the other that never sold towards end of season (august) for $25 in 3? gallon pots. Planted them in the ground. One on South side, one on NE corner both close to house. Both had just a barrel covering them. Both died right away into spring.

I had one other Needle that I got from Phil, that had been in the ground for 1 winter with just heat tape around root ball and it's a growing fool, and looks great to this day. Other than the heat tape, it too only had a plastic barrel over it for the winter.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:29 am

Its hit or miss I guess. I have 10 minors, 7 windmills, 2 needles, 1 chammy, 1 cerifera and 1 CIDP( not in ground ) that are all doing great. Now the one needle did pull the first yr and is talking forever to recover. You can actually see it behind the savannah ga minor photo above. Not much to see, and I didnt really expected it to live. But its tough as can be now and unprotected.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:36 am

Just remembered a post I posted to another forum a few yrs back. Wish I still had the photo, but due to over head watering at lowes the blue pots there had spear pull in July. Seemed like every chammy I checked pulled. I bought 2 pindos that yr that lasted 2 weeks in the ground.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:40 am

I sent a email to corporate Lowe's to ask why they don't have cold hardy palms at my store and they had the store manager call me just today saying he's from the SW so knew of the palms I mentioned and said he was going to call their supplier on Friday to see if they were available to be shipped to the store in the spring. Promised a call back on Friday or Saturday. If it would work out SWEET! and will let memebers here know the outcome so other members that live in the midwest and northern states can get a better variety than the dreaded Majesty palms

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:06 pm

We didnt get blue pots here either, and I thought it strange until I went to the beach. When they didnt have any palms I knew some was going on inside lowes mamgement. Not just a local thing.

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:28 pm

The Lowes up here only carry the Ph. Roebelenii's. But then again, they are not cold hardy one bit. Mine is toast, I'll be uploading a video soon. I've even tried to find some one-off's across the border in Buffalo, either at Depot or lowes... none.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:36 pm

Yea, those are like $9.99 around here in 3 gallon? pots. For the hell of it, I did plant one in the ground and have roots heated by heat tape, and a string of 25 Christmas lights around the base covered by a 55 gallon plastic barrel with a plexi glass cover. So far....it's doing well although I think it did get too dry and warm in there as the fronds look green still, but on the dry side. I've been giving it SMALL amounts of water and now have a open 1 gallon milk jug of water sitting inside the enclosure to help with humidity. If it makes it? It should have gained some cold hardiness. We'll see in a few months...........

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:24 pm

Awesome, I may give a try next fall. I like your approach.
Ours sold for $65, 5 gal. On the bright side, I still have my receipt for a replacement

It's worth a shot.
I'm uploading a video from my YouTube channel. You'll have a better idea.
D

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:09 pm

If I was going to have to protect a palm for life I would definitely be killing nicer palms.lol Already killed my hesper and takil this year. Next year I am planting my other princep and my bismarkia.

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:19 pm

That's great! I have access to many smaller bismarkia's 5 gal. I have no experience trying those in z6b. In N.C., I'm sure you'll have success. They are everywhere in colder zones of FL.
Bizzies are beauties! Let me know how it goes....

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:25 pm

A Bizzy in the ground where you two are at?? I didn't think they were all that cold hardy. I just have one small one I got from Phil last year and I keep it in my small greenhouse and it just trudges along slowly.

I did get some Bizzy seeds from the club in Florida and am having great success germinating them.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:26 pm

If I was going to have to protect a palm for life I would definitely be killing nicer palms

Couldn't have said it better myself, Chad.

That's why I planted my Brahea armata, with its twin in a pot in the cold building just in case the other croaks.

But I remain undecided on my Bizzie, Nannorhops ritchiana and arabica, Phoenix, Brahea etc etc etc.
Might be cheaper to build a 10-foot-diameter plexiglass domed area after all.

Barb

teebee · Post by **teebee** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:34 pm

905palms wrote:The Lowes up here only carry the Ph. Roebelenii's. But then again, they are not cold hardy one bit. Mine is toast, I'll be uploading a video soon. I've even tried to find some one-off's across the border in Buffalo, either at Depot or lowes... none.

Hey 905!

There are a few nurseries around here that have palms some more hardy than others. I got a 5.5' windmill palm from a Nursery in Ancaster marked way down to $60 this summer. If you want to drive a bit further there is a Nursery in Kitchener that has a wide variety of Hardy and non-hardy plams I got 2 sabal minors last year from them for $7 each end of the year blow out and a 3' Windmill for about $35 (all of which are shivering in in my back yard under protection right now) there is also a really good Nursery just past St. Kitts as well they have all sorts of interesting stuff there as well I got my In laws a Windmill palm and a Musa Basjoo and I got myself a Bismarckia from there as well.

Here is my backyard in Waterloo back in warmer times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9egUZziJn7o

If you're interested I can look up the names of these places and let you know where you can get something a bit more tolerant of our conditions. (My phoenix is resting comfortably in my basement under some grow lights until spring.)

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:14 pm

Hey Teebee,

That's a great vid of your yard, those palms look very happy there along the fence. Wind is a killer and they look well sited. I was out in Markham where the nursery deals with many palms including a 12' Biz. Must weigh a ton, however they had all these exotic Tropicals (foxtails, bottles, coconut, etc), but no temperate ones. One's you'd often see inside an atrium or mall. They also had Oleanders of epic proportions, I'm a fan of those also.

I've received mine from the Niagara area lately.

I'm often in your area for my daughters sports etc. I would like to check out the place with the Sabal Minors, you can PM me the info if needed.

Here's a clip from my backyard today about the Pheonix R. Feel free to check out the other video's on my channel. Cheers!

Ph. Roe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1tebmOLJ-w

Sabal Minor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sbs150VmyQ

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:12 pm

Barb, I have always said I would not heat my palms , but that will change when the bizzy goes in the ground. But it will be for just one palm!

905, your protection methods look good. Glad you can return that pygmy date palm.

Teebee, nice yard you got going there. Cant wait to see more updated photos this summer. I sure you posted some this past year I just never had a day off. I didnt even get to complete any projects around my yard.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:17 pm

Scott, I think a bizzy will be dead at 28F were we live. Maybe farther south it can see lower temps for a min then warm up but not here. To have this palm in the ground I will have to go all out with lights and a thermocube.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:20 pm

This wouldn't be fun hobby if we all didn't experiment and push limits! Maybe in a year or two I'll take one of my Bizzy seedlings and plant in the ground with root heat and a cage and see what happens. If my Pygmy date palm makes it this winter, I might have some success with a Bizzy.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:43 pm

I have never had any trouble out of the blue pots but I never get them at lowes either. I get mine from my local wal mart who has some kind of hate on for watering there plants..they also don't understand cold hardy so they put the blue pots inside..the lack of water and being inside really helps and I get a few each year..usually for half price at seasons end. Nver came across a cerfa yet just the "silver" meds..did see some Sylvesters in blue pots this time around though.

I picked up a TON of bizzy seeds when I was in clearwater this year but none popped. I got about 10 foxtails to pop but they got left in the cold due to space restictions this winter

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:09 pm

Seedbank CFP&CS is where I got my Bizzy seeds from(30) and took just under 3 months for the first one to germinate. Have the in self watering plastic drinking bottles and soda bottles in just spagham moss in a warming tray with a tall plastic dome over it. The first one that popped grew so fast had to take bottle out of the bottom heat tray and put in a inside plastic greenhouse where it stays around 80 deg. It grows in height like crazy, much faster than I would have thought. Others in the tray are showing massive root systems in the water, but not yet sprouts out the top. Would like to get at least 50% germination and see how many I can then get to grow in regular palm soil. I've had really good luck with the seeds from CFP&CS as they are always very fresh.

Trying my luck at some Old Man Palms and Mc Caw palms now that I just got.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:09 pm

Up till a few weeks ago our walmart still had some blue pots. I just dont have any good spots to plant palms right now. I know it sounds bad, I need for a palm to die and make room for a new one. And of course I dont want that. I have been experimenting with growing palms in shade. Minors and windmills both have been performing well.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:44 am

Get you a waggy palm chad. I got one last season and I love it..growth speed is good..as hardy as a normal windmill and the upright leaves give it a completely different look. If your still looking for another that takes a bit of shade I can get you a "hayes stiffie" windmill in the spring.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:01 am

Have a small seedling that is growing opposite from where the takil was. I might end up another now to replace the takil that pulled already. The waggie came from PDN 3yrs ago and has refused to grow. So I finally planted it and it started moving. But now I am worried that the surrrounding plants ( climbing hydrangea and a dwarf crape Myrtle) will choke it out. I have been thinking about transplanting come spring to a sunnier location ( where the hesper palm was). Any ideas our conerns?

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:08 am

mines grows where ever I put it. got it from steve here on the board. it has done so well in a pot I will plant it out this season. when it got really hot I put it in shade the later hours of the day and it seems to like that alot. it also seemed to like alot of water..bout all I can tell you. they grow fantastic over in the uk where the summers are not to hot and the winters are wet if that gives you any help

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:23 am

Thanks, guess I am not use to seedlings as small as this was. Since it was mail order, and one I didnt pick it out myself at PDN. But because of its slow growth rate, I didnt buy a chammy ' vulcano' last time I was there. I truly would prefer to get Steve's info and order from him again.

cuja1 · Post by **cuja1** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:10 pm

sashaeffer wrote:I sent a email to corporate Lowe's to ask why they don't have cold hardy palms at my store and they had the store manager call me just today saying he's from the SW so knew of the palms I mentioned and said he was going to call their supplier on Friday to see if they were available to be shipped to the store in the spring. Promised a call back on Friday or Saturday. If it would work out SWEET! and will let memebers here know the outcome so other members that live in the midwest and northern states can get a better variety than the dreaded Majesty palms

You might find this link interesting:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_380101-1513-NURSERY_0__

I called them and they can order plants by request. I'm thinking about getting one this spring.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:14 pm

Yes, I did hear back from the manager just today. He said that he talked to his Costa Farms Rep to HIS store and was told that they could special order all the palms on my list except the Chinese windmill Palm(Trachy) but not till March...which would be just fine with me. We'll see though.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:35 pm

It sounds strange that they can get them but no stores around actually did. Our garden manager said it was because they didnt sell and they had to discount them. IDK.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:42 pm

lol, then they shouldn't be stocking any Majesty palms! They always have tons of those they can't sell every year.

I plan on stopping down at the store tomorrow and talking with him since I couldn't get a hold of him after his message.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:45 pm

don't want to be a downer but I tried this last season..If you change your store to say clearwater location the have ever palm possible. I said hell just send one up on the next truck. They told me they have "zones" In my area the zone extends as far south as Tennessee..Anything more south than that they cannot get shipped in. It might be different now but the last time I tried to get big palms sent from a different lowe's they said no.

I plan on getting a chammy "volcano" but I'll get it from the UK it will be much bigger for cheaper..check your inbox

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:07 pm

Mike, had to update my email. Can you resend that info?

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:06 pm

Nevermind, check your inbox Mike.

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:41 pm

A few pics of palms after 4F. These sabal minors and agave ovatifolia show no damage.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827483203/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/1182 ... 625ee6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

My oldest windmill, fronds got jacked up.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827479983/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/1182 ... e9707b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

This is my only full sun windmill. Has the thickest trunk but is completedly exposed.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827201275/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/1182 ... 5cd534.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

This windmill shows no damage.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827617454/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/1182 ... 0a9f52.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

This windmill is in a great microclimate. No protection and no damage.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827613914/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5545/1182 ... 59403e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

Some damage to these windmills, the agave lophantha in front looks good.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827978956/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/1182 ... 353499.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

Cold hardy seeding of sabal louisiana, and agave protoamericana 'silver surfer'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/113236127@N08/11827976196/" title="Untitled by chadec7a, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/1182 ... 498869.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

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Christmas update 2013

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