The people I've met via sites like this and Gardenweb are so wonderfully kind, positive and supportive. It's a wonderful cyber community to be involved with!
I will keep you in the loop on my progress...history tells me that there are still many failures and adjustments to make before/if I come up with a solid platform. Problem with palms in my limited experience is that they differ from species to species and the one size fits all mentality is more of a pipe-dream than reality. Different zones, different humidity, different soil types...they truly are the spoiled princesses of the tree world. Everything has to be "just so" with most of them. Well, thanks to all these years with my Wife and Daughter, I'm up for the challenge cause I'm using to pleasing my princesses! 🙂 What I could use is a palm that acts like my son...feed it, give it something to drink and watch it grow!!!!

Welcome aboard JB. Hope someone hear gets this anti-freeze right. Would love to grow some bottle palms outside. 😯

they differ from species to species and the one size fits all mentality is more of a pipe-dream than reality.

That's why palms are both satisfying and infuriating to grow.

But if your product can significantly lower the temp at which palms succumb to cold--even if it doesn't work for Cyrtostachis, for example 😆 😆 --that'd allow us to grow at least 3 more palms outdoors than at present. Maybe 4.

I'd be happy as a clam in that case.
Already putting aside my CIDP and Jubaea (with the Waggies and Princeps.)

Delightful conversation, JB, thank you!

Barb

Hey Chad! Hey Barb!

Didn't know about this site, but it seems a lot of the same people from GardenWeb are on here as well. Erik is sending me a Mule to run tests on and I hope it is successful because they sure are nice. I'm ordering a CIDP, Butia C & E, Med Fan, Wash. Filifera, Mexica Fan and a Phoenix Sly as well for test subjects. So by next winter, I will have a broad spectrum of subjects from different known Zone 8 species to test in a Zone 7 platform. The only variable that I cant control is humidity/moisture which really isn't fair when comparing the same rated zones in different locations across North America. Phoenixes do well in the desert because it is dry...moisture seems to be the main culprit in determining a palms survival. I have a feeling that if my mix works, it may need to be used in conjunction with desiccants (ie WiltPruf) and copper fungicide for the crown. I think I'm on to something-the question is, what is the right combo of treatments depending on the particular species.

As history has proven time and time again, the answer is usually right under our noses-provided by Mother Nature. Who would have ever thought that rotting bread would lead to the single most largest extension of Human Life Expectancy to date. Life is amazing.

With our wet winters here on the east coast I definitely believe your phoenixs and chammys will need an umbrella to cover the crown.

Chad...you just hit upon what I think is the biggest issue. The Mid-Atlantic region of which you reside in, is exposed to a ton of moisture be it coming up from the South or across from the West. Here in NY, we are dominated more by the Arctic express coming down from Canada and that is usually a colder drier air. Your Southern moisture is usually package with warm air which remains warm. Many times we are spared from that because of Canadian Highs that get parked off the NE Coast that wind up pushing the system out into the Atlantic. That same High, when in place, also pushes wet systems coming from the West, South of us. Of course all that may change with these new weather patterns we have been experiencing over the past couple of years. Crown health I bet is a major concern in your area.

well at the worst JB if the formula works 99% I wouldn't mind just putting a fleece bag over them to keep them semi dry. thats way better than some of the extreme lengths we go to now trying to keep them alive

I really think-based on the feedback that I have gotten from growers, the copper fungicide would work well enough if the rest of the palm is protected by a formula that covers everything else.

Whoa amazing!

Off the charts

You would think Wxman would be interested in what your doing- 😕

I believe it was he who contacted me on GardenWeb. He offered his help testing my formula because he had access to a walk-in freezer. I was grateful for his offer but I told him that you can make my formula without a specific machine used in Labs. The one I own costs $2000.00. So it really wasn't feasible. I hope his trials go well because even though my results are successful with grass, there is no guaranty that I will get the same results with palms...I hope I do-but until it happens, I'm just a Dude who needs to mow his lawn 🙂

You would think Wxman would be interested

Yeah... 😕
The silence is odd.

JB, great new pics of the grass...you're definitely onto something there.
And lawnmower companies will love you. 😆

Barb

I forgot I posted on this site...my posts can be found on Gardenweb.

The Majesties:
3 weeks ago, one of my Gardener's helpers threw powdered weed killer all over the grass and Majesties. It had zero effect on the grass but the Majesties turned yellow with in a week. I left them alone to see if any further treatments could revive them. I'm happy to report that they are pushing out new green spears.

The Grass:
Words can't describe what it looks like so I might as well just show the pictures....

Great photos, JB.

Incredible news...