Hi John,

The robusta got blasted by cold this year. The Aloe, (which was directly in front of the heater), and a couple evergreens were the only things in there that that survived. If the robusta comes back this year, I'll be impressed !

The Bismarckia will be 4 years from seed this August, the leaf tips are a little crispy from being kept too dry this winter.
Already opening a new spear, so it's all good 😀

Steve

Man, has it been 4 years for that Bizzie from seed?
Time does fly.

It looks fabulous.

I still remember seeing your PVC-sawn pipes to allow for all that root.
Those were great pics of a great process.

That robusta will amaze you this year...keep us posted.

Barb

Thanks Barb,

Here's the photos, (one of these seeds was the start of that Bismarckia 8)

Steve

Ya, those were the pictures I remembered!
That's a great process for seedlings with mammoth-length roots...had never heard of that before until I saw yours.

Chalk up another success, Steve! 😀
Barb

It seems to be starting to grow (at least pushing out the crispy stuff 😀

A little bit of green in there, so maybe it will bounce back!

Steve

Looks good to me too.
Thank goodness it'll survive.

Barb

Well, it stalled out and declined.................
Cut the stem down slowly and found no signs of life 😐

Guess it's time to plant some more!

filifera X robusta, a few Livistona saribus, Sabal minors, and one Trachcycarpus fortunei (from SSI)
Way over planted, but I hope to have something left here in a few years 😆

Steve

A shame it didn't make it Steve, looked like it might.
Great replacement(s)!
Barb

Thanks Barb, Don't like to lose things, but I have high hopes for the replacements.
Fully amended the soil this time and planted things at the proper height. (The lava rock is also working good to deter the cats 😀

I still have one of the robusta's siblings planted in the GH, so not a complete loss 8)

Steve

Look at that GH!!!! 😀

Not room for a sneeze in there! 😆

Barb

That sucks that you lost your robusta. Mine went through its first winter outside. Minimum temp was -15F with most every day from late Nov through early March below freezing during the day.

Yes it does, all I have left from that experience is the electric bill 😆

Great job with your winter protection! How did the Sago fare?
(I remember the photo from your other post, any new growth yet?)

Steve

Wxman nice to see your W.robusta survived.What temp did it endure in the eclosure. Have you thought of trying a pure W. filifera? I would try one myself but just can`t bring myself to spend the extra money on heating. My four in ground T. fortunei need little heat to make it through our winters here. Steve good luck with your W. robusta this time around.

John

Yes it does, all I have left from that experience is the electric bill 😆

Great job with your winter protection! How did the Sago fare?
(I remember the photo from your other post, any new growth yet?)

Steve

My robusta has put out 2 fronds since April. I have 3 in ground robustas now. Here is the newest addition to the family! 🙂

And here is my sago.... I need to beef up protection for it a little next winter to stop the browning. It hasn't flushed yet. Hope it does soon.

Wxman nice to see your W.robusta survived.What temp did it endure in the eclosure. Have you thought of trying a pure W. filifera? I would try one myself but just can`t bring myself to spend the extra money on heating. My four in ground T. fortunei need little heat to make it through our winters here. Steve good luck with your W. robusta this time around.

John

I had two robustas in the ground last winter. The one I have pictured above experienced 26F briefly a handful of times, mostly sub zero nights. Most of the time it was between 35F and 50F though.

The one below experienced 19F one night when moisture tripped the GFI on a night where it got down to -5F with 40 mph winds. It must have just tripped before dawn though or the temperature would have gotten much lower. GFI is gone now 🙂 It defoliated but is growing back.