The real test will be when temps drop below 0F and stay below 0F during the day,then it will be interesting to see how warm it stays under there,thanks for the info.We are set to see our first sub-zero temps this weekend.

I don't care what people say about the Hystrix. I have a Sabal Minor planted on the South side of the house that made it thru last Winter with no, and I mean NO protection what so ever in Topeka, Kansas. It put out one leaf this Summer, but hey, it didn't die!!!
So I don't care what they say, Minors are the hardiest tree out there, NOT the Hystrix.

I can't say one way or another,my needles showed no damage from 12F but I am overprotecting because although they are 7g size almost all the spears had pulled as soon as they got here.My sabals are much smaller than the needles so not a fair comparison but they do grow much faster than the needles and handled the early cold just as well and I am sure will outgrow the needles next year,very impressive that your sabals survived unprotected!they do seem to be bomb proof,esp when you factor in spear pull on needles - sabals have more protected growth bud.I will not really test the hardiness of either untill I get them established

new temperature report just in. we had 2 days of temps near20F (-6C) and nightime lows around 4F (-15C) and the leaf pile hit a low of 27F (-3C). Last night the low was 32F (0C) and the leaf pile was at 37F (3C) this morning. Somehow it generates heat and it must be the decomposition of grass and leaves along with the temperature of the ground.

Just so you know.

Yea,I think the ground warmth is a big factor,also there must be a lag effect between outside cold and inside?have you noticed that at all?

January 10, 2009 update. I trust everyone had a nice new years.

We've had very moderate temps over the last few weeks, highs in the 30's 40 and 50 's F (thats -1, 4 and 10 C) and nothing lower than 20F (-6C) at night. My leaf pile is in the 40's (4C). I am amazed at how warm the pile is staying. If I get kicked out of my house, I will take up residence in the leaf pile out back (know what I mean).

Yup,I can send you some more leaves if you get cold 😉

here it is the end of Jan 2009, and my pile of covered leaves has not gone below 30F in weeks. The pile heats up during the day into the 40's F and then drops to the early 30's F each night. It just seems weird that the temps in the pile have become predictable. OK I'm sick of winter now. where is spring?

Almost there,as far as I'm concerned Feb is the last winter month and I do think we will pull out of winter much faster than last year!
I really wish I had a thermometer in my leaf piles that cover my two needle palms,it would have been interesting to see what the temp was in there when we hit -16F

just a follow up note , the temps in the pile continue to stay in the 40's during the day and high 30's at night, thats farenheit.
2 weeks ago the temps were into the 60's and I uncovered the pile, dug down to the palms and they look great, nice and green. I am really surprised the temps stay so high under the pile and don't expect any problems getting these through winter.

Nice to read these results, guys.

I've got a cheapo thermometer with a 5-foot long cord to a remote reader, if you can call 5 feet remote 😆

Since I'm going to plant out my 32 yr old Trachy this year, I wonder (1) how reliable are these cheap little thermometers? and (2) is there a brand/type with a longer cord, say 10 or 12 feet?

Barb

Hey Barb - my thermometer(s) is wireless, got it at Walmart for like $10. I believe it to be very accurate. I have 4 thermometers inside and outside my house. My wife thinks (knows) I am nuts. I just enjoy knowing the temperature everywhere.

Don't know anything about thermometers with cords. I think pretty much everything is wireless these days.

Question for Barb- what made you decide to plant your old Trachy outside this year? Far be it from me to tell you how to run your palm life but why not plant a different trachy outside this year and learn the proper outdoor wintering techniques before planting the big girl outside? Just a question.

Putt'n er out to pasture e'Barb 😉
I agree the thermos do seem to be pretty accurate,I don't buy any of the ones that all read different temps in the same place on the shelf 👿 The one problem you can have with wireless is that they are all on the same signal sometimes if you buy the same type.thats one situation where the wire ones are better.I wish somebody made one with 10 sensors and one main unit,theres got to be one somewhere.

out to pasture? Oh...the palm 😆 😆 😆

First a pic of my super duper 3-foot long temp thingy (drumroll...)

useless piece of crap 'coz the cord's not long enough.

Then I've got my super duper new (cordless) Bios weather station.

I love all this "techie" stuff around...even thinking of a webcam just to make sure the palms don't walk away next year.
My husband thinks I'm nuts "with all these gadgets".
Hey, knowing I'm going to freeze my arse off during a walk is good to know before I head out. 😆

Kent...it's not just that I'm tired of looking after the Big Girl in her garbage can pot, but I think I found a spot on the east side of the house where heat might be somehow leaking from the basement woodstove.
This pic is from inside looking at the area where I want to plant the palm.

I noticed that any snow that lands there melts within a day or two, yet surrounding snow just keeps piling up deeper and deeper. So...instead of investigating the basement concrete walls for a leak, I'll just plant the Big Girl here (with winter protection, and a heater in case I'm dead wrong about the leak). 🙂

I wish somebody made one with 10 sensors and one main unit,theres got to be one somewhere.

the closest thing might be an EKG (from the hospital) 😆

Barb

First a pic of my super duper 3-foot long temp thingy (drumroll...)
You'll just have to move the house closer to the palms 😯
I know you can find some with 6-10ft cords thats what I have.
If I had remote sensors for all my palms they would be all crossed up,I have had to settle for one in one of the three washy styro dealeos,2 with cords to represent the other type of styro covers and just plain old thermometers for the other mini g/houses,the big g/house also has a remote thermometer,I keep daily records for 5 of them 🙄