Do palm trunks need protection?

[jfrye01@live.com]

For example, when/if my Trachy or Butia gets 20 or so feet tall, does the trunk need protected, or can the fronds be pulled up, top of trunk and bud wrapped and heated with lights, and the palm still survive? Just wondering, thinking down the road...Thanks!

[Zeeth]

The palm trunks are actually more important to protect than the leaves. Walt in Lake Placid has a coconut that he now only protects the trunk, and it lives even though the leaves become scorched. This is also the reason that Sabal minor is so hardy, because it rarely forms an above ground trunk, so it's growing point isn't subjected to temperatures as cold as the leaves.

[jfrye01@live.com]

Ah...sorry for the dumb question then...haha...guess I still have a lot to learn!

[Alicehunter2000]

Not so dumb.....I didn't know that and I've been around for a while. I always considered the growing point the most critical point to protect. Interesting.

[Zeeth]

Ah...sorry for the dumb question then...haha...guess I still have a lot to learn!

Not a dumb question!

[jfrye01@live.com]

So here's another question...does it suffice to wrap the trunk on a larger palm with Christmas lights/heat tape and burlap or other insulating material?

[Hammer]

So here's another question...does it suffice to wrap the trunk on a larger palm with Christmas lights/heat tape and burlap or other insulating material?

Probably not in Kansas. I would check out the Wisconsin thread. You're probably going to have to be closer to that than lights and burlap.

[jfrye01@live.com]

Yeah, I saw the post about building the boxes around the palms...that's what I'm planning to do while they're still small. However, when they get large, I have no idea what I'm gonna do. lol

[MKIVRYAN]

You build bigger ones. I can tell from your posts that you have the energy to get it done! Your energy and desire are impressive. Good luck.

[Alicehunter2000]

Experiment while the palms are smaller. I found that the tiny outdoor icicle type lights produce quite a bit of heat if wrapped directly around the trunk with sheets or blanket wrapped on top. You can stick your hand in there on cold ( 25 degree) nights and the trunk feels about 80 degrees. Using this difference, you might be able to keep the trunk above freezing on your bitterly cold nights. You must be carefully however that you do not burn the crankshaft of certain, more tender palms.....but for Washingtonians I don't think this would be a problem when using "Icicle" type lights.

[jfrye01@live.com]

You build bigger ones. I can tell from your posts that you have the energy to get it done! Your energy and desire are impressive. Good luck.

Ha...sorry if I'm an annoying poster...

Experiment while the palms are smaller. I found that the tiny outdoor icicle type lights produce quite a bit of heat if wrapped directly around the trunk with sheets or blanket wrapped on top. You can stick your hand in there on cold ( 25 degree) nights and the trunk feels about 80 degrees. Using this difference, you might be able to keep the trunk above freezing on your bitterly cold nights. You must be carefully however that you do not burn the crankshaft of certain, more tender palms.....but for Washingtonians I don't think this would be a problem when using "Icicle" type lights.

That's a great idea! Thanks!

[MKIVRYAN]

I was not joking. I like there excitement you show!

[jfrye01@live.com]

I was not joking. I like there excitement you show!

Well thank you:) I'm definitely very enthusiastic about my eccentric gardening, and I'm always sure to let everyone know;)