Heres some potential help in regard to cold hardiness

[Jimhardy]

 
 
I came across a story of some Tomato plants that died
in 20F weather,not surprising but what was is that the organically fed
ones lived which does seem illogical in that Tomato plants
are pretty tender...the ones that died were fed with the
chemical ferts mined from the earth.
 
So as an experiment,would anyone want to try a few select
plants(anything you know the hardiness of by experience
in your area but esp palms) they have next year and try this?
 
In places where palms cant be left uncovered all winter perhaps Acuba  
or Magnolia could be tried,ya know? Something that might barely
stay green over winter....
 
Anyway,I am going to try this where I can as I may be moving
before any results...I basically neglected fertilizing the Sabal
this year and I think even that has helped as I only fed the Sabal
growing the fastest when some fert was left over....they look the
worst now and were larger.
 
Last time I looked,my S.Brazoria appeared untouched under
a rose cone after -13F! its uncovered for the time being...
I don't think I fertilized it even once,so not heaping tons
of chemical ferts on plants appears to have helped....
 
I wonder if using compost tea/compost etc could take
it to the next level?????
 
I do think that cutting off the fert as the season wanes will still be
important to really see if this makes a diff..
 
Anyone want to try it?

 

Heres the Brazoria after -13F ,never fertilized(at least this year)

Edited January 7, 2017 by Jimhardy

[Jimhardy]

Heres a S.Louisiana that I did not fertilize....

 

Since these are bigger I "rewarded" them with extra Miracle grow...S.Lou

S.McCurtain...also missed the fert train

 

I have watched these for 7 years and there has never

been a time that any looked green after below zero temps

much less  -13F ...they were in Rose cones but if you

have ever experienced -13F (or colder) you know this kind

of cold is extremely penetrating.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2017 by Jimhardy

[Ponds & Palms]

On 1/7/2017, 6:36:57, Jimhardy said:

 
 
I came across a story of some Tomato plants that died
in 20F weather,not surprising but what was is that the organically fed
ones lived which does seem illogical in that Tomato plants
are pretty tender...the ones that died were fed with the
chemical ferts mined from the earth.
 
So as an experiment,would anyone want to try a few select
plants(anything you know the hardiness of by experience
in your area but esp palms) they have next year and try this?
 
In places where palms cant be left uncovered all winter perhaps Acuba  
or Magnolia could be tried,ya know? Something that might barely
stay green over winter....
 
Anyway,I am going to try this where I can as I may be moving
before any results...I basically neglected fertilizing the Sabal
this year and I think even that has helped as I only fed the Sabal
growing the fastest when some fert was left over....they look the
worst now and were larger.
 
Last time I looked,my S.Brazoria appeared untouched under
a rose cone after -13F! its uncovered for the time being...
I don't think I fertilized it even once,so not heaping tons
of chemical ferts on plants appears to have helped....
 
I wonder if using compost tea/compost etc could take
it to the next level?????
 
I do think that cutting off the fert as the season wanes will still be
important to really see if this makes a diff..
 
Anyone want to try it?

 

Heres the Brazoria after -13F ,never fertilized(at least this year)

Jim, I have at least 50 large trachycarpus seedlings about a foot tall each that I will plant a few this spring in my yard. I can plant 2 of them approximately 3 feet apart on the south side of my house and do miracle slow release fertilizer on 1 of them.  I'm in zone 7b in NC .  I think it will be a good test, what do you think?

[PalmTreeDude]

57 minutes ago, Ponds & Palms said:

Jim, I have at least 50 large trachycarpus seedlings about a foot tall each that I will plant a few this spring in my yard. I can plant 2 of them approximately 3 feet apart on the south side of my house and do miracle slow release fertilizer on 1 of them.  I'm in zone 7b in NC .  I think it will be a good test, what do you think?

That would be an interesting test.

[PalmTreeDude]

I have heard that chemical fertilizers reduce cold hardiness before. I could see how too, it makes them push out new growth really fast that is often tender. Organic fertilizers are the way to go when trying to keep palms safe from cold. 

[Ponds & Palms]

4 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I have heard that chemical fertilizers reduce cold hardiness before. I could see how too, it makes them push out new growth really fast that is often tender. Organic fertilizers are the way to go when trying to keep palms safe from cold. 

I'm thinking after this cold spell that in the spring and summer I'm going to heavily fertilize my palms, but lay off in the fall. & you're right new growth is always tender, I have a sago palm that took about 2 months for the new tender growth to become hard and almost petrified, I have a feeling the same thing goes with other palms.

[PalmTreeDude]

2 minutes ago, Ponds & Palms said:

I'm thinking after this cold spell that in the spring and summer I'm going to heavily fertilize my palms, but lay off in the fall. & you're right new growth is always tender, I have a sago palm that took about 2 months for the new tender growth to become hard and almost petrified, I have a feeling the same thing goes with other palms.

Yeah, all you really need is some good soil. I would only chemical fertilize palms that are in a bulletproof zone, like a Sabal palmetto in Florida. 

Edited January 11, 2017 by PalmTreeDude

[Ponds & Palms]

6 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Yeah, all you really need is some good soil. I would only chemical fertilize palms that are in a bulletproof zone, like a Sabal palmetto in Florida. 

I have a koi pond and last year my pump detached and half of the pond water spewed out (fish waste) on one of my palm trees. That tree put out 1 new frond every 2 weeks!! I've considered getting kelp fertilizer...have you heard anything about that?

[PalmTreeDude]

13 hours ago, Ponds & Palms said:

I have a koi pond and last year my pump detached and half of the pond water spewed out (fish waste) on one of my palm trees. That tree put out 1 new frond every 2 weeks!! I've considered getting kelp fertilizer...have you heard anything about that?

I have heard of kelp fertilizer. But I never tried it. I heard it works well. 

[Jimhardy]

For sure it would be a fun experiment...one caveat-

the cold hardiness varies so much even in the same seed batch.

The reason I was surprised with the Sabal is because I basically

know when they fizzle out but to have any green in them after

seeing -13F temps with only a rose cone for protection is just silly.

They(some) still look ok even now!

[Brad Mondel]

On 1/10/2017, 11:17:43, Ponds & Palms said:

I have a koi pond and last year my pump detached and half of the pond water spewed out (fish waste) on one of my palm trees. That tree put out 1 new frond every 2 weeks!! I've considered getting kelp fertilizer...have you heard anything about that?

The nitrates from your fish waste feed the palm. I might start saving my aquarium water and use it to fertilize my outdoor palms!

[Jimhardy]

It is good stuff..if it wasn't for the beneficial bacteria

in the tank the ammonia levels would sky rocket...

it is interesting when you first set up an aquarium

to see these helpful bacteria start reducing the

toxicity of the  water...cuz then you can put the little fishys in!

Fish emulsion is a good way to go... but

Only drawback is it is a little bit pricey but there is always another way........

 

  https://georgiaorganics.org/2013/05/make-your-own-fish-emulsion/

Edited January 22, 2017 by Jimhardy

[Ben in Norcal]

My koi pond bead filter is down by my shady container ranch...every week in the summer the bead filter gets flushed, and the container ranch gets watered in with koi waste.  Might not need to do too much fertilizing down there beyond that?

[Ponds & Palms]

10 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

The nitrates from your fish waste feed the palm. I might start saving my aquarium water and use it to fertilize my outdoor palms!

Good idea, I'm planning on using my koi water but also to take my dirty filter and put it in my watering can! I think it's gonna work great! Your aquarium water should work well! A+++

[Tropicdoc]

Found this bulletin from Florida ag 

[Jimhardy]

Interesting...seems to validate that "natures" way is the best.