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Hi PR00636! I know you wish you were here in PR on such a beautiful day. Yes, my one and only Welfia is doing fine. I can see the top of it from my potting bench. At least 20 feet tall and planted down a steep slope with the idea that it would one day be eye level near my house. It hides surrounded by tree ferns and some Euterpes until it opens a new leaf which should happen soon. If I am not traveling I’ll take a photo then, but it looks stunningly red like all the others posted here.

Chamaedorea costaricana in Florida? How?

Exactly!

That's the gamble.

Hello! I'll take 50 please! Thank you!

4 nights of freezing here (30, 24, 28, 32) and probably 10 frosts above freezing. I tried to create a windbreak using tarps and lining the ground in the garden with c9 lights. Due to 30mph winds on the 24f night, my attempt failed and nature took its course. Undamaged: Coccothrinax Macroglossa ‘Azul’ (saw 26f under failed makeshift greenhouse with temp sensor in it) Leucothrinax Morissii x2 Sabal Mauritiformis Sabal Causiarum Chamaedorea Costaricana Chamaedorea Microspadix Copernicia Prunifera Copernicia Alba x Unknown Euterpe Edulis Livistona Mariae Damaged: Beccariophoenix Alfredii x2 10’ and 12’ tall about 70% defoliated, green interior fronds and spears Chrysalidocarpus Pembanus x2 8’ tall 80% defoliated, green spear and undamaged smaller stems Howea Forsteriana 6’ tall 60% defoliated Thrinax Radiata 4’ tall with 10” of woody trunk 60% defoliated Chambeyronia Macrocarpa x2 both beginning to trunk defoliated except for good spears Chamaedorea Ernesti Augustii (tarp smothered it) 80% defoliated Chamaedorea Cataractarum 50% defoliated Cryosophila Warscewiczii 30% defoliated Archontophoenix Cunninghamiana x2 25’ and 18’ both totally defoliated. Spears look good. Crowns were wrapped in burlap with c9 lights Chambeyronia Oliviformis 5’ tall newest leaf snapped in half but is green, spear looks good Dead: (Flopped after first night at 24f) Kerriodoxa Elegans (3g just planted in October) Chrysalidocarpus Lanceolatus 6’ tall Ptychosperma Schefferi 3’ tall - may come back from roots Ptychosperma Macarthurii 2’ tall - may come back from roots Pinanga Adagensis - just got first ring of trunk Archontophoenix Maxima 3g Archontophoenix Myolensis 3g Archontophoenix Tuckeri 3g

Surprise 33°F low this AM with a light frost. Lost a couple more smaller plants that I had saved in the preceding freezes as the forecast was 36°F and the NWS was very accurate over the past week. I was just tired of moving things. I have family in town from way up north that wanted to come down to "warm up". I suggested that early-mid March was more reliable for warm temps but they insisted on early February. Anyway, they wanted to go see Palm Beach yesterday so I got a chance to drive down the east coast a bit and make some observations. There was major damage to most of the usual suspects. Seagrape was burned badly all the way down. Cocos, Wodyetias, Archontophoenix, Adonidias, Arecas, Bottles & Royals all had severe to moderate damage with some pockets that seemed mostly spared but I could not figure out why. These were pretty small pockets so they really were microclimates. As expected, by the time we reached Palm Beach proper the damage was far less severe but still noticeable in many places, especially in open areas. The cocos seemed particularly hard hit relatively speaking. Hutchinson Island which is the barrier island proximate to PSL was not spared, though the damage to a significant percentage of affected tropicals looked survivable. PSL is a horror show. Sabals, Washingtonia, Roebellinii, Bismarkia, Syagrus, Livistona all seem fine...for now at least but all the zone 10 rated are torched. I have not experienced a freeze of any sort in my 10 years here, a few light frosts was all, so this will be a lesson in recovery for me, primarily for Royals, as I understand mature specimens can bounce back... but I recorded 25,24°F on consecutive nights and they all look terrible. I am not allowing myself hope on my Adonidias and Wodyetias and it is a shame, because they were so healthy and really nice specimens, I put a lot of effort (and money) into them. I'm still in a bit in shock that the temperature here was not much different than that of far north Florida during this event.

That's typically what I do but growing seeds is always fun and it will be interesting to see what they look like. And if they look like the mother plant.

Well you’re gunna need a bigger boat! That’s a lot of seeds and a lot of time and space involved in such a project, you’re little science project has taken on a new level from a small laboratory to full on Dr Frankenstein set up (insert Mel brooks movie here) Time to hit up the old happypalms vault and do a bit of research on a few back issue posts. Dont get overwhelmed by so many seeds it’s easy, community pots or box’s, baggie method your decision. That many seeds myself styrofoam box’s with lids (etoliation method) if no bottom heating plastic bags will help you out for a bit of extra heat. Good luck keep us all posted!

That's cool! Yeah I saw you posted a video about it I watched it

Any interest this year? Mixed species (maroon leaf, red crown-shaft). .35 each or $30/100 Beachpalms@cfl.rr.com

This. Cutting the rhizome is the way to go and it guarantees you'll get an exact clone. Seeds are a gamble.

Had to build another bench, buy more lights and pots. I'll probably have another update Sunday or Monday. But yep - lol. And all my lights are on smart outlets now, so they're both on timers and I can track power usage. They were surprisingly cheap - I got 4 for like $28. And they work.

GardenFest in Vero Beach is tomorrow. They might make some $$$, too.

One day, in a few years from now, you will collect seeds from your own trees; then you'll know they are very fresh and they will germinate like popcorn on a frying pan!

At least I’m sure 1000 cunningamiania seeds are fresh and it’s my favourite specie of all so let’s see how it goes thanks

As I have told you I suck at germinating seeds. If the seeds happen to be really fresh and you keep them in moist medium and warm temperatures they will germinate. But more often than not they are not very fresh and they just won't germinate no matter what you do. Many palm seeds only stay reliably viable for 1-2 months so the best you can do is find fresh seeds. I have no idea what I'd do with 4000 seeds! I only germinate a maximum of 50 because I only have one small bedside table for that job. I don't wanna start a business like you, I just wanna get my hands on some rare species for my own garden. I only buy seeds if the palms are impossible to buy or too expensive. I detest germinating palm seeds, they take for ever. Once again, @happypalms is the best source of info! Follow his advice and you'll do fine. Remember what someone else here said: if you use bottom heat, the medium will dry out at the bottom of the pot fast and this can kill the roots. I killed some Lanonia seedlings like that in January and almost killed a Colocasia seedling too!

Yea I bought some of them too I’m trying a whole lot of methods I mean it’s 4000 seeds 🤣 but yes I’m just not so sure how to handle them without mats since I feel like they won’t germinate if I don’t use constant heat (‘my last batch failed miserably) so I would like some advice if you have to offer

Are you aware of the jifs or jiffies btw? Greek sellers call them τζιφάκια. They are convenient. You add water to the tablets and they become mini pots, great for seeds.

The Leu Gardens plant sale will make bank this year 🙃

Forecast lows of 38 2 nights in a row this weekend so I'll assume 2 more freezes or at minimum heavy frost.

That's very interesting, all of my canna seed like crazy they come up everywhere in my garden. Maybe it has something to do with your climate? Or the varieties you are growing are sterile hybrids?

None of the Canna I've grown in recent years develop seed / Indian shot. All grown from rhizome divisions.

By "fully" no. Not intended to be submerged in water, but they are capable of being subjected to wet conditions. I recommend keeping the palm that's being protected, to be kept dry to prevent mold or bacteria from becoming problematic. Always check manufacturers specifications.

I don't ever remember seeing it? Do you still have this one growing? I'm going to soon do an A.P.B. trying to find some or seed. Mike Dahme in his PR garden had some BEAUTIES that I photographed last year.