Cold Weather Protection Questions

[Scuba]

Hi! I bought two Phoenix Roebelenii palms a few months ago (rooted together/trunks come together in a V shape). When protecting from cold weather do I need to fully cover the entire trunk and should I also protect the top fronds area too? I was not sure if the upper section was more important to protect where the palm heart is.

Also, I noticed some material at the local hardware store for protecting plants. Is there any kind of cloth, etc. material that works better for palm trunks? I want to ensure these palms are well protected for their first couple of years until they are better established.

Thanks!

[Scuba]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller???

Did I post this in the wrong section?

The weather in NE FL dipped down to 34deg last night and is suppose to go down to 37 tonight. I don't have much of a green thumb so I'm trying to get some help as I learn. -Thanks!

[_Keith]

OK, I'll take a shot, but in two sections.

First is frost. Protect leaves from all frost. This can be as simple as putting under tree or building canopy to putting cloth over the palm. This is all you need to do above 27 degrees.

Second is freeze. My palms were under canopy all winter and took a low of 26 degrees with hardly any noticeable damage. But don't get comfortable. Most assume around 23 degrees unprotected means almost certain death.

In between 23 and 27, well.

[FRITO]

Hi Scuba welcome to the forum. we are in similar climates. P. roebelenii only survive here in the most protected/best micro climates. even then, most years they defolite (lose all there leaves at 23 degrees) but return growth in spring.

A very marginal palm unless you are along the coast near ocean where the water buffers the lows you have a better chance.

erecting a 'tent' over the palm with a flood light or small heat source souce as christmas lights inside is a great way to protect P. roebelenii since they are a relatively small palm and can be managed on the few nights a year where temps drop low enough to cause harm to it.

frost cloth is supposed to keep palm from being damaged by frost but I have no experience with it (many have though)

I have conceptulized a easy way to erect a ' dome tent' over small palms for overnight lows. I will explain:

includes 4 stakes of rebar into the ground a few feet from the palm. one on each side opposite from eachother in a square pattern. then 2 long pieces of pvc slight larger than the width of rebar so the pvc can slide over it.

I invision a criss-cross arc over the palm after you install the pvc carefull so it doesnt break.

then somthing ike 4 or 6 mil plastic visqueen or even a spare tarp to cover the dome. stake the ends down all around and put a small heat source under neath to tarp the heat and effectively create a mini greenhouse for your palm. try to avoid the fronds touching the sheeting otherwise they will damage.

I had a very crude version of this used on my bismarkia and it worked well. however bizzies get big and eventually one day I wont be able to protect it.

the system can be erected quite quick in my mind and stored easily and made cheaply.

[_Keith]

When my citrus were young, I would first throw a light blanket over them, then blanket over that to the ground with visqueen, and throw a shop light underneat with a 100 watt bulb for a heat souce. Did just fine.