Darkman 1 Report post Posted April 9, 2011 I have a Rhapis humilis that survived the 2009/2010 winter that had lows of 19.3 on two occasions (if memory serves me right). This winter with lows of 24 I thought would be a snap however I did something stupid. I left a sprinkler on a created a Winter not Wonderland but a Hellish Artic Nightmare. My humilis (ten trunks about three foot tall) now has spear pull. Does anyone have any experience with cold damaged humilis? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted May 22, 2011 At least one of the trunks is pushing a new frond. It is the one that was the furtherest away from the sprinkler and was shielded some what by the other trunks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mandrew968 1,607 Report post Posted May 23, 2011 Rhapis take forever and a day to come back--my dad transplanted a large clump of excelsa and months, months, plus a few more months later and a little baby is sprouting at the base of the old stem... some didin't make it, looks like. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks for the reply. I'm not going to give up and I'll continue to feed and water. Hopefully it will come back. It really sucks as it had just started to growing good from when I transplanted it several years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted June 5, 2011 Update: I noticed today that two small trunks are coming out of the ground about two foot away from the main clump and a small trunk is coming up in the main clump. Is it common for these to send out runners? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted July 8, 2011 I now have three of the old trunks growing and the two new ones are looking great. I'm still curious about the new ones. I wonder if a root was damaged and that initiated the new growth or could it have been from the shock of the main clump experiencing the freeze damage? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tank 241 Report post Posted July 8, 2011 I now have three of the old trunks growing and the two new ones are looking great. I'm still curious about the new ones. I wonder if a root was damaged and that initiated the new growth or could it have been from the shock of the main clump experiencing the freeze damage? No root damage. Sending up runners is what rhapis do. Assuming that all of your humilis are males and that you have no other rhapis around, all of your new canes will be pups of the original plants you put in. They should come back relatively quickly from a freeze, even when frozen to the ground (although maybe not as fast as excelsa). If you're lucky, you'll have the clump from hell in a few years and be fighting back humilis canes as long as you own the house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted July 17, 2011 No root damage. Sending up runners is what rhapis do. Assuming that all of your humilis are males and that you have no other rhapis around, all of your new canes will be pups of the original plants you put in. They should come back relatively quickly from a freeze, even when frozen to the ground (although maybe not as fast as excelsa). If you're lucky, you'll have the clump from hell in a few years and be fighting back humilis canes as long as you own the house. Thanks Jason, They are not exactly speedsters but I hope I do have a great clump one day. I'd like to be able to devide it and start new clumps in many locations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted July 14, 2012 Update I now have three clumps, the original one and two runner clumps one of which may overtake the original in height. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkman 1 Report post Posted April 4, 2016 Update: Winter of 13/14 & 14/15 was real bad! All burnt to ground level. Center (original) clump did not regrow but two outside clumps have and are now about two foot tall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasColdHardyPalms 3,174 Report post Posted April 18, 2016 Great update Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
