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Trachy Winter Behavior


GregVirginia7

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Hello folks...I'm new here and had a question. This past winter, mild by any standard in Northern Virginia, however...we did have a couple 17 degree F. nights followed by below or near 32 degree F. Days... I noticed my Trachy's leaves folded up like a closed accordion at night but would open slightly during the day. Once the cold snap passed, they opened up as usual. My question: Is this a sign of dodging the bullet of death or is the folding up a natural, protective reaction that can be repeated in a normal No. Va. Winter?...this is it's 4th winter in ground and the first that it got too big to protect...all it got was an umbrella over the crown and a 50w spotlight on the trunk, but it's never gotten more than a loose burlap corral with a burlap roof and some c9 lights laid out on the ground (winter 2014)image.thumb.jpg.5784b60b1c86a35874f81113 

Edited by GregVirginia7
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Welcome to the board! I have seen mine do this if the temperature hits the 30s; the fronds seems to close a bit and look much narrower. I believe it is a natural response to the cold. Once the temperature the next morning get out of the 30s range, they seem to open again. Your windmill looks great by the way. Do you have any other palms? I would think sabal minors and needles would be fine for you too.

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Thank you for the response...this Tracy stays wide open till it hits the teens I guess...good genes maybe! Anyway, it's situated on a south facing bank under a large pine tree and the sun hits the area very nicely all winter...I do have a couple Mediterranean Fans, a couple Needles, a Brazos County Sabal and a McCurtain County Sabal...all planted way too close to each other for fear of leaving the well protected south facing bank...In winter I've protected slightly with incandescent (little) lights, shrub covers, or burlap corrals and they're all doing great. The Needles get no protection at all...fascinating to watch the changes in the needle leaves when it gets in the teens...certain areas darken in a sort-of pattern...when it warms up, the color tone evens out again with no damage whatsoever. Really enjoying this palm thing.

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Cold temps,lack of water(root damage)

and a palm aborting its spear can cause this...usually

you see it on the vertical leaves closest to the center spear first

in the last example.

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