Anti-transpirant for palms

[John in Andalucia]

My latest challenge is searching the Internet for anti-transpirant products for use on palm seedlings. Does anyone have the low-down on what anti-transpirant contains? Is it based on natural plant emulsions? The US and Australian markets seem to be the major producers, and I've found products on-line such as Envy, Stressguard and Wilt-Pruf. Has anyone used these products? I think it will benefit my greenhouse seedlings this winter if I can give them an application, and in the dry heat of summer, when I lost a lot of seedlings this year, it might make a big difference. I also want to use it on seedlings I send to customers, but there don't appear to be any products on the UK or Spanish market - at least not using the search term, "anti-transpirant". I don't want to have to import a bottle, but it may come to it, and I know that if I try my local garden centre they'll try and sell me a leaf shine product, which is oil-based and not the same thing. At least that is how I understand it.

[sonoranfans]

John,

I have used "cloudcover" with good effect. It is a water based polyvinyl alcohol polymer coating. I wouldnt recommend for use in sun, as the palm uses transpiration to help cool itself and this will inhibit that natural function in direct sun when the suns heats up the palm leaflets with solar energy. The polymer coating also sun ages(cracks) and looks a bit like salts left over from hard water, eventually. It doesnt seem to hurt the palm, but your customers should let those fronds grow out before putting the palm in sun. I think the advantage is to allow the palm to grow a nice root system in a shaded area while it is young, then you can discontinue use as the root system is large enough to prevent dessication. I dont think antitranspirant is a solution to dessication buy itself. Windblock, watering, humidity control, shade and antitransipirant can be used together to help seedlings adapt in a harsh desert environment. One more thing, I dont recommend misters in the desert, unless you are using reverse osmosis water in the system. Any hardness in the water will end up killing the seedlings as it is continually deposited on the leaflets.

[richnorm]

  sonoranfans said:

John,

I have used "cloudcover" with good effect. It is a water based polyvinyl alcohol polymer coating. I wouldnt recommend for use in sun, as the palm uses transpiration to help cool itself and this will inhibit that natural function in direct sun when the suns heats up the palm leaflets with solar energy. The polymer coating also sun ages(cracks) and looks a bit like salts left over from hard water, eventually. It doesnt seem to hurt the palm, but your customers should let those fronds grow out before putting the palm in sun. I think the advantage is to allow the palm to grow a nice root system in a shaded area while it is young, then you can discontinue use as the root system is large enough to prevent dessication. I dont think antitranspirant is a solution to dessication buy itself. Windblock, watering, humidity control, shade and antitransipirant can be used together to help seedlings adapt in a harsh desert environment. One more thing, I dont recommend misters in the desert, unless you are using reverse osmosis water in the system. Any hardness in the water will end up killing the seedlings as it is continually deposited on the leaflets.

Here (where extreme heat is never an issue) these products are often used on new plantings in full sun to help reduce scorching. Of course this is a very poor substitute for proper hardening-off.

I have wondered if this might help reduce fungal attack in our cool wet winters by acting as a water-proofing. This particularly affects Pritchardias which end up with dead patches on the winter-formed leaves on young plants.

Might also be very useful in places with periodic dry winds like Socal to protect the likes of ceroxylon, geonoma etc.

[John in Andalucia]

I stumbled across one manufacturer who distributes and sells on-line, both foliar and root anti-transpirants: GSI Horticultural.

This is exactly what I'm looking for, and I may end up buying from the US if I can't find anywhere closer.

[PalmatierMeg]

This Root-Zone sounds interesting. Does anyone know whether it useful in protecting seedlings of tropical palms during dry summer weather in CA or dry, windy winter weather in FL? Is it available in stores or just on the internet?

I just learned Root-Zone is also sold under the name "Plant Nectar"

[John in Andalucia]

Meg,

I think aside from using the root-drench "Root-Zone" prior to any impending shock, such as transplanting, it's only other function is to prolong watering intervals. The foliar version I think has more widespread availability under various names. The website I posted has a "Uses" page for both products HERE.

You have some great products in the US. How about an anti-transpirant and cayenne pepper solution to control and destroy insects and insect larvae!! HOT PEPPER WAX

[Tala]

we've tried several of those products listed here, mainly looking for some extra cold tolerance but they were all worthless in that dept. They do however help out with moisture loss of transplants, esp. in hot dry periods.