Cyphophoenix elegans

[Geoff]

OK, all I have is a dinky seedling with three leaves that's been in the ground a little over a year.. in full sun.  And it took this summer's 120F day without any problems... and just the smallest hint of scorch from the 27F freeze a few nights ago.  This plant has no overhead protection, and is living 2' from a 6 year old Dypsis baronii which was fried to the ground mercilessly by the freeze.  Also near several Howea seedlings that were scorched badly.  What a trooper!!  Too bad it will 100 years before it makes a trunk at the rate it's growing.

[BS Man about Palms]

I have some Ginormous 2 gal plants that had minimal sheet protection, hit under 30F 4 times, 2 of those at 26F and they look OK

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Loosing my cyphophoenix elegans, but not from freezing temperatures. It's on the hill where it got to maybe 31-32F at worst. But it's slowly declining. It's in mostly Winter shade, and seems to be declining from Winter chill (32-45F hours) and chilly soil, but not from freezing conditions. Fronds are wilting from the oldest to youngest at a rapid rate. Spear is solid, so palm is obviously not able to pull up nutrients from the cold soil. In contrast cyphophoenix nucele is still actively growing even in the Winter.

[Rafael]

Loosing my cyphophoenix elegans, but not from freezing temperatures. It's on the hill where it got to maybe 31-32F at worst. But it's slowly declining. It's in mostly Winter shade, and seems to be declining from Winter chill (32-45F hours) and chilly soil, but not from freezing conditions. Fronds are wilting from the oldest to youngest at a rapid rate. Spear is solid, so palm is obviously not able to pull up nutrients from the cold soil. In contrast cyphophoenix nucele is still actively growing even in the Winter.

My seedling grows in similar conditions and so far is behaving normally. It stopped its growing after november but shows no damage from a couple of 32F nights.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Loosing my cyphophoenix elegans, but not from freezing temperatures. It's on the hill where it got to maybe 31-32F at worst. But it's slowly declining. It's in mostly Winter shade, and seems to be declining from Winter chill (32-45F hours) and chilly soil, but not from freezing conditions. Fronds are wilting from the oldest to youngest at a rapid rate. Spear is solid, so palm is obviously not able to pull up nutrients from the cold soil. In contrast cyphophoenix nucele is still actively growing even in the Winter.

I should have posted an update. When I discovered the decline I immediately watered it. The decline subsequently stopped and spear resumed growing. Obviously wasn't chill but a victim of drought. This concept of keeping things dry through the Winter is bs. Dry is worse than cold and wet for this palm.