How's my CIDP doing ya think?

[ParadisePalmTree]

So I'm no expert, and I'm new to this forum, so I'd like some educated opinions to how I'm doing. This is my first CIDP, so I planted it at ground level and almost a foot deeper with cactus palm and citrus soil, with worm farm soil and native clay, I was a little nervous I might not have made the whole quite wide enough but I chose to leave it, the deer for some reason took a liking to it, I moved it from where I originally planted it for more sun I had to cut 4 or 5 leaves since I got it due to the deer jumping through it (lol frustrating) and kept breaking branches I've chose to leave the rest, some of the leaves will die as you can see or split in half and brown, is that normal? So for my first time planting one, the deer racanging it and my lack of experience, how does it look like its doing? Any advice? I've read pretty extensively it'd just be nice to network, any help is appreciated!

[ParadisePalmTree]

Any ideas guys?

[Jim in Los Altos]

CIDP are really tough palms and extremely easy to grow. You may want to erect a cage around it to keep deer away as it's apparent that they've been munching on those leaves. Water it thoroughly at least once a week and it shouldn't need much else but maybe some palm fertilizer during the warmer months.

[ParadisePalmTree]

Well the deer have since then seemed to have left it alone, and I have slow release granules, which I was going to fertilize the end of this month, or should I wait? Also i be read the trunk only begins to form when the apical bud is fully developed, is there possibly a way in telling how developed it actually is? Trying to think of an estimate of how long it might actually take to begin growing in actual height, thank you BTW for the reply

[Jim in Los Altos]

Each new frond will be a little bit bigger than the last while the trunk keeps widening. Upward movement of the trunk begins after it reaches its adult width (possibly five years from where yours is now. Then you can expect at best a foot of trunk growth per year. So in fifteen years you should have about ten feet of trunk and the canopy adds about twelve more feet for a total height of 22' more or less.

[ParadisePalmTree]

So from what you can see it looks all okay? I wonder about some of those leaves browning and splitting is this normal? I don't imagine it would have any deficiencys, I read that pruning too many fronds can stunt the growth of it as well, I'm hoping I didn't do anything too traumatic to it, as I said I did have to prune off a few, I was wondering about that, I see business prune there's back each year even though the old fronds hold nutrients, when is the soonest but best time to prune them? My girlfriend wants me to "make it look pretty and cut the ugly ones off, when do you think I should?

[ParadisePalmTree]

I need some pruning advice guys ^

[Jim in Los Altos]

The only browning I'm seeing in those pictures is where there are obvious bite marks and damage to the leaves. It's deep green and healthy looking otherwise. It's true that trimming off green healthy leaves is not advisable on palms. Phoenix hold so many leaves compared to other genus of palms that they seem to take pruning off of some green leaves better than others. prune any time of the year leaves that are obviously dead or dying.

[Ben in Norcal]

Give people a chance...give it a few hours or overnight for some responses.

I'd leave anything that is green, personally, for optimal growth.

[ParadisePalmTree]

Note taken my apologies over excited I suppose, thanks for the advice again, I've yet to have any pests besides deer hah, I get scale around here though on our fruit trees so I wonder if they check out my palms a small common collection so far a pygmy, a windmill, a Mediterranean, and some little ones I'm not too sure about, I'd really looove to get my hands on Phoenix Reclinata but I'm not sure I'd be able to fund one anywhere, any suggestions?

[ParadisePalmTree]

These are my start

[Ben in Norcal]

Good start! You are pretty far north/east...what's your climate zone?

[ParadisePalmTree]

I've got a couple results on my zone I believe 9a maybe 9b

[ParadisePalmTree]

I'm from zip code 95969

[Josh-O]

Brock, I believe you might be in zone 9a if you live further south towards the 99 hwy. My father lives up there and he gets snow almost on a yearly basis a little more north in magalia. He lives walking from paradise lake. Also, My Uncle lives in downtown paradise and gets a ton of heavy frost almost every winter with light snow on occasion.

where do you live in relation to Skyway Road.

[Josh-O]

Ohhh, welcome to Palmtalk

[ParadisePalmTree]

I live in the middle of paradise off bills road I don't seem to get too much frost to be honest, what do you think is this an okay zone to grow?

[ParadisePalmTree]

Yeah I was talking about it and I'd say you're right I do get frost idk if it'll effect any of my palms though it wasn't much of a winter they seemed to do really well

[Josh-O]

Hi Brock, how often do you get snow where you live? Scott from Omaha has palms growing outside and he is an excerpt on how to cover his palm garden up and get them trough his harsh winters. It can be done where you live for sure

Scott, please chime in if you can?

[ParadisePalmTree]

We didnt get any snow this year but here at my house I don't get much snow Mahalia will get good snow but I never get more than an inch I'd say

[Jim in Los Altos]

Brock, Your coldest month is December and I noticed the average high is 53F and average low is 39F. You get pretty hot in the summer with July's average high at 91F and low of 69F. You should be able to grow a lot of palms without any protection where you live, even with some extreme temperatures. You started off well with the common palms you bought. They should all do well for you. Snow isn't really very damaging to hardy palms at all either, especially if you only occasionally get an inch. It looks like most years your area can be described as 9b but I think you're safer planting palms that are 9a safe or lower.

[ParadisePalmTree]

Brock, Your coldest month is December and I noticed the average high is 53F and average low is 39F. You get pretty hot in the summer with July's average high at 91F and low of 69F. You should be able to grow a lot of palms without any protection where you live, even with some extreme temperatures. You started off well with the common palms you bought. They should all do well for you. Snow isn't really very damaging to hardy palms at all either, especially if you only occasionally get an inch. It looks like most years your area can be described as 9b but I think you're safer planting palms that are 9a safe or lower.

Great! That's pretty dead on thank you guys for the input, its been a bit since I've researched but do you think phoenix reclinata would thrive here or is that more of a finicky species?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Brock, If you buys P. reclinata, chances are it's mixed with some other Phoenix genes but that's good because it adds to cold hardiness. I have several in my garden and they all have distinctive characteristics. The coldest they've seen here was during the freeze of 2007 when it got down to 26.5F here and there was no damage whatsoever. You can check eBay for it. There are some very reputable sellers on that site.

[ParadisePalmTree]

Awesome I was wondering, I'm guessing they're fairly slow growing? I think that'll be my next one, its quite exotic looking, I've never seen one in person though, are they finicky about anything?

[PalmatierMeg]

Question: In your first post you said, "This is my first CIDP, so I planted it at ground level and almost a foot deeper....." Does that mean you planted the palm with its stem nearly 12" below the level it was in the pot? The rule I go by is that the stem should be planted so its stem is the same level as in the pot. Palms grow roots from a basal plate that should not be buried deep into the soil - where it can suffocate and the palm die.

Welcome to PalmTalk

[ParadisePalmTree]

I planted it at ground level no deeper just as deep as it was in the pot, what I meant was I've mostly read to dig the hole as deep as it came in the pot, so I'm sure its not planted too deep but even though the RA zone is at the very base of the stem I mended the hole deeper than the depth of the pot I will say I did use fertile soil and I wet it a couple times before placing it in the hole so it wouldn't sinkninto the ground, that and I didn't make the hole quite twice the width, very close though, I wonder about the width when it comes to fertilizing it, should I just mend it into the soil around the palm with fertilizer as far away from the stem as possible? Thanks everyone I loooove PalmTalk and Palms, they're so exotic and unique, I have the property somewhat and strive for a nurseries one day, where to start though geeze

[sashaeffer]

Brock, how cold do you get when it's the worst?

Also, the REAL expert on growing palms in a very cold climate is Cocoanut Mike owner of Montreal Palms in Canada. LOTS of videos on youtube like this...

5b climate.

Welcome to Palm Talk. Lots of great people here for help, advice and friendship.

Edited March 22, 2015 by sashaeffer

[ParadisePalmTree]

Jim a couple threads up gave my zone description to a T, I do plan on getting some more exotic looking palms but I generally research their climate preferances

[ParadisePalmTree]

To answer though I'd say at the absolute coldest it gets to maybe 25 degrees in winter but an average of 39, god I really love this forum you're all great, I'm planning on donating when I get paid, anyways here's a question for everyone, which palm is the most colorful like blueish, it attracts my eye a lot.

[sashaeffer]

To a guy in Nebraska, that doesn't seem cold! lots of stuff you could have with no, or minimal protection there. PLUS you live in a state where there are plenty of places and people to buy quality palms from. Got a truck? head to Carlsbad and see Josh.

Have 3 CIDP's myself although none in the ground. That might change this spring if I can find the perfect spot so it gets the sun it needs. Largest potted one I have.

[ParadisePalmTree]

I unfortunately do not have a truck anymore, I'd love to see josh's collection I saw one I really like I'm just unable to afford right now, your CIDP looks great! You're doing an awesome job, any pests so far? I couldn't take the best pics but the deer took quite a liking to mine for some reason then the pygmy then the fan then the windmill they've been munching the leaves somewhat, they've stopped now, anyways are any of your cidps from seed?

[sashaeffer]

I didn't get to see his entire collection and operation but did stop at his house on a visit to the area. My daughter had been there before to pick up a palm for me to ship to Nebraska. On the drive into the neighborhood I asked her where his house was and she replied "Oh, you'll be able to tell" lol and I could. Like this huge oasis in the middle of a neighborhood. I could tell my wife's stomach just sunk knowing I would be in palm heaven and geeking out talking to Josh about species. That trip though I flew to San Diego and couldn't bring back any beauties for myself but did pick up a couple for my daughters apartment. That will change though as I'm trying to plan a road trip to the area again this summer....taking my truck.

No, no pests. Keep in mind I store a lot of the large cold hardy palms like that in my garage for the winter. A lot easier than inside as with the cooler temps in there don't have the bug issue like spider mites.

Can't believe a deer would eat a palm like that with it's stiff needle like fronds.

Edited March 22, 2015 by sashaeffer

[Ben in Norcal]

That will change though as I'm trying to plan a road trip to the area again this summer....taking my truck.

Let me know when you do, Scott...you can "swing by" Norcal on the way home, and bring me some of Josh's beauties!

[sashaeffer]

I have a hitch....maybe add a trailer?

[Ben in Norcal]

Now you are talking! LOL!

[GTClover]

CIDP are really tough palms and extremely easy to grow. You may want to erect a cage around it to keep deer away as it's apparent that they've been munching on those leaves. Water it thoroughly at least once a week and it shouldn't need much else but maybe some palm fertilizer during the warmer months.

GREAT SIMPLE DEER DEFENSE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKWsyn9TgHE

This is a great deer fence! Easy, cheap, & very effective. I used it last year around my vegie garden. Less than a week after we lost our dog the deer were in the garden eating EVERYTHING! I saw this video and thought it was worth a trial. It really worked! The week before last year's gardening season, there were deer prints in the garden, but as soon as this went up nothing! At the same time they were eating my Hosta that hadn't been fenced. They will be fenced this year for sure. It's pretty much invisible, so it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of your garden. That is how it works as since the deer don't see it they spook, and don't know what to do. It was not breached once even after the corn matured. I put in a gate for me of course.

I wanted to embed the video, but I don't have the icon in my editor. How can I turn that option on...?

Susan

[Josh-O]

Brock, how cold do you get when it's the worst?

Also, the REAL expert on growing palms in a very cold climate is Cocoanut Mike owner of Montreal Palms in Canada. LOTS of videos on youtube like this...

5b climate.

Welcome to Palm Talk. Lots of great people here for help, advice and friendship.

Great suggestion Scott

[Josh-O]

Brock, you have come to the right place for palm tree advice I also, reccoment posting some threads and looking up some older posts in the cold hardy forum. There some really top notch growers (Alice hunter, Keith, Scott, Moose, ETC..)who can give you a wealth of advice on how, what to plant and the overwintering requirements for may palm species.

It's always fun when the palm bug gives us a good bite..

I plan on driving up to visit my day in a few months. I would be more than happy to stop by and say "Wazzzup"

[Josh-O]

That will change though as I'm trying to plan a road trip to the area again this summer....taking my truck.

Let me know when you do, Scott...you can "swing by" Norcal on the way home, and bring me some of Josh's beauties!

I like the sound of that

[Josh-O]

I have a hitch....maybe add a trailer?

I'll go in halfers in buying you a hitch..