2018 2018_01 - 2018 freeze in central Florida

[Sandy Loam]

Here is a photo of it.  It was juvenile and had been planted for only a few months before the big January freeze damaged it badly.  However, I have tugged and tugged on its spear, and it will definitely not come out.  It started pushing out that new (partial) spear in about March-April, then it stalled and hasn't moved since.  Will that partially emerging spear be stuck like this forever?  If so, I guess I will dig it up and say goodbye.

[kinzyjr]

While I can't say that this is definitely what is going on with your palm in particular, this was the exact symptom that let me know there was a problem with my archontophoenix alexandrae before it took a dive.  I noticed the spear had started to open but never progressed for about 2 months.  By the time I realized it wasn't growing, it was too late to save it from a fungal infection.  Just something to check.

[Sandy Loam]

So, should I try pouring copper fungicide into the bud area?

Thanks for your response, by the way, Kinzyjr. Does anyone else out there wish to chime in on what is going on in the photo above?

[kinzyjr]

7 minutes ago, Sandy Loam said:

So, should I try pouring copper fungicide into the bud area?

Thanks for your response, by the way, Kinzyjr. Does anyone else out there wish to chime in on what is going on in the photo above?

I would say try it.  I think a small amount of peroxide might help with the diagnosis.  If it fizzes up like a soda that just got shook up, you likely have microbe problems in the crown.  You're welcome as always.

[kinzyjr]

@Sandy Loam Looking at your list above, did you have any additional damage or observations from the subsequent freeze on January 18th?

[Sandy Loam]

Below is my update. Bear in mind that my post above was immediately after the first freeze. We had a second freeze a week later and the coldest temperature was 23 or 24 Fahrenheit one night. The effect of two back-to-back freezes did a lot of damage, especially with such low temperatures.

 

All of my King Palms and Royal Palms eventually died, although the Royal Palms wear brand new and were 1 gallon size juveniles. Other things that I had literally just purchased and just planted at the time of the freeze, such as Brazilian Red Cloak and Copperleaf, also died. Later on, all of the pseudophoenix sargentii also died too, but they were also young.  My four kentiopsis oliviformis eventually recovered, but they are too slow growing to bother with in my region.

Also dead:  Clusia guttifera, hibiscus rosa-sinensis, pandanus, cereus peruvianus

 

Looked dead, but came back from the roots a year later:  cordyline fruticosa. 

 

Stopped growing for a year, but is now back in business : arenga micrantha

 

Everything else recovered eventually, and several plants were not damaged at all. Palms like date palms, queen palms, all livistona types, all Chamaedorea listed above, rhapis, Washingtonia etc were not damaged in the slightest, to my recollection.

[Sandy Loam]

Sorry, maybe that was the second freeze. I can't remember any more. 

[tvold]

On 1/6/2018 at 10:26 PM, ThePalmNovice said:

I'm right on the edge of where Orlando's urban development stops. From here it's suburban all the way until downtown. Yet go 5 miles east and there's nothing but farmland and swamps for the next 45 miles. The front yard has lots of old trees everywhere and a covered patio which is why I think it faired better than the back. The back yard is completely fenced in with nothing taller than 7ft growing in it. The north east corner of the yard especially got frost, which is where the Adonidia's were located. 

They've definitely been getting worse as time has gone on. They look much browner today and the leaves on the Fishtail are starting to turn brown. I've been trying to water them a lot, but not sure what more I can do to help them along post freeze. 

 

 

I know this is old but that is such a shame!