Palm Protection Method Photos Master Thread

[kbob11]

Let my Needle out today.  There are a couple more nights in the mid 20s to come but day temps 50-60.  It’s looking a little deprived but happy.  No heating element just straw and leaves.  

Edited March 18, 2020 by kbob11

[mdsonofthesouth]

I love rhapidophyllum hystrix! I have had some strap leaf specimens take some serious cold including the 2018 mess. Had 2 pull but push out growth later in the year. Can't wait for them to pick up some speed when they go full palmate!

[kbob11]

Opened up the big wooden box today and am really impressed with the results.  I had the 4’ T. Fortunei loosely wrapped in frost cloth with a 250watt heat bulb pointed at the ground and set to 38f with an InkbirdSmart.  Looking forward to my second year of zone pushing!

[Allen]

Small palm protection

Plastic poultry fence, comes in 2 or 3' size, dewitt 1.5 oz frost cloth (breathable), small green garden poles weaved thru plastic fence and pushed into ground, cloth clipped to fence with office small 'binder clips', top is a pot drain pan or you can use whatever you have.  Water heater drain pans work too for larger stuff.  This is not heated, you can heat with mini incandescent bulbs and a 35/45 thermocube if you wish

Edited December 17, 2020 by Allen

[ahosey01]

On 2/20/2020 at 12:16 PM, wrigjef said:

It really depends on the type of Palm tree in my opinion.  110F would certainly be a point where any tree would be stressed but not sure at what temp they would die.  
I know a cocos Nucifera can handle 110F with no issue but you put a Ravenea Rivularis (Majesty Palm) in that temp and it will die in one day.

I know this is an old post, but I don’t know if this is necessarily true.

There are some species that need 110-120 daytime to really put on size at a good clip.  Brahea armata comes to mind.  Growth rate in a normal summer vs. a Sonoran Desert summer is noticeably different.  I am also aware of what I believe is a west-facing R. rivularis in Phoenix that is doing very well.

I think the idea there’s a certain temp at which all palms are stressed is probably true to some degree (i.e. 150), but I can think of more than one specimen that’s getting blasted with full Arizona sun and radiated heat planted close to a stucco wall that likes that spot.

[Allen]

44 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

I know this is an old post, but I don’t know if this is necessarily true.

There are some species that need 110-120 daytime to really put on size at a good clip.  Brahea armata comes to mind.  Growth rate in a normal summer vs. a Sonoran Desert summer is noticeably different.  I am also aware of what I believe is a west-facing R. rivularis in Phoenix that is doing very well.

I think the idea there’s a certain temp at which all palms are stressed is probably true to some degree (i.e. 150), but I can think of more than one specimen that’s getting blasted with full Arizona sun and radiated heat planted close to a stucco wall that likes that spot.

To keep this on topic we are mainly talking about palms that are protected in this thread and specifically with plastic enclosures that are put in the sun and then frying the palms at high temps.  These are generally cold hardy palms we are talking about here in this part of the forum and I don't think any of these palms would appreciate being exposed to high temps during the winter.  I would advise against anyone putting their palm in a fully enclosed plastic hut is the main takeaway here.  Let's mainly post protection ideas in this thread please!

Edited December 18, 2020 by Allen

[climate change virginia]

I just put my palms in my garage under a grow light they are just seedling right now and they are growing nicely but slow from colder weather.

[Allen]

7 footer mini lights, thermocube, 3' plastic poultry fence, two 8 foot poles weaved thru fence at top for support.   Wrap this with frost cloth or burlap and cover

Regular tube method for smaller palms.  Inside is similar to pic above.  This is 6' galvanized fencing covered with 1.5 oz dewitt fabric, staked at bottom and top staked with adjustable tent ties.  

Edited December 19, 2020 by Allen

[Allen]

Mule palm with pole down middle using Mini lights attached to 35/45 thermocube.  Also has remote temp sensor at spear.  Pole at top has a bent pvc pipe to support cover.  

Pole closeup with lights so when you wrap they are in center of palm fronds.  2 strands of 100 lights testing unless it gets cold.  

Patio heater cover.  covering mule palm at temps below 20F.  

Edited December 21, 2020 by Allen

[Allen]

Testing a 100" square patio heater cover that is going over palm in post before one above.

[sashaeffer]

55 gallon plastic barrels that are insulated with spray foam inside.   Palms are wrapped in cloth, usually Christmas lights/thermocube for heat.  Key is to provide ventilation.  I have gone 3 barrels high so far and won't allow palms (windmill palms) to grow any higher. 

[Allen]

Trachycarpus protection zone 6/7

 

 

 

[SALOttawa]

Here is my protection for my Washingtonia Robusta in Ottawa, Canada. It is a 2x4 construction with rigid insulation covered with Tyvek. I have incandescent Christmas lights and plumbing heater wire for the ground. The last piece of rigid insulation will be going on this weekend.

[Las Palmas Norte]

 

 

This guy in Europe does some great work. Around here, I'd be worried that a homeless guy would move in.

 

 

cheers 

 

[Allen]

Update video on one of my favorite protection methods for palms 5'-10' in zone 6b or 7a for Trachycarpus

 

[Allen]

New protection method video added

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 2/7/2020 at 8:15 PM, Allen said:

My garage has a heated space above it and on 2 other sides and a insulated door.  it rarely goes below 60F as I put a thermometer out there one year and it stays that even during arctic blasts.  So I water well every 2 weeks with one of those expandable garden hoses and sometimes put a little osmocote on them.  At 40 I don't know about the fertilizer but if it gets warmer a little osmocote might not hurt.  The plants in this pic are 3 rows deep and pots pushed together so more palms here than you think.  There is a Musa basjoo, tropical hibiscus, 6 majesties, red Abyssinian and on the right is a 10' Alocasia Portora.  The rail in the pic is a little over 7feet tall.  I have another spot for plants in the front of garage too lol!  I have been watering insect trouble plants with a systemic insecticide before putting in garage, the majesties and the red banana.  

 

 

Your garage looks a lot like mine. It's where all the more tender stuff goes but my wife still has a place to park her car. The palms in the yard are hardy enough and the marginal ones only get burlap tucked into the center growth point spears. 

[Jimhardy]

On 2/20/2020 at 8:14 AM, wrigjef said:

I have a Remote thermometer inside the greenhouse I can see from inside my house. Believe it or not this Coco can handle some intense heat with no effect on the tree from what I can tell.   It’s gotten to 130 degrees inside the greenhouse multiple times before I caught it and opened it up.   

They love heat...Washys are the same way, it would get over 120F inside the 

cover and it never seemed to bother the palm, although it must be strange...your feet(roots)

are near freezing and your head is 120F....anyway,it never hurt it.

This was not an everyday thing as most times I would have the top off of the palm cover.

[GregVirginia7]

On 11/30/2019 at 2:11 PM, Allen said:

Please post your palm protection photos for those who ask this time of year.  Post your photos and what zone you've tested this in.

Here are mine for 7a Trachycarpus

Thermocube, Mini lights and temp sensor

Wrapped 1.5 oz dewitt frost cloth

Circle fence cover wrapped again in frost cloth, staked down.

Box method with plastic, notice angled roof, ample vents, blackout fabric on sun side.  Pegboard for top

I think your winter has been worse than our NOVA winter thus far...you seem to have had a lot more teens than we have...anyway, it’s been a pretty agreeable winter here so far so it was a good time to reduce the amount of protection for my palms. I only have cold hardy palms that do relatively well in my 7a zone and as I’ve said many times, my south face growing zone really helps a lot, too.

My biggest worry was my Medi. I have wrapped it in black landscaping cloth for nights in the teens but it’s pretty much been on its own...there has been some selective die back but all the other fronds are perfect and no loose spears either.
 

My other umbrella protected palm is my Brazoria, though I did add a small string of lights to the base, it’s been exposed to the lowest temps and so far, so good. I used to cover it like it was a Mule or something...

The needles have done great and I’ve never protected them...however, the exposed needle got smashed and frozen to the ground twice so far...but has bounced back really well.

It has shown some tip damage on some of the most frozen to the ground segments...

This needle is under a holly tree and naturally protected...untouched so far...

Sabals McCurtain and minor are on their own and prove their 7a resilience...

 

Trachy is on its own and doing well...

And this new Trachy, planted spring of 2021 gets full protection for now...lights and cover...

So there’s a lot more winter left and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that palm establishment is key...get them in ground as soon as possible, protect accordingly for a couple years then adjust winter panic as required...I really want to try a Butia.

[kbob11]

Happy almost Spring!  I unwrapped my needle and windmill yesterday.  This will be year 4 in the ground in 6a Massachusetts.  The windmill started as a 15gal and the needle has probably only grown a foot in diameter.  

Edited March 16, 2022 by kbob11

[Will Simpson]

My Washy protection . Some have seen this before .

Nice and toasty when plugged in .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kbob11]

I have everything uncovered and here comes the winter temps again… I am thinking my Fortunei and Needle will be okay but this is prob the coldest the Windmill has seen so far.  The 15mph winds have me a little concerned but I will put some Xmas lights around he trunk.

[Jesse PNW]

If by Windmill you mean T fortunei, it won't even notice 19f.  Same for R hystrix. 

Sorry this is a crappy picture, I screenshotted it from a video.  A quick cheap and easy way to protect skinny Chamaedoreas like microspadix.  1" pipe insulation.  Not my idea, I stole it from someone else on here or the FB group People who love Palms.

[WattsZ]

Oklahoma City 7a

largest is my sabal Mexicana; blue box is a Washy robusta and the cylinder is a trachy fortunei. Each have c9 Christmas lights, thermo cube and temp sensor. We have some real low lows but a lot in the winter I open the boxes during daytime as they get super hot and humidity reaches 40% quick 

[WattsZ]

2 minutes ago, WattsZ said:

Oklahoma City 7a

largest is my sabal Mexicana; blue box is a Washy robusta and the cylinder is a trachy fortunei. Each have c9 Christmas lights, thermo cube and temp sensor. We have some real low lows but a lot in the winter I open the boxes during daytime as they get super hot and humidity reaches 40% quick 

Uncovered 

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 2/20/2020 at 11:16 AM, wrigjef said:

It really depends on the type of Palm tree in my opinion.  110F would certainly be a point where any tree would be stressed but not sure at what temp they would die.  
I know a cocos Nucifera can handle 110F with no issue but you put a Ravenea Rivularis (Majesty Palm) in that temp and it will die in one day.   
 

In June of 2017 we had a week of temps right at 120F.  None of my palms showed any stress at all but my Ficus Nitida (Banyon) almost completely defoliated.  All the leaves eventually grew back 

That's a good topic. Here it seems it's all about winter & how cold hardy palms are. Heat tolerance is note worthy as well. As a side note, my Ravenea managed one day at 106°F last year with zero issues. 

[Will Simpson]

My Washy didn't make the list . ?    LOL 

It's the easiest protection for a palm that grows fronds  fast , and is trunking , and getting taller , and getting  harder and harder  to protect  .

Edit : Sorry I only looked at page 1 . It is on page 2 .

Thanks 

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Will Simpson

[DreaminAboutPalms]

Screenshot from a city data forum. This is in Salt Lake City 

[DreaminAboutPalms]

DAVENPORT IOWA. "This one stays in ground year long. Around late Nov, early December I wrap it with small x-mas lights, a layer of burlap or landscape fabric, house insulation and plastic clear painters drop cloth (3 mil). Sounds like a prodiuction but it only takes about 30 minutes to put it on once you figure it out. I turn on the small x-mas lights (and they put out alot more heat than you think under the wrap) and I turn them on when temps get below 25. I usually take the wrap off in late April and the fronds start growing like crazy)"

 

 

[Nomad NYC]

Here is a very brief recap of my current winter protection process for my Canary Island Date Palm  ( Zone 7B ):

 

 

 

(  if interested, the complete steps are over at my thread here   )

[Allen]

 

[Xenon]

38 minutes ago, Allen said:

Just what I needed, thanks! 

[Allen]

Zone 7a - Forecast of 2F did full wrap on 3 larger 12+ foot Trachy 

Mini lights on a 35/45 thermocube with a wifi thermometer inside.  Excess fronds cut then fronds tied up with 3/4" tree tie, then wrapped in 3' plastic fence to contain, pole thru top with two 90 rounded pvc conduit ends to support top, wrapped in planket frostcloth then finally wrapped top with 10' round planket cover.   Will leave till March, last year only had to do trunk wrap.

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by Allen

[Palmfarmer]

There is a two cold nights incoming. I got Burlap and frost cloth as well as some c7s and incandescent minilights.

Question is if I should be worried about the mini lights or c7s doing any damage if being wrapped around the main spear? 

Edited January 25 by Palmfarmer

[Xenon]

9 minutes ago, Palmfarmer said:

There is a two cold nights incoming. I got Burlap and frost cloth as well as some c7s and incandescent minilights.

Question is if I should be worried about the mini lights or c7s doing any damage if being wrapped around the main spear? 

Yes, I used mini lights on a Chambeyronia and there are a few small burns where the lights made contact with the foliage. Crowding too many mini lights will also fry things to a crisp. 

There is no need to use lights with your latitude and daytime heating. Capturing radiating ground heat with covers sealed at ground level would be overkill, even just draping fabric/frost cloth on top would probably be enough. 

[Palmfarmer]

1 hour ago, Xenon said:

Yes, I used mini lights on a Chambeyronia and there are a few small burns where the lights made contact with the foliage. Crowding too many mini lights will also fry things to a crisp. 

There is no need to use lights with your latitude and daytime heating. Capturing radiating ground heat with covers sealed at ground level would be overkill, even just draping fabric/frost cloth on top would probably be enough. 

Thing is the forecast suggests -5 celcius in 9 days. Hopefully its wrong. 

[Foxpalms]

17 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

Thing is the forecast suggests -5 celcius in 9 days. Hopefully its wrong. 

You're forecast is showing -1c for me with very high daytime temperatures for winter.

Edited January 26 by Foxpalms

[Palmfarmer]

On 1/25/2023 at 8:15 PM, Foxpalms said:

You're forecast is showing -1c for me with very high daytime temperatures for winter.

It updated and looks like winter is basically over now. Kept my Coconut out all winter as well as my Latania. They seems fine so far. 

[WattsZ]

On 12/19/2022 at 11:15 AM, Allen said:

 

can i get the specs on the abient weather station? also how many wireless sensors comes with it. Thanks

[Allen]

27 minutes ago, WattsZ said:

can i get the specs on the abient weather station? also how many wireless sensors comes with it. Thanks

It's a bit higher$ than when I bought in 2018. You might look and see if any newer models are out there.

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-3000-X5-Thermo-Hygrometer-Controlled/dp/B01IPOESHI/ref=sr_1_25?crid=1GFOXANJ47DRM&keywords=ambient%2Bweather&qid=1675095573&sprefix=ambient%2Bweather%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-25&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685&th=1