2021 2021_02 - 2021 Freeze Damage - Texas and the Southern US

[Doakley1]

Some pics are attached.  Seems we have a lot of insects (nat??) flying around the trunk too.   Would very much appreciate thoughts on likelihood of survival.  No sign of growth at the top of the palm.  Thanks

Debbie and Larry

[Npeterh]

On 2/17/2021 at 2:45 PM, Walt said:

With respect to this ungodly and horrendous cold weather event in Texas and the palms around the swimming pool -- the only way wrapping the palm trunks will help is if you also have supplemental heat in the form of heating cables spirally wrapped around the trunk (or lots of heat producing string lights). The wrapping must be of  a highly insulative material, not frost cloth, so as to hold the supplemental heat around the palm trunk.  Just wrapping a trunk (and meristem),  even with a highly insulative material will virtually do nothing with out adequate supplemental heat as there's no heat to hold in.  A palm gives off no heat, therefore  insulation doesn't help with regard to keeping the palm warm. The palm will quickly assume the surrounding air temperature -- where what little heat the palm may have had -- as the cold front drops the air temperature lower and lower -- is transferred from the palm and into the surrounding frigid air.

The express purpose of insulation is to reduce the rate of heat flow (in this case, loss of heat from the palm). If an object (palm) has no heat to lose to the colder air around it, the insulation does nothing.

The day Florida has a cold event like this will be the day my palm hobby will be over with for good. Too old now,  too short in years to start over.  I don't like seeing such cold carnage, even if it isn't directing affecting me. I've been there and done that, but surely not to the degree of what's happening now in Texas and Louisiana (in palm growing areas).

I disagree, I used multiple layers of frost cloth with Christmas lights in between. I managed to keep 3 Queens alive in Dallas and we got down to -2F. However I got power outage for 8 hours on and off so in effect the lights seldom worked so in my mind it was all due to the frost cloth.

[smatofu]

5/23 update, DFW area, day temperature between 72-85F, night temps 62-70F; rains every day

• 20-ft windmill -  complete recovery, 3-5 beautiful fronds;
• 6-ft windmill#1, left - complete recovery, 3-5 beautiful fronds;
• 15-ft Mexican palm - survived! grew 2 ft from the cut, lots of healthy tissue visible. It looks like it will take another month to get a full size 6-ft frond;
• 6-ft windmill#2, right - survived! Very little growth, but some visible horizontal movement: the crown is opening and healthy fronds are showing inside;
• Sabal Minor - zero damage from freeze. Flowering!
• Sago#1, left - 100% defoliated. Firm tissue, no rot or any damage to trunk visible,
• Sago#2, right - 100% defoliated. Firm tissue, no rot or any damage to trunk visible. 

[RCC-DALLAS]

Same with my sabal texana, flies, spear pulled ,  smell of deterioration. RIP.   Casualties all over the neighborhood, except for a few sabal texana ,and palmetto survivors,. Even a number of  Trachs have died but most are recovering.  My cham radicalis are speeding up a little now, the Needles are blooming but still unsure the long term outlook for the recovering Trachs.  I am watching for problems as the heat ahead get real.

[joetx]

Was downtown Austin and saw these washies on Riverside pushing new growth.

 

[ShadowNight030]

Many of the washingtonia in central Louisiana are showing some life. Same with the livistonia. So far no phoenix sylvestris are showing life. I’m thinking they are done for. The canary dates and medjools are well on their way to recovery. The only mule I know of in my area is still not showing life. For non palms, eucalyptus here are starting to shoot some new growth from the main trunks and larger branches. Sweet viburnum, bottlebrush, bird of paradise, tibouchina, brunfelsia, and duranta are regrowing from their roots. Cordyline are also recovering. A woman I know is telling me her starfruit is coming back from the roots. For other areas of the state, in Lafayette and Lake Charles I didn’t see a single queen with life. However, I went down to New Orleans a few weeks back, and saw perfectly healthy queens and bismarcks at least. Which reminds me, how are the bismarcks recovering in Houston? I’d like to see where they are recovering. 

[Gaga Iowa/Arkansas]

So here I am again! I first asked for help Feb. 24, on my 12’ Windmill Palm that I had just purchased like 7 months before the drastic week of winter, zone 7B Arkansas. Well, here it is June. My husband has crawled up there and it appears not to be rotted! The palms did not pull out when he tugged, but they eventually all dried up so he just recently cut them all off. A couple in the very center of the crown had a little tinge of light green in the stem yet we noticed. The core up there is very hard he said. Not mushy at all. What do you think the chances are of survival. We are waiting till next year at this time before cutting it down and cremating it. My friend purchased one same time, same place, same size as mine...and hers is growing. And we took better care of ours then she did, unfortunately. My fingers are still crossed and I’m still praying for a miracle. Thank you! 

Edited June 6, 2021 by Gaga Iowa/Arkansas
Typing correction

[Austin Ag]

Update from north Austin.  Looks like they will make it.  I did burn them a bit by over fertilizing ;(

[pinstripepat]

Questions all,

I too have two sabals. Neither are putting out new growth after freeze. I broke down snd bought a new one. Can I plant it in the same hole as freeze damaged one? Any rusk of fungus etc…. fir the new one?

thx so much 

[Gaga Iowa/Arkansas]

  
Question please? When we purchased this Windmill Fan Palm a year ago ( July 2020) and had it planted, it was 12 foot tall. Then in Feb. 2021 we had the terrible week of winter and we have ended up with this. If we trunk it, could we trunk it at 6 - 8 ft high so it would be more manageable for us to monitor and care for?  Do you trunk it at an angle or straight across? What more do we have to lose, unfortunately! We are so sad!! Thank you!! 

[ShadowNight030]

On 4/13/2021 at 9:13 PM, Matthew92 said:

Has anyone noticed damage with Elaeocarpus decipiens?

Update: the two largest were cut down by the mall entrance, but are coming back from the roots. The two that were left are leafing out on a few branches, but there are large sections of the trees dead. 

[ArkiePalms95]

Gaga Iowa/Arkansas,  I had success with cutting mine - just start cutting the trunk horizontally bit by bit until you find bright green or white tissue (if there's going to be any). I really hate this for you - my guess is that it was not established enough. If you do find this, which unfortunately I doubt after this amount of time, you will need to treat the cut surface first with hydrogen peroxide and then a couple days later copper fungicide. I have one in Rogers, AR (NW Arkansas) and mine completely defoliated and I had to cut the trunk back about 6 inches or so. Mine has 3 fronds now but I've babied it. Let me know if I can be of further assistance!

[KsLouisiana]

So did all the palms in dfw die? Even the sabals? I went to UNT and I remember 10 years ago there were big palms around.  Even some big Mexican fan palms

[sonoranfans]

On 4/9/2021 at 6:08 PM, smatofu said:

Bad news related to my Sabal Palmetto:

Today, about 2 months after the Texas freeze, palmageddon,  I noticed some tiny flies around palm's crown. I spread old fronds stems wider and pulled on the spear harder... and here it happened: I  pulled the spear.

The spear was light brown in the middle and white soft at the bottom. 

I poured copper Python 27 solution with a little of neem oil and insecticide inside. 

The palm was healthy and thriving before the freeze... I don't know how much hope I should have. 

S.

 

 

best success for spear pull is to check every 5 days after the freeze to see if there is any give.  IF you do this, you can pull the spear earlier which may be critical to its potential for survival.  If the fungal infection can spread and really take hold, treatment will not matter.  I use peroxide, multiple washe,s and wait hours till it has drained down, then I add the fungicide daconil or equivalent into the hole where the spear was.  Retreat every 10 days or so for 6 weeks.  It might be that too much damage is done, but the best chance is to remove the necrotic tissue as best you can with peroxide, then treat with fungicide.  The logic is that this peroxide treatment will kill some fungus and also remove dead tissue and that will expose more of the remaining fungus at depth to the fungicide.  I wouldn't put any insecticide down there, how the plant handles insecticide exposure on fungus injured tissue is unknown, it may limit the plants immune function. 

[smatofu]

47 minutes ago, sonoranfans said:

best success for spear pull is to check every 5 days after the freeze to see if there is any give.  IF you do this, you can pull the spear earlier which may be critical to its potential for survival.  If the fungal infection can spread and really take hold, treatment will not matter.  I use peroxide, multiple washe,s and wait hours till it has drained down, then I add the fungicide daconil or equivalent into the hole where the spear was.  Retreat every 10 days or so for 6 weeks.  It might be that too much damage is done, but the best chance is to remove the necrotic tissue as best you can with peroxide, then treat with fungicide.  The logic is that this peroxide treatment will kill some fungus and also remove dead tissue and that will expose more of the remaining fungus at depth to the fungicide.  I wouldn't put any insecticide down there, how the plant handles insecticide exposure on fungus injured tissue is unknown, it may limit the plants immune function. 

@sonoranfans Thank you! My palm survived and it is thriving now. One of a very few surviving Sabals north of Dallas.  (I thought the palm was a Palmetto Sabal, but it is a Mexican Sabal)

[ I wouldn't put any insecticide down there] I used very small amounts. Nothing that could have any impact on the plant.

 

 

 

[Arecaceae78743]

Hi Y'all I am new member to Palmtalk but have been familiar with the site of some years, its a pleasure to be here ! In my spare time I will help report on the condition of recovering palms in central Texas and abroad.    

[Arecaceae78743]

Here is a pic of a Sabal Palmetto that did not receive care and a Mexican Fan Palm that has had at least 6 inches of its crown removed it sprouted but is doing poorly.  Location is Taylor, TX on September 1st  

 https://gm1.ggpht.com/ZrnUwjB11A6MXQyg6MmMRtqt7SXDeLBpJhKiOnVDCaszJU823iOo8Rg5w4Wh7eGvdQsKIZKIyREWo8GnBu2mhJUHSFzi222Pozy84SkQGkSk1GtlfqqbRsR1YHuINNXNNhlNAZtr_G-fw1HekOn-aquZRLBHGuw2JQzfmysoMHycNYEm9RGvacBLUxDTk5UoztIxHPvy89DZ90MkSiw8zSYlU93khPWOHyMtlUv0dnerjFa7Rp02Mz7Qdc3X97DOQnue45CfsNWzVokkYlOMXGpppuKELAh8w48mOSdYhJiQvQeP20K9G-dordKKXr4JJGbXbr5pkUfa4Do2PTgXt-43zXYmqgKK-CBG6pxrnO_I_btQJXHOSClmRSvkYN_tjVUjQW1XWZ9W5Z02WS28hQDP5TxzPB3QVfpFoWIfBaH6JMd9Apud2b88Bnbw2XmFIup4hUhjCAzjfQbBByX-jcB_bXu_p0sS7fSH7XOKqa0VTMHEd-m1MVJKh9mrBMCzlOfCfi6G7nHLqcG87GiDhr-yXLd6bV6oR_gaj1CtWaMXON8pOt6sxALlMO4ElwvBZMMa_joilsVSDAj1feEOYjd7ePGi0R2GBzUPSjZyLsiqDLPB9az80IBlKhTKfNt-tkAMgmEhL6jccPWeZRKaIbh-FeJ8TsBRo8hhJBQHdp3lfXNl3E-5eFKw5L4EJq9QKdPkhpxOSZX829XrKUpBOd8rKaH-I4H3fL_4PpDX=s0-l75-ft-l75-ft

[Arecaceae78743]

4 minutes ago, Arecaceae78743 said:

Here is a pic of a Sabal Palmetto that did not receive care and a Mexican Fan Palm that has had at least 6 inches of its crown removed it sprouted but is doing poorly.  Location is Taylor, TX on September 1st  

 https://gm1.ggpht.com/ZrnUwjB11A6MXQyg6MmMRtqt7SXDeLBpJhKiOnVDCaszJU823iOo8Rg5w4Wh7eGvdQsKIZKIyREWo8GnBu2mhJUHSFzi222Pozy84SkQGkSk1GtlfqqbRsR1YHuINNXNNhlNAZtr_G-fw1HekOn-aquZRLBHGuw2JQzfmysoMHycNYEm9RGvacBLUxDTk5UoztIxHPvy89DZ90MkSiw8zSYlU93khPWOHyMtlUv0dnerjFa7Rp02Mz7Qdc3X97DOQnue45CfsNWzVokkYlOMXGpppuKELAh8w48mOSdYhJiQvQeP20K9G-dordKKXr4JJGbXbr5pkUfa4Do2PTgXt-43zXYmqgKK-CBG6pxrnO_I_btQJXHOSClmRSvkYN_tjVUjQW1XWZ9W5Z02WS28hQDP5TxzPB3QVfpFoWIfBaH6JMd9Apud2b88Bnbw2XmFIup4hUhjCAzjfQbBByX-jcB_bXu_p0sS7fSH7XOKqa0VTMHEd-m1MVJKh9mrBMCzlOfCfi6G7nHLqcG87GiDhr-yXLd6bV6oR_gaj1CtWaMXON8pOt6sxALlMO4ElwvBZMMa_joilsVSDAj1feEOYjd7ePGi0R2GBzUPSjZyLsiqDLPB9az80IBlKhTKfNt-tkAMgmEhL6jccPWeZRKaIbh-FeJ8TsBRo8hhJBQHdp3lfXNl3E-5eFKw5L4EJq9QKdPkhpxOSZX829XrKUpBOd8rKaH-I4H3fL_4PpDX=s0-l75-ft-l75-ft

(Try this if it did not work) 

[Arecaceae78743]

Here is what looks to be 

On 9/19/2021 at 12:12 AM, Arecaceae78743 said:

(Try this if it did not work) 

CORRECTION   The back one is a CALIFORNIA fan palm 

[Arecaceae78743]

 

Location: Taylor, TX    Date: September 12   The Two on the left are Wash. filifera and the two on the right are Wash. robusta, all have irrigation but have not been pruned.  I would have to say that as far a Mexican Fan Palms go I am 99.999% sure that they are extinct in this region of Texas.     

[SusanDallas]

My huge sabal by the side of my house is finally putting out a new frond. This is 7 months after the freeze. I have another smaller one that started putting out new fronds last month. 

Both palms have been just trunks with no foliage since the freeze in February.  I am still watching my Washingtonia filiferas. I put hydrogen peroxide in the palms that I could reach. I am 25 miles south of Dallas.

.

[Xerarch]

On 9/20/2021 at 8:36 PM, Arecaceae78743 said:

Here is what looks to be 

CORRECTION   The back one is a CALIFORNIA fan palm 

Hello and welcome to the forum! Nice to see large sabals turning out ok up there.  Also nice that California fan clinging on to life, those things are so tough, and it will regrow quickly if it finishes pulling through.

[Collectorpalms]

All but 1 of my Filifera dropped dead after coming back from the freeze. So disappointing to think they lived only to decline. 1 Washingtonia hybrid lived that would burn at 17F, survived 3-4F. 
I live in a very humid and wet part of Texas. They might have survived if I was in arid West Texas. ( El Paso)… maybe even San Antonio or Austin. All my Sabals survived, one 7ish year old Uresana put out a partial leaf in September. So it may die over winter. 

Edited October 12, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[mgmccabe]

How are some of the more tropicals doing? Curious about coconuts far south. Did any make it? Royals too?

[Arecaceae78743]

Hello Palm talk, today I will share with y'all some info on south Texas plants, although the pictures from google maps where taken in April it helps to sheds light on the situation, you must note that even if a palm looks to far gone there is always a possibility of survival for instance I have personally seen some palms come back to life as late as October.   

 

BEFORE (2019 Donna TX) not palms but orange trees are still important 

 

 

AFTER (2021 Donna TX) note the poor royal palms in the far left side

 

[Arecaceae78743]

Also from Donna TX 2021,  some queen palms re-sprouting even without care 

     

[Arecaceae78743]

 

In Brownsville TX you can see that this queen palm is just fine but I cant say the same for the pygmy date palm 

[Arecaceae78743]

More from Brownsville TX, not palms but Norfolk pines, they are still important because even these very tropical ones managed to survive (notice the north facing sides are toasted) 

 

[Arecaceae78743]

Brownsville TX . In the red I believe they are foxtail palms and it looks like they could come back   

[Arecaceae78743]

Brownsville TX. Pygmy Dates have taken this freeze very hard I think its because of there small size and slow growing speed, but this one will be ok.  

[Arecaceae78743]

Brownsville TX. The Royal Palms don't look good but some are poking back up and remember that this was only in April with no trim   

 

 

[Arecaceae78743]

In Brownsville TX April 2021 

This just might be a COCONUT PALM THAT SURVIVED ! Why I think this is a coconut and not a queen is because queen palms are much more cold hardy than coconuts it would not make sense that this palm would be knocked back completely PLUS its located on the south side of the home and because the burnt frons are more coconut like than an very feathery queen palm.  let me know what you think it is. 

 

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. By the way if you want to know what a cardboard palm looks like without foliage. here you go 

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX.  Bismarck palms look ok 

 j

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. a Royal palm out in the open and not trim but it looks like a tiny green is poking through, remember is is only April.

 

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. an Unidentified mass of dead plants, but it looks like there are two re-sprouts. Could there be a coconut in there !?  

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. Good news, it looks like theses very tall royal palms survived !

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. A good example why you should always place your tropical plants behind south facing buildings.

 

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX.  Brace yourself here is what one of the coconuts on the island looks like.....OOF

 

 

BUT LETS REMEMBER THAT THIS IS OLNY APRIL AND CONSITER THIS NEXT PICTURE...

This is that same coconut palm from 10 years ago the last time an arctic blast came through. It looks bad and not to come back BUT it did survive. Lets just hope and pray that its alive today and someone is taking care of it.  

 

[Arecaceae78743]

South Padre Island TX. Here is another Coconut. Unfortunately google maps dose not have an updated picture for the inner streets, this is the closest you can get. If you look closely you can see some burnt frons sticking up, perhaps its a little good news because the it means the crown is not rotten.