What’s your take on how this PNW Jubaea is doing?

[Moe Exotic]

Hi Guys, 

 

Thanks for stopping by the thread.
 

This Jubaea was planted in July ‘22 here in Kingston, Wa. Bought in a 24” box that was bursting at the seams. 

For the rest of ‘22 it grew at a glacial pace while it settled in. I gave it overhead covering from about Dec1 to Jan10 when we had a snow storm and a dip to 17F. Other that that it was unprotected. There was no major damage from the cold. Fertilized with spikes from Palms NW for ‘22. 
 

In ‘23 it put out 3 new leaves. some of the older leaves got tired looking but still had green on them so no leaves were removed that year. In ‘23 I used palmgain at 1/2 strength to fertilize. Last fertization was mid July and water was tapered off in August to avoid lots of soft new growth heading into the cold season. 
 

This last January was pretty gnarly.  I was out of town during the big cold snap but decided to wrap the trunk with Xmas lights and a moving blanket them tucked an old tattered synthetic down jacked around the crown before leaving. It was below freezing for about a week (maybe a couple hours at 35-36f).  The harbor recorded a low of 14F which means it was probably 10-12f at my place. The fronds were totally unprotected as well as most of the spear. 
 

Now that it’s growing again 🙏, 6 of the oldest leaves have browned off and we’re recently removed. That wasn’t to concerning as it had 20 or so and they must have been from ‘20/‘21. They are senescing faster on the west side of the palm  

However, some of the other fronds are showing winter damage and/or nutrient deficiency and any damage input would be appreciated (especially if you have Jubaea experience in the PNW). 
 

👆older leaves. Cold damage, deficiency (k?), drought stress from previous summer, normal old age?

👆Last years growth

👆 New growth. These were spears over winter. 

👆Emerging spears 

☝️Whole palm

 

All in all I’m really thankful that it it faired as well as it did through the cold. A lot of the Jubaea I’ve seen in the area took a big hit and a few but the dust.
 

 Any help setting it up for a strong comeback would be awesome. 🙏

 

 

[Leelanau Palms]

Looks petty good overall. Love that palm! Looks like it just needs good typical care with sunshine, water, and palmgain, leaving ailing fronds until they're completely brown 

[Allen]

Looking awesome and thanks for posting it!    Those rough older fronds are cold damage still I think

[Moe Exotic]

Thanks guys 🙏. I’ve been leaving the fronds on till the leaflets are totally brown even though it makes it look pretty sad in the spring before it grows much. I did notice last year that most of the yellowing of older fronds took place in the spring before it took off similar to many evergreen plants. I was kinda surprised though how quickly the older yellowing leaves browned out this spring. Thinking the increased rate of senescing fronds on the west side may be that the warmth allows the plant to pull the nutrition from old growth faster maybe. I’ve only had it through 2 winters so I don’t have much to compare it too. 

[Chester B]

I think you're doing everything right and your palm shows it.  Considering how difficult the last few winters have been and it was recently planted (for a Jubaea) it looks good.  I bet this year it will be completely settled in and hopefully an average or mild winter, and next year it will really start moving.

[SailorBold]

I think it looks great.. just keep giving it everything it needs... it's gonna take time for that palm to get settled in..full establishment imo takes years..

[Leelanau Palms]

On 5/26/2024 at 5:25 PM, Moe Exotic said:

Hi Guys, 

 

Thanks for stopping by the thread.
 

This Jubaea was planted in July ‘22 here in Kingston, Wa. Bought in a 24” box that was bursting at the seams. 

For the rest of ‘22 it grew at a glacial pace while it settled in. I gave it overhead covering from about Dec1 to Jan10 when we had a snow storm and a dip to 17F. Other that that it was unprotected. There was no major damage from the cold. Fertilized with spikes from Palms NW for ‘22. 
 

In ‘23 it put out 3 new leaves. some of the older leaves got tired looking but still had green on them so no leaves were removed that year. In ‘23 I used palmgain at 1/2 strength to fertilize. Last fertization was mid July and water was tapered off in August to avoid lots of soft new growth heading into the cold season. 
 

This last January was pretty gnarly.  I was out of town during the big cold snap but decided to wrap the trunk with Xmas lights and a moving blanket them tucked an old tattered synthetic down jacked around the crown before leaving. It was below freezing for about a week (maybe a couple hours at 35-36f).  The harbor recorded a low of 14F which means it was probably 10-12f at my place. The fronds were totally unprotected as well as most of the spear. 
 

Now that it’s growing again 🙏, 6 of the oldest leaves have browned off and we’re recently removed. That wasn’t to concerning as it had 20 or so and they must have been from ‘20/‘21. They are senescing faster on the west side of the palm  

However, some of the other fronds are showing winter damage and/or nutrient deficiency and any damage input would be appreciated (especially if you have Jubaea experience in the PNW). 
 

👆older leaves. Cold damage, deficiency (k?), drought stress from previous summer, normal old age?

👆Last years growth

👆 New growth. These were spears over winter. 

👆Emerging spears 

☝️Whole palm

 

All in all I’m really thankful that it it faired as well as it did through the cold. A lot of the Jubaea I’ve seen in the area took a big hit and a few but the dust.
 

 Any help setting it up for a strong comeback would be awesome. 🙏

 

 

Be sure to keep us updated on its progress.

[Banana Belt]

On 5/26/2024 at 2:25 PM, Moe Exotic said:

Emerging spears 

These "Emerging Spears" are the future for the Palm.  Older leaves and their damage is from the past and water under the bridge, not much can be done but these damaged older leaves are very important to keep as Leelanau Palms has said above.  All living fronds and leaves no matter how they look must be alowed to stay as long as they are alive and not brown and dead, as they provide life to the heart of the palm and it new emerging growth.  The graph below shows stages and growth rate of a Jubaea I started from seed more than 40 years ago.  During all stages and years of a Jubaea the size of each new leave should increase in size representing health and care as it grows older.   Taking care of a child when young will reward you when you get older.

[Moe Exotic]

Thanks for your insight @Banana Belt.  Your jubaeas are super inspiring. That pile of fronds was cut the day before the pic was taken.  Kicked myself for not taking before pic when I went to make this post.  Last spring they looked like the the ones labeled older leaves. If it were your palm would you leave the til the midrib turns 100% brown as well? There were still some green spots on the midrib but the leaflets were brown. Thinking this palm is probably around 20yo. The leaves are getting bigger and it’s 6-7ft overall. Does that sounds about right to you?
 

Thanks @SailorBold. I figure I’ve probably got another year before it really gets goin. 
 

Will do @Leelanau Palms

 

Thanks for the kind words @Chester B. Glad to see you hit the ground running in your new place. Also bummed we lost you up here in the PNW. Your YouTube channel was really helpful as I was looking into all the things I could try and plant. Hopefully we get a decent winter this year. Last winter was brutal. I lost 3 unprotected Trachys that were in the ground for 2 years. Heronswood and Windcliff lost a number of rare plants that were in ground for 15-20 years. 
 

🍻Guys! Appreciate ya!

[Chester B]

@Moe Exoticdead Trachys??  Wow, I have not seen that, although I heard of some deaths in Troutdale/Gresham. 
 

Glad I was able to help in some small way, that was my goal all along. 

[Moe Exotic]

@Chester BYeah the dead trachys surprised me. There are lots of old ones around town that were totally fine. I didn’t even think they were at risk since they sailed through last winter and are all over the place up here. I replaced em with a needle palm, a couple sabal minors, schefflera delavayi and a Japanese clethra. I guess holes in the garden are just an opportunity for evolving tastes once spring arrives. 
 

I did notice Palmscapes lost a number or trachys when I drove by a while ago. Real bummer. 

[Chester B]

2 minutes ago, Moe Exotic said:

@Chester BYeah the dead trachys surprised me. There are lots of old ones around town that were totally fine. I didn’t even think they were at risk since they sailed through last winter and are all over the place up here. I replaced em with a needle palm, a couple sabal minors, schefflera delavayi and a Japanese clethra. I guess holes in the garden are just an opportunity for evolving tastes once spring arrives. 
 

I did notice Palmscapes lost a number or trachys when I drove by a while ago. Real bummer. 

Yes dead plants = opportunity. 

We’re the dead palms at Palmscape in the ground?  He had lost them in pots before. 
 

Since I moved down here I realize now how good I had it in Portland. Interesting plants are hard to find as there aren’t really any specialist plant nurseries (aside from fruit) down here and the prices are higher. 

[Banana Belt]

@Moe Exotic  Looking at your fine Jubaea pictured at heading of this topic, it looks very good and healthy.  The three age stages I list and describe correspond to the palms I grew from seed and not nesessarily the same for Jubaea in other places.  Regardless I do believe that the healthier a Jubaea and palm are the bigger and faster the new leaves will be.  The difference in size between the two Jubea shown in picture above is I believe related to the health and size of each new leaf that emerges.  The larger of the two was planted in better soil, less rocks and clay.  When I transplanted the palms from pot to the ground in the 1980's, I was able to dig a hole straight down with shovle two feet in black loam for the bigger palm forground, whereas the soil of the smaller palm forground the soil was so rocky that I had to use pick to break up and loosen the soil before shoveling.  It was still good soil, just packed with cobbles.

Also I noticed that the big palm grew significanly larger leaves, with each new leaf being bigger and longer than the one before.  When the palms reach trunk growing stage the girth began to increase rapidly and any older dead and cut leaf bases broke away and dropped cleanly from the trunk.  As the trunk grew vertical I never had to cut any of the leaves away as they would just break off and fall away cleanly from the trunk on their own when they finally turned brown and dead.  This is why Jubaea, Queens, Cocconut and many other palms have smooth trunks.

One thing that might happen in future to your fine Jubaea is, when it gets into its "teenage years" and depending on its growth rate, it might begin lifting itself up at its base exposing roots.  If this happens fill should be placed around the base of the palm covering the roots.  Jubaea when they get into their fast growing stage do not mind having fill placed around them to cover exposed roots.

[Moe Exotic]

@Chester B they lost a lot of in ground fortunei. It was sad man. Maybe some will come back but they got hammered. 
 

We’re spoiled up here. I feel really lucky that in a small town on the peninsula there are some world class specialty nurseries close by. Not to mention all the amazing things going on in Portland if I drive a couple hours. 

At least it looks like you moved down with a small nursery of your own. You were in quite the sweet spot for awesome nurseries in PDX

[Moe Exotic]

@Banana Belt Thanks for the words of wisdom. I’m expecting it to be a good bit slower than yours. It’s cooler up here and I’ve got pretty rocky glacial till soil. It’s pretty sandy. Madrones and Doug fir border the edge of my property. Drainage is pretty good. It’s just not the richest of soils. I filled in the raised area with a sandy loam. 
 

Good to know jubaeas don’t mind the fill. A couple cut leaf bases broke off the bottom and exposed a few roots. I could see how the lifting could take place as time marches on. 
 

This palm was so root bound in its busted up box I’d imagine a lot of energy is goin into root growth these first few years in ground. 

[Moe Exotic]

On 6/2/2024 at 2:22 PM, Leelanau Palms said:

Be sure to keep us updated on its progress.

Big thanks to everyone for their input this spring. 
 

It looks like the damage above was most likely our brutal cold snap last winter. The summer has allowed for a pretty good recovery. The fronds are smaller this year for whatever reason. Mid summer means all day sun in this spot and the 5 fronds from this summer are the first to grow completely since planting. The 3 it put out last year were beginning to emerge when I planted it in July’22. The trunk has fattened up a good bit this year. It’s pushed out 8 new fronds since planting and allowed 6 to brown off. Considering how tough the last 2 winters have been thankful for how it’s come through.
 

I stopped watering around August 20th to let it harden off but a series of weather systems has somewhat undermined that effort. Hopefully this La Niña winter isn’t too nasty. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

Looks great! I'd be inclined to use a canopy to keep the center bud precipitation free, at least for several years.

[Las Palmas Norte]

I should clarify that my above statement is in regards to the upcoming Autumn and Winter seasons.

[tarnado]

On 9/20/2024 at 11:08 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

I'd be inclined to use a canopy to keep the center bud precipitation free..

Out of curiousity, what does the precipitation do to the center bud/spear of the palm? It seems like in tneir natural environment they get similarish cool and wet conditions. Is it just a stressor that they can do without?

[Las Palmas Norte]

5 hours ago, tarnado said:

Out of curiousity, what does the precipitation do to the center bud/spear of the palm? It seems like in tneir natural environment they get similarish cool and wet conditions. Is it just a stressor that they can do without?

It's not the cool rainy conditions so much but the colder weather. The freeze and thaw cycles on tender emerging spears. Snow sitting deep in the crown where the fronds develop.  A dry growth point even with some dry burlap tucked in during extremes goes a long way while these establish and settle in.

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 9/20/2024 at 9:55 AM, Moe Exotic said:

...I stopped watering around August 20th to let it harden off but a series of weather systems has somewhat undermined that effort. Hopefully this La Niña winter isn’t too nasty. 

Wonderin' how it's doing this winter? It's been a nice mild winter to this point.

[CascadiaPalms]

Beautiful palm!  Absolutely amazing set-up with the mound hill and rocks around it.  In the PNW with lots of winter rainfall, that provides for good drainage.  Great job!