Windmill palm RIP?

[KPoff]

I know I’ve posted about this same windmill palm a few times but I wanted to share its status now and get some feedback. This was a nursery or shade grown palm I planted in full sun in west Texas. It gets sun from 8 am to about 4 pm. It gets soaked thoroughly every 2-3 days for 20-30 minutes and the water drains into the soil quickly when it’s stopped so guessing it’s pretty well draining. It’s sandy clay. I marked the middle spear and it hasn’t moved for 2 months at all. I dug around it about 1-1/2’ on one side and there was a lot of roots extending out to there. So is it just growing roots because it’s so hot? It’s been at or over 100 for 2 months straight and only gets to 75-80 at night. I pulled on the spear and it’s still solid. I was going to leave it until spring and see if it starts to grow then. Or pull the plug and put in something else. I’ve seen windmill palms in full sun here so I know they can handle it but maybe the acclimation is just tough? See pictures.

[Allen]

I wouldn't give up yet based on what you said.  Windmills grow best in spring/fall milder temps

[SeanK]

Year 1: Sleep

Year 2: Creep

Year 3: Leap

Can't grow upward w/o anchoring. The plant knows what to do. Yeah, it's sunburned. No amount of water would help. However, continue watering for the root system.

[Las Palmas Norte]

A windmill palm with a trunk that size should be about half that height when grown in sun. It's going to need some assistance to get it thru the winter to continue it's recovery.

[jwitt]

In order to grow new leaves, accustomed to that high elevation sun, it needs roots.

And cooler temps.

Any green is making food, do not remove. 

[SeanK]

"And cooler temps."

Quite true. My Trachies don't grow at 95° ambient. Hopefully you'll see progress when the sun is a bit lower and afternoons stay below 90°.

[Harry’s Palms]

That palm will burn through the existing fronds as it evolves and adapts to your environment. They are not fast growing palms even in my climate so just try to give it a little extra care and be patient. If your winters are harsh , protect it . They are tough as nails here but it takes time for them to adapt. Mine is in full sun but I got it young at a big box store on clearance so it was already a bit burnt. I kept it in partial sun for just a bit (until it showed signs of life) then planted it in fall. By the next summer it was growing quite well and the new growth was tightly held for its south facing , full sun home. The ones I see posted here that are in shade look better but I’m ok with how it looks. HarryThis was last winter getting ready to mulch in between rain storms.

[KPoff]

I’m in what’s considered 8A/B zone now per 2023 USDA growing guidelines updates. Most winters only get handful of days that are less than 20 for a low and even then it may be 15 for a low. Generally a windmill palm shouldn’t ever need protection here but summer is probably what’s more tough on them. It will be late September or October before it’s less than 90 consistently.

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 hour ago, KPoff said:

Generally a windmill palm shouldn’t ever need protection here but summer is probably what’s more tough on them.

That's true of a healthy Windmill palm. A distressed palm, no so much.

[RFun]

1 hour ago, KPoff said:

I’m in what’s considered 8A/B zone now per 2023 USDA growing guidelines updates. Most winters only get handful of days that are less than 20 for a low and even then it may be 15 for a low. Generally a windmill palm shouldn’t ever need protection here but summer is probably what’s more tough on them. It will be late September or October before it’s less than 90 consistently.

I wouldn't worry about your location much.  In a place like Phoenix, I could see where that palm would suffer from severe drought and severe heat.  That palm is like a peach.  It benefits from some chill hours.

[RFun]

Windmills will take some time to establish themselves just like other palms.  This is going to be as fluid as cold hardiness can be.  I've seen some palms take years to establish and other palms are already getting established in a few months.

[KPoff]

4 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

That's true of a healthy Windmill palm. A distressed palm, no so much.

If it gets below 20 I’ll probably consider protecting it. Otherwise it’s tough love.

[RFun]

9 minutes ago, KPoff said:

If it gets below 20 I’ll probably consider protecting it. Otherwise it’s tough love.

Considering it doesn't look very healthy, I don't blame you.

[Arecaceus]

I'm with the others on this. It needs time to establish and a bit of cooler temps with sufficient water. Even established Trachies grow best in cool to warm temps. They slow down during the hottest months. In fact most palms do - I've noticed, but Trachies really like spring and autumn conditions.

This one isn't established and struggleing. You could help it with some things. I would keep watering it and what I've done on other plants when I plant them out newly and the weather in spring is too hot/dry is to put a fleece protection over it like the ones for frost. This really helped a lot.

Trachies are very strong palms but I had one that suffered from severe stress after I've transplanted it twice within a short period of time and it took ages to recover fully. They're not recovering as fast as Washies, also because they are slower growing. Idk if it still exists but you could try "SuperThrive" to boost the roots a bit, if it's not getting any better.

[KPoff]

2 hours ago, Arecaceus said:

I'm with the others on this. It needs time to establish and a bit of cooler temps with sufficient water. Even established Trachies grow best in cool to warm temps. They slow down during the hottest months. In fact most palms do - I've noticed, but Trachies really like spring and autumn conditions.

This one isn't established and struggleing. You could help it with some things. I would keep watering it and what I've done on other plants when I plant them out newly and the weather in spring is too hot/dry is to put a fleece protection over it like the ones for frost. This really helped a lot.

Trachies are very strong palms but I had one that suffered from severe stress after I've transplanted it twice within a short period of time and it took ages to recover fully. They're not recovering as fast as Washies, also because they are slower growing. Idk if it still exists but you could try "SuperThrive" to boost the roots a bit, if it's not getting any better.

I actually do use super thrive on it every other week or so.

[Arecaceus]

2 hours ago, KPoff said:

I actually do use super thrive on it every other week or so.

OK If you have already mentioned it I'm sorry then I've missed that.

[KPoff]

14 minutes ago, Arecaceus said:

OK If you have already mentioned it I'm sorry then I've missed that.

I hadn’t and no worries. I’ve always heard it’s good stuff.

[Allen]

12 hours ago, KPoff said:

I actually do use super thrive on it every other week or so.

I think you should stop that.  Liquid nitrogen + heat = problems.  I know it's root vitamins or whatever but it says liquid nitrogen on bottle.  Wait till You get cooler weather and put One dose of Osmocote Plus Outdoor on it Around Mid Sept which has slow release for all ingredients.  

[Arecaceus]

3 hours ago, Allen said:

I think you should stop that.  Liquid nitrogen + heat = problems.  I know it's root vitamins or whatever but it says liquid nitrogen on bottle.  Wait till You get cooler weather and put One dose of Osmocote Plus Outdoor on it Around Mid Sept which has slow release for all ingredients.  

Do you think it is that harmful? It has very little amounts of it in it.

[Allen]

54 minutes ago, Arecaceus said:

Do you think it is that harmful? It has very little amounts of it in it.

I would stop all fertilizers until temps hit highs of say 80F-85F on a burned palm in dry TX heat that looks underwatered if it were me.  The warm season grass is even struggling.  For the OP I would also dig down with my hand or a small shovel 6" or so where the roots are and see if it is moist before watering to see if watering enough.