Protected too good…

[ZPalms]

I need a bit of help with something I’d think would be obvious, but I’m not sure if I should do anything further. I have my smallest washie wrapped like all my other washies. the lights aren’t tight, they are loosely wrapped. I think it’s getting too much heat to the point where it’s "cooking" while bundled up. On a normal night, I wrap the trunk in burlap and then cover it with a normal sheet and planket. When I take the cover off, it’s really warm inside the crown. I touched the tissue on the new spear and it’s very warm, and some of the petioles feel loose. The spear is still strong, so that’s a good sign for now. I’m thinking of unwrapping the lights and going for a shorter strand. Should I just keep hitting it with copper fungicide? The only thing with that is I’m having trouble also knowing when to apply systematic fungicides and copper fungicides on my palms because of the weather. The daily highs are ok but the nightly lows go below freezing and I don’t want these products to freeze. I did apply copper fungicide once already just in case when it was warmer but I also used an air can and a blower to try to help it dry out quicker when I did apply.

[Las Palmas Norte]

Did you use a Thermo-cube? These allow the lights/heat source to turn on & off within a specified temperature range to prevent overheating. It does look like a lot of mini-lights.

[ZPalms]

23 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Did you use a Thermo-cube? These allow the lights/heat source to turn on & off within a specified temperature range to prevent overheating. It does look like a lot of mini-lights.

Nope unfortunately, I've always wanted some but never get to it. So I always go out and try to turn the lights off and stuff early on before it gets to warm, maybe I should just put less lights on it for such a small palm and keep air circulating.

[Keys6505]

I agree with the thermo-cube.  I don't think the lights are the issue, but they should only be on when it's below freezing.

[Allen]

This is the first time I've seen the mini's cook anything! But that's a lot of them.  Just one copper fungicide treatment unless it rains heavy.  A cheap temp sensor will let you get the hang of how much heat you are generating. 

 

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

10 hours ago, Allen said:

This is the first time I've seen the mini's cook anything! But that's a lot of them.  Just one copper fungicide treatment unless it rains heavy.  A cheap temp sensor will let you get the hang of how much heat you are generating. 

I actually cooked my first windmill palm in minis years ago when I was new to the hobby, lol. I couldn't believe that a palm would survive subfreezing temperatures and had layers of blankets and coverings around the trunk on a 3' tall (fronds and all) windmill palm. At 28'F or so I turned them on and eventually cooked it, or loved it to death, lol.

Somehow I typed that within your message Allen.

Here's my reply:

I actually cooked my first windmill palm in minis years ago when I was new to the hobby, lol. I couldn't believe that a palm would survive subfreezing temperatures and had layers of blankets and coverings around the trunk on a 3' tall (fronds and all) windmill palm. At 28'F or so I turned them on and eventually cooked it, or loved it to death, lol.

[Toddmin]

12 hours ago, ZPalms said:

Nope unfortunately, I've always wanted some but never get to it. So I always go out and try to turn the lights off and stuff early on before it gets to warm, maybe I should just put less lights on it for such a small palm and keep air circulating.

I bought this one from Amazon and it has worked well  https://a.co/d/0fx2b3uR

[Las Palmas Norte]

I discovered a fault in one of my Thermo-Cubes early this season. It wasn't very old so I've at times wondered about the quality / durability of these. I think I'll take it apart to investigate. The others I have are performing as intended.

[Allen]

34 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I discovered a fault in one of my Thermo-Cubes early this season. It wasn't very old so I've at times wondered about the quality / durability of these. I think I'll take it apart to investigate. The others I have are performing as intended.

You may already be doing this but they need to be kept dry.  They sometimes take a few degrees below 35F to come on

[Than]

When I spray with fungicides I do it in late morning, when temperatures are high enough but there is still plenty of time for the spray to dry out before evening. I don't think it will stay wet till the night.

[Las Palmas Norte]

3 hours ago, Allen said:

You may already be doing this but they need to be kept dry.  They sometimes take a few degrees below 35F to come on

I couldn't chance it (the thermo-cube) not being accurate since I was using it in my Ensete ventricosum enclosure. There's scarcely been any cold weather anyway to this point, and the plant is already growing to a point were I will likely have to cut it back before removing the shelter. Yes, all electrical connection points are kept dry.

[ZPalms]

My only issue with a thermal cube is that my plugs aren't against the palm so the cubes cant be where it matters since I'm running extensions cords from 3 outlets with splitters to multiple palms. What I did do though is I made overhead cover to keep it dry and let it breathe and I can still wrap it if I need to. and then I swapped the lights out for a shorter strand and then Im gonna be keeping a eye on it specifically and hopefully it should be fine and grow out of this damage and if it's fine into spring then Ill make sure help it grow the damage out with some good fertilizer and heavily water.

[Cody Salem]

3 hours ago, ZPalms said:

My only issue with a thermal cube is that my plugs aren't against the palm so the cubes cant be where it matters since I'm running extensions cords from 3 outlets with splitters to multiple palms. What I did do though is I made overhead cover to keep it dry and let it breathe and I can still wrap it if I need to. and then I swapped the lights out for a shorter strand and then Im gonna be keeping a eye on it specifically and hopefully it should be fine and grow out of this damage and if it's fine into spring then Ill make sure help it grow the damage out with some good fertilizer and heavily water.

 

This is what you need, they are made to keep pipes from freezing.  It's called heat tape or heat cable, and it looks just like an extension cord that heats up.  Amazon, lowes, and home deport usually carry them.  There is an inline thermostat built in that clicks on at 38 deg clicks off around 45.  If you wrap up the thermostat right up against the palm then it does a really good job of limiting  the heat.   I found then can get a hot spot where you have two parts of the cable crossing over and touching itself.  I been adding a few wraps of frost fabric over the first layer if I plan on making a second layer of cable.

 

thermostat

 

package

[Than]

23 hours ago, Cody Salem said:

 

This is what you need, they are made to keep pipes from freezing.  It's called heat tape or heat cable, and it looks just like an extension cord that heats up.  Amazon, lowes, and home deport usually carry them.  There is an inline thermostat built in that clicks on at 38 deg clicks off around 45.  If you wrap up the thermostat right up against the palm then it does a really good job of limiting  the heat.   I found then can get a hot spot where you have two parts of the cable crossing over and touching itself.  I been adding a few wraps of frost fabric over the first layer if I plan on making a second layer of cable.

 

thermostat

 

package

I guess it's fully waterproof too?

[Las Palmas Norte]

10 hours ago, Than said:

I guess it's fully waterproof too?

By "fully" no. Not intended to be submerged in water, but they are capable of being subjected to wet conditions. I recommend keeping the palm that's being protected, to be kept dry to prevent mold or bacteria from becoming problematic. Always check manufacturers specifications.

[Keys6505]

On 2/4/2026 at 2:33 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

I couldn't chance it (the thermo-cube) not being accurate since I was using it in my Ensete ventricosum enclosure. There's scarcely been any cold weather anyway to this point, and the plant is already growing to a point were I will likely have to cut it back before removing the shelter. Yes, all electrical connection points are kept dry.

Do these store dry as easily as Maurelli?  If so, that's a lot of work for something that can be pulled with a few scoops of a shovel.

[Cody Salem]

10 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

By "fully" no. Not intended to be submerged in water, but they are capable of being subjected to wet conditions. I recommend keeping the palm that's being protected, to be kept dry to prevent mold or bacteria from becoming problematic. Always check manufacturers specifications.

Whether or not the heat is responsible, the mold and fungus are going to be the main threat now that there is dead material.  Keeping it dry is very important. 

To watch for new growth, I will use a marker to draw a line accross the emerging fronds.  The line will separate if the palm is alive and growing, even if that particular frond is mostly dead.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

4 hours ago, Keys6505 said:

Do these store dry as easily as Maurelli?  If so, that's a lot of work for something that can be pulled with a few scoops of a shovel.

One would need a place to store said dug up Ensete. I have enough potted things taking up valuable space. Personally,  I don't find it to be any bother at all.

[ZPalms]

Just now, Las Palmas Norte said:

One would need a place to store said dug up Ensete. I have enough potted things taking up valuable space. Personally,  I don't find it to be any bother at all.

your growth will be awesome and quick come spring!

[happypalms]

I love the dedication in cold climate growers. Me I just pack up and go home if a palm dies from the cold I just move onto the next palm.