Moldy Windmill in Chicago

[ChicagoPalmsss]

Hey there yall! Long time no post and see! This is ChicagoPalma here, just cannot log onto my old account and I need some immediate assistance here! So far, I took off the enclosures for the palms, and this year instead of making it out of fosmboard, I made it out of reflective bubble wrap and chickenwjre. So far, the small windmill did amazing, but the larger one did horrible. The spear pulled and I am not sure what to do atp. Anything anyone can help with?

[Allen]

I assume no temp sensor so no way of knowing temps it got in there? You have to do a foamboard box in your area

hydrogen peroxide then copper fungicide weekly in morning till it regrows spear.  Hydrogen peroxide on spear area, copper fungicide entire palm, cut any entirely dead fronds with mold

When to Use Hydrogen Peroxide/Fungicide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ix-swtWO0tc_u7dhQmr1wz-1S4iAZMrp/view?usp=drive_link 

[ChicagoPalmsss]

Want to edit my mistake, the spear did not pull. So far it’s just horrible mold but I assume once it gets warmer the spear will pull.

[Allen]

Just now, ChicagoPalmsss said:

Want to edit my mistake, the spear did not pull. So far it’s just horrible mold but I assume once it gets warmer the spear will pull.

go ahead and treat as above

[ChicagoPalmsss]

20 minutes ago, Allen said:

I assume no temp sensor so no way of knowing temps it got in there? You have to do a foamboard box in your area

hydrogen peroxide then copper fungicide weekly in morning till it regrows spear.  Hydrogen peroxide on spear area, copper fungicide entire palm, cut any entirely dead fronds with mold

When to Use Hydrogen Peroxide/Fungicide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ix-swtWO0tc_u7dhQmr1wz-1S4iAZMrp/view?usp=drive_link 

About the temp sensor, I had a thermocube that turned on and off at 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit. I think this was a moisture infiltration problem. Also, here are the pics of the smaller palm. Same protection method with chickenwjre and reflective bubble wrap.

[Allen]

yea the second one is golden try to figure out what was different.   That temp sensor can let you catch if something is wrong with the lights/thermocube/temps.  Leave any green parts of fronds.  As cold as you are you may have to carefully integrate some C7/C9 bulbs to hit temps

[ChicagoPalmsss]

29 minutes ago, Allen said:

yea the second one is golden try to figure out what was different.   That temp sensor can let you catch if something is wrong with the lights/thermocube/temps.  Leave any green parts of fronds.  As cold as you are you may have to carefully integrate some C7/C9 bulbs to hit temps

I mean for the second larger palm this has been its 3rd winter but first with this new protective method so I have no idea what went wrong compared to the smaller one.

[ChicagoPalmsss]

15 hours ago, Allen said:

yea the second one is golden try to figure out what was different.   That temp sensor can let you catch if something is wrong with the lights/thermocube/temps.  Leave any green parts of fronds.  As cold as you are you may have to carefully integrate some C7/C9 bulbs to hit temps

I also don’t have much hope for this guy even though he’s been through low teens and single digits, but the mold is just everywhere.

[JLM]

29 minutes ago, ChicagoPalmsss said:

I also don’t have much hope for this guy even though he’s been through low teens and single digits, but the mold is just everywhere.

Let it have air time. Untie the fronds while its warm to let it breathe a little. Looking at the 7 day forecast for the Chicago area, you should not have to protect your windmills for at least the next week. 

Treat as described above, and monitor its progress.

[Allen]

2 hours ago, ChicagoPalmsss said:

I also don’t have much hope for this guy even though he’s been through low teens and single digits, but the mold is just everywhere.

If it didn't get too cold it may still live. 

[ChicagoPalmsss]

Little update, I figured out that the string lights weren’t working. Thank god I had the c9 bulbs around the trunk and spear, as the string lights were around the fronds.  I also sprayed the tree with a lot of hydrogen peroxide and copper fungicide so most of the mold should be dead by now. It seems that most of the damage is by the fronds.

[Atlanta Area Palm Guy]

On 2/13/2026 at 5:42 PM, ChicagoPalmsss said:

Hey there yall! Long time no post and see! This is ChicagoPalma here, just cannot log onto my old account and I need some immediate assistance here! So far, I took off the enclosures for the palms, and this year instead of making it out of fosmboard, I made it out of reflective bubble wrap and chickenwjre. So far, the small windmill did amazing, but the larger one did horrible. The spear pulled and I am not sure what to do atp. Anything anyone can help with?

I'm impressed anyone would even make the effort like that.  That palm would definitely like a nice heated mini-tint from about November to April.

[Las Palmas Norte]

55 minutes ago, ChicagoPalmsss said:

... It seems that most of the damage is by the fronds.

The photos do show some promise, although more damage could become evident as spring unfolds. It's not unheard of to have complete defoliation and subsequent growth when the growing season kicks in. Keep it dry and protected from any further extremes.👍

[ChicagoPalmsss]

7 hours ago, Atlanta Area Palm Guy said:

I'm impressed anyone would even make the effort like that.  That palm would definitely like a nice heated mini-tint from about November to April.

It had a foamboard box with a lot of lights both palms for 2 years. This year they both had the reflective bubble wrap teepee. The small palm did fine and all green, but this one didn’t due so well due to the rest of the lights not working.