Butia after 6f

[mrjc]

Hello. I posted this same thing in a facebook group but no one really gave me a good answer just saying it was dead with no explanation except butia’s cannot take that temperature. We got down to 6f about two weeks ago and the spear is still green all I did was wrap it with some foam I found laying around. This was mostly just an experiment because I have a heated one and one in a pot. Also I’m not sure what species it is the seller did not tell me. Please let me know what you think but tell me why you think it’s dead don’t just say it’s dead. Thank you very much!

[NC-Key-Bar]

5 minutes ago, mrjc said:

Hello. I posted this same thing in a facebook group but no one really gave me a good answer just saying it was dead with no explanation except butia’s cannot take that temperature. We got down to 6f about two weeks ago and the spear is still green all I did was wrap it with some foam I found laying around. This was mostly just an experiment because I have a heated one and one in a pot. Also I’m not sure what species it is the seller did not tell me. Please let me know what you think but tell me why you think it’s dead don’t just say it’s dead. Thank you very much!

I’d typically say if there is any green remaining, then it’s still alive. More mature Butias can def take brief dips into single digits, but this one will not have a well established root system.  My guess is that’s it’s alive, but will probably take the entire summer to get back to where it was. Butias in this zone will def need full sun to help it hold on to foliage year over year. 

[SeanK]

As @NC-Key-Bar says, a mature B.odorata can survive 6°F, but a seedling likely not. To protect something that size, get a tube used to pour cement columns. Toss in some lights to warm it.

If the spear pulls on this one, a replacement will be much faster as Butias are slow to recover a spear. They don't like freezing precip in the bud.

[ChicagoPalmsss]

1 hour ago, mrjc said:

Hello. I posted this same thing in a facebook group but no one really gave me a good answer just saying it was dead with no explanation except butia’s cannot take that temperature. We got down to 6f about two weeks ago and the spear is still green all I did was wrap it with some foam I found laying around. This was mostly just an experiment because I have a heated one and one in a pot. Also I’m not sure what species it is the seller did not tell me. Please let me know what you think but tell me why you think it’s dead don’t just say it’s dead. Thank you very much!

It seems alive I guess. I have one butia in the ground so far but I protect them every winter so if this little seedling does survive and doesn’t spear pull, you must just be very lucky or have a one of a kind palm.

[mrjc]

Thank you.  this community is much more helpful then the Facebook one.  it probably will take along time to recover and its in shade so i don't know how many more years it will be able to survive it is just a experiment.  I wonder what the coldest a butia has ever taken. maybe i do have a special specimen ill see in the next couple years and ill update on it.

[Las Palmas Norte]

Often, the extent of perceptible deterioration, is realized in the longer term. 

[JLM]

23 minutes ago, mrjc said:

Thank you.  this community is much more helpful then the Facebook one.  it probably will take along time to recover and its in shade so i don't know how many more years it will be able to survive it is just a experiment.  I wonder what the coldest a butia has ever taken. maybe i do have a special specimen ill see in the next couple years and ill update on it.

Butias love full blasting sun during the summer. Recovery will be even slower in the shade. I would reconsider its location if you are actually trying to get it to grow to a decent size, but only after it has recovered.

In any case, give it time. You may not know the extent of the damage for a little while, some palms can be very slow at showing cold damage, especially in the shade where the sun is not able to dry out the damaged areas efficiently. 

[Allen]

You had the benefit of ground heat and snow cover but many butia die of wet cold

[Enar]

You can try and spray it with peroxide once a week until it gets warm outside and it may have a small chance.

[PAPalmtrees]

9 hours ago, mrjc said:

Hello. I posted this same thing in a facebook group but no one really gave me a good answer just saying it was dead with no explanation except butia’s cannot take that temperature. We got down to 6f about two weeks ago and the spear is still green all I did was wrap it with some foam I found laying around. This was mostly just an experiment because I have a heated one and one in a pot. Also I’m not sure what species it is the seller did not tell me. Please let me know what you think but tell me why you think it’s dead don’t just say it’s dead. Thank you very much!

Honestly there's a  good chance it's alive snow is an amazing insulator but time will tell. What  @Allen Said it is also very true