Pics of steps to protect 20+ year old Med Fan Palm, zone 4

arctictropical

13 years ago

This palm is my oldest. It's been outside for over 18 years. I planted it outside as a one gallon potted plant.

Here's a picture from last winter of the boxes covering the Med. fan palms.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

threas
13 years ago
Amazing, Kevin! How tall is that old guy?

Theresa
tropicalzone7
13 years ago
Beautiful Med fan palm! Did it ever pup for you? The crown on yours is much nicer than most of the Med palms I have seen in the southeast!
Thanks for sharing!
-Alex
Related Discussions
Uncovering outdoor palms, zone 4 (pics attached)
Q
Comments (30)
arctictropical- Keep the info and pics flowing! You are truly an inspiration here. Awesome job! dln949- I overwintered a smaller 4' trachy (unfortunately it is no longer with us) using a pre-molded styrofoam box, and small string of mini outdoor Christmas lights. I gently tied up the fronds so it would fit in the box. I did get it through one winter, and it was not the cold that killed it. My fault, I didn't take enough care in planting it originally, and it rotted. It didn't drain well enough (I think). It was a small enough tree that I was able to use a box similar to a large styro beverage cooler, 2 bricks on top to hold it down. Very much like I cover my rose bushes, just that the string of lights is in there. Easy and cheap, it was. The newer trachy is taller (5 1/2 feet) but still a bit lanky. Was a 50% shade grown tree. It only has about 2 feet of trunk, it is 6" in diameter at the thickest point. This tree has not been wintered outside here yet. It has been in ground a couple weeks at this point. I'm hoping to get it to thicken up nicely this summer, it is in a 75% full sun spot. I did receive a new needle palm. It is in a pot at the moment, until I find the time to get it in the ground near the trachy, in the same garden/planter. This needle is just shy of 3 feet tall, and it has a very nice thick trunk already. I'd say the trunk is 8" high, and at least 6 inches in diameter. I'm very pleased with it, believe it or not it looks a lot like a 5-gallon trachy. It has a lot of nice big fans, and even suckers. If it wasn't for the needly trunk, you would never tell it apart from a trachy! I have a 3-gal 2 foot trachie next to it at the moment, it is very interesting to compare them. I paid $40 plus shipping, so $60 total for the needle. I bought it from Ryan at Collector Palms, not off of Ebay though, through his own site. He has some very tempting, large yuccas too... Also back to trachys, I saw the ones on Ebay for less than $10. I thought what the heck, I thought I would try my luck. I paid $7.49 plus $15 shipping for a 3 gallon. I was very pleased, it is over 2 feet tall, actually has about 8" of woody trunk already. What a steal. Nice and full, healthy, and tons of fronds. Those on Ebay right now are well worth looking into. I might just have to pick up a few more, especially at that price. I bought the basjoos from a lady in NC, via her Ebay store. She is very helpful and nice, she is shipping me a total of 4 plants, all 2+ feet tall already. They should arrive tomorrow. Under $20 a plant including Priority Mail shipping. Ebay seller: mgmg9495. I'd email her (Martha), she said she does have more to sell. I'll try to get some good pictures of all these plants, both the ones in ground, and the ones in pots, and post them here. Based on experience, and reading about what others here do for winterization of their trachys, I am putting together a good plan for this winter. I know it is early, but it is a good idea to have a plan! We can discuss further when we can get the email thing figured out. My thinking so far is a lightweight version of what acrtictropical does. Build a square frame with 2x2 pine (it's really 1.5x1.5), square about 2'x2', then run 4 more up which will be the corners, then another square frame at the top. Basically a 6-foot tall (in my case) frame built from 2x2s. That is not very heavy at all. Use foam board insulation for walls and roof, caulked in. 2 CFL bulbs inside box, and a remote thermometer, and/or thermostat. Easy, cheap to build, cheap to maintain. Use screws to construct the frame, not nails. Also, possibly extend the 2x2s at the bottom frame about a foot beyond the corners, that way there will be anchor spots. Something to place something heavy on, maybe large bricks, to hold it in place until the snow really secures it. I'll winter the big needle palm just like I did the smaller trachy that died, super easy. Bananas? Cut them back, mulch the heck out of them, leave a foot of stem, foam rosebush covers.
...See More
This year's pics of outdoor palms, zone 4
Q
Comments (26)
Mike. I started with two 4x4 Styrofoam boxes made out of 2" thick blueboard and pine. After about 15 years, I refurbished and improved the design several times, and built an additional 8' box for the tallest palm. I used to have a clear acrylic panel to let light in the top of the boxes. Bad idea. It leaks, it is not energy efficient, and is not neccessary. Improvements: I now put a solid plywood or waferboard panel over a solid Styrofoam panel on the top of the box and use treated fir 2x4's as a base so that the pine does not rot on the bottom of the box. I cover the boxes with clear plastic to keep the weather out. I have 3 screw-in florescent light bulbs in the top of the boxes for a little heat. Here are three pictures of how I prepare the 14-15' foot palm for winter. You can see one of the smaller boxes in the background of the last two pictures.
...See More
Pics of steps to protect California Fan Palm, zone 4
Q
Comments (21)
arctic tropical, this seems like a turning point in my dream to grow palms in my backyard I'm still not fully discouraged yet because i do have to consider i am in Zone 5b which is almost 6. The lowest i have seen temperatures get is -15 and those are pretty rare we'll get into the -6,-7,-8 from time to time. you are in zone 4 are you in zone4a or zone4b? also what are the temperatures you think fried your windmill? from what i read windmill palms can tolerate negative temperatures once fully mature (while covered from winter snow/winds) also i had a question could i grow pindo palms in zone5b? i wanted to try Washys but i don't really see it living in the winter. i mean one days its gonna get really tall and its gonna be hard to protect it so it will die.
...See More
Step by step pics-covering 12' Trachy, zone 4
Q
Comments (36)
Hey Kevin, We have a few resorts here in Va. Wintergreen is about 3 hrs away in the mountains near Crozet Va..(Charlottesville) The skiig/snowboarding is fun for Va...My son like to go to Snoeshoe WV..it's about a 2hour drive from his College (Va Tech) But my favorite on the east coast is Seven Springs PA...great place for all snow lovers...great for families... and has alot to offer...My favorite place out west is Whistler/Blackcomb!!! Talk about heaven!!! LOL !!! We usually see temps during the winter down to the low 20's and average temps around 40-50...We always say wait until tomorrow around here because the temps change and we can have snow flurries one day then 60 degress the next!!! Have a great day!!! Laura in VB
...See More
wxman81
13 years ago
Question...how do you pull the fronds up? I see they are tied with rope, but how do you get them all pulled up to tie them off? My trachy is getting larger and I had been just grabbing the petioles in my hand, but next year there will be too many and they will be too large around to grab like that.
jimhardy
13 years ago
How are your Abyssinian doing this year?
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Hi.

Other than surrounded by plastic, what else do you use.? Is it styrophone? What else is inside that tent with the plants? Do you mound straw or leaves or mulch around the base? What is your source of heat in there?

I say marvelous to you and fantastic work along with a HUGE thanks for sharing with us..

Mike
brooklyngreg
13 years ago
Hi Artic,

Great enclosure. It must be styrophone insulation that works best?

I planning on using some this year. My neigbor is throwing out some pieces I can use.

Hope this winter is not bad, but it seems like a strong winter creeping up on us. It sleeted today which is rare for us in early November.
arctictropical
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry for the delay in replying guys....

Theresa, it is 6' tall after being outside for 18 years. Very slow growing.

Alex, it puts out pups all of the time. I cut them off, since I want the trunk to be visible.

Wxman81, I attach plastic twine to a frond, and pull it straight through to the other side of the palm, wrap in around an opposite frond, and pull them both up towards the crown. This is repeated several times, so that the fronds opposite each other are pulled up to the middle.

Jim, the Abyssinians did well this year, but not as good as last year, since we had a cooler summer, and I did not fertilize them as much. However, they all have quite a large "trunk". I repotted them all into 15 gallon pots, cut them off to get them in the door, and they are now downstairs in an unheated, unlit storage room in the basement.

Mike and Brooklyngreg, the boxes are made of 2" thick blue board Styrofoam insulation. This works great. There is nothing inside whatsoever, such as mulch or leaves. Just air. The source of heat is 3 screw-in florescent light bulbs at the top. That's it!
mike-jaramillo
13 years ago
arctictropical I know I say this every year but thank you very much for the bullet proof protection method. My palms also thank you, this is gonna be the 3rd year I use your method. Thank you thank you thank you
yaslan
13 years ago
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing your technique on how to overwinter palms. Its admittedly impressive!!

I live in WA state and plan on putting a mango or lychee tree in the ground and will use your winter protection method, plus rope lights.

Thank you for sharing this very unique and fantastic overwintering idea!

-Bo
protempsfish
13 years ago
Nice job Kevin! So you keep the flouresent light on 24/7? Obviously you know what you are doing as your palms look beautiful, but I wonder if in fact you keep the lights on all the time, if it has any effect on the palm. I know they effectively go 'dormant' so to speak over the winter but do you get any new fronds when you take off the box in the spring?
arctictropical
Original Author
13 years ago
Good luck Mike and Bo. Bo, I'm considering putting a hardy mandarin orange tree outside under one of these boxes. Protempsfish, yes, I keep the florescent lights on 24/7. I can't tell whether or not they put out new fronds, but every year when I take off the box on the tall Windmill palm in Spring, it's always in full bloom. By the way, we've already had -17 F., back in November. It was below zero last night, and is below zero now at 10:55 PM.
Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
13 years ago
Hello Kevin,

Great job on the palms!!!

I always enjoy seeing your pictures...you are so creative and successful with your protection techniques...

We always learn form you and your pics...thanks!!!

How are your plumies?

I have a Celadine and Wizard blooming under the new T-5 lights...but have some critters on my DR... trying to figure out this new system...but i'm happy with it so far!!

Merry CHristmas to you!!!

Hi Bo...my NBC is looking great...I'll take pics soon..TKS

Take care everyone,

Laura in VB

Pics of steps to protect 20+ year old Med Fan Palm, zone 4

Comments (12)

threas

tropicalzone7

Related Discussions

wxman81

jimhardy

meyermike_1micha

brooklyngreg

arctictropical
Original Author

mike-jaramillo

yaslan

protempsfish

arctictropical
Original Author

Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Pics of steps to protect 20+ year old Med Fan Palm, zone 4

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

arctictropicalOriginal Author

arctictropicalOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

arctictropical
Original Author

arctictropical
Original Author