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Moth, Do you have any pictures of your trachycarpus fortunei? I grow musa basjoo, sabal minor, livistona chinesis, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and soon nannorrhops ritchiana. here in my zone 5a, however if anyone would like to see pictures, check out, Webshots - Photo Sharing, Free Wallpaper and Free Screensavers and type in Ottawa_hardy_tropicals
So by your pictures, it looks like you just chop off your musa basjoos and cover them with a "rosebush cover", for lack of a better term. I'll be wintering my first musa this winter in Denver, and I think we're a zone 5b? It gets down to 0 - -5 most winters, but 3 above was the coldest last winter. Typical night temps in late Dec/early Jan are in the mid teens, but it can get quite warm during the day, 50s up to even 70 in Dec. and Jan. on occassion. The sun's fairly strong at this altitude too in winter.
i have a chinese windmill palm, i live in kentucky, zone 7, and was wondering what i need to do to it before winter comes? it is about 3 or 4 feet tall, but the trunk is not very big yet, maybe 6-8inches tall and 2-3 inches wide, and when i bought it, it came with 2 or 3 palms bunched together. should i try and seperate the palms? and how and when should i do this? thanks.
i have a chinese windmill palm, i live in kentucky, zone 7, and was wondering what i need to do to it before winter comes? it is about 3 or 4 feet tall, but the trunk is not very big yet, maybe 6-8inches tall and 2-3 inches wide, and when i bought it, it came with 2 or 3 palms bunched together. should i try and seperate the palms? and how and when should i do this? thanks.
Give the palms a good, thick layer of mulch. Be very liberal in its application. Then get some of that green, plastic mesh/fencing they sell at hardware stores and some plastic tomato stakes. Build a fence around the palms using the stakes to hold the mesh in place. Then fill the cage with dry leaves- really pack them in there, but you can leave the top fonds exposed. It is vital to protect the trunk, crown and roots.
Some go further and wrap bubble wrap around the cage or fashion a top for the cage. I never have but it will not hurt.
Conventional wisdom says to do this for at least the first two winters. I played it safe and did it for five, but now just mulch and cover the base with leaves. The palms are flourishing.
where do you live, and how much has your palm been growing a year? i dont want to leave mine out for a winter and not have it grow that fast afterwards.
Is a Chinese Fan Palm the same as a Windmill? I have one in a big pot on my front porch, but no longer have space to winter it inside. I live in Denver, so it typically gets down to 0 or -5 a couple times each winter. I have a musa basjoo that's done well, but never tried a palm.
They are different. I think the Windmill palm is more cold-hardy than the Chinese Fan. It has smaller fronds but is less shiny and dramatic. Both will need to be projected in weather below 20 degrees.
They are different. I think the Windmill palm is more cold-hardy than the Chinese Fan. It has smaller fronds but is less shiny and dramatic. Both will need to be projected in weather below 20 degrees.
Thanks. I was thinking they weren't the same thing. I think the poor thing will have to die this winter. We have twin babies now and the nursery used to be the "plant nursery" in winter!
where do you live, and how much has your palm been growing a year? i dont want to leave mine out for a winter and not have it grow that fast afterwards.
I live in Washington, DC which is Zone 7 like you- either a or b, I cannot recall.
I have not measured their growth rate. I planted them in June, 2001. They were from quart size pots and were about 10 inches tall. They are now closing in on 6 feet tall.
Keep them on the south side (major difference) and protect them for the first two winters. They'll be fine afterwards. I have seen 20 foot specimins covered with snow in the Italian alps and doing just fine.
Thanks. I was thinking they weren't the same thing. I think the poor thing will have to die this winter. We have twin babies now and the nursery used to be the "plant nursery" in winter!
You could put it in the garage or basement. I'm wondering what would happen if you cut off most of its fronds and put it in a warm corner for the winter.
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