Trachycarpus in winter

[ElTel]

oo circus tricks? yes please? I've always wanted my Trachycarpus to be a ventriloquist..

ideally Stephen thats just absurd, you need a wagnerianus. stiff upper lip and all

[Danny Thomas]

Its a small one from B&Q, and is planted in the ground.

I was wondering whether it needs any help in its first winter, rather than circus tricks.

[themes]

Its a small one from B&Q, and is planted in the ground.

I was wondering whether it needs any help in its first winter, rather than circus tricks.

your not being ambitious enough. Aim higher

[Dave Brown]

Don't take any notice Danny, I think it must be a full moon tonight

[themes]

Don't take any notice Danny, I think it must be a full moon tonight

I totally agree. For some reason i have read some nutty remarks..all in close proximity. If I am picking these up...then theirs something wrong

[John P]

Danny a lot of small trachys spear pull in their first year or 2 planted out. It sounds like its going to be a fortunei. If it gets down to -5C or below during winter I would place an old bit of sacking over the top. Remove any wrapping as soon as the temperature rises above freezing. The palm should be okay in a couple of years to look after itself.

John

[Dave Brown]

Well, all I can say is, mine are tougher than you might think. They are all self sown, germinate where they fall, and all survive their first winter with only one leaf. I get -5C most winters

[John P]

Hi Dave I agree with you that the self seeded trachys that come up are really hardy and the last winter did nothing to mine. The 8 or so small Trachycarpus's though, that were planted out from being pot grown all lost their spears. Some had been there 2 or 3 years. They all grew back so nothing lost.

John

[Dave Brown]

There does seem to be something in this John. I am an advocate of growing palms cold, no molly coddleing. It does seem to be that their first experiences set them up for tolerance. I'm convinced the cell structure is altered somehow. Cold grown palms are generally more chunky and squat with thicker trunks than warm grown palms of the same species.

[redsquirrel]

slower aswell even as far as germination rates. a few tough cookie seeds pop up like they belong there,the rest dawdle or dont bother at all

[Dave Brown]

slower aswell even as far as germination rates. a few tough cookie seeds pop up like they belong there,the rest dawdle or dont bother at all

Quite possibly, but with the sheer number of seed on a Trachycarpus, even a germination rate of 1%, would give about 300 self sown seedlings per year It is strange that no-one seems to want these tough little seedlings as everyone want's instant big.