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How does soaking the soil help?

After the 2018 hard freeze, there were good discussions about talls vs Malayan Dwarf hardiness. In Orlando, talls aren't common but the I-Drive coconut is one. Will try to take a pic today. In 2018, the I-Drive coconut showed a little less damage than the Malayans but recovered much faster.

Given that the arctic high was centered over the Peninsula this morning, it's no surprise that portions of Central America and the Greater Antilles experienced some cooler temperatures as well. However, I'm not sure anybody expected a site in Cuba to set a new all time record low for the country. Indio Hatuey, Cuba had a low temperature of 0C/32F this morning. A true testament to how potent this airmass is.

My alfreddii in Orlando taken this morning. Unprotected, it experienced 25.7F. I soaked the soil the morning before the freeze.

It has an emerging spear. But, I doubt this palm survives.

Becarriophoenix alfredi. Two of my biggest show no frond damage. you can see the foxtails above the first photo got fried of course, can always see damage weeks later but I’m impressed with this palm

I would cut the dead material off the small BA, limits the spread of mold on a small palm that will see lots of dew in the near future. Mine had more dead material in 2010. I cut off the dead material and gave it a peroxide/fungicide treatment and it popped right back that summer.

Thanks for helping me out. Palms look great!

Those B alfredii are impressive! It is great to see a few larger specimens taking minimal damage from the low 20s. Maybe they have potential in z9a after all!

Sounds more like what you'd expect farther north in Highland county such as Archbold Bio station in Venus with dry sand.

Nice C. lutescens hedge.

I have mine trimmed but just my liking and fire / wind conditions here. Harry ‘My only Washingtonia Robusta right after the tree service finished. It normally carries 2-3 times the fronds . When it starts to “ skirt “ , I have it trimmed.

Some surprises in the yard. My cheapo vevor weather station recorded 26, 24 and 28 the last 3 days now my area is cold a lot compared to other parts of fl I have already seen 27 and 28 degrees a handful of times this year and freezing temps to many to count lol. The biggest winner in my yard to me is arecas. Under canopy they are completely untouched in the open tops are scorched. coconut palm it was defoliated last winter at 27 it looks better after this than 1 night of 27 last year. Foxtail did worse than last year but not much same with royal

Central Collier county not that far from the Gulf, got down to 22F. The record low in Immokalee is 20F. Several miles to the direct east of me, in the Eastern Golden Gate area has some crazy temperature drop offs.

Oh yeah, I went there 2 years ago, along with @Victor G. who wanted to buy some avocados and mangoes. They have a good selection apparently.

Richard says Brownsvile = Daytona Beach, give or take. I think his take is mostly true. This event for Florida was probably nothing like 2021 for the RGV, despite the temps. Although I would say that the temps in much of central FL were pretty strikingly low. I think the official temp for central Brownsville in 2021 was 22F but I don't know of any stations other than the airport that measured that. I saw something like 20F in Ocala which seems crazy to me. Difference is I believe it warmed up pretty substantially during the day in FL this go around.

wow that's crazy!

Where are you located?

Y'all remember a couple months ago when I snatched that MASSIVE palmetto inflourecense, and it was full of seed weevils? And I stuck it in the freezer for way too long? Welp I thawed it. And soaked them in water and extra peroxide. I knew there was gonna be some funk involved. I scooped off the floaters from the top. The water turned black. I don't know if it's the peroxide killing the funk, or extra funk, but there's.... Let's just say these don't smell pleasant, it's a peroxide and vinegar stink. These are not rare high demand plants but I wouldn't mind growing another 20 or 30 but I ain't gonna lie. I don't wanna clean them but I also don't want community pots full of rot. So do I just but up and get the bottle of Purell and try and squeeze out a few dozen hard seeds or are the chances of germination so slim at this point that I just chuck them in the woods and let nature run its course and wait to get rarer Sabals?

Thanks, not time to panic yet then.

thank you for posting all of this. I'm very curious to see what survives. I live in Houston TX where temps get to 20s every winter now and some winters even lower. So whatever survives in your yard could be a good zone pushing option for me. I'm impressed at Alfrediis. I really hope they make it.

Probably a good plan to treat palms with peroxide, even if they look OK.

Welp the tissue culture died. I don't think the extra 4 days in New Jersey helped it. I cut my Ensete down to a nub. Hoping it grows back from the corm, I didn't notice that it was wrapped in that stupid plug fabric until it was too late. Big blue Java is on the floor, latest leaf is 14 x35 Red Dacca needs to go on the floor now too. I got my first pup off one of the Cavendish and it's already growing. I've been fighting spider mites for a minute now and it seems like (please don't jinx this) the best treatment so far is to get a damp paper towel and dab full strength neem oil and wipe everything down, and keep cutting off any leaves that feel dusty. They're all throwing a leaf a week so who cares?

Welp, I ended up covering most of the outdoor plants. Got some surprises and some no surprises. We hit lows of around 12-14 and all of my palms are tiny soooooooo Trachycarpus Fortunei - covered with a heavy plastic pot. 2 spears pulled. 1 gallon size. Trachy Princeps x Waggy - even smaller. Covered in a small Styrofoam box. Absolutely fine. It's even pushing a new spear. Big Washy Filibusta - covered with a big Styrofoam box - already frost damaged from before. Spear pull. Small Filibusta - unprotected. Ummm it's very, very brown. Sabal Birmingham - strap leaf. Unprotected. Laughed it off. Sabal Etonia. Unprotected. Laughed it off, it's even growing. Sabal Bermudana - covered with a Styrofoam box. Laughed it off. It's growing, too. Washy Filifera - this plant has looked like crap for so long I honestly can't tell if it's any worse. But it's not dead. The Fortunei surprised me, the Princeps x Waggy REALLY surprised me (it came from @N8ALLRIGHT in KC so I guess it's seen real winter). And what's really cool is I get to cover everything back up in a day or two, but I figured I'd let them get some air and some sun. I think they'd all be cooked if I didn't listen to @Chester B. So I guess the moral of this story is I just need to go balls out with Sabals.

After several days of -4°C / 24.8 F and one day of -5°C / 23 F on the balcony in january 2026 albeit only for a short time each time, here is a brief report. Report 3.2. 2026: Caryota mitis – all have moderate to severe damage from frost and stress – trunk is healthy, sprouting new leaves Phoenix roebellini – both have survived well – but also show damage – sprouting new leaves from the heart Phoenix canariensis – the largest – also has leaf damage from frost and stress – but is sprouting several new fronds – will survive well, exciting The smallest is almost in the best condition – okay, we still have to wait – conclusion – all are only sprouting fronds Chamaedorea metallica – all have moderate damage from frost and stress – leaves severely damaged – but sprouting new fronds and trunk is in good condition – conclusion – will recover Howea foresteriana - all have moderate damage from frost and stress - sprouting new fronds - not sure yet - should make it Chamaedorea radicalis - no damage - are fit and lively Chamaedorea elegans - some moderate damage - new fronds sprouting on many - some look badly affected, to say the least Washingtonia robusta – looks good so far – moderate damage – sprouting new fronds – multi-stemmed and in good condition. Cycas revoluta – has had more trouble than expected – moderate leaf damage due to frost and stress – recovering. Agave americana variegata – some leaf damage – heart healthy – sprouting new leaves – will survive. Phönix reclinata - in better condition then thougt - and only little damage on leaves Trachycarpus fortunai - some leaf damage Trachycarpus fortunai young plant - no damage Olea europea - in good condition - no damage Yucca gigantea (3) - in good condition - no damage Oh dear, I almost forgot about dear Saribus rotundafolia. It's still so tightly wrapped—the stem is firm and new fronds are sprouting from the heart. I hope it makes it, the cute little prickly mouse, as Sabine calls it 😁 It looks like most of them are managing to sprout and recover, thanks in part to milder temperatures. We measured 15°C in the shade on the balcony yesterday and today, and 10°C the day before yesterday.