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Socratea stilt roots. Tim

It was great to see @PalmJuan @CodyM @aabell @PalmBossTampa @SubTropicRay @ChristianStAug @Creekside @Steve the palmreader @TaylorPlantHunter @sarasota alex @cycadjungle and @kinzyjr! A short meeting recap is published here: 20251206_HolidayMeeting_recap.pdf We look forward to seeing everyone who can make it to Plantae-palooza 2026!

I got some Butia catarinensis × Syagrus romanzoffiana sprouting, 105 days in .

Well done, Peachy, I am gratified that you have the correct priorities !!

Paul, It’s been warmer down here and I haven’t watered since the November rains. The ground is still very moist as relative humidity levels have remained high. Looks like the weather will remain pretty much the same for another two weeks before rains return so I’ll probably hand water a few plants that are in the sunniest warmest parts of my yard in a few days. With your chillier temps, I’d guess your soil is still holding a lot of moisture.

Hello all! I have created a high-resolution USDA Plant Hardiness Zones map for Greece, based on climate data from the period 2006-2025. The aim of this work was to create the most detailed depiction of hardiness zones, utilizing modern geospatial analysis techniques to capture the complex geomorphology of the Greek territory. Methodology & Data: Primary Data: The analysis was based on annual minimum temperatures from the meteorological station networks of NOA, HNMS and selected stations from reliable networks with strict operating standards (IMS). Geospatial Analysis: A combination of Multivariate Regression and Spatial Interpolation (Regression-Kriging) was used. The model factored in latitude, distance from the sea, and altitude. Digital Elevation Model (DEM): A high-definition DEM (~300m) was applied for the precise application of the Lapse Rate. This allowed for the separation of warm coastal zones from colder hinterlands at the pixel level, highlighting microclimates lost in previous approaches. Results & Observations: The map clearly depicts the range of zones, from the cold Zone 6a in the mountains, to Zone 11a (>4.4°C). Of particular interest is the spatial distribution of Zone 11a, which was identified based on the data: In the Dodecanese (Extensively in Rhodes, as well as in Kasos, Karpathos, Kastellorizo). In Monemvasia, which constitutes the only location where Zone 11a appears on the mainland. Crete (Northern and Southern coasts) and Gavdos. Cyclades (Amorgos, Koufonisia, Sifnos). In Hydra, which represents a remarkable microclimate and constitutes the northernmost point of Zone 11a occurrence in the entire Mediterranean. See the map in full resolution in the attached file.

Here are a few Encephalartos flushing around the garden. I always love the way this longifolius flushes with recurved leafs This lehmannii is a thin leaf variety Last up is aemulans or what I believe to be aemulans. I lost the tags but did germinate aemulans seeds and it seems to match the description.

The bills are always going to be there, paid or not paid. But that grandis won’t be, and a Thai constellation for that price a bargain, they are still ripping us off down here and we don’t ever get grandis and as for Thai constellation $110 to $90 bucks! Richard

From what I've seen in my area over 25 years is, that every T.fortunei (or Waggie) is cold-hardy at 10°F. At 5°F, 20% are untouched, 60% show varying amount of damage, and 20% have catastrophic damage or death. We don't have enough palmetto up this way to measure. The few I've seen saw leaf tip burn at 5°F but nothing catastrophic.

That depends on the forecast day temperatures and how full the moon is, for winter watering if a risk of frost try to avoid container waterings, try to pick a higher than average day temperatures to water your plants. Palms dislike cool feet in winter and the same us humans. If a full moon is approaching then you will get colder temperatures around that time along with the risk of frost. I try not to water in winter as much as possible, letting the rains do that job for the ground and containers. Maybe twice throughout winter I may water my containers, with temperature lows as 2 degrees celsius I try to avoid watering, if you do have to water in winter do it around 9 or 10 o’clock do it has time to dry out a little before the cool night air. So temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius I avoid watering.

It is pushing those bricks out pretty badly. I have really only left them to protect the trunk from the weed trimmer. It is big enough now though that the leaf bases would be plenty of protection.

Looking at the data for the last several days, even with the cold weather we've been having, daily evapo-transpiration is running at 0.04" per day, so that would still get to 0.5" in about 16 days.

While you @Ben G. were at the zoo I went shopping with my wife at La Cantera . Lots of common palms but one stood out . Serenaoa repens. That blueish color is definitely an eye catcher to me.

Just a handful of local pics from yesterday. Nice robusta at the San Antonio Zoo: A little coconut still hanging in there in December, also at the zoo. I liked this pair of S. mexicana on the river at The Pearl. I thought the people in the shot help demonstrate the scale. At my own house this morning, I caught a tenant living in my Washingtonia. This Washingtonia continues to grow at a rapid pace. Here it was when planted late in May of 2024: In October 2024: May 2025: And today:

As a decades long Bama hater, I knew someone would get screwed to put Bama in the playoffs. I'm team Hoosier all the way now, do it for Lee Corso and Bobby Knight and to piss off everyone else. But for Corso. Let him see them win a natty before he sadly moves on into the next world. And the Saints beat the Bucs! And everyone hates Lane Kiffin again! So it's not all terrible.

Have been to busy to walk the jungle finally got some time and found these fronds!!!

Yep. The new PINK pineapples are sold with the crown of leaves removed to prevent unauthorized propagation. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

I posted this elsewhere on the forum, but this S. weddelliana arrived on Wednesday. Just noticed that it has three flower spikes coming out…I think!

Between the heat wave, violent storms with tennis ball sized hail stones, my crumbling spine, a sick cat and 6 of the little dogs all needing dental work, need I say I have not been buying plants for a long time. Today I needed a fitting to put on the garden hose and ventured into the danger zone , Bunnings. (a hardware and garden chain of stores in Australia) Even though I stayed away from the plant section, I went in for a peek, just to look of course. Well I found Licuala grandis, in 20cm pots, about 1 metre in overall height for 22.95 !! I have 3 or 4 of them already but at that price they were a give away and so I took. Then I saw a Thai Constellation monstera, only in a 13 cm pot and 40 cm overall height, but for $29 I wasn't saying no to that as I have wanted one for ages but wouldn\t pay $300 which is what the slightly larger ones cost. It was money that should have gone on debts but I felt so good about getting new plants and great bargains that to hell with being responsible for once. Peachy

We had mobile phone warnings of 40mm severe weather and rain last night. Not sure if we got that much but we sure did get a lot. A large and well established Phoenix dactylifera in the center was snapped in three places and a cruise ship, attached to the dock, had its' ropes snapped and was left drifting in the sea. Nice and sunny now with 21 degrees. The rain now is much less frequent. If we have no rain, the temperatures are always quite pleasant and very cocos-friendly. I plan on putting my dwarf (the larger one) in the ground next year and probably one of the panama talls. Those panama talls seem to be quite tough.

First flower on Chrysalidocarpus “Orange Crush”:

Oenocarpus distichus is getting big. Rocky 2 and Suubi stayed still long enough to provide some scale.

Parajubaea torallyi underneath a Japanese Maple.

Sorry for the delay - was travelling again. These are my three coconut palms - larger one is a malayan dwarf and the smaller two are Panama Talls I imported from Florida.

Butia diamantinensis is my first to sprout, 86 days in.

I just picked up my 3rd Butia Oderata that I'm going to plant sometime in February next year. This became one of my favorite cold hardy pinnate palm. I see lots of them along the Gulf Coast and in a way smaller number here in San Antonio. They do great in my area. They love the Houston black clay soil.

I'd wait until Spring as they are still establishing. Winters are typically the hardest on these palms. If you want to do an educated gamble, try planting mid February if the 2 week forecast is frost-free. We tend to get our harshest stuff Jan-Feb.

However, my dwarf has really taken off since I fertilized it last Sunday and watered it through the week - plus we had >25C on most of those days. This emerging leaf was not visible a week ago.