2010 2010_01 - Freeze of Jan. 2010

[palmsOrl]

Here in Maitland (northern suberb of Orlando) we had 8 nights below 32 F during the recent extended freeze event. Of these, 6 nights were in the 20s (28,28,27,26,25,29). Here are some photos of the damage my palms have received, taken today (sorry about the less than optimal lighting).

Roystonea borinqueana, almost 100% defoliated. I expect it to come back just fine.

[palmsOrl]

My ~25 ft. Roystonea regia (with a decidedly distressed bougainvillea beneath it), planted as a 4 ft. tall baby in 2002. This appears to be at least 50 % fried, but more damage will likely show as time passes. This one will definitely be fine.

[palmsOrl]

My wimpy silver (now ghostly white) Bismarckia that I've had since 1997, before the cold hardy individuals were selected and bred for this trait. It is at least 75 % defoliated. Still, it always comes back in the spring. See closeup of leaf.

[palmsOrl]

My foxtail, which I've also had since 1997, has been doing battle the last few years with this fast growing weedy tree that has grown up around it. It is hard to tell at this point what the extent of the freeze damage to it is.

[palmsOrl]

My D. lutescens next to the Cham. cataractum under a loquat tree. I think the sheets I covered this entire area of the garden with really helped avoid significant damage with these two palms.

[epicure3]

Well, keep the optimism.

[palmsOrl]

My small bottle palm doesn't look bad at all. Though I had the entire crown wrapped in a blanket, the palm still experienced two nights in the mid 20s. I believe these are a bit tougher than once believed.

[palmsOrl]

The bottom half of my Spindle was also covered during the freezes and up close the leaves are mottled (alternating between lighter and much darker green). It will be interesting to see how this evolves.

[palmsOrl]

A tale of two carpies. The first one shown began flowering a year ago and, though a bit hard to tell in the photo, it did receive significant damage from the recent cold spell (as it did last year). The second specimen appears much more cold hardy and consistently comes through freezes with little to no damage. Actually, you will have to take my word for it on the second one, didn't get a photo of it.

[palmsOrl]

My golden Malaysian Cocos always hangs in there during our winters, usually turning yellow and remaining that way until March-April. I had this one wrapped, and up close it looks pretty rough, but yet again I think it will live to see another summer.

[palmsOrl]

My small Gaussia maya looks almost as if it's July, while my large Prestoea acuminata (not pictured) was about 50 % defoliated.

[palmsOrl]

My Archontopheonix cunninghamiana shows its cold hardiness edge in this pic (unprotected).

[Rafael]

Did your palms see any frost?

Curious, your archontophoenix is fine.

Mine, faced similar temps, and is burned, as i show at http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=21726.

[palmsOrl]

I am almost certain that it did see frost on numerous occasions during this cold event. The lowest temp. in my yard was 25.1 F.

[Natureguy]

Palms,

Thanks for the photos! I have 2 Royals as well. I am hoping and praying for them to comeback. My fear is that my new Royal was weakened from transplant last summer and the other one was hit hard last Jan's freeze. Did your R. regia get hit last year at all? Can royals handle 2 successive freezes like this?

Also, is the A. cunninghamiana planted under a canopy of oaks or other shade trees?

[palmsOrl]

NatureGuy, my R. borinqueana was about 2/3 defoliated last year while my R. regia ended up about 1/2 burned. I believe that as long as these palms are able to grow a full new crown of leaves by next season, they can survive successive freezes.

The A. cunninghamiana isn't under any canopy except possibly a portion of the crown of some queen palms on the other side of the fence. Even now, it is showing few signs of damage, while the rest of my garden is looking worse by the day.

-Michael

[Natureguy]

Michael....

That frightens me then, because my royal last year only put out 3 new fronds all season after the freeze. It was only in the ground for a few months when it got zapped. My new one this year went through a nearly complete defoliation after transplant last summer. Oh well, I lost a lot last year and only time will tell if I am to lose more this year. I thought I planned my plantings well. Apparently I haven't!

Thanks for the info.

Bob

[sur4z]

From January 2nd to January 12th South Florida experience the longest period of nights in the 30's and 40's since the 1940s. I live about 300 yards from the Atlantic (I can't see it) so it never got below freezing but my plants and trees got burned pretty bad. Here are a few photos...

My Pritchadia Pacifica

another photo

miniature ixora

crinum lily

[sur4z]

The hyophorbe lagenicaulis took a little hit.

But my bismarckia noblis did not.

And the kerriodoxa elegans got shredded but not burned.

[bubba]

Pedro, This confirms our discussions regarding the damage to your Pritchardia,ixora and lily at the back of your yard. It is obvious that the cold air rolls over the top of your house and creates a "cold hole" at the back where these specimens are located. Blooming Ixhoras all over compared to that poor anihilated specimen!

[palmislandRandy]

Pedro, This confirms our discussions regarding the damage to your Pritchardia,ixora and lily at the back of your yard. It is obvious that the cold air rolls over the top of your house and creates a "cold hole" at the back where these specimens are located. Blooming Ixhoras all over compared to that poor anihilated specimen!

I noticed the same thing. Plants out in the open fared better than some of their "protected" brethren against the house.

[sur4z]

During this period the wind was generally out of the WNW and my burned plants were on the South side of the house which should have been somewhat protected. The k.elegans above is on the North side and should have been blasted. The following palms are also on the North side and made it through fine.

coco

v.montgomeryana

d.album

c.radiata

[bubba]

Pedro, Go figure. Everything on the North, which should have been torched, looks great.Green Coconuts, perfect V.montgomeries,green K.elegans, green Hurricanes and a green Thrinax radiata. A riddle wrapped in a mystery.

I no like the cold!

[spockvr6]

Pedro, Go figure. Everything on the North, which should have been torched, looks great.Green Coconuts, perfect V.montgomeries,green K.elegans, green Hurricanes and a green Thrinax radiata. A riddle wrapped in a mystery.

I no like the cold!

Same in my yard....the south side got blasted harder than the north side!

[spockvr6]

From January 2nd to January 12th South Florida experience the longest period of nights in the 30's and 40's since the 1940s. I live about 300 yards from the Atlantic (I can't see it) so it never got below freezing but my plants and trees got burned pretty bad. Here are a few photos...

My Pritchadia Pacifica

another photo

Yep.....looks about like mine

These are tender tender palms. My Coconut nearby doesnt look 1/10th as bad as the pacifica.

[gsn]

I no like the cold!

Bubba ,

If I recall you were taunting the COLD back in late November ,early December saying BRING IT ON!!!

You got your wish, "IT GOT BRUNG!" just sayin

South side, north side,east side,west side, didn't matter here!

The only things not completely fried are things under some canopy, and that even didn't help much here!

[gsn]

I agree it is kinda strange, as conventional wisdom would say southern exposures should be somewhat warmer?

Although there was nothing conventional about this COLD episode for Florida at least!

Edited January 19, 2010 by gsn

[bubba]

Scott, No question! I forget who said "bring it on" but remember saying I will believe when I see it. Well, I saw it and I do not want it. I guess I will listen the next time Keith talks about those sunspots!

[gsytch]

I live in SW pasco, appx 24 mi due N of St pete. My yard took a hit all around although I do not believe anything is lost - just burnt. However, I teach in Hudson, 14 NE of me, inland, rural, and at the end of the "Brooksville Valley". HUGE palms, Queens and Washingtons, are toasted. I saw a large orange tree completely browned. A L chinensis totally burnt up there. As I progressed toward my area, damage lessened considerably. Funny, My roeb's were fine except for one that receives ZERO winter sun due to the house but full summer sun. It is toasted, all brown, I guess from frost and or duration of cold. It'll be back quickly, but what a surprise...Greg in New Port Richey my pruners are my best friend now!

AND.........watch out for the first week of February. There are signs a comin'...I'm praying it veers north!

[SunnyFl]

I live in SW pasco, appx 24 mi due N of St pete. My yard took a hit all around although I do not believe anything is lost - just burnt. However, I teach in Hudson, 14 NE of me, inland, rural, and at the end of the "Brooksville Valley". HUGE palms, Queens and Washingtons, are toasted. I saw a large orange tree completely browned. A L chinensis totally burnt up there. As I progressed toward my area, damage lessened considerably. Funny, My roeb's were fine except for one that receives ZERO winter sun due to the house but full summer sun. It is toasted, all brown, I guess from frost and or duration of cold. It'll be back quickly, but what a surprise...Greg in New Port Richey my pruners are my best friend now!

That is some bad damage if queens & washies were that bad. Glad to hear your place fared better, and I hope all your plants do pull through. The roeb will recover I'm sure - these are incredible little palms, they look much more tropical, but they can stand a lot of cold.

AND.........watch out for the first week of February. There are signs a comin'...I'm praying it veers north!

Oh no - what have you heard?

[SunnyFl]

Here's something strange - of all the plants that got fried at my place, palms are the ones that seem the most likely to recover.

The jatropha is dead. The hib that wasn't under canopy is dead. The adeniums are dead. The bougies - even a couple of huge ones - are dead. All crotons except for the little ones under canopy of the toasted lutescenses, are dead - even the ones we thought looked a bit better, and so on.

But we have hope that the D. lutescens will pull through. The roeb is fine, not a mark on it. The morrissii is fine, the azul looks okay. Jury's out on the lepto, but the spear hasn't pulled. Not sure about the spindle - time will tell. It's seen lower temps, but not frost, until last week.

[bubba]

Sunny, I am with you. No more cold! Another period of extensive cold would be not good for anyone.

Gystch, What is it about Brooksville that makes it so cold. I had a friend at UF from Brooksville whose family was in citrus. I am afraid to call him!

[sur4z]

An interesting occurance occurred today. When I went outside this morning to get the paper, I noticed that there were palm fronds everywhere on the ground...three hurricanes, one montgomery and two macarthurs. Also there was one christmas frond down in the back yard. Very odd that they would all fall on the same day. It seems to me these trees went into shock during the cold spell and are now again growing. Anyone have any thoughts on this anomaly.

[_Keith]

Here's something strange - of all the plants that got fried at my place, palms are the ones that seem the most likely to recover.

The jatropha is dead. The hib that wasn't under canopy is dead. The adeniums are dead. The bougies - even a couple of huge ones - are dead. All crotons except for the little ones under canopy of the toasted lutescenses, are dead - even the ones we thought looked a bit better, and so on.

But we have hope that the D. lutescens will pull through. The roeb is fine, not a mark on it. The morrissii is fine, the azul looks okay. Jury's out on the lepto, but the spear hasn't pulled. Not sure about the spindle - time will tell. It's seen lower temps, but not frost, until last week.

I'll bet that Jatropha comes back from the roots. Even up here in cold Zone 9a, mine returns faithfully every year, inspit of that fact that I had written it off for dead on more than one occaision.

[palmsOrl]

Bob,

Give your palms some tlc and they might surprise you. I am going to treat all of my damaged palms with copper fungicide, to avoid any fungus issues over the next few months.

-Michael

[Natureguy]

Michael,

Thanks for the advice. I am nervous about copper fungicide, but i am going to try H2O2, as has been also recommended in some threads.

Best of luck!

Bob

[_Keith]

Michael,

Thanks for the advice. I am nervous about copper fungicide, but i am going to try H2O2, as has been also recommended in some threads.

Best of luck!

Bob

Why would you be nervous about copper fungicide. It has been used for a couple of centuries. Be more afraid of modern chemicals, which have far less history to reveal the side effects.

[gsytch]

Bubba- It just seems to be some low valley that gets incredibly cold. The dewpoints drop like a rock there. I would go with 8b/9a for rural Hernando county because some teachers I work with stated 18F as their low, a full ten degrees lower than mine. February?????? Another Greenland High Block is stated to set up, and we all know what happened the last time! I am watching the set up as one CANNOT imagine the same thing happening twice, can it? And, in the same winter? Greg

[Natureguy]

the reason that i am hesitant in using copper fungicide is that knowledgeable people on previous threads have stated that it can be toxic if not used correctly.

just hesitant about using something that may be toxic if not used correctly! I am sure it is fine.......I don't just don't know and if I lost anything more than I have already lost in the past 2 years of serious freezes, I am hesitant! I am sure it is good. That is all

[palmislandRandy]

An interesting occurance occurred today. When I went outside this morning to get the paper, I noticed that there were palm fronds everywhere on the ground...three hurricanes, one montgomery and two macarthurs. Also there was one christmas frond down in the back yard. Very odd that they would all fall on the same day. It seems to me these trees went into shock during the cold spell and are now again growing. Anyone have any thoughts on this anomaly.

I was talking to Marshall of Folsom Palms today about the same thing. The downed fronds wern't all that brown & the crownshafts all kinda look like they kinda shrunk from the cold & split. The bottom fronds fell even if they were still mostly green. I see bottom fronds down everywhere. Randy