After the Cold Front Passed - Cape Coral

[PalmatierMeg]

Over the past 3 days Cape Coral got hit by the strongest cold blast since 2010. Like many people I moved valued container palms indoors temporarily. I also covered 7 of my rare in-ground palms. I wrote about this in the topic below

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/72019-arctic-cold-front-on-the-way-getting-ready/&page=2#comments

Today the temp rose to ~70F after lows or 38.3F Sat. a.m. and 41.2 Sun. a.m.

We moved all the container palms to the back lanai, then removed protective covers on the 7 in-ground palms.

This is a photo of our back lanai. Some of these palms belong in the jungle but I won't replace them until the threat of cold weather diminishes. A lot of them are out of sorts from being kept almost 4 days in a centrally heated house. It was cold enough we had to keep the heat on constantly. There was no point in trying to provide the high humidity they need for a few days.

I was very pleased with how the in-ground palms weathered the cold in their shrub hoods and linens. I'm glad I went to the trouble to provide for them.

My 3 Areca catechu dwarfs

I left my smallest A. c. dwarf uncovered but it is deep under canopy and did well.

Areca catechu - standard A.c. are reputedly less hardy than dwarfs (zone 11) but mine turned out fine

Hydriastele beguinii 'Obi Island' - I remembered to cover this one at nearly dusk. So far, so good. They howling dry wind would have desiccated it.

Areca concinna - looks good

Golden Adonidia merrillii - Much more delicate than the standard cold sensitive green variety. I keep it in deep canopy

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

So glad to see that your garden performed well with the care it was given!!! Noone wants to see such zone pushing gone wrong =) One day I hope to see this garden in all its glory in person. 

T J 

[PalmatierMeg]

I took a few photos to start recording how the yard fared during the cold front. The ferocious wind caused some breakage all over. I think whatever cold damage I get will show up in the coming days, esp. in the coconuts. But I noted the following already.

Roystonea violacea - Unprotected on its own. I noticed frond tip burn on the side facing north. It should outgrow the damage. I find this species slower growing than R. regia

 

Prichardia pacifica - one of the most cold sensitive palms I've had the displeasure to grow. Their leaves are enormous wind sails. They look great come Aug./Sep. They burn/spot/shrivel at temps below 50, possibly below 60. This is what the one in my front yard looks like after the cold front. I'm seriously considering ripping the wretched thing out.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

11 minutes ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

So glad to see that your garden performed well with the care it was given!!! Noone wants to see such zone pushing gone wrong =) One day I hope to see this garden in all its glory in person. 

T J 

You are welcome any time

[tinman10101]

amazing meg!  i remember the days when my garden was young and i had to cover all my sensitive palms every year since i live in 9b area.  looks like a lot faired well and all the work you put in to protect them will pay off.  

cheers

tin

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

That poor Pacifica looks just plain sad =/ 

T J 

[Looking Glass]

Looks like you made out great.  Congrats.  I don’t know how you guys do it.   Love the little dwarves!  

[oasis371]

P. pacifica is not an easy species.  I prefer P. hillebrandii, much hardier and less temperamental.