Trachycarpus fortunei

[Seanrick]

Good morning from frigid southern middle Tennessee everyone.

I'm new to the hobby of growing palms and i have many questions. The nights are about to start getting  cold here,  so today's question pertains to overwintering via a grow room set up specifically palms.

Is it possible, with good grow lights and a temp controlled environment, for my trachycarpus seedlings to continue to grow throughout the winter months? Or should I allow them to go dormant for the winter months?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Please and thank you.

[Allen]

I think they would grow a little over winter with a light setup.  @teddytn is starting to grow a bunch of seedlings here in TN as well mainly Sabal now. 

[steve617]

I grow a lot of them indoors during the winter. I use LED, I'll probably have 50 indoors this winter. I also use plant heat mat. My basement tends to stay on the cool side mid 60s. I've also done sabals. 

Edited October 18, 2022 by steve617

[Leelanau Palms]

What is the material behind the palms? Can I see a picture of your basement set up?

[steve617]

That's reflectx. It has some R value and also reflects light. I'll have to get some updated pics. I have 2 shelves each holds 4 10x20 trays and I have a table that holds 5 or 6 10x20 trays. I also have a 4 shelf 4.5 x 4.5 greenhouse inside. I have 3 florescent lights and 2 incident bulbs for added heat. I'll have to get some better photos. I've rearranged the inside greenhouse. It has a meyer lemon, kumquat, 3 mules, a few small tomato plants and a dozen or so palm seedlings. I have the sides lined with a reflective foil. Then I have a slightly heated outside greenhouse. I'd be happy to get more pics.

[Leelanau Palms]

Steve, thanks for sharing the pics and details. Quite the set up. More pics always welcome!

Edited December 26, 2023 by Leelanau Palms
More pics :)

[Leelanau Palms]

On 10/18/2022 at 7:24 AM, Seanrick said:

Good morning from frigid southern middle Tennessee everyone.

I'm new to the hobby of growing palms and i have many questions. The nights are about to start getting  cold here,  so today's question pertains to overwintering via a grow room set up specifically palms.

Is it possible, with good grow lights and a temp controlled environment, for my trachycarpus seedlings to continue to grow throughout the winter months? Or should I allow them to go dormant for the winter months?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Please and thank you.

Mine put out new winter growth inside in front of tall bright east facing windows in a slightly cooler part of the house.

[ChicagoPalma]

I gotta start replanting my seedlings in bigger pots, my trachy seedlings from ohio started growing, so the nursery is finally starting up, and my queen seeds are gonna be planted soon in a communal pot. 

[Allen]

13 hours ago, steve617 said:

That's reflectx. It has some R value and also reflects light. I'll have to get some updated pics. I have 2 shelves each holds 4 10x20 trays and I have a table that holds 5 or 6 10x20 trays. I also have a 4 shelf 4.5 x 4.5 greenhouse inside. I have 3 florescent lights and 2 incident bulbs for added heat. I'll have to get some better photos. I've rearranged the inside greenhouse. It has a meyer lemon, kumquat, 3 mules, a few small tomato plants and a dozen or so palm seedlings. I have the sides lined with a reflective foil. Then I have a slightly heated outside greenhouse. I'd be happy to get more pics.

What is your watering schedule on the indoor seedling size pots?  I have quite a few seedlings this year with a similar setup on lights but not nearly as sophisticated as yours.

[steve617]

55 minutes ago, Allen said:

What is your watering schedule on the indoor seedling size pots?  I have quite a few seedlings this year with a similar setup on lights but not nearly as sophisticated as yours.

I usually water mine once weekends. And spray mist them twice a week. My room temp usually just mid to upper 60s but everything is on heat mats.

[steve617]

Here's a few pics I took this morning. My neighbor works at Lowes and told me they had small greenhouse on clearance so luckily I got one and got it mainly for my Meyer Lemon and Kumquat. 

[Leelanau Palms]

Nice set up. Thanks for the new pictures. Seedlings look so happy. What is your inventory?

Edited December 26, 2023 by Leelanau Palms

[steve617]

Thanks, Seedlings are Waggys (the seeds are from Schumacher seeds). I have Waggy x stuff frond California Fortunei and the pure Fortunei. I have 3 mule palms I got from frank moultrie back in Oct. I have a few Phoenix Dactylifera I raised just to see how they do. I have a couple other phoenix. Also have a few t.nanus x waggie.  As far as sabals. I have a few baker county, FL minors, small cold hardy minor from Austin TX. They max at 3 foot. Have a few Louisiana and I'm germinating some minors from a refuge in middle of Georgia. Have a few small s. Ursenana Green Form.  Have a few others around and in my greenhouse.

[Leelanau Palms]

Waggy and small Austin minor catch my attention 😀

[steve617]

I have probably 35 waggys and have more germinating. These are the first I've had from this source. So we hope they are pure. I bought another batch of seeds from the same place and their just starting to germinate. I'll try to get some pics of the waggys 

Edited December 26, 2023 by steve617