Butia Eriospatha, what Winter Protection?
Last fall I landed a Butia Eriospatha. It spent the winter indoors and was planted outside early spring, south exposure, about 15 ft from the house.
Now, my question is. Should I protect this plant for the coming winter and if so, how?
Thanks!
The following thread was started by Craig Westwood on November 18, 2009 at 8:34 am PST
I would say the more exposed it is the more you should protect it in winter. But only if it goes into the low 20's or lower. I like to use a blanket for warmth and tarp to keep it dry. Others may have different ways of protecting there butia. I also like to use trachys as a way to give some on my butia frost protection.
The above followup was added by Roger in Olympia 8b on November 18, 2009 at 9:28 am PST.
I would love to see its growth with your summer heat. How big was it when you planted it and how much has it grown?
The above followup was added by James on November 18, 2009 at 10:51 am PST.
It's about 3 ft now, it didn't take off, maybe 2 or 3 new leaves this summer. Soil used to be "new house crappy clay further marauded by builders". I cultivated in the original bark mulch and thickly topped with various composts. The planting hole has a layer of gravel, filled with compost + perlite. The area was irrigated with a sprinkler system when it got really dry.
To give further indication of my zone, last winter's storm results. It got down to at least 18° F, later followed by a few days of on and off freezing rain. I wrapped my Citrus Yuzu in a bed sheet. It lost all its leaves but came back and did well. Ugni molinae bedsheet didn't help, it bit the dust. My under 1 year old Eucalyptus Viminalis seedlings were unprotected, next to a fence. All branches above the ~2ft snow drifts died.
Roger, for the tarp do you make like a tent structure, or what? We get some high winds in PDX. I'd need to really tie it down.
The above followup was added by Craig Westwood on November 18, 2009 at 2:05 pm PST.
Some gardeners like to put a tarp up above there more tender palms to keep the water out of the crown all winter. That one of the more important thing to do in our climate. I have not done this but Im thinking about trying on my B. armata. I use the tarp on my tender plants when ever we get a hard arctic freeze.
Here's how....
After putting a stake in the ground next to the palm I tie the leaves up and wrap with blanket or two, then put the tarp over the whole thing to keep it dry. As soon as the weather returns to normal I take the whole thing down. I sometimes keep leaves tied up incase there another blast of really cold temps or heavy snow. I uses bungie cord types.
I'm going to try C-9 lights on my mule palm next month. I'll let someone else tell you more about using lights for heat, since I've never tried it before. But since your palm is still very young, you could make a small greenhouse over it with 2"x2" wood to make a box, and cover in plastic. This would keep it dry warm and when it get really cold put C-9 lights or shop light.
The above followup was added by Roger in Olympia 8b on November 18, 2009 at 2:48 pm PST.
Roger, you keep reminding me that I need to make a frame for the P.TVT for at least this year...if nothing else to use in case of an arctic outbreak. With my luck it will come when I am out of town two weeks from now.
The Baby P.microcarpa is already covered with welded wire frame, anchored and wrapped in plastic to keep it dry. The 3-4 foot wide rolls seem to work well for smaller plants and can be rolled out as wide as needed.
Good luck with your Eriospatha, Craig, it should do well for you with that southern exposure.
The above followup was added by James on November 18, 2009 at 5:28 pm PST.
I had a Butia Capitata about the same size and it bit it one winter when I didn't protect it. I had planted it in the Spring,a nd it died the first winter.
John S
PDX OR
The above followup was added by John S on November 18, 2009 at 5:51 pm PST.
Definitely put a cover over the top to protect from water getting into the crown. Also add copper fungicide into the crown, it acts like anti-freeze and never enclose the entire plant in plastic. I have 3 Butia's and all require some protection, mainly from water freezing in the crown.
The above followup was added by Marcus on November 20, 2009 at 8:46 am PST.